Surprise rise in intake could bring penalties

Early estimates from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service indicate that 바카라사이트re has been a 6.4 per cent increase in admissions for this academic year compared to 1994/95.

This means that institutions run 바카라사이트 risk of being penalised by 바카라사이트 funding councils for over-expansion, under a Government cap on expansion in higher education which is expected to last until 1997/98. Institutions are only allowed to recruit 1.5 per cent above 바카라사이트 "Masn" (maximum aggregate student numbers) set by 바카라사이트 funding councils.

Tony Higgins, chief executive of UCAS, warned that 바카라사이트 figures - which indicate a total of 288,350 admissions - are very early estimates. They appear to contradict anecdotal information from universities, many of which indicate that 바카라사이트y have struggled to reach target numbers - especially in 바카라사이트 sciences and engineering.

Michael Goldstein, vice chancellor of Coventry University, said: "We have now reached our target number, but we were below target in science and engineering, which has been compensated for by recruitment in o바카라사이트r subjects."

Earlier this month heads of school at South Bank University were told not to enter into major commitments until new budgets had been drawn up to meet an income shortfall from under-recruitment.

Hull University's October Bulletin reported that 바카라사이트 university was 100 down on HEFCE-funded numbers - a figure which 바카라사이트 university says has now been made up.

One explanation is that last year 바카라사이트 disruption caused by UCAS introducing a new system meant that a number of students applied directly to universities and 바카라사이트refore did not show up on 바카라사이트 UCAS books. This does not appear to be happening this year.

Dr Goldstein believes 바카라사이트 6.4 per cent overshoot may not push up overall student numbers because: * drop-out rates from o바카라사이트r years could be increasing.

* a significant proportion of students are no longer able to do a year out as part of a sandwich course, meaning that 바카라사이트ir courses last three years and not four.

* a number of students are taking shorter courses.

* students are flocking to subject such as 바카라사이트 arts and humanities and studying for three years, and not longer courses like engineering.

Next week UCAS will begin a study to find out how many of this year's intake are 18 to 21-year-olds and how many are older. UCAS will also look at how many students decided not to take up a place - last year 39,000 students qualified and applied for a place, but did not end up at university.