In an attempt to fill university places this term, institutions across the country are offering cash incentives, laptops and iPads to attract prospective students.
University admission rules across the country have been affected by government reforms, which scrap the limit on how many students with AAB grades and above that each university can accept. As a result, it is possible for institutions to recruit unrestricted numbers of students.
The reform particularly effects lower-ranking institutions, due to leading universities obtaining higher quantities of students. Reportedly, at least sixty middle and lower ranking universities in England (according to The Sunday Times league table) have started to work on attracting students through more innovative initiatives.
Goldsmiths College has one of the more generous incentives, offering course fee waivers to the ten highest-scoring students from Lewisham, saving each student £27,000 in tuition fees. Incentives are also being offered to students with lower grades; the Newman University of Birmingham is offering a £10,000 grant to students with a minimum of BBB on some courses.
Many of the offered packages include additional non-cash incentives. Surrey University will give a free membership to Surrey Sports Park health centre alongside £3,000 to successful applicants with A level grades of A*AA or higher. Newcastle offer to all AAB students £2,000 per year and a laptop.
But despite The University of Exeter recruiting 600 extra students this year, a University spokesperson revealed that no such offers were made to prospective students. “Applications are at a record level and no incentives were needed for 2013 entrees,” they said.
Dannee McGuire, News Team
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