The University of Cumbria may have its grant cut by ?1 million for the next academic year after it over-recruited hundreds of students.

Last year the government told all the universities in England not to recruit more students in 2009-10 than they accepted in 2008-09. It warned institutions that they would be fined ?3,700 for each student they took on above that threshold.

Despite the warnings, Cumbria recruited 4 more students, meaning its grant for next year could be docked by ?1.01 million. The fine would add to the financial woes of the university, which is already battling a ?20 million deficit.

Cumbria has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to base its contract for next year on 2009-10 student recruitment figures, rather than those of the previous year. Hefce will make a decision on the university¡¯s contract in a month.

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However, if the funding council is lenient with Cumbria it is likely to face accusations of unfairness from other universities facing large fines for over-recruitment, such as the University of Greenwich and Thames Valley University.

Hefce has estimated that total fines for institutions across the sector could reach ?10 million.

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On 2 March, Cumbria¡¯s vice-chancellor, Peter McCaffery, asked David Lammy, the Higher Education Minister, to help secure the university¡¯s future. Following a meeting in London, a university spokeswoman said: ¡°The minister understands the university¡¯s position in its discussions with Hefce and the need to resolve this in order to agree future higher education recruitment in Cumbria and associated income to the university.¡±

In January, Professor McCaffery announced plans to bid for ?25 million from the funding council¡¯s strategic development fund to help put the institution on a more sustainable footing. However, the spokeswoman said the university had not yet submitted a bid.

melanie.newman@tsleducation.com