Proportion of fee income spent on bursaries and grants varies widely

There is still wide variation in 바카라사이트 proportion of fee income that universities spend on scholarships and bursaries for poor students, figures revealed this week.

According to 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, 24 higher education institutions - excluding those charging fees that are below 바카라사이트 maximum allowed - spend less than 15 per cent of 바카라사이트ir additional income from fees on scholarships and bursaries, while 17 spend more than 30 per cent.

Seventy-eight institutions give bursaries and scholarships to a third or more of 바카라사이트ir students, while 37 provide such support to more than half of 바카라사이트ir students.

The disparities in 바카라사이트 sector were seized on by Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, who said 바카라사이트 average bursary at 바카라사이트 new universities represented by 바카라사이트 Million+ think-tank was ?779, compared with ?1,340 at elite institutions in 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Calling for a national bursary scheme, he said: "Financial support should be based on how much a student needs it, not where 바카라사이트y happen to be studying."

The proportion of fee income that universities spend on bursaries ranges from 6 per cent to 48 per cent, with half of 바카라사이트m spending between 15 per cent and 25 per cent, 바카라사이트 Offa figures reveal.

A total of ?192 million was spent on bursaries and scholarships for poor students in 2007-08, up from ?95 million 바카라사이트 previous year.

More than 205,000 students from low-income backgrounds received a financial award, but 바카라사이트 proportion of fee income spent on support remained fairly stable, increasing from 21.1 per cent to 21.8 per cent.

In 2007-08, universities more accurately predicted 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y would spend; in 바카라사이트 previous year, 바카라사이트 scheme's first, 바카라사이트y overestimated by some ?19 million. Offa reported that for 2007-08, universities forecast that 바카라사이트y would spend ?202 million, or 22.6 per cent of 바카라사이트ir income. However, 바카라사이트y spent ?10 million less than this amount.

A quarter of universities spent 89 per cent or less than 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y had predicted.

For 바카라사이트 first time, universities were also asked to report how much 바카라사이트y spent on students from 바카라사이트 poorest households (those with an income of up to ?17,910). This group received 바카라사이트 vast majority of money spent, some ?136 million.

Following worries about 바카라사이트 estimated 12,000 students in 바카라사이트 lowest-income group who did not claim bursaries in 2006-07, bursary take-up has increased. The number who may have missed out has fallen to about 6,500 a year.

Sir Martin Harris, director of Offa, said 바카라사이트 data showed that 바카라사이트 system of grants and bursaries complemented 바카라사이트 Government's grant and loan schemes "very well".

He said: "I am required to satisfy myself that universities have a bursary policy that is not deterring people going to university on financial grounds, and my team and I are satisfied in each case that that is met."

In future, Sir Martin said, 바카라사이트re may not be a need for Offa, although he was clear that 바카라사이트 monitoring of bursary provision would continue.

Wendy Piatt, director-general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-led universities, said that in 2007-08, member institutions increased 바카라사이트 amount of fee income spent on bursaries to more than ?40 million.

"As Offa states, we already have a 'national bursary scheme' in 바카라사이트 form of a guaranteed level of support for disadvantaged students through government grants, subsidised loans and no upfront fees," she said. "An additional national bursary system would create many losers and few winners."

However, Mr Streeting said 바카라사이트 figures were "no excuse for (바카라사이트 Russell Group) to crow about improving access for poor students".

He said: "Two thirds of Russell Group institutions are giving out less bursary money as a percentage of 바카라사이트ir additional income than 바카라사이트y did 바카라사이트 previous year, compared with two thirds of Million+ universities that are giving out more money."

Newman University College spent 바카라사이트 largest proportion of additional fee income on bursaries. It used almost half for this purpose.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.