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| Thousands 'to miss out on degree' | Thousands 'to miss out on degree' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of would-be students will be denied a university place because of spending cuts, says higher education body Universities UK. | Hundreds of thousands of would-be students will be denied a university place because of spending cuts, says higher education body Universities UK. |
| Universities' funding body Hefce will later outline how spending on teaching, research and capital will be allocated in England in the next academic year. | Universities' funding body Hefce will later outline how spending on teaching, research and capital will be allocated in England in the next academic year. |
| For 2010-11, cuts of £135m have been added to "efficiency savings" of £180m - with a further £600m to follow. | For 2010-11, cuts of £135m have been added to "efficiency savings" of £180m - with a further £600m to follow. |
| Higher Education Minister David Lammy said the fears were "scaremongering". | Higher Education Minister David Lammy said the fears were "scaremongering". |
| Professor Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, said the cuts would impact on the quality of teaching, as managers prepared to cut teaching budgets for the first time since Labour came to power. | Professor Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, said the cuts would impact on the quality of teaching, as managers prepared to cut teaching budgets for the first time since Labour came to power. |
| He added that the cuts would increase competition for places. | He added that the cuts would increase competition for places. |
| Over the past decade, the government has invested record amounts in higher education David Lammy, Higher Education Minister | Over the past decade, the government has invested record amounts in higher education David Lammy, Higher Education Minister |
| Mr Smith, vice chancellor of Exeter University, said: "Last year about 160,000 students who applied didn't end up going to university. | Mr Smith, vice chancellor of Exeter University, said: "Last year about 160,000 students who applied didn't end up going to university. |
| "This year, we already know that there are about another 75,000 applying for university." | "This year, we already know that there are about another 75,000 applying for university." |
| This means some 230,000 could miss out. | This means some 230,000 could miss out. |
| He added: "So the number of students who go to university will be less than the number that actually want to go and thus there will be a lot of students this year who do not get a place at university." | He added: "So the number of students who go to university will be less than the number that actually want to go and thus there will be a lot of students this year who do not get a place at university." |
| Although Universities UK represents higher education bodies across the UK, these funding arrangements relate to England. | Although Universities UK represents higher education bodies across the UK, these funding arrangements relate to England. |
| 'Meltdown' | |
| Last month, leaders of the top universities said the programme of cuts could cause a "meltdown" in their sector. | Last month, leaders of the top universities said the programme of cuts could cause a "meltdown" in their sector. |
| The Russell Group of leading research universities warned that a succession of cuts could lead to universities and courses closing and much higher student ratios, damaging "gold standard" universities beyond repair. | The Russell Group of leading research universities warned that a succession of cuts could lead to universities and courses closing and much higher student ratios, damaging "gold standard" universities beyond repair. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY This is wasting talent needed for an efficient and successful economy and it's extremely short-sighted.Andy, Camberley Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY This is wasting talent needed for an efficient and successful economy and it's extremely short-sighted.Andy, Camberley Send us your comments |
| Higher Education Minister for England, Mr Lammy, said the savings were relatively small and that he was confident that Hefce could achieve these in a way that "minimises the impact on teaching". | Higher Education Minister for England, Mr Lammy, said the savings were relatively small and that he was confident that Hefce could achieve these in a way that "minimises the impact on teaching". |
| He said: "Investment in higher education has gone up by 25% since 1997. Next year there will be more students at university than every before in our history." | He said: "Investment in higher education has gone up by 25% since 1997. Next year there will be more students at university than every before in our history." |
| He said that university entrance had always been a competitive business and added that the ratio of lecturers to students was higher today than it was five years ago. | He said that university entrance had always been a competitive business and added that the ratio of lecturers to students was higher today than it was five years ago. |
| The funding council is giving more detail than it normally would because of the unexpected cuts announced before Christmas. | The funding council is giving more detail than it normally would because of the unexpected cuts announced before Christmas. |
| A Hefce spokesman said it would be giving the detail of high-level decisions it had made on how to allocate funding to universities. | A Hefce spokesman said it would be giving the detail of high-level decisions it had made on how to allocate funding to universities. |
| Wes Streeting of the National Union of Students and Anastasia de Waal from think tank Civitas debate a possible reduction in degrees | Wes Streeting of the National Union of Students and Anastasia de Waal from think tank Civitas debate a possible reduction in degrees |
| Further cuts ahead | Further cuts ahead |
| "The main purpose of this announcement is for the sector to be able to plan," he said. | "The main purpose of this announcement is for the sector to be able to plan," he said. |
| "We are issuing something that has a lot more detail this year, because of the current financial situation, because of the extra pressures." | "We are issuing something that has a lot more detail this year, because of the current financial situation, because of the extra pressures." |
| It will be sent out urgently to vice-chancellors by e-mail to enable them to redraw their budgets. | It will be sent out urgently to vice-chancellors by e-mail to enable them to redraw their budgets. |
| However, the announcement will not be broken down by university or course subject. Universities will get those figures in March. | However, the announcement will not be broken down by university or course subject. Universities will get those figures in March. |
| The savings of nearly £315m are expected in 2010-2011 from universities' £7.3bn teaching budgets set out in the last comprehensive spending review. | The savings of nearly £315m are expected in 2010-2011 from universities' £7.3bn teaching budgets set out in the last comprehensive spending review. |
| However, overall spending on higher education will increase compared to last year. | However, overall spending on higher education will increase compared to last year. |
| Further savings of £600m across the higher education, science and research budgets are required over 2011-2013. | Further savings of £600m across the higher education, science and research budgets are required over 2011-2013. |