UNITED KINGDOM

Universities warn of plans to cut 1,100 student places

Northern Ireland's universities have warned that they will have to cut 1,100 student places in the fall-out from last week's executive draft budget, reports the BBC News.

The Department for Employment and Learning is to lose almost £81 million (US$130 million). As a result, Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster said student places would be cut from next September.

The vice-chancellors of the universities said their talented people were "one of NI's greatest resources". In a joint statement, they said those lost to Northern Ireland universities would probably go to England or Scotland and pay £9,000 fees.
Full report on the BBC site