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Universities are bracing themselves for a stream of students needing emergency cash because their student loan cheques are not ready for collection, writes Alison Goddard.

Education secretary David Blunkett promised that every student who applied in time would have a loan cheque on the first day of term.

However, not all such students have a cheque, according to universities enrolling this week and local education authorities, who means-test the loan and pass the information to the Student Loans Company.

"There are students without loan cheques, some of whom applied through clearing and some of whom applied in time," said Geoffrey Copland, vice-chancellor of the University of Westminster.

Rotimi Akinsete, student financial advice coordinator at the University of Greenwich, said: "There are a substantial number of students who applied as early as March who do not have a cheque."