The number of students dropping out of university courses has not changed since 2002, despite pound;800million spent on tackling the problem. Nearly a quarter of students fail to finish their courses, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said.
Cambridge University is to scrap its separate application form in a bid to attract more students from state schools. Pupils applying for places for courses beginning in 2009 will now list Cambridge on their Ucas form. The pound;10 fee that students pay when they apply is to be dropped, MPs learned.
