Milkround News, 16 December 2008
More than twice the amount of students will not gain grants in 2009 than first estimated.

The BBC reports a budget miscalculation by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) this year led to a £200,000,000 overspend.

It means 90,000 new students will lose out on grants in 2009, more than double the 35,000 first estimated.

The DIUS has rearranged family income thresholds to try to rebalance this but partial grants will also be reduced, meaning up to 40,000 students will still lose out on more than £500 a year.

Students whose family income is within the £40,000 bracket will lose out on £300 and those within the £30,000 bracket will lose out on nearly £150 a year.

David Willets, shadow universities spokesman, told the BBC: "This is a hammer blow to families up and down the country."