A PILOT scheme will been launched in five universities across England to compress degree courses into two years.

Staffordshire University, Derby University, Leeds Metropolitan University, University of Northampton and The Medway Partnership in Kent will pilot these fast-track courses from September.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell believes this could provide a way of luring more students from poorer backgrounds and enable students to enter employment sooner, with less debt.

In a speech delivered at the recent annual conference of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Mr Rammell also stated universities are in need of a more diverse approach to providing higher education.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Rammell said: "This doesn't mean lowering standards. Two-year degree courses could offer opportunities for students who can't afford to take three years to study. We are awaiting the outcomes of how more intensive courses could operate in order to decide how to move forward."

However, Academics' union, the AUT, is concerned this will diminish the experience.