By
Lucy Phillips
23 September 2010
A report published on September 23 by the Office for Fair Access found that the offer of higher bursaries for poorer students to go to the most selective universities had not made them more likely to apply. Since the introduction of bursaries in 2006, no more disadvantaged young people are entering Russell group universities than in the mid-1990s.
The report, Have bursaries influenced choices between universities?, found that while the grants had been a ‘huge success’ in widening access to universities overall, their size had no effect. Generally, the most generous ones are offered by the top institutions.
Offa director Sir Martin Harris told Public Finance that it was ‘crystal clear’ that, out of the factors influencing university choice, ‘it is not a bit more money at 18’.
He called on the most selective universities to immediately divert money used for higher bursaries to outreach projects in schools or colleges, which would have far more impact.
The Offa findings came ahead of Lord Browne’s review of university funding, due to be published next month. He is widely expected to recommend a substantial rise in tuition fees to help universities combat reduced funding from government. However, Business Secretary Vince Cable has expressed strong support for an earnings-linked graduate tax.
Harris said that if tuition fees were to escalate, top universities would need to ‘make significantly bolder gestures to make sure poor talented students get in’. He suggested waiving fees altogether as an alternative to higher bursaries. Harris added that outreach work to teenagers choosing GCSEs and A-levels was just as important since institutions ‘can only waive the fee of someone who applies’.
The University and College Union has long criticised the bursary system for being ‘confusing and unfair’, calling for a simplified national system.
23 September 2010
Means-tested grants are failing to encourage students from poor backgrounds to go to the UK’s top universities, prompting calls for them to be replaced if tuition fees rise.
A report published on September 23 by the Office for Fair Access found that the offer of higher bursaries for poorer students to go to the most selective universities had not made them more likely to apply. Since the introduction of bursaries in 2006, no more disadvantaged young people are entering Russell group universities than in the mid-1990s.
The report, Have bursaries influenced choices between universities?, found that while the grants had been a ‘huge success’ in widening access to universities overall, their size had no effect. Generally, the most generous ones are offered by the top institutions.
Offa director Sir Martin Harris told Public Finance that it was ‘crystal clear’ that, out of the factors influencing university choice, ‘it is not a bit more money at 18’.
He called on the most selective universities to immediately divert money used for higher bursaries to outreach projects in schools or colleges, which would have far more impact.
The Offa findings came ahead of Lord Browne’s review of university funding, due to be published next month. He is widely expected to recommend a substantial rise in tuition fees to help universities combat reduced funding from government. However, Business Secretary Vince Cable has expressed strong support for an earnings-linked graduate tax.
Harris said that if tuition fees were to escalate, top universities would need to ‘make significantly bolder gestures to make sure poor talented students get in’. He suggested waiving fees altogether as an alternative to higher bursaries. Harris added that outreach work to teenagers choosing GCSEs and A-levels was just as important since institutions ‘can only waive the fee of someone who applies’.
Harris also said that it was unlikely the government would ‘approve anything that makes it financially more difficult for poor but talented people to go to selective universities’. An absolute cap on the number of places available, however, ‘clearly may deter some people', he said. ‘Lots of people failed to get in this autumn because they could not get a place, not because they are short of money.’
Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, called for the current bursary system to be replaced by an approach that allowed universities to develop their own financial aid policies ‘within the context of an overall strategy to widen participation’. He added that the Offa research had shown ‘financial aid alone is not sufficient to widen participation’.The University and College Union has long criticised the bursary system for being ‘confusing and unfair’, calling for a simplified national system.
