Top universities warned over 'slow' admissions progress

The number of disadvantaged students admitted to sought-after UK institutions remained flat last year, it was claimed. The Office for Fair Access said attempts to attract more applicants had been too “slow” and all institutions would be expected to set more ambitious targets for 2012-13, writes Graeme Patron for The Telegraph.

It emerged that fewer students from disadvantaged backgrounds were admitted to England’s 33 leading universities last year with some form of financial support. But more undergraduates claimed a full bursary, figures showed, suggesting that a far larger share of available cash is being concentrated on the very poorest students, at the expense of partial subsidies handed to those from lower middle-class households.

Figures also showed that the amount of financial help being invested in deprived students increased across the English higher education system from £403.7 million (US$629 million) in 2009-10 to £424.2 million last year.
Full report on The Telegraph site