Spending cuts 'will stop thousands getting into university'

Mon 01 Feb 2010

Young people who want to go to university may be deprived of the opportunity because of upcoming cuts to the higher education budget.

The government has already confirmed that funding for universities in England will be reduced by almost £400 million in 2010-11.

Universities UK believes this could increase competition for places and lead to many aspiring graduates failing to get into higher education.

Professor Steve Smith, president of the group, told BBC News that last year, about 160,000 university applicants did not get on to a course.

However, he said another 75,000 people have applied this year, which means that more than 200,000 people could potentially miss out.

Meanwhile, university funding body HEFCE has stressed that it is committed to widening participation in higher education over the next few years.

The organisation has also pledged to keep across-the-board reductions in core funding to universities and colleges to a minimum.

Andrea Squires of Winckworth Sherwood commented: "Faced with increasing demand and falling budgets, universities are going to have to look strategically at what they do and how they do it.

"We predict the temptation, if not the need, to look at assets to see if these can work harder."