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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rush to apply to new universities | Rush to apply to new universities |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| New universities are reporting an "unprecedented" rise in applications - with warnings that this will mean many applicants being turned away this year. | New universities are reporting an "unprecedented" rise in applications - with warnings that this will mean many applicants being turned away this year. |
| With the recession putting pressure on the jobs market, record numbers are seeking places in higher education. | With the recession putting pressure on the jobs market, record numbers are seeking places in higher education. |
| Latest figures from the admissions service Ucas show an average rise of 8.8% against this time last year. | Latest figures from the admissions service Ucas show an average rise of 8.8% against this time last year. |
| But applications are up by between 6% and 37% in the Million+ group of new universities in England and Scotland. | But applications are up by between 6% and 37% in the Million+ group of new universities in England and Scotland. |
| Universities are warning there is likely to be a sharp reduction in places through clearing this summer - when students without courses are matched with spare places. | Universities are warning there is likely to be a sharp reduction in places through clearing this summer - when students without courses are matched with spare places. |
| The findings from the Million+ group, which has 27 members, suggest students completing their A-levels, Highers and Advanced Highers this year could face a hard time when looking for places for the autumn - and that many could miss out. | The findings from the Million+ group, which has 27 members, suggest students completing their A-levels, Highers and Advanced Highers this year could face a hard time when looking for places for the autumn - and that many could miss out. |
| 'Unthinkable' | 'Unthinkable' |
| After years of urging a widening of participation in higher education, the government now faces calls for extra funding to meet a surge in demand. | After years of urging a widening of participation in higher education, the government now faces calls for extra funding to meet a surge in demand. |
| And while England's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Dius) is funding an extra 10,000 places in 2009-10 it had originally estimated that universities could take 15,000 more. | And while England's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Dius) is funding an extra 10,000 places in 2009-10 it had originally estimated that universities could take 15,000 more. |
| It had to make a cut after learning that many more students than anticipated would receive grants to help them pay for their studies. | It had to make a cut after learning that many more students than anticipated would receive grants to help them pay for their studies. |
| Family income thresholds on means-tested grants are also changing, so that up to 40,000 prospective students will lose grants of up to £524 a year. | Family income thresholds on means-tested grants are also changing, so that up to 40,000 prospective students will lose grants of up to £524 a year. |
| Grants to universities by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales are going up by just 1.66% overall - meaning cuts for some institutions. | Grants to universities by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales are going up by just 1.66% overall - meaning cuts for some institutions. |
| In Scotland almost a third of institutions are facing a funding cut in real terms for 2009-10. | In Scotland almost a third of institutions are facing a funding cut in real terms for 2009-10. |
| The Ucas statistics show that, as of 24 March, 524,151 people had applied to start full-time undergraduate courses across the UK this autumn compared with 481,784 at the same point last year - an extra 42,367 people (up 8.8%). | |
| The pronounced increase in mature applicants continues: up 14.7% among those aged 21 to 24 and 15.8% from applicants over 25. | The pronounced increase in mature applicants continues: up 14.7% among those aged 21 to 24 and 15.8% from applicants over 25. |
| Pam Tatlow, head of the Million+ group, called for additional financial support for places and said it would be "unthinkable" if thousands of suitably-qualified applicants could not enter higher education - with individual institutions reporting increases of 15%, 25% and 37% on this time last year. | Pam Tatlow, head of the Million+ group, called for additional financial support for places and said it would be "unthinkable" if thousands of suitably-qualified applicants could not enter higher education - with individual institutions reporting increases of 15%, 25% and 37% on this time last year. |
| And there have been wider worries about higher education funding following yesterday's Budget. | And there have been wider worries about higher education funding following yesterday's Budget. |
| Universities UK and the 1994 Group, representing research-intensive universities, have expressed concern about £400m in savings announced by Dius. | Universities UK and the 1994 Group, representing research-intensive universities, have expressed concern about £400m in savings announced by Dius. |
| Higher Education Minister David Lammy said the government was "committed to ensuring that people with the talent and potential to succeed have the opportunity to do so, a fact seen in the record numbers of people going to university. | Higher Education Minister David Lammy said the government was "committed to ensuring that people with the talent and potential to succeed have the opportunity to do so, a fact seen in the record numbers of people going to university. |
| "This is at a time when the government has also introduced improved financial support for students while spending well over £7bn a year in higher education, an increase of 23% in real terms since 1997." | "This is at a time when the government has also introduced improved financial support for students while spending well over £7bn a year in higher education, an increase of 23% in real terms since 1997." |