Universities ‘failing’ poor students

THE majority of universities in Yorkshire spent less of their income helping poorer students get into higher education last year than they did 12 months earlier, a report published today reveals.

Five of the region’s universities spent a smaller share of money generated through fees on bursaries, scholarships and outreach work in 2009-10 than in the previous academic year, according to the Office For Fair Access (OFFA).

The university watchdog also revealed that Leeds Metropolitan was one of 44 universities across the country which did not hit its own targets for recruiting students from poorer backgrounds. Almost one-in four higher education providers failed to meet their goals, OFFA warned.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The office’s director Sir Martin Harris said: “The large majority of universities and colleges are also meeting their statistical targets. Where they are not doing so, I am concerned to understand the reasons why.

“Over the coming months, we will therefore be discussing performance with a range of institutions, including those that have reported the least progress.”

Under the current system, universities that charge more than a basic rate of around £1,200 in fees have to agree to access agreements with OFFA which set out how they will support students from deprived backgrounds getting into university. The new figures are from the 2009-10 year when the maximum universities could charge was £3,225.

When fees are raised to a maximum of £9,000-a-year in 2012 universities who charge more than £6,000 have to agree to access arrangements.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The new figures show Bradford spent the biggest share of income it received above the basic fee rate in Yorkshire.

Tables show it invested more than £3m in 2009-10 in bursaries and scholarships – 29.5 per cent of the income it generated over the base fee level. Leeds Met invested the lowest share of its additional income in the region according to today’s figures. It spent only £17,000 on bursaries and scholarships but £1m on outreach activities.

Yorkshire’s nine universities spent £34m on bursaries and scholarships and another £3m on outreach work in 2009-10.

The report also revealed that the size of bursaries students are receiving has got smaller over three years. On average, students received a bursary of £935 a year in 2009-10, down from £942 in 2008-09 and £1,019 in 2007-08.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sir Martin said institutions can decide to give funding to “more or less everybody” or decide it is only for students on the very lowest incomes.

“What we’ve tried to do is encourage universities to focus money more on students that are genuinely disadvantaged,” he said.

Smaller average bursaries is “going in the wrong direction”, Sir Martin suggested.

“It is better to focus more on students whose income level is particularly low.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added that the latest report is for 2009-10 and universities are likely to be encouraged to focus on giving large sums to smaller numbers of very disadvantaged students in the future. OFFA has already signed off on university access arrangements for next year when fees rise to £9,000.

The Yorkshire Post reported earlier this year that the amount the region’s universities spend on fee waivers, bursaries or accommodation discounts will rise to around £71m by 2015.

The Government has introduced a National Scholarship Programme, worth £150m a year, which will be matched funded by universities.

Although this is expected to increase the support given to students from the poorest households it will mainly be through fee waivers rather than cash support.