V-cs bow to pressure to extend fee deadline

STUDENTS going to university this autumn are to be given extra time to pay tuition fees, vice-chancellors have announced.

Those who cannot afford to pay up to Pounds 1,000 on arrival are to be given until the start of their second term or semester to make the payment, the Committee of Vice- Chancellors and Principals said.

The announcement follows a decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to base its grants on the assumption that fee money may not be received until the second term.

HEFCE had been facing pressure from new university heads to "front load" its annual grant to help cover fee shortfalls. Local authority delays in means testing to decide how much fee students should pay are expected.

Douglas Trainer, NUS president, said: "More time to pay fees will alleviate the problem, but we are still expecting many students to face difficulties."