Some of England's top universities stand accused of "brow-beating" students into accepting places with offers of financial support.
University financial support is being used to "brow beat" applicants who are choosing between courses, say students.
A growing number of universities are offering scholarships to students for academic merit - but only if they pick them as their first choice.
Scholarships, given to students for academic merit, are being withheld if applicants do not make universities their first choice "firm acceptance".
The revelation comes as schools are banned from giving priority to pupils who put them as their first choice.
This can mean annual scholarship payments of £2,500 are not given to students who only accept a place as an "insurance" offer.
The National Union of Students said the practice was unfair to poorer students.
The National Union of Students said the practice was unfair to poorer students.
NUS vice-chairman Wes Streeting said: "It is unfortunate that the market in admissions is so competitive that students are essentially being brow-beaten into accepting places by the offer of financial support.
NUS vice-chairman Wes Streeting said: "It is unfortunate that the market in admissions is so competitive that students are essentially being brow-beaten into accepting places by the offer of financial support.
"It ultimately discriminates against poorer students who will feel stuck between a rock and a hard place having to weigh up courses with an eye to the financial incentives on offer.
"It ultimately discriminates against poorer students who will feel stuck between a rock and a hard place having to weigh up courses with an eye to the financial incentives on offer.
"But those from wealthier backgrounds will be able to choose whatever courses they want."
"But those from wealthier backgrounds will be able to choose whatever courses they want."
'Unfair'
'Unfair'
In the past it has been so-called recruiting universities, who have trouble filling their places, who have offered inducements to attract students.
Leading institutions, such as Bristol and University College London, are tying scholarship offers to rankings in the application process.
But now universities from the Russell Group of top research-led institutions, such as Bristol and University College London, are tying in offers of scholarships to first place choices.
Mr Streeting said these elite universities were "chasing clever kids around the system".
Mr Streeting said these elite universities were "chasing clever kids around the system".
Assistant director at the Office of Fair Access, David Barrett, said all universities had to offer a minimum of £300 a year in bursaries to students from households earning less than £17,910 a year.
Assistant director at the Office of Fair Access, David Barrett, said all universities had to offer a minimum of £300 a year in bursaries to students from households earning less than £17,910 a year.
I won that scholarship because of my grades - what does it matter how I ranked them on a piece of paper? Sam SturleyUniversity applicant
I won that scholarship because of my grades - what does it matter how I ranked them on a piece of paper? Sam SturleyUniversity applicant
This is designed to wipe out the cost of the yearly £3,000 tuition fees when combined with the £2,700 government support package.
This is designed to at least cover the cost of the yearly £3,000 tuition fees when combined with the £2,700 government support package.
He added: "These scholarships are on top of that and it is up to the institution to determine how they market them.
But many universities offer much larger amounts to students, either in the form of means-tested bursaries or scholarships which are given on condition of achieving high grades.
"It is not a bad thing that additional money is being offered but it really is decision time for these students."
"It is not a bad thing that additional money is being offered but it really is decision time for these students," said Mr Barrett.
He added that there was a real issue about financial planning for universities offering such scholarships.
The issue came to light after state school pupil Sam Sturley, 18, from Marchwood, near Southampton, contacted the BBC News website.
The issue came to light after state school pupil Sam Sturley, 18, from Marchwood, near Southampton, contacted the BBC News website.
'Second fiddle'
'Second fiddle'
She was offered a Great Western Scholarship worth £2,500 a year to study geology at Bristol University because of her outstanding GCSE results.
She was offered a Great Western Scholarship worth £2,500 a year to study geology at Bristol University because of her outstanding GCSE results.
We are very far from complacent, but we do not feel the need to play 'second fiddle' to any other institution Bristol University spokesman She had been planning to accept it when she got an unexpected, but more challenging, offer from Oxford.
We are very far from complacent, but we do not feel the need to play 'second fiddle' to any other institution Bristol University spokesman She had been planning to accept it when she got an unexpected, but more challenging, offer from Oxford.
But she soon found she would lose the scholarship if she plumped for Oxford over Bristol on her universities application form.
But she soon found she would lose the scholarship if she plumped for Oxford over Bristol as a first preference firm acceptance, rather than an "insurance" place.
