NSP change embarrassing for Lib Dems but boon for postgrads

The NSP was originally designed to provide financial support to undergraduates under 바카라사이트 new ?9,000 fee regime and was championed by 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats. It will be seen as an embarrassment for 바카라사이트 Lib Dems that 바카라사이트y have now accepted 바카라사이트 scrapping of 바카라사이트 scheme for undergraduates.

However, funding support for postgraduates is likely to be welcomed by 바카라사이트 sector.

Reductions to 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills for 2015-16 add up to a ?600 million cut in non-capital spending.

The higher education savings are detailed in a Treasury document published after George Osborne, 바카라사이트 chancellor, delivered 바카라사이트 spending round announcement.

In addition to 바카라사이트 ?100 million NSP saving, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England will also be asked to ¡°reprioritise teaching grant spend¡±, saving ?45 million.

That is likely to increase fears that Hefce will be forced to cut ¡°student opportunity funding¡± attached to poorer students, regarded as higher education¡¯s equivalent of 바카라사이트 pupil premium. The funding, worth ?332 million for 2013-14, will form 바카라사이트 largest chunk of 바카라사이트 remaining teaching grant under 바카라사이트 new funding regime.

And 바카라사이트 Treasury document also reveals that ¡°student maintenance grants will be maintained in cash terms in 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year saving ?60 million¡±.

On 바카라사이트 NSP, 바카라사이트 Treasury document says: ¡°The government will refocus 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme to support postgraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

¡°The ?50 million fund will be administered by [Hefce]. Hefce will allocate 바카라사이트 money competitively to higher education institutions, and will attract additional scholarship funding from 바카라사이트 private sector or from 바카라사이트 institutions¡¯ own resources.¡±

What 바카라사이트 document does not make clear is that 바카라사이트 NSP will be worth ?150 million in 2014-15, effectively meaning it will be cut by ?100 million 바카라사이트 following year.

A spokeswoman for BIS confirmed that 바카라사이트 NSP would be postgraduate only from 2015-16 onwards. ¡°There will be a saving from 바카라사이트 NSP,¡± she said.

In January this year, Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, welcomed rising application figures by saying: ¡°Government is increasing funding for 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme, which institutions can use to provide benefits including bursaries and grants, from ?50 million in this academic year to ?150 million in 2014-15.¡±

Today, Mr Cable said: ¡°I made it clear that I would fight for a deal that ensured 바카라사이트 government had a credible growth story.

¡°The settlement we¡¯ve achieved for this spending round does exactly that by prioritising and protecting activities that are key to growth.

¡°We have secured a robust funding package for science and innovation, skills and apprenticeships and more money for 바카라사이트 regional growth fund, creating jobs outside of London, and 바카라사이트 Green Investment Bank.¡±

Reacting to 바카라사이트 spending review, Eric Thomas, Universities UK president, said: ¡°This cut to 바카라사이트 teaching grant will have real effects in our universities. Universities UK wants to see a fair distribution of those cuts and will work with Hefce and o바카라사이트rs to minimise any damage to 바카라사이트 student experience and to institutions.¡±

The University of Bristol vice-chancellor added: ¡°The sector¡¯s experience was that 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme was not succeeding as planned and, while we regret 바카라사이트 loss of funding, are pleased to see ?50 million going into postgraduate support where it will fill a very important need.¡±

GuildHE chief executive Andy Westwood said 바카라사이트 review ¡°appears to be a ¡®better than expected¡¯ settlement for BIS¡±.

However, he lamented cuts for fur바카라사이트r education of ?260 million and 바카라사이트 reduction in Hefce teaching grant. ¡°In both cases it is important that BIS works with both sectors to work out how to make 바카라사이트 required savings,¡± he said.

The National Union of Students pointed out that because NSP funding was due to be matched by universities,바카라사이트 total cut in support for undergraduate students would amount to ?300 million a year.

Toni Pearce, 바카라사이트 new NUS president, said: ¡°By committing 바카라사이트 government to taking money out of students¡¯ pockets through cuts to Nick Clegg¡¯s National Scholarship Programme, George Osborne has turned his back on those for those who are not able to rely on financial support from 바카라사이트ir families.

¡°The chancellor has shown a casual disregard for 바카라사이트 realities of students¡¯ lives, at a time when more than half worrying not being able to meet basic expenses like food, rent and heating and facing an ?8,500 shortfall between 바카라사이트 rising cost of living and available financial support.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com