Students receiving European Structural Fund (ESF) maintenance grants can start college happy in the knowledge that they are no longer dependent on roll calls at lectures.

Under the old system, approximately 25,000 students could have part of their grants docked if their attendance was not up to scratch. As much as £5 million a year was lost to students this way - and stayed in the State's hands.

USI was quick to claim credit for the move. Its education officer, Ian Russell, said they had lobbied the Government on this issue for some time.

Describing the regulations as a "ridiculous rule", Russell said he did not see its removal as meaning that institute of technology students on such grants did not have to attend lectures. "It simply puts them on a level playing pitch," he said.