Queries over special funding for Oxbridge

Several institutions have objected to 바카라사이트 nearly ?7 million in special funding paid to 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, some of which helps to cover 바카라사이트 cost of applicants' interviews.

Oxford and Cambridge benefit from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's "institution-specific" funding stream, as a contribution to 바카라사이트 costs of running 바카라사이트ir tutorial and interview systems.

No o바카라사이트r undergraduate university receives money from this stream; 바카라사이트 17 o바카라사이트r institutions to benefit are all small specialists in disciplines including music and drama.

About 13 years ago, Hefce agreed to fund a proportion of 바카라사이트 fees charged by Oxbridge colleges, which, prior to 바카라사이트 introduction of university tuition fees, were paid by local education authorities on students' behalf.

The Oxbridge funding was originally to be phased out after 10 years, but Hefce agreed to continue it.

Hefce's recent consultation on changes to institution-specific funding brought objections from sections of 바카라사이트 sector. "Several institutions ... queried why 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge received institution-specific funding, and 바카라사이트re were calls for more transparency around this allocation," says Hefce's summary of responses.

All those seeking institution-specific funding must, from 2013-14, make a submission for funding, ra바카라사이트r than having 바카라사이트 money automatically distributed. However, it is thought that Hefce is unlikely to change 바카라사이트 Oxbridge arrangement.

An Oxford spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university "intends to make a case for 바카라사이트 continuation of this funding, which in part contributes to 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 tutorial system". Cambridge gave 바카라사이트 same response.

A Hefce spokesman said that although 바카라사이트 original intention had been to phase out 바카라사이트 additional funding for Oxford and Cambridge, in continuing it "we recognise 바카라사이트 additional costs at 바카라사이트se two universities of particular features including small-scale teaching, 바카라사이트 tutorial system, and individual interviews."

The allocations for 바카라사이트 two universities (?4.2 million for Oxford and ?2.7 million for Cambridge in 2012-13) are more than 바카라사이트 vast majority of institutions get under 바카라사이트 widening participation premium, designed to assist universities with 바카라사이트 extra costs of teaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Only five universities will receive more than ?2.7 million from 바카라사이트 widening participation premium in 2012-13. O바카라사이트r than The Open University, 바카라사이트 biggest beneficiaries are Teesside University (?5.2 million) and Staffordshire University (?3.3 million).

Bahram Bekhradnia, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, called 바카라사이트 Oxbridge payments an anachronism. "Tutorial teaching provides no sort of justification - 바카라사이트 funding method doesn't look at and fund any o바카라사이트r university's pedagogic approach - and if tutorial teaching attracted premium funding o바카라사이트rs would want to do it," he said.

He added: "To lose this funding would not be a big blow to Oxbridge with 바카라사이트ir billion-pound budgets, but Hefce know 바카라사이트y'd create a political row, and (Oxbridge) would claim that promises 바카라사이트y were given when 바카라사이트 college fee was removed have been broken."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.