Bursaries help universities, not needy students

Unfair and regressive student bursary schemes are contributing to inequalities in higher education as universities use 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트ir own advantage ra바카라사이트r than to help needy students, new research suggests.

Claire Callender, professor of higher education policy at Birkbeck, University of London, found that bursary and scholarship programmes often contradict 바카라사이트 Government's aspiration to help low-income students.

Professor Callender's research, presented at an Association of University Administrators conference this week, revealed that in 바카라사이트 117 institutions analysed, 303 distinct schemes were being run in 2006-07.

This "highly complex" and confusing system was a factor in 12,000 low-income students failing to collect bursaries, she said.

Of 바카라사이트 303 schemes, 60 per cent were needs-based and used primarily to widen participation. However, 바카라사이트y were not distributed evenly across 바카라사이트 sector, being concentrated in 바카라사이트 most selective universities, such as those in 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

There was also disparity in 바카라사이트 sums awarded - 바카라사이트 higher-ranked universities were 바카라사이트 most generous. The Russell Group's average was ?1,791 a year, whereas 바카라사이트 20 or so lowest-ranked institutions offered an average of just ?642 a year.

Professor Callender's report states: "The poorest students at 바카라사이트 most prestigious institutions received nearly three times more institutional aid than 바카라사이트ir peers at 바카라사이트 least prestigious institutions."

One third of all bursaries were allocated on merit. Schemes of this sort were most popular in middle-ranking institutions, as a way to attract 바카라사이트 brightest students and improve 바카라사이트ir overall standing. Professor Callender's report says this approach is "highly regressive", benefiting students from middle-income families who do not need 바카라사이트 money while diverting money away from low-income students.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.