Huddersfield University funding cuts will lead to competition for places

Feb 2 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CUTS in university funding are likely to leave hundreds of students disappointed in Huddersfield.

And the cutbacks will also lead to increased competition for places at Huddersfield, its deputy vice-chancellor has said.

Professor Peter Slee said applications to Huddersfield University have increased by 23% compared with the same time last year.

But as student places had remained unchanged, there would be increased competition for the places and could mean around 1,000 applications are rejected.

It comes as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) outlined their spending plans for teaching, research and capital for all English universities.

Prof Slee said they were told yesterday that all universities will have £449m cut from their budgets.

Initially, £180m of ‘efficiency savings’ were on proposed for 2010-11, with a further £135m expected to be added.

But now a further £600m in funding cuts will be made for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years.

Prof Slee said: “At Huddersfield we are continuing to be a popular university and attracting more applications.

“Going back to 2007 the government promised universities some additional places this year and next, but universities have not been given those.

“On the other hand we’ve not had any taken away either.