Further and higher education colleges have called for fresh expansion, while welcoming the extra student places they have been offered for next year.
Large research-led universities won the lion's share of the extra money for additional student places. Some 70 per cent of the extra money went to universities, with many big names taking more than Pounds 1 million each for the extra places.
"If government is serious about getting half the population into higher education by the time they are 30, then putting more money into full-time higher education for 18-year-olds is not the answer ý the market is saturated. What is needed is learning opportunities for young adults who can acquire a higher education qualification alongside work," said John Brennan, director of further education development at the Association of Colleges.
Patricia Ambrose, chief executive of the Standing Conference of Principals. said: "Of the Pounds 60 million allocated, 15 per cent appears to have gone to higher education colleges. We are pleased to see that higher education colleges have attracted more than their share but we feel that there is still more capacity to expand further."
The Open University gained the most money ý some Pounds 3.8 million ý for extra students. The money will pay for an extra 2,000 students.