SUFFOLK’S university is to get extra funding next year – despite a government squeeze being tightened on the sector across the country.

Bosses at UCS have been told that their grant will be increased by just under 4.6 per cent – taking its grant from the HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) from just under �13million to just under �13.6 million.

But unlike most universities it is able to take new students next year – although it will have slightly less to spend per head.

Tim Greenacre, Director of Finance at UCS, said: “The recent funding announcement from HEFCE shows that they recognise and support the growth of UCS, albeit on a modest scale. This is good news for UCS, particularly in light of our current 38pc increase in UCAS applications for 2011.”

About three quarters of the nation’s universities have seen the number of student places they have cut – but UCS is expected to take on an extra 300 students over the next two years.

Mr Greenacre said: “That is good news to a point – but the fact is that the number of student applications will far outstrip the number of places over the next few years.

“That will make life difficult for applicants. We would like to offer places to everyone who wants to come here but we know that is probably an unrealistic aim.”

Like many other universities, UCS will now be looking to increase its funding from other sources – including business and other grant-offering bodies.

“Times are likely to remain challenging, but we have an opportunity to establish ourselves now,” said Mr Greenacre.