UCU responds to government speech on university admissions

The union was responding to a speech by John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) annual conference.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU members work hard to ensure that admissions processes are fair. Greater transparency should help universities demonstrate to all students that if they have the potential they should apply.

'However, the reality is that despite a number of laudable aims from the government, the greatest barriers to study for many potential students are high costs, debt and the fear of debt. The current policy of sentencing students to record levels of debt is in desperate need of a rethink, something next year's fees review must address.'