I was interested to read your article on languages students having to pay fees for an extra year abroad ("Financial aid plea for language students". August 26). Aston University will be offering bursaries of £1,500 for all students on their year abroad from 2006 entry. This not only provides an incentive to study languages but also demonstrates our support for this essential year. Aston also has a dedicated multilingual international placements officer who manages and supports students abroad.
The university expects to enrol more than 150 first-year students studying languages this year. We study languages in the context of culture, business, politics, translation and history rather than just literature, making students highly employable.
James Seymour Aston University