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Kingston students miss out on funds |
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Written by Chris Campbell
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Monday, 27 April 2009 18:47 |
Thousands of Kingston University students are missing out on funding through the Access to Learning Fund despite big admission increases at other UK universities.
Over 1,600 students in debt to the university and a further 850 final year students have been contacted by the Student Funding Team but application numbers have remained the same as before the economic crisis. Keith Houghton, KU's Head of Student Funding, said: "We have proactively contacted students who are in debt to the university and final year students to advise them that funds are still available." The Student Funding Team has sent application forms to campus receptions and LRCs, put posters around each campus and uploaded information on ‘Studentspace’ to promote the service. Mr Houghton said: "We contacted these students by email to advise them of our service and the potential availability of additional support. Where the emails bounced back we re-sent them to alternative email addresses held for the student and where they bounced we sent a letter." Inquiries at Kingston remain the same despite admission requests at some higher institutions in the UK rising as much as 38%. Abdirahman Shah, a third-year Kingston student, said: "It’s difficult because the finance team need to publicise but if they advertise too much it would encourage everybody to apply. Manchester University has temporarily suspended applications to their ALF until later this month to help clear the backlog of applications they have received. Other universities, including Cardiff, Exeter and Nottingham, blame a lack of part-time jobs for the increase in student funding. Gail Hardwick, employment manager at Leeds University Student Union, said: "For some students it’s absolutely critical that they work during term time. It’s the difference between them being able to complete their course or dropping out." Mr Houghton claimed Kingston students are "not as badly hit" by losing part-time work as "about 70% live in a 20 mile radius" and in close proximity to London. Abdirahman said: "I've had to apply for another job recently and there are more opportunities near London than anywhere else." The ALF is financed each year by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and is designed to help students with higher than expected costs or a financial emergency. Mr Houghton added: "At Kingston we have not seen an increase in the number of students applying for the Access to Learning Fund. "In fact, in terms of numbers, they are about the same as this time last year."
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