60,000 MAY BE DENIED UNIVERSITY PLACE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 16th Jan 2004

The Secretary of State for Education has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to "carefully monitor" student numbers. This follows the release of figures by the Liberal Democrats which reveal that 60,000 extra students might apply for university entry a year early in order to avoid top-up fees. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Higher Education Spokesperson David Rendel MP said:

"Top-up fees will create a disincentive for students to take a gap year in 2005. By waiting the extra year they would end up having to pay top-up fees. Sadly, the Government is refusing to make any concession to prevent this from happening.

"Gap year students come disproportionately from independent schools and the south and are well qualified to win university places. If there is a sudden rush of applicants, 60,000 students, disproportionately from less well off backgrounds, could be denied a university place - in defiance of the Government's calls to increase social inclusion.

"The Secretary of State's warning to HEFCE confirms what the Liberal Democrats have been saying all along."