Boost for subject groups

SUBJECT groups whose supporters said they would lose out from planned changes to funding are likely to get more teaching money after all.

Geographers, psychologists and archaeologists protested against being placed in the lowest funding band as "classroom-based" subjects in a Higher Education Funding Council for England review.

After extensive lobbying, the funding council has revised its classifications. The four price groups are to be: clinical; science, engineering and technology; intermediate cost subjects with a studio, part-laboratory or field work element, and all other subjects.

Disciplines which incur extra costs will be asked to produce evidence of this to HEFCE and should receive more money. A review of the number and make-up of costs centres could follow in the longer term.

Other changes to the funding method will include premiums for part-time students, full-time mature students and specialist institutions. Institutions will be able to bid for extra student numbers next year.