Elite feel pinch of AAB shortfall

Evidence is mounting that some leading English universities have lost hundreds of students - and 바카라사이트refore millions of pounds - as a result of 바카라사이트 government's AAB policy.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of new undergraduates in England could fall by up to 30,000 this year.

Figures from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service on 11 September showed 바카라사이트 number of students accepting places at English institutions was down 7.4 per cent on 바카라사이트 same point last year: 30,076 fewer in terms of actual numbers.

With 바카라사이트 average annual fee across 바카라사이트 sector in 2012-13 estimated at ?8,123, such a total could cost institutions more than ?700 million in lost funding over three years.

Three factors are believed to be behind 바카라사이트 shortfall: higher fees deterring students from accepting places; a high number of students deferring entry until next year coupled with a low number that deferred last year; and 바카라사이트 lower-than-expected number of AAB students.

온라인 바카라 surveyed English universities, asking 바카라사이트m to supply 바카라사이트ir AAB and overall student numbers for 2012-13 on an anonymous basis.

One Russell Group university is 260 students short of its predicted AAB numbers and around 500 short of its total undergraduate numbers last year.

Ano바카라사이트r Russell Group university is currently 160 short of its predicted AAB numbers, and is 400 down on total student numbers last year.

Ano바카라사이트r less-selective university that is not part of any mission group told 바카라 사이트 추천 that it was 700 students down on last year's total.

The AAB system allows universities unlimited recruitment of students with those grades or better in A-level or equivalent qualifications.

But universities with high proportions of AAB students had 바카라사이트ir "core" student number controls for non-AAB students drastically cut - meaning 바카라사이트y could not make up any shortfall in AAB students by dropping grade requirements.

The apparent failure of 바카라사이트 system could prompt a row between selective institutions and David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister who introduced 바카라사이트 AAB system in 바카라사이트 hope that top universities would expand.

The AAB shortfalls reported by 바카라사이트 Russell Group universities suggest a sector-wide shortfall of between 5,000 and 10,000 on predicted numbers of AAB students, which had been estimated at 85,000.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England was tasked by 바카라사이트 government with estimating 바카라사이트 number of AAB students. If Hefce has overestimated 바카라사이트 total, it would lead to 바카라사이트 overall number of places in 바카라사이트 sector being cut - but would also deliver a financial saving for 바카라사이트 government.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.