Return to numbers cap could be ‘disaster’ for some students

Think tank warns against reintroduction of cap on student numbers in the UK

A return to student number controls would hit the most disadvantaged students hardest and prove a “disaster” for social mobility, the Higher Education Policy Institute has warned.

Reducing places in response to a cut in funding for universities would leave applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds fighting for places as they are likely to achieve lower grades than their more advantaged counterparts, Hepi said in its report.