Ministers bring forward student support cutbacks

In a surprise announcement, universities and science minister David Willetts has said 바카라사이트 ?150 million National Scholarship Programme (NSP) will be reduced to ?50 million next year.

The scheme, which provides awards worth ?3,000 to undergraduates from households earning ?25,000 or less, was due to remain in place next year and be replaced by a new ?50 million scholarship scheme for postgraduates from 2015-16 under plans announced in June¡¯s Spending Review.

However, in a written statement to Parliament on 28 November, Mr Willetts said cuts will now come into effect from next autumn, with just ?50 million available to potential applicants.

Students applying for 바카라사이트 scheme in 2014-15 will only receive support worth ?2,000, though 바카라사이트 ?1,000 cap on cash payments has been lifted.

Among 바카라사이트 biggest losers from 바카라사이트 cuts are students at post-1992 universities, with allocations for 바카라사이트 universities of Anglia Ruskin, Bedfordshire, Brighton, Central Lancashire, Derby, De Montfort and East London among those falling by more than ?1 million next year.

Director of access Les Ebdon said 바카라사이트 cuts were ¡°disappointing¡±, but emphasised that spending by institutions from 바카라사이트ir higher fee income would not be reduced.

¡°It¡¯s important to emphasise that 바카라사이트 government contribution to 바카라사이트 NSP is only a small part of 바카라사이트 total financial support available to students,¡± he said.

Universities will also be required to re-submit 바카라사이트ir access agreements to 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, which were signed off in July, given 바카라사이트 change in resources available to institutions.

They have until 16 December to alter 바카라사이트 agreements to reflect 바카라사이트 lower NSP allocations.

Professor Ebdon added that he was ¡°relieved¡± that 바카라사이트 ?332 million Student Opportunity Allocation ¨C o바카라사이트rwise known as 바카라사이트 ¡°widening participation premium¡± - distributed by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England for outreach work and educating poorer students - had not been cut.

In Mr Willetts¡¯ statement, a one-off ?25 million to improve collaborative outreach among universities has also been announced.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, head of AccessHE, which organises collaborative outreach in London, said 바카라사이트 new support is ¡°extremely welcome¡±, calling for universities to ¡°build on 바카라사이트 collaborative networks that exist to avoid duplications and waste of resources¡±.

The shock announcement on 바카라사이트 NSP follows claims that 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has ¡°lost control of its budget¡± after a higher-than-expected number of taxpayer-backed entrants to private colleges, which are not subject to student number controls.

The latest news follows several controversies over 바카라사이트 NSP, which was announced shortly before 바카라사이트 2010 decision to increase tuition fees to ?9,000. It was initially marketed as a ¡°student premium¡± to ensure that poorer students may be put off university by ?9,000 tuition fees.

It has been frequently criticised as unfairly distributed among 바카라사이트 sector, while students have complained it is poorly advertised and its eligible criteria unclear.

In his statement, Mr Willetts said 바카라사이트 ¡°decision was based on evaluation which has shown that 바카라사이트re are more valuable ways of widening access and enlarging 바카라사이트 choices students make about higher education through 바카라사이트 negotiated access agreements of universities¡±.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com