The government said today universities could provide 10,000 extra places next year but refused to offer any extra funding to cover teaching costs, the Timesonline reports.
Previously, as a surge in application and a freeze on student numbers had meant 50,000 students were likely to miss out on a place this autumn.
However, the government now said there is a U-turn which will allow 10,000 extra places to enter universities, according to the Timeonline.
Top universities such as the most prestigious ones, including Oxbridge have said they do not want their share of 10,000 additional student places, the BBC reports.
In addition, other six universities have said they want fewer, and 13 want none at all.
The 13 that have declined the offer are: Bristol, Cambridge, Exeter, Imperial College London, King's College London, Leeds, Liverpool, London Metropolitan University, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton, University College London and Warwick, said the BBC.
Dr Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities, said in an statement: “Maintaining quality is sacrosanct and the Russell Group is concerned about underfunded extra students - there is already a funding shortfall for teaching at our universities.”
According to the Timesonline, the government has now said it will allow 10,000 extra places, but there will no more to finance the teaching though student support in fee loans and grants will be available.
The additional places are also available only in maths, science and technology, which are the most expensive courses for university to run, the Timeonline has learnt.
University vice-chancellors welcomed the ideas of providing extra places but warned that the lack of extra funding could jeopardise standards.
Sir Martin Taylor, vice-president of the Royal Society, said: “Building the next generation of scientists requires not only financial support for the students but also for the institutions that will be responsible for educating them.
“Failure to recognise this and to provide the core funds needed will ultimately lead to an unsustainable higher education system that simply cannot cope with the demands placed upon it.”
On the other side, university leaders also fear that arts subjects could suffer as a result of the concentration on science.
As the Timesonline continued, ministers said that the government had held discussions with the higher education sector about the increase in places and universities had said they would be able to recruit more students without compromising the quality of courses.
Lord Mandelson, the Skills Secretary said that science subjects gave young people the skills they need for their future jobs. The costs of supporting the extra students would be met be “reprioritising” existing budgets.
David Willetts, the Shadow Skills Secretary welcomed the government’s belated U-turn, he said the extra 10,000 places long overdue and reverse ministers’ own reduction in extra places.
“Around 40,000 more applicants are likely to be rejected this year than last. And there is nothing for those whose A-Levels stop them from applying for courses. We still face a summer crisis,” the Timesonline reports.
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