A POST-GRADUATE student has taken an Oxford college to court, claiming he was turned down for a place because he did not have enough money.
Damien Shannon, from Mansfield, claims St Hugh's College is discriminating against poorer students by requiring them to prove they can afford the £12,900 living expenses while studying.
Mr Shannon, 26, who now lives in Salford, Greater Manchester, claims this figure is disproportionate – and students can live more cheaply.
He has brought a claim of discrimination against the college on the grounds that his right to education under the Human Rights Act has been breached.
He appeared at Manchester County Court to oppose an application by St Hugh's to have the claim thrown out.
Mr Shannon, who has a degree with the Open University and is working at the Treasury on the Government's fast-track graduate civil service programme, is representing himself.
He says his offer of a place on a one-year economic and social history masters course was withdrawn by St Hugh's because he could not provide evidence that he had access to £21,000 for tuition and college fees – especially the £12,900 living expenses.
But Peter Oldham QC, representing St Hugh's told Judge Armitage QC that the college was asking to have the case dismissed before it proceeded to trial on the grounds that it was unreasonable.
Mr Oldham said that when Mr Shannon first applied to go on the course in January last year, he made no mention of being unable to meet the living costs until just days before the course started on October 1.
And he said it was not on a "point of principle" that Mr Shannon made the claim, but because funds he had set aside had been used up.
Mr Shannon, giving reasons why his claim should stand and the case should go to trial, poured scorn on the college's estimation of living costs.
He said St Hugh's had stipulated that all meals had to be eaten in college, costing £67 a week, when research by Which? showed a family of four could live on £77 a week.
The college said students also needed money for entrance to nightclubs, cinema tickets and entertainment
"None of these things are essential," he said.
"These are optional costs. None of them have got anything to do with academic ability."