'Value for money' sites to grade universities

Universities will be ranked on "price comparison" style websites according to how many students leave with the best jobs, it has emerged.

The Government plans to force English universities to publish new data that would allow prospective students to properly compare different courses. Under the proposals universities would state the average starting salary of graduates, as well as teaching hours, lecture sizes, accommodation costs and standards of student facilities.

The information would be presented on comparison websites highlighting the best and worst-performing universities, and giving A-level students more information about which university to apply to.

Institutions could also be told they must advise potential students which A-levels they should take for a particular degree course.

The move, expected in a White Paper on higher education, is seen as a bid to ensure students get value for money from their courses, after the Government let universities raise tuition fees to £9,000.

A Whitehall source said: "The reforms are all about ensuring that students get their money's worth. We're asking graduates to contribute more once they are earning so it is only right that universities deliver for students."

The White Paper is also expected to contain reforms to make it easier for more private universities to expand.