Auckland University vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon

Auckland University vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon

The country's largest university has given itself power to restrict entry to all undergraduate courses from 2009.

Critics say the change, which was confirmed yesterday, will create an elitist institution that will shut out students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Auckland University council voted 14-2 to allow itself to restrict student numbers.

From next year, a new Government regime will restrict student tuition funding for all tertiary institutions, meaning they will no longer get money for every student enrolled.

Entry to around half of Auckland's undergraduate courses is already restricted, but from 2009 this will apply to all such courses.

Yesterday, 15 people held a protest outside the university before the council meeting.

Protester Efeso Collins, a researcher and former community liaison adviser for the university, said most Pacific Island students enrolled in open-entry courses.

Students from poorer backgrounds would be excluded under the new regime, he said, and the university would favour students from rich, white schools.

"This will shut them out and create a whiter university. Shame on Auckland University ... This will further create an underclass."

Sociology lecturer Dr David Bedggood, a member of the Association of University Staff, said the move would create inequality and make it harder for people to get into university.

"Everybody should have the same right to achieve to the best of their ability. [This will] stack the deck with those with money and those from good schools. We will get a pecking order that will replace egalitarianism with elitism."

Auckland University Students Association education vice-president David Do was upset at the move and critical of the lack of consultation on the matter.

"I'm very disappointed. Students from richer backgrounds will push out students from poorer backgrounds."

Vice-chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon said the proposals set by the council provided the tools needed to set limits in 2009, should it become necessary.

"Overall, student numbers will not decrease and in practice we expect the impact to be minimal.