26.03.09
1994 Group highlights success of variable bursaries and calls for end to debate on national bursary scheme
1994 Group universities have met, and in over a third of cases exceeded, their commitments to increase the number of bursaries and scholarships for students from poorer backgrounds, as highlighted by OFFA’s access arrangements report today.
Paul Marshall, Executive Director of the 1994 Group, commented that: “This report should end any calls for a 'national bursary scheme’. The present system – in which universities develop individual bursary schemes to meet the specific needs of their students – is proving a success and should continue. 1994 Group universities are strongly committed to improving access and are using variable bursaries as a tool to assist fair access and persuade students from lower socio-economic groups to attend world-class research-intensive universities.”
“A national bursary scheme would be a big mistake, it would effectively be a tax, a forced pooling of tuition fee income, which would be distributed away from the institution to which a student pays his or her fee. It would seriously compromise the direct relationship between a student's fees and their education.”
The sixteen 1994 Group universities covered in the report are investing £28.4m this year in student support and outreach activity, and by the time the scheme reaches maturity will be spending more than £42m on this activity. This year, over a third of 1994 Group universities are spending even more on bursaries than they have committed too, to further encourage access to HE for under-represented groups The 1994 Group strongly supports OFFA’s remarks that a national financial support for lower income students already exists in the form of Government grants and loans and the minimum bursary, and that the system is working well.
Notes to Editors
1. The 1994 Group represents 18 of UK’s leading research intensive universities. It was established in 1994 to promote excellence in University research and teaching. www.1994group.ac.uk
2. The OFFA report includes 16 of the 18 1994 Group member universities. One Scottish member University – St Andrew’s – is outside the OFFA scheme’s jurisdiction while another – Birkbeck – is excluded because its undergraduate provision is part time
3. 1994 Group members include 9 of the top 20 universities in the UK (The Independent League Table 2009) and 9 of the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2008). 5 of the top 8 universities for student experience are 1994 Group Universities (2008 National Student Survey)
4. In 16 major subject areas 1994 Group universities are the UK leaders achieving 1st place in their field (THE RAE subject rankings 2008). 57% of the 1994 Group’s research is rated 4* ‘world-leading’ or 3* ‘internationally excellent’ (RAE 2008, HEFCE) and 7 1994 Group members are in the top 20 in the Times RAE 2008 League Tables.
5. The 1994 Group represents: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of London, University of Durham, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of York.
6. Press Enquiries: Alistair Jarvis, Director of Communications, 1994 Group. Tel: 0207 872 5596. Mob: 07779 232 731. Email: alistair.jarvis@1994group.co.uk