Students from poorer backgrounds are more expensive to teach, according to new research from Britain's universities.

A pilot study on the costs of widening participation, commissioned by Universities UK and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, suggests that students from non-traditional backgrounds are significantly more expensive to recruit, retain and progress through higher education than the "traditional" norm.

Universities are subsidising the government's policy of widening participation with income from other activities, says the report.

The study concluded that the average extra cost of supporting poorer students was approximately £1680.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "There is now recognition in all quarters that to recruit, retain and transfer non-traditional students effectively into work or further study means additional costs.

"The costs of widening participation and additional student numbers make up an important part of the total bill for the next three years of almost £10 billion which we have submitted to the government.

"To achieve the government's target of 50 per cent by 2010, and its goals for widening participation, the necessary funds must be found. As our submission to the spending review makes clear, this is an investment for success - particularly to ensure the future success of an increasingly diverse student population."