000's OF STUDENTS LEFT OUT

Students continue to feel the brunt of the recession, as a government cap on the number of university places leaves tens of thousands of hopeful students with nowhere to study.

Already feeling the slump in the job market, applications for university places in England rose by 10% this year - but the number of places available did not rise in line with this.

Million+, a think tank led by 28 modern universities, have spoken out at the situation, warning that it could result in a "lost generation of talent". A spokesperson for the organisation attested that "by 2020, half the jobs in this country are going to need people with a high level of skills", claiming this presents a strong "case for investment".

In a further bungle, Exeter University offered around 200 applicants a place at the institution - only to tell them several days later there was not actually a place for them. By this time, clearing had all but finished, leaving these students without a place. Anywhere.

Exeter’s Vice Chancellor said that she was "sorry that problems in our admissions process have caused uncertainty for some applicants". Exeter has offered the students affected a place for 2010.

MATTHEW FRANCIS TAYLOR
COMMENT EDITOR