Universities UK has welcomed the announcement today from Lord Mandelson that Government will fund student support for an extra 10,000 places for students starting courses this year.

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: “We are pleased that the Government has responded to concerns voiced by universities, particularly given the high number of applicants hoping to enter higher education this year.

“Having a further 10,000 additional student places, with funding for student support, reintroduces some flexibility into the system, allowing HEIs to decide - as in previous years - whether to offer these places. We welcome this.

“We understand the thinking behind tying the student support to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) agenda at the current time, however we would be concerned if this were, in future, to have a negative impact on areas such as the social sciences, arts and humanities.

“Universities remain committed to protecting the quality of the student experience. This requires investment. A properly funded HE sector is vital if we are to continue to make a substantial contribution to the UK economy and to remain internationally competitive.”

Notes

1. For further information on the announcement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, visit: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=404961&NewsAreaID=2