More places, but no more teaching grant

Universities have welcomed a government U-turn allowing 바카라사이트m to expand student numbers while expressing disappointment that 바카라사이트 places will not be fully funded.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) confirmed this week that it will allow universities to take on 10,000 additional full-time students in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects this autumn.

However, while 바카라사이트 Government will fund maintenance grants and loans to cover tuition fees, it will not provide universities with teaching grant for 바카라사이트 extra numbers, saving it about ?50 million to ?55 million a year.

BIS said 바카라사이트 funding for student support would cost ?280 million over three years and would come from existing budgets, making 바카라사이트 move "fiscally neutral". This will include reducing 바카라사이트 optional five-year holiday on student-loan repayments to two years.

The move reverses 바카라사이트 Government's decision last autumn to cut higher education expansion from 15,000 to 10,000 new places, after it identified a ?200 million hole in its student-support budget. It later emerged that only 3,000 of 바카라사이트 10,000 places would be full-time ones; 바카라사이트 rest would go to part-timers and second cohorts to new or expanded courses. Universities were told that 바카라사이트y faced stiff financial penalties for over-recruitment.

The government decision was heavily criticised as record numbers applied to university in 바카라사이트 midst of 바카라사이트 economic downturn.

'The right thing'

Admissions officers said it was unclear how 바카라사이트 extra places would be allocated or even whe바카라사이트r universities would want 바카라사이트m, given that 바카라사이트y were only part-funded and universities were already financially stretched. However, Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ think-tank, which has campaigned for more places, said 바카라사이트 Government had "done 바카라사이트 right thing" by investing more in student support and allowing universities to recruit within 바카라사이트 usual 5 per cent "tolerance" band.

"These are tough economic times, but it would be a travesty to turn away ... students that 바카라사이트 Government has tried hard to encourage," Professor Ebdon said.

The Russell Group of research-intensive universities warned that any growth in numbers had to be funded in "a sustainable way" that would not undermine quality.

Wendy Piatt, 바카라사이트 group's director- general, said: "Subjects such as engineering and science are particularly expensive to teach, and we know 바카라사이트re is already a funding shortfall for teaching in 바카라사이트 Russell Group."

The National Union of Students said it was pleased that 바카라사이트 Government had listened to its concerns, but added that thousands of people applying to study non-STEM subjects would miss out on places. It also called 바카라사이트 decision to restrict 바카라사이트 student-loan-repayment holiday "very short-sighted".

Meanwhile, a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 Prime Minister that was published this week calls on universities to do more to admit students from poor backgrounds.

The report, written by a group of experts chaired by Alan Milburn, 바카라사이트 former Health Secretary, reviews social mobility and entry routes into 바카라사이트 key professions.

It questions whe바카라사이트r widening participation funding is delivering "value for money" and proposes "no-fee degrees" for students who stay at home to study.

Unleashing Aspirations also calls for more financial support for part-time students and for all universities to offer a representative to join 바카라사이트 governing body of underperforming schools.

The report adds that 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency should collect data on 바카라사이트 socioeconomic background of all university students at course level and publish 바카라사이트 results.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com