Update: 12:20

Historians bite back at Clarke
The Royal Historical Society has condemned the government's higher education white paper as narrowly utilitarian saying it ignores universities' role in the "pursuit of enlightenment". The society's submission to the white paper consultation comes in the wake of comments by education secretary Charles Clarke who attacked learning for learning's sake by saying that "ornamental" subjects like medieval history should not be funded from the public purse. The society's submission says: "[...]highlights an alarming neglect of learning, in both old and new-fashioned senses, as a moral end in itself. It neglects non-utilitarian values and motives on the part of higher educaton students as well as their teachers. It ignores enlightenment. If a liberal arts education does not offer wider intellectual horizons, it has little point."

Student accomodation company reports surge in demand
Student accommodation company Unite has reported a surge in demand for rooms for the forthcoming academic year with three-quarters of available spaces already booked. The company, which operates nearly 100 accommodation complexes for students and key workers in 30 UK cities, said that the strong demand was fuelled by rising applications at a number of universities.