Universities face fines for exceeding cap on student numbers

Universities in England and Wales could face millions of pounds in fines according to statistics suggesting they accepted more than the permitted allowance of students this year.

Figures from the official university applications service, UCAS, show that universities accepted 35,000 students more than last year, despite a ministerial cap placed last October.

The figures have dismissed fears that a surge in applications would leave up to 60,000 students without a place at university.

Despite the increased number of acceptances, the figures still show that some have missed out on a place, with a 10 per cent rise in applications being accompanied by an 8 per cent rise in acceptances.

Anthony McClaran, chief executive of UCAS, said: “The number of students admitted this year is pretty well in step with the number of applicants. Although there was a great fear in advance of clearing that thousands of students would be turned away, in practice that does not seem to have happened.

“Certainly the fears that large numbers of well qualified students would be turned away don’t seem to have been realised.”

Professor Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and chair of the Million+ university think tank, said that he believes his university has kept within the allowed limit.

However, he added that it was too early to make firm conclusions, admitting “it will be nail-biting time because of the fines they are threatening. It’s not fair to fine universities for educating students – particularly in a recession. At the very least the government should come out and say what they intend to do".

The cap on student numbers was introduced in England and Wales following the discovery of a £200 million gap in university funding .