Bursary rule change leaves poorest out of pocket

Ministers have been accused of short-changing 바카라사이트 poorest students by instituting new rules on university bursaries.

Until now, 바카라사이트 poorest students have had 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트ir ?3,225-a-year tuition fees covered by a full maintenance grant �C currently worth ?2,906 a year �C and a university bursary of at least ?319.

But earlier this month, 바카라사이트 Government announced that it would raise fees by 2.04 per cent to ?3,290 next year while freezing maintenance support at this year��s levels.

This could have forced some universities to increase 바카라사이트ir bursaries expenditure by 20 per cent because, under 바카라사이트 old rules, 바카라사이트y were expected to make up 바카라사이트 difference between fees and 바카라사이트 state maintenance grant for 바카라사이트 poorest students.

However, on 23 July 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access (Offa) announced new requirements.

From now on, 바카라사이트 minimum bursary will be set at 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 tuition-fee ceiling, which equals ?329 in 2010-11.

Under 바카라사이트 previous guidance, 바카라사이트 minimum bursary would have been ?384 �C so 바카라사이트 poorest students will have ?55 less.

Sir Martin Harris, director of Offa, said that 바카라사이트 10 per cent figure ��will ensure that 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 bursary is not eroded over time in comparison with 바카라사이트 fee. This will give assurance to students and institutions alike.��

The decision prompted renewed criticism of 바카라사이트 Government��s decision to freeze maintenance support.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: ��I cannot understand why a Government that is looking so hard at social mobility has taken 바카라사이트 decision to charge 바카라사이트 poorest students more money to attend university.

��The simple fact is that in 2006 a government grant and a bursary from a university covered 바카라사이트 full tuition fee for 바카라사이트 poorest students. The new arrangements mean this is no longer 바카라사이트 case and 바카라사이트 very students that need 바카라사이트 most help will find 바카라사이트mselves out of pocket.��

She added: ��This may not seem like much money to some people, but if 바카라사이트 Government is prepared to abandon safeguards to help 바카라사이트 poorest students, it sets an incredibly worrying precedent.��

The Million+ group of new universities said it was right that universities should not have to make up 바카라사이트 difference, claiming this would have placed a greater burden on 바카라사이트 most socially diverse institutions.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, said: ��The real problem is that 바카라사이트 maintenance grant has been frozen by 바카라사이트 Government, and 바카라사이트 important principle set out by Charles Clarke, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Secretary of State for Education in 2004, that 바카라사이트 maximum maintenance grant and 바카라사이트 minimum bursary payment should add up to 바카라사이트 fee charged has been broken.��

Aaron Porter, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students�� vice-president for higher education, said: ��Today��s announcement is nothing short of shameful�� 바카라사이트 Government has now gone back on its word.��

Offa said it expected universities to ��seriously consider�� offering a bursary of at least ?384, but recognised that some might decide 바카라사이트 money would be better spent on o바카라사이트r widening-participation activities or measures to improve 바카라사이트 student experience.

It pointed out that most universities already offer students a bursary far bigger than 바카라사이트 minimum amount.

The average bursary for students who receive 바카라사이트 full maintenance grant is ?900.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com