Nearly 100 construction students have been left short of funds and some have been unable to graduate after Carillion scrapped its sponsorship scheme

The contractor has cancelled its sponsorship scheme owing to the 鈥渃urrent economic climate鈥�. The decision means that some students, who are halfway through their courses, are without the 拢1,500 a year they were offered. Some will also be without a summer placement, without which they will be unable to graduate.

It is understood that 83 have been affected at five universities, including Loughborough, Salford, Reading and Northumbria.

One construction management student said: 鈥淚 was supposed to be getting 拢1,500 a year and two six-month work placements. That鈥檚 what my contract with Carillion said. Losing the money is bad, but the worst thing is not being able to do my placements. I was relying on them.

鈥淢y university has said I can only carry on with the course if I find other placements. I must have called 50 firms already but none can help. I have until September to sort it out, otherwise I鈥檒l have to leave and I鈥檒l lose the 拢3,500 on tuition and 拢5,000 on accommodation I spent in the first year.鈥�

Carillion confirmed that the sponsorship scheme had stopped, adding that letters were issued in October last year warning students they would need to make alternative arrangements for the following academic year.

It said: 鈥淭he students have all had a year鈥檚 notice as funding and placements, where we can鈥檛 still offer them, will be stopped in September until further notice. We will try to commit to summer placements where possible.鈥�

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