A flagship outreach scheme that aims to get more people from under-represented groups into English universities has suffered another cut to its funding.
Uni Connect will receive a budget of £20 million in 2024-25, down from the £30 million it received last year and just a third of the £60 million funding it had in 2020-21, it was announced on 4 April.
In a letter outlining the next strategic priorities grant (SPG) the government will provide to the Office for Students, the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, said the budget for the programme – which a recent analysis determined generates between £5 and £9 of economic activity for every £1 spent – should be reduced by £10 million.
Despite the cut, Ms Keegan said she was still committed to ensuring a wider group of people go to university.
