Following a record number of students meeting their conditions of offer, the University has offered bursaries in return for deferral.
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, The Glasgow Guardian has learnt that the University of Glasgow offered some incoming first-year students set to start their studies in 2021 a £1500 bursary if they deferred until 2022 entry. In an email sent to a select group of students by David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary, on the 7 September just five days before freshers week he said that: “students may wish to consider deferring their studies for a year.” He goes on to say that “the University will provide a £1500 bursary for anyone in receipt of this letter who defers their studies to the following academic year”.
Similar offers were also made by fellow Russell Group Universities. The Universities of Durham, Leeds and Exeter were reportedly offering £10,000 and free accommodation for students who opted to defer. The initiative was a result of “record numbers” of students meeting their entry requirements due to grade inflation.
A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow commented: “Deferrals were offered due to there being more applicants for accommodation than places. The option was made to students who couldn’t be accommodated in a University residence and who had applied for a place before the specified date.”
