The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly known as the RSAMD) was temporarily occupied today as students and their supporters protested at a rise in tuition fees. The occupation follows similar protests at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
Although Scottish students are exempt from the new fees, those protesting expressed concern that they would deter English, Welsh and Northern Irish students from poorer backgrounds from attending. "If I had to face these fees there's just no way I could afford it," drama student Francesca told us. "I know that when I graduate I'll be in a lot of debt and that's the sacrifice I make to do something I love. But this will be too much of a sacrifice. People will be so busy paying off debt that they won't be able to take up the careers they trained for."
The student union at the Conservatoire has supported the rise in fees, but students like Francesca feel it has failed to consult them on this. They stressed that the loss of talented students from low income backgrounds will affect the dynamic of the whole institution. The Conservatoire was the starting point for many popular screen actors, such as Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, James McAvoy and David Tennant.
Eye For Film approached the Conservatoire for comment but has yet to receive a response.
