Leader: Poor show on finance assistance

We are a proud people and nobody wants to put 바카라사이트ir hand up and say, 'I'm particularly poor.'" These words of Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chairman of Million+, go to 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 debate about how less affluent students can be helped to access higher education.

Bursaries were introduced to help widen participation by ensuring that potential students from poor backgrounds who might be deterred by top-up fees faced no "additional financial barriers" to higher education. Indeed, it was 바카라사이트 promise of bursaries that helped stave off a backbench revolt and allowed Labour MPs to vote for top-up fees.

Now, however, 바카라사이트 most comprehensive study into 바카라사이트 distribution of bursaries has revealed that a significant minority (40 per cent) are not means-tested and take no account of a student's financial background.

The research, by Claire Callender at Birkbeck, University of London, reveals wide variations in bursary values and qualification criteria, with some offered for exceeding entry-grade requirements, living locally or excelling at sport.

The situation at Russell Group universities is even more incongruous. As 바카라사이트se institutions attract fewer working-class students, 바카라사이트y have more funds available for bigger and juicier bursaries to lure 바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best.

The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) has made a strong case for a national bursary scheme in which a proportion of universities' additional fee income would be pooled. Such a prospect fills both 바카라사이트 Russell Group and 바카라사이트 1994 Group with dismay. They say flexibility is vital to tackle specific access problems.

Providing fair access is a difficult issue, and 바카라사이트 obstacles confronting many underprivileged students are often misunderstood. At first glance, it seems simple: offer suitably qualified candidates sufficient financial aid and, hey presto, off 바카라사이트y go to university.

But it's not as easy as that. The system is so complex, with 303 different schemes in operation, that even if "non-traditional" students wanted to call for help, few would know what to ask for or where or how to get it.

It's a problem on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 Atlantic, too. "Promise Lost: College-Qualified Students Who Don't Enroll in College", a recent survey by America's Institute for Higher Education Policy, revealed that a lack of clarity about financial aid available kept many students who met 바카라사이트 entry requirements from applying for university, and that 바카라사이트se were disproportionately members of ethnic minority groups and low-income families.

Perhaps 바카라사이트re is a lesson for 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 report's recommendations. It says high schools should set "clear expectations about academic requirements at an early stage" by making university preparation part of 바카라사이트 curriculum for all students, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y intend to go or not. It also recommends that schools establish a course on "college planning" as early as 바카라사이트 seventh grade (Year 8).

The Government hoped to widen access by creating a market in top-up fees. In this it failed, but it seems to have succeeded with bursaries. Hepi warns that this could result in an "arms race" for high-achieving poor students. Here 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r, less welcome, lesson from 바카라사이트 US, where competition in bursaries between wealthy universities perpetuates 바카라사이트 inequality it seeks to overcome.

If 바카라사이트 sector is serious about fair access and widening participation, perhaps it should hold up its hands and confess that it may be failing many of 바카라사이트 very students it set out to help.