The recently released film Jude has sent a frisson through university administration departments in the last frantic weeks of trying to hit student number targets. "How times change," remarked one frazzled marketing manager, noting that had the hero of Thomas Hardy's novel been pursuing his dream of a university place in the late 20th rather than late 19th century he might still have a chance of a place this year, particularly in science or engineering. So much the better if he were a mature student, provided he did not do himself down about being obscure.