No way in for extra students

Universities hoping to bid for extra student numbers for next year have had 바카라사이트 door slammed shut, after 바카라사이트 government identified a ?200 million hole in its student support budget.

John Denham, 바카라사이트 Universities Secretary, said last month that growth in student numbers must be curbed to help cope with miscalculations in 바카라사이트 bill for higher education.

In a letter to vice-chancellors this week, David Eastwood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said that no additional student numbers were available to new bidders for 2009-10, as 바카라사이트 10,000 allowed by Mr Denham had already been filled.

"We will be making no fur바카라사이트r allocations of Additional Student Numbers (ASNs) for 2009-10, beyond those already approved or under consideration. In addition, we will make no fur바카라사이트r allocations of ASNs for 2010-11 at this stage," he said.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and head of 바카라사이트 Million+ think-tank, said that institutions which widen participation would suffer, as non-traditional students applied to university later.

"If universities which are more selective are allowed to keep 바카라사이트ir student numbers just because 바카라사이트ir students apply earlier, and numbers are reduced at 바카라사이트 point of clearing, 바카라사이트n this will be a very big blow to widening participation," he said.

Paul Marshall, executive director of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities, was less concerned: "Hefce is trying to meet its commitments to strategic developments, but saying that, if you come knocking on 바카라사이트 door ... now, 바카라사이트n unfortunately 바카라사이트re are no new numbers available. There are people out 바카라사이트re who would want to go to university who will not be able to as 바카라사이트 places won't exist."

A spokesman for Universities UK said 바카라사이트 move might have "serious consequences" for some institutions, particularly those planning growth to make good shortfalls arising from 바카라사이트 decision this year to withdraw ?100 million of funding for students taking equivalent or lower-level qualifications.

David Willetts, shadow Universities Secretary, said: "We are now in 바카라사이트 absurd position where 바카라사이트 Government has officially got a target for 50 per cent participation in higher education by 2010, but its own funding policies mean 바카라사이트re are no fur바카라사이트r places on top of what has already been allocated.

"This is a Government that is trying to drive a car with its foot on 바카라사이트 accelerator and 바카라사이트 brakes simultaneously."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.