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Last month in The THES ... Brian Groombridge argued for more effort to be made to promote lifelong learning.

I agree with Brian Groombridge ( THES , March 16) that higher education needs to take on board the aspirations of older people, especially those who wish to study part time.

I am studying part time for a BA in social policy at a local university and the fees amount to ?5,400, which, according to the dean of my school, is because "universities receive significantly less from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for their part-time students, than they do for full-timers".

This seems like "top-up" fees through the back door and discriminates against part-time mature students.

Tessa Harding
Student, aged 52, Ely, Cambridgeshire