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| One in four university degree courses cut, figures show | One in four university degree courses cut, figures show |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter | |
| There has been a 27% drop in the number of full-time undergraduate degree courses offered at UK universities over the past six years, data shows. | There has been a 27% drop in the number of full-time undergraduate degree courses offered at UK universities over the past six years, data shows. |
| Research by the University and Colleges Union shows the number of undergraduate courses available has decreased from 70,052 in 2006 to 51,116 in 2012. | Research by the University and Colleges Union shows the number of undergraduate courses available has decreased from 70,052 in 2006 to 51,116 in 2012. |
| UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said there was "less choice" for students. | UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said there was "less choice" for students. |
| Dale Bassett, research director of think-tank Reform, said the figures were "misleading". | Dale Bassett, research director of think-tank Reform, said the figures were "misleading". |
| UCU's analysis of data from the admissions service, Ucas, found course reduction was worst in England, at 31%. | UCU's analysis of data from the admissions service, Ucas, found course reduction was worst in England, at 31%. |
| In Scotland, where local students do not pay fees, the reduction was 3%. | In Scotland, where local students do not pay fees, the reduction was 3%. |
| Undergraduate courses available in Northern Ireland were down by 24% between 2006 and 2012, and in Wales they were down by 11%. | Undergraduate courses available in Northern Ireland were down by 24% between 2006 and 2012, and in Wales they were down by 11%. |
| In England, where tuition fees will rise to a maximum of £9,000 per year from this autumn, the rate of course cutting is varied among the regions, with six of the nine regions experiencing a cut of 25% or more. | In England, where tuition fees will rise to a maximum of £9,000 per year from this autumn, the rate of course cutting is varied among the regions, with six of the nine regions experiencing a cut of 25% or more. |
| The South-West is down down by nearly half (47%), the West Midlands and London both down by a third (33%), but in the East Midlands, courses were axed by just 1.4%. | The South-West is down down by nearly half (47%), the West Midlands and London both down by a third (33%), but in the East Midlands, courses were axed by just 1.4%. |
| The report also found that among the single subject courses examined in the UK, science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) has seen a fall of 14.6%, while social science courses had dropped by 12.8%, and arts and humanities were down by 14%. | The report also found that among the single subject courses examined in the UK, science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) has seen a fall of 14.6%, while social science courses had dropped by 12.8%, and arts and humanities were down by 14%. |
| 'Much less choice' | 'Much less choice' |
| Ms Hunt said: "Although students in England are expected to pay up to £9,000 a year to study, there is much less choice for them. | Ms Hunt said: "Although students in England are expected to pay up to £9,000 a year to study, there is much less choice for them. |
| "We fear that shifting the burden of funding from the state to the student means nervous universities will look to axe even more courses that they worry won't make a profit." | "We fear that shifting the burden of funding from the state to the student means nervous universities will look to axe even more courses that they worry won't make a profit." |
| But Mr Bassett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There are far more people going to university than ever before. There are 100,000 more places every year." | But Mr Bassett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There are far more people going to university than ever before. There are 100,000 more places every year." |
| He said: "What we are seeing is choice in action. There are more joint honours degrees, which is what employers want, and more part-time provision." | He said: "What we are seeing is choice in action. There are more joint honours degrees, which is what employers want, and more part-time provision." |
| Ms Hunt disagreed: "There are more students but a reduction in choice. If you are saying that rather than doing a degree in maths or engineering or chemistry you have to do it together than that's a very poor argument." | Ms Hunt disagreed: "There are more students but a reduction in choice. If you are saying that rather than doing a degree in maths or engineering or chemistry you have to do it together than that's a very poor argument." |
| Commenting on the research, Professor James Ladyman, professor of philosophy at the University of Bristol, said: "I am really concerned that under the new funding environment, universities will look at concentrating their resources on courses which they believe will deliver the highest financial return. | Commenting on the research, Professor James Ladyman, professor of philosophy at the University of Bristol, said: "I am really concerned that under the new funding environment, universities will look at concentrating their resources on courses which they believe will deliver the highest financial return. |
| "Provision shouldn't be decided on the basis of short‐term popularity contests, but when you introduce a market that is what happens." | "Provision shouldn't be decided on the basis of short‐term popularity contests, but when you introduce a market that is what happens." |
| A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Our reforms are freeing up places at the institutions where students wish to study and bringing higher education into more local communities. | A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Our reforms are freeing up places at the institutions where students wish to study and bringing higher education into more local communities. |
| "Student choice is becoming more meaningful and no one should be put off as a result financial concerns." | "Student choice is becoming more meaningful and no one should be put off as a result financial concerns." |
| Official figures from Ucas show the numbers of people applying to university in the UK had been rising - up until this year. | Official figures from Ucas show the numbers of people applying to university in the UK had been rising - up until this year. |
| As of January this year, 462,507 UK students had applied for courses beginning this autumn, compared with 506,388 at this point last year, a drop of 8.7%. | As of January this year, 462,507 UK students had applied for courses beginning this autumn, compared with 506,388 at this point last year, a drop of 8.7%. |