Letter: Student work plan is unfair

Sir: David Walker argues that the state should not subsidise students to study away from home ("Why university is a journey too far", 11 August).

Fine - provided their neighbourhood university offers a course in every subject of significance. Not all do, and indeed some have deliberately opted to run only a small number of strong departments which can achieve excellence in teaching and research.

As a Colchester boy, I was happy to do a degree in politics, my chosen subject, at nearby Essex University because it had (and has) a superb Department of Government. Had I wished to do Welsh, theology or music, my local campus could not have helped me.

ALAN HAYMAN

Standing Committee of Convocation

Essex University

Colchester, Essex