Universities bailing out students due to loan delays

Universities have been forced to spend thousands of pounds helping students make ends meet as a direct result of the collapse of the Government’s system of student finance.

A BBC survey has found that three quarters of universities have had to provide emergency funding to students.

David Willetts, Shadow Universities and Skills Secretary, said that tens of thousands of students are yet to receive the money they are due, with disabled and poorer students being particularly badly hit.

Despite this, Willetts said the Government "still refuses to take responsibility" for the situation. "Ministers urgently need to get a grip on the crisis so that students are not forced to drop out and those that start university in January get their money on time", he added.