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The Story

Cash for places: The backdoor for overseas students into Britain's top universities

The Story

The Times

Current Affairs, Daily News Podcast, News Analysis, Politics, News, Audio Storytelling, Uk News, Exclusive Interviews, Investigative Reporting, In-depth Journalism, Daily News, Long-form Audio, Global News

3.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 30 January 2024

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

While UK students need straight As to get onto prestigious Russell Group degree courses, their international classmates can buy their way in through secret routes. An undercover Sunday Times investigation has already prompted an urgent review by the Department for Education.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes

Guests:

- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.

- George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

Matt Chorley, Politics Without the Boring Bits.

0:04.0

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0:06.0

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It's exactly the same, but with a new name, a new logo, and even... B and the big thing download the all new politics without the boring bits wherever you get

0:25.8

your podcasts.

0:26.8

This podcast is brought to you by Netflix, presenting the multi-award-nominated film, Maestro.

0:37.0

It's up for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and Seven Baffters, including best actress for Carrie Mulligan and best actor

0:45.8

for Bradley Cooper. The Times hails it as an astonishingly beautiful film and if the

0:52.1

time says so it must be right.

0:55.0

I've seen it and it is a beautifully captured portrayal of the relationship

1:00.0

between the great Leonard Bernstein and his even greater wife, Felicia.

1:05.0

It tackles the difficulties of balancing a towering talent and the needs of a family

1:11.0

and it paints an incredibly moving account of different forms of love.

1:18.0

Both Bradley Cooper and Kerry Mulligan are brilliant and give the performances of their careers.

1:24.0

Maestro, you can watch it now in select cinemas and on Netflix.

1:29.0

I've got written down here for today's episode that I'm being joined by the Insight boys.

1:35.0

Is that how you normally go by it?

1:37.0

I'm Jonathan Calvert. I'm the Insight Editor of the Sunday Times.

1:42.0

And I'm George I Buffnut and I'm the Deputy Insight Editor.

1:46.0

Insight being the Sunday Times as Legendary Investigations Unit. Right, Jonathan, you've been looking into student recruitment and university applications in the UK.

2:09.0

The UCAS deadline for applications is this week, 31st of January January so it's on people's minds.

2:14.0

What first got you sniffing around this area?

...

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