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Michael Driscoll, Middlesex University vice-chancellor, says the only way the government will get people to take foundation degrees will be to restrict places on full-time degree courses ("Students forsake post-92 sector", March 12).

The fees hike is also a disincentive for students to take the work-based route to foundation degrees delivered in further education colleges but accredited by higher education. They can then be counted in the 2010 target for half of 18 to 30-year-olds to have "experienced higher education" and in the target of 28 per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds on modern apprenticeships. It won't happen, of course, but that's the plan.

Patrick Ainley
University of Greenwich