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| 10,000 extra university places | 10,000 extra university places |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government says there will be 10,000 more university places in England this autumn, mainly in maths, science, technology and engineering. | |
| The extra places will be allocated by the higher education funding council in consultation with universities. | The extra places will be allocated by the higher education funding council in consultation with universities. |
| They will be part-funded: universities will get students' tuition fees but not grants for teaching and other support. | They will be part-funded: universities will get students' tuition fees but not grants for teaching and other support. |
| Funding is from existing budgets and in part by cutting student loan repayment holidays from five years to two. | Funding is from existing budgets and in part by cutting student loan repayment holidays from five years to two. |
| The repayment holidays were announced last year, to take effect from 2012. | The repayment holidays were announced last year, to take effect from 2012. |
| The idea was to help graduates buying a home or starting a family - but the government has now decided the extra places in a recession are a greater priority. | The idea was to help graduates buying a home or starting a family - but the government has now decided the extra places in a recession are a greater priority. |
| Demand | |
| Similarly, strategic thinking lies behind the decision to confine the additional numbers to the "New Industry, New Jobs agenda", such as the so-called Stem subjects, and only for full-time undergraduates. | |
| Latest application figures from the admissions service Ucas showed more people wanting to study the subjects affected by the announcement, apart from chemistry. | |
| There has been a 10.8% rise in the numbers wanting to take mathematics degrees, for example, and 19.1% more applying to study mechanical engineering. Chemistry numbers were down 1.1%. | There has been a 10.8% rise in the numbers wanting to take mathematics degrees, for example, and 19.1% more applying to study mechanical engineering. Chemistry numbers were down 1.1%. |
| The move comes as demand for university places continues to rise, with 10% more applicants this year than last across the UK - about 50,000 people. | |
| Prior to the latest announcement only 3,000 more full-time places were being provided - suggesting tens of thousands would not get on a course. | |
| Announcing the details, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "By making available 10,000 extra places in science, technology and maths we are not only helping more individuals with the ambition and ability to go to university but also investing in this country's future. | Announcing the details, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "By making available 10,000 extra places in science, technology and maths we are not only helping more individuals with the ambition and ability to go to university but also investing in this country's future. |
| "Our expansion of higher education is more important now than ever as we continue to invest in a highly skilled workforce to win the jobs of the future and lead the way in building Britain's future." | "Our expansion of higher education is more important now than ever as we continue to invest in a highly skilled workforce to win the jobs of the future and lead the way in building Britain's future." |
| Quality concerns | Quality concerns |
| The funding the government says it is providing will cover students' maintenance grants and their loans for tuition fees. | The funding the government says it is providing will cover students' maintenance grants and their loans for tuition fees. |
| A statement from the Business, Innovation and Skills department (Bis) said higher education institutions had said they could recruit more students "without compromising the quality of their offer". | A statement from the Business, Innovation and Skills department (Bis) said higher education institutions had said they could recruit more students "without compromising the quality of their offer". |
| Higher Education Minister David Lammy said: "In tougher times it is right that we continue to invest which is why we are providing funding today to help meet some of the unprecedented demand to study at university." | Higher Education Minister David Lammy said: "In tougher times it is right that we continue to invest which is why we are providing funding today to help meet some of the unprecedented demand to study at university." |
| A spokesman for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) said it had yet to receive guidance from Bis on how the extra places would be shared out. This was expected soon. | |
| The 1994 Group of 18 research-intensive universities said they would want to help meet the extra demand - but said additional teaching funding was also required "to maintain the quality of student experience". | |
| "Offering the highest quality of degrees is crucial to give graduates the best chances of employability in a tough job market," said the group's chair-elect, Professor Paul Wellings, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University. | "Offering the highest quality of degrees is crucial to give graduates the best chances of employability in a tough job market," said the group's chair-elect, Professor Paul Wellings, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University. |
| "In this environment, we must ensure that UK universities stay focused on the quality of their degrees." | "In this environment, we must ensure that UK universities stay focused on the quality of their degrees." |