19 April 2000

NORTHERN IRELAND UNIVERSITY FUNDING 2000/01

The Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment today announced grants to the two Northern Ireland universities totalling £117 million for the 2000/01 academic year.

Of the total funding, Queen's University Belfast (QUB) will receive £58.9 million, while the University of Ulster (UoU) will receive £58.1 million. The grant includes:

• £88 million core funding for teaching (QUB £42.6 million, UoU £45.4m);
• £24.1 million core funding for research (QUB £14 million, UoU £10.1 m);
• £4.9 million to widen access and increase participation and to support other strategic developments (QUB £2.3 million, UoU £2.6 m).

The total grant figure represents an increase of almost 2% over last year, is calculated using the same methodology applied for university funding in England and has been approved by the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council.

The main funding changes compared to the previous year are:

• the provision for some 500 additional students;
• the introduction of a new teaching premium to provide additional support for disabled students;
• the introduction of new provision to develop the universities' links with industry.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For further information please contact Simon Burrowes on 01232 257831 or 0850 976067.