14 June 2010

million+ comment on university places survey

Commenting on a Daily Telegraph survey, which shows three in four institutions are cutting or freezing university places in 2010, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+, said: “This survey and recent figures from UCAS confirm that there is an unprecedented demand from people of all ages to study at university in 2010. The decision of the Coalition Government to reduce the number of additional university places means that there will be an even greater mismatch between those who want to study at university and the number of places available.”

“Students from lower socio-economic and non-traditional backgrounds are more likely to apply late or through clearing and often present with lower pre-entry qualifications. These students, who have the ability and who are likely to significantly improve their life-chances by studying at university, will be most at risk of not getting a place this year.”

“Ministers, who themselves benefitted from a university education, need to be cautious about pulling up the ladder and denying people the opportunity to study at university when there is no economic or social justification for such a policy.”

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk

2. According to UCAS figures, as of the end of May there had been 640,760 applications, a rise of 77,758 (13.8%) on last year.

3. For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Victoria Mills on 020 7717 1659 or 07900 277819