University College Cork says its decision to introduce a €65 conferring fee is part of an ongoing and widespread cost cutting exercise at the University to deal with the ‘huge shortfall’ in core funding from the Exchequer.
A University spokesman said the cost of catering, provision of staff and security as well as hiring a hall for last year's graduation ceremonies totalled €200,000.
The new charge will apply to the summer conferring in June, autumn conferring in September and winter conferring in December this year and it will cover a graduate and his/her two guests.
The graduate will only be charged if they attend the graduation ceremony.
The spokesman added that this measure was discussed in advance with representatives of the students' union and following a suggestion from them, the proposed charge of €80 was reduced to €65.
UCC Students Union President Eoin Hayes described the fee as ‘exhorbitant’ and said while they suggested it be reduced, they never agreed that a conferring fee should be introduced.
Incoming UCC Students' Union President Keith O' Brien said: 'There has been no justification for this cost, no breakdown of what the €65 is spent on. Students already pay €50 for a gown and €30 for photos.
'If the University want to rid themselves of the costs of conferring students and say it is not a core function of the University, then UCC Students' Union will be delighted to run the conferring ceremonies from now on.'
A spokeswoman for Trinity College said it has charged a ‘commencement’ or conferring fee since the late 1980s and this fee currently stands at €114.
Dublin City University said it does not have a separate conferring fee, but said it is built into its €1,538 a year registration fee, which is charged to every student and classed as administration expenses.
