Funding for students taking a second undergraduate degree will be cut this year by the government. The Conservative motion opposing the plan was defeated.

Cuts of around £100m a year were announced in September last year. The money that has been used up till now to fund students studying for a second degree or lower qualifications will now be redirected towards students taking their first degrees.

The government has claimed that the new funding system will widen access to universities.

John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said: "I believe that both economic success and social justice argue that public money should go first to those who have never had the chance of higher education.”

Universities are already permitted to regulate fees for students taking a second degree. The government cuts will produce an increase in fees, which are expected to exceed £7,000 per year.

The change will affect around 170,000 students, most of whom will be part-time or mature students.

Opponents have argued that cuts will deny students the opportunity to re-skill. It has been noted that shifting careers can be beneficial not only to individuals, but for the economy as a whole.

David Willetts, the Conservative university spokesman, said: "We do not want to live in a country where if at first you don't succeed, you don't succeed. We want people to have a second chance. We want people to have new opportunities.”

Although some Labour MPs have opposed the cuts, the majority want to prioritise those entering higher education or progressing to higher qualifications. Mr Denham added that in many cases of retraining the employer could cover some of the costs of a second degree.