After universities have offered applicants places, students with more than one offer have to make a "firm acceptance" for their top preference, plus an "insurance acceptance".
"I think it is totally unfair since I won that scholarship because of my grades and if I end up going there, what does it matter how I ranked them on a piece of paper, I'll still have to pay for everything for the four years of my course.
"I think it is totally unfair since I won that scholarship because of my grades and if I end up going there, what does it matter how I ranked them on a piece of paper, I'll still have to pay for everything for the four years of my course.
"Are they trying to deter the poorer half? Rich students can quite happily put Bristol as their second choice but low income students like me may be deterred by financial worries," she said.
"Are they trying to deter the poorer half? Rich students can quite happily put Bristol as their second choice but low income students like me may be deterred by financial worries," she said.
'Over-subscribed'
'Over-subscribed'
A spokesman for Bristol University said the whole purpose of its scholarships was to encourage academically outstanding individuals to study at Bristol.
A spokesman for Bristol University said the whole purpose of its scholarships was to encourage academically outstanding individuals to study at Bristol.
He added: "That is why the applicants concerned have to firmly accept the offer of a place.
He added: "That is why the applicants concerned have to firmly accept the offer of a place.
"The scholarship is an inducement, not a right, and is awarded in addition to any bursary support.
"The scholarship is an inducement, not a right, and is awarded in addition to any bursary support.
"We are very far from complacent, but we do not feel the need to play 'second fiddle' to any other institution."
"We are very far from complacent, but we do not feel the need to play 'second fiddle' to any other institution."
He suggested Bristol was "the most popular university in the country" in terms of number of applicants per place.
He suggested Bristol was "the most popular university in the country" in terms of number of applicants per place.
But others, who are also very over-subscribed, have opted to award scholarships simply on the basis of academic achievement.
But others, who are also very over-subscribed, have opted to award scholarships simply on the basis of academic achievement.
'Magnets'
'Magnets'
Manchester University's Advantage Scholarship offers £5,000 a year to students who get three As at A-level and come from backgrounds with household incomes of less than £17,910.
Manchester University's Advantage Scholarship offers £5,000 a year to students who get three As at A-level and come from backgrounds with household incomes of less than £17,910.
Its head of widening participation, Julian Skyrme, said many universities quite rightly used scholarship as "magnets to the brightest students".
Its head of widening participation, Julian Skyrme, said many universities quite rightly used scholarship as "magnets to the brightest students".
"At Manchester we have taken the approach that the scholarship is available to students whether they come as a first choice or whether it's an insurance choice."
"At Manchester we have taken the approach that the scholarship is available to students whether they come as a first choice or whether it's an insurance choice."
The scholarships were designed to make Manchester even more attractive to the brightest students, he said.
The scholarships were designed to make Manchester even more attractive to the brightest students, he said.
"But it's also about student support - if they are from a low income bracket the student will need that higher level of support."
"But it's also about student support - if they are from a low income bracket the student will need that higher level of support."
Some 213 of these scholarships were handed out last year, although Manchester had only planned to offer 180.
Some 213 of these scholarships were handed out last year, although Manchester had only planned to offer 180.
Bristol meanwhile offered 100 Great Western Scholarships, but only awarded 29 because students either did not get the required grades or did not put Bristol first.
Bristol meanwhile offered 100 Great Western Scholarships, but only awarded 29 because students either did not get the required grades or did not put Bristol first.
Have you had recent experiences of university applications? Send us your comments:
The Bristol University spokesman's comments about "not needing to play second fiddle to any other institution" smacks of arrogance. Students who are considering offers from other universities have every right to do so.Stuart Hamilton, Johnstone
Universities have to balance the books and so know how many bursaries they can offer to prospective students. Students who want to tie up bursaries from an insurance (i.e. second) choice university are being extremely selfish by rendering a bursary unavailable to another who may want that university as their first choice.David Banks, Southampton
Interesting to see Bristol's name crop up. Back in the late 1980s, when it was still UCCA and PCAS, you were told to put Bristol top of your UCCA form, on which you had to list unis in order of preference, or you would not even get an interview. It ranked itself second only to Oxbridge. Mac, Bolton, UK
