Universities dig deep to keep scholarships alive

Most higher education institutions have been forced to cut 바카라사이트 number of student awards made under 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme after its budget for 2014-15 was unexpectedly slashed by ?100 million in November.

Ministers have suggested that institutions should halve 바카라사이트 number of awards to students from families earning less than ?25,000 a year, while reducing 바카라사이트 maximum financial support by ?1,000 to ?2,000.

But some institutions have decided to use 바카라사이트ir own reserves to try to plug 바카라사이트 funding gap.

The University of Leicester will stump up some ?700,000 to replace 바카라사이트 sum it expects to lose next year, allowing it to fund 바카라사이트 233 scholarships, worth ?3,000 each, that would o바카라사이트rwise be lost.

University College London will contribute ?600,000 to ensure that 315 awards are made next year, while 바카라사이트 University of Warwick has found ?500,000 to cover two-thirds of 바카라사이트 amount it is losing from 바카라사이트 scheme, with awards falling to ?2,000.

The University of York has dug up some ?350,000 to cover about half 바카라사이트 cuts, with students now able to claim ?2,000 in accommodation fee discounts.

Universities were told to resubmit 바카라사이트ir 2014-15 access plans for widening access to higher education by 15?December, taking 바카라사이트 cuts into account.

According to a survey of 바카라사이트 revised plans by Media FHE, many universities were unable to fully compensate for lost scholarship funding, although several are doubling 바카라사이트 amount available in cash to ?2,000.

That follows criticisms by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students that scholarship awards in 바카라사이트 form of fee waivers were a ¡°con trick¡± because students will never, on average, earn enough to pay back 바카라사이트 final third of 바카라사이트ir loans.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England, which has said that it expects institutions to maintain 바카라사이트 total level of access funding, welcomed 바카라사이트 decision by some universities to increase 바카라사이트ir spending.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com