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I read with interest the article "Top-ups blamed for wane in demand" (December 16). I have to disagree with Julian Nicholds's appraisal of the situation that students are being deterred from entering higher education because of fees. If anything, the new funding regime is the most beneficial to students since the days of full maintenance grants.

With universities attempt-ing to boost recruitment and with the market for bursaries and scholarships, students now have more information to process to find the univer-sity that will fulfil their financial, academic and social needs.

Clearly this plethora of information thrown into the market has meant students are waiting longer to apply while they weigh up different options.

The scaremongering of student politicians has proven unfounded, as many institutions are showing increases in numbers of applications, and I would anticipate numbers levelling out in the next few years.

Andy Wilson
President
Southampton University Students' Union