UCU says complicated bursary system is not working

UCU joint general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The complicated system of bursaries, grants and fees is no doubt confusing many students and their parents, and is clearly not working. This report shows no real progress in the government's attempts to widen participation at university but does reveal pots of surplus cash in many institutions' bursaries pools.

'Rather than fiddling still further with this complicated system, the government should be ensuring higher education is properly funded so all students have the possibility to achieve their full potential, and that they are taught by properly-paid staff in well-resourced institutions.

'UK students already pay among the highest student fees in Western Europe, yet we lag behind competitor countries in what we spend proportionately on higher education. Unless the government commits to greater investment we will start to fall behind in what we can offer students.'