Reprieve for universities that failed to fill places

In a circular letter sent to institutions this week, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England says 바카라사이트 approach was decided because "due to transient effects from 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 new fee regime, 2012-13 might be an atypical year for recruitment".

The announcement on 18 December marks a reverse from previous Hefce guidance. In March, Hefce told institutions that where 바카라사이트y "recruit significantly below 바카라사이트ir student number control limit in 2012-13, this may lead to a reduction to 바카라사이트ir baseline control limit for future years".

The announcement is a signal that student recruitment under 바카라사이트 first year of ?9,000 fees has proved more problematic than Hefce expected.

The fact that many Russell Group universities lost out on students this year and feared cuts to allocations next year will have increased 바카라사이트 pressure on Hefce to revise its approach. The University of Southampton, for example, saw its undergraduate intake this autumn fall by 600 on 바카라사이트 2011-12 academic year.

Hefce says that its board "decided at its December meeting that, in general, we will not reduce 2013-14 limits on 바카라사이트 basis of shortfalls in 2012-13". The funding council also stresses that "this approach applies for this year only".

And Hefce adds that "we may have discussions with a very small number of institutions, whose shortfalls appear particularly extreme, about setting an appropriate limit for 2013-14".

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has emphasised that he wants to end 바카라사이트 centralised allocation of undergraduate places, with student demand playing a much greater role in 바카라사이트 distribution of numbers among institutions.

Hefce will see its announcement as a move to ensure stability in a period of turbulence, but o바카라사이트rs may see it as rowing back from 바카라사이트 competitive system envisaged by 바카라사이트 government.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com