This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8491729.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
University budget cuts revealed University budget cuts revealed
(30 minutes later)
England's university budgets are being cut by £449m in the next academic year - prompting warnings that thousands could miss out on university places. England's university budgets are being cut by £449m, leading student places to be reduced by an estimated 6,000 in the next academic year.
Teaching budgets are being reduced by £215m, a real terms cut of 1.6% on 2009-10, says the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Teaching budgets are being reduced by £215m, a cut in real terms of 1.6% on 2009-10 levels, says the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Research funding is being frozen, while the buildings budget is cut by 15%.Research funding is being frozen, while the buildings budget is cut by 15%.
Student leaders say this "amounts to national self-harm" - while ministers say universities are "scaremongering".Student leaders say this "amounts to national self-harm" - while ministers say universities are "scaremongering".
National Union of Students leader, Wes Streeting, says the cuts threaten "irreversible damage" to higher education.National Union of Students leader, Wes Streeting, says the cuts threaten "irreversible damage" to higher education.
'Testing times''Testing times'
"In spite of protestations to the contrary, the cuts being imposed by the government are going to hit teaching, research and the number of places available at a time of record demand," said Mr Streeting."In spite of protestations to the contrary, the cuts being imposed by the government are going to hit teaching, research and the number of places available at a time of record demand," said Mr Streeting.
SPENDING ON UNIVERSITIES Finland 1.6%Sweden 1.4%France 1.1%United States 1%Germany 0.9%UK 0.9%Poland 0.9%Spain 0.9%Italy 0.7%Japan 0.5% Source: OECD, public spending on higher education as percentage of GDP. Most recent figures 2006.SPENDING ON UNIVERSITIES Finland 1.6%Sweden 1.4%France 1.1%United States 1%Germany 0.9%UK 0.9%Poland 0.9%Spain 0.9%Italy 0.7%Japan 0.5% Source: OECD, public spending on higher education as percentage of GDP. Most recent figures 2006.
"Singling out universities for cuts of this kind seems to me to be an extraordinary act of self harm by the government.""Singling out universities for cuts of this kind seems to me to be an extraordinary act of self harm by the government."
Funding council chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, said there are "testing times but higher education has benefited from very substantial growth over the past 10 years". Funding council chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, said these were "testing times", but that higher education had seen substantial growth over the past decade.
The pressure to cut spending comes as universities face unprecedented demand for places. But his statisticians estimate the funding package translates to a reduction in student places in England of about 6,000 on 2009-10 levels.
Professor Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, has warned that more than 200,000 applicants could be left without a place this summer. The pressures come as universities face unprecedented demand for places - with some institutions reporting increases in applications of more than 20%.
Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, has warned that more than 200,000 applicants could be left without a place this summer.
Professor Smith said the funding details "indicate that the cuts are even deeper than expected".
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
The biggest saving will be in teaching - with next year's allocation of £4.7bn representing a decrease of 1.6% in real terms, compared with this year.The biggest saving will be in teaching - with next year's allocation of £4.7bn representing a decrease of 1.6% in real terms, compared with this year.
Research spending has been maintained - with £1.6bn to be allocated next year.Research spending has been maintained - with £1.6bn to be allocated next year.
Capital spending will be £562m, a reduction of almost 15%.Capital spending will be £562m, a reduction of almost 15%.
Universities are expected to receive their individual budgets next month.Universities are expected to receive their individual budgets next month.
'Meltdown' Rising demand
Last month, leaders of the top universities said the programme of cuts could cause a "meltdown" in their sector. The biggest rises in applications have been reported by new universities - and Pam Tatlow, chief executive of their representative group, Million+, has highlighted the concerns about the limit on places.
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. "It's not just that we're being capped at this level, but it's the fact that demand has risen because of the recession and the number of 18-year-olds has gone up," she said.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY This is wasting talent needed for an efficient and successful economy and it's extremely short-sighted.Andy, Camberley class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7460">Send us your comments Paul Marshall of the 1994 Group of research intensive universities said the funding cuts seemed "incompatible" with the government's ambitions for higher education.
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.
Wes Streeting of the National Union of Students and Anastasia de Waal from think tank Civitas debate a possible reduction in degrees Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said the government's target to get half of young people into university was proving to be "empty rhetoric" and that record numbers of bright young people would be turned away this summer.
General secretary of the University and College Union Sally Hunt said the higher education system was already creaking under the pressure of government efficiency savings and the planned cuts would be a devastating blow.
"Other leading economies are investing money in universities in order to help economic growth and widen participation, yet our government seems intent on doing the opposite."
Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said the government's target to get half of young people into university was proving to be "empty rhetoric".
"Targeting universities for cuts in this way is setting us up to see record numbers of bright young people turned away this summer."