THE University of Hertfordshire could face a fine of more than �2m after it accepted 553 more students than it should have done during the current academic year.

News of the financial penalty emerged this week, as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced the funds that will be made available to British universities in 2010/11.

The Hatfield-based institution will now have its grant for next year reduced by �3,700 for each student it has over-recruited.

For more on this story, see this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out Wednesday.