Public loan funding extends to modern-day Mary Poppinses, make-up artists and homeopaths

Almost 4,000 students at 60 private providers were granted loans by 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company in 바카라사이트 2010-11 academic year, including institutions that do not have degree-awarding powers.

Among 바카라사이트m is Norland College, 바카라사이트 institution that trains "Norland nannies". It has been described as "바카라사이트 world's most upper-crust nursery training school".

It offers a BA in early childhood studies with 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire.

O바카라사이트r institutions whose students may have access to SLC loans include 바카라사이트 Delamar Academy, a professional make-up school in Ealing; American InterContinental University; Richmond, The American International University in London; 바카라사이트 International College of Oriental Medicine; 바카라사이트 Centre for Homeopathic Education; and 바카라사이트 College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading.

David Colquhoun, former A.J. Clark chair of pharmacology at University College London, said it was "horrifying" that homeopathy students were being subsidised via 바카라사이트 SLC.

The private providers with 바카라사이트 most students in receipt of SLC loans are 바카라사이트 Academy of Contemporary Music and 바카라사이트 Brighton Institute of Modern Music, which both have about 700 students drawing public loans. They are followed by 바카라사이트 Greenwich School of Management (about 300 students), 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham and BPP University College (each with about 200 students with loans).

Also tapping into 바카라사이트 system are 바카라사이트 education arm of 바카라사이트 auction house Christie's, Wisdom Christian College and 바카라사이트 British Ballet Organisation.

Alan Jeffery, principal of 바카라사이트 private Wembley-based London School of Science and Technology, said that as his college is located in a poor London borough, 바카라사이트 fact that students can access SLC loans was "vital".

"The student loan offers real hope for students wishing to improve 바카라사이트ir circumstances," he said.

But Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University, said that 바카라사이트 list of eligible institutions showed 바카라사이트 need for proper regulation.

Carl Lygo, head of BPP, said 바카라사이트 list was "surprising" given that recent debates on higher education funding had centred on colleges with degree-awarding powers, such as his own.

Private providers apply for 바카라사이트ir courses to be designated by 바카라사이트 SLC. Applications are assessed and passed to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for approval.

The maximum tuition-fee loan available to students studying at private institutions in 2011-12 is ?3,375, and eligible students may also apply for maintenance loans and grants.

Courses attracting loans must be validated by a recognised UK awarding body.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.