HEFCE pulls cash for returning students

In January the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) confirmed that from this year it will stop funding HEIs and FE colleges in England to teach the majority of new ELQ students, ie those studying for a second qualification that is equal to or lower than a qualification they have already been awarded. The decision is part of HEFCE's policy to reduce funding for ELQ students by £100 million by 2010-11. The policy was drawn up in response to a request made in September by John Denham MP, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, to withdraw institutional funding for ELQ students and redistribute the cash to support students who are either entering HE for the first time, or progressing to higher qualifications.  

The final policy sets out that the ELQ allocation will be gradually phased out over a period of up to six years. Funding for ELQ students who have already started courses is not affected. To support HEFCE's policy to engage employers in HE and to offer graduates a route to acquire new skills for use in the workplace, foundation degrees are exempt from the policy as are a select few subjects, including teacher training, medicine and social work.