Bits & pieces

Voters are unhappy with tuition fees: Voters in England and Wales are unhappy with tuition fees and the scrapping of student grants, according to a MORI poll conducted for the Times Higher Education Supplement. 63% of respondents thought tuition fees and repayable loans would deter people from going to university and 73% thought maintenance grants should be reintroduced.

Abolishing tuition fees may be "illegal": Northern Ireland's minister for higher and further education, Sean Farren, said that abolishing tuition fees would be "politically unacceptable" as it would probably be in breach of equity legislation. More than 30% of students study outside the province and so would not be covered by the provision. Dr Farren's support package will include bursaries of up to £1500 for full time graduates whose family income is £15 000 or less.

Health and tobacco do not mix: The International Federation of Medical Students (IFMSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have joined together to promote the "Smoke-free Medical Schools Campaign." For further information contact Omer Saka, public health director, IFMSA, at scophd@ifmsa.org or Sanjeeb Sapkota, president, IFMSA, at president@ifmsa.org

Visit BMJ Classified careers fair: The BMJ Classified career fair will be at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London N1 on 29 and 30 June. Attendance is free, but you have to register by emailing mail@chamberdunn.co.uk or telephoning 020 83344525.

JASME will meet in Dublin: The Junior Association for the Study of Medical Education (JASME) will hold its annual conference on 10 and 11 July at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin. If you are interested in your education and want to become more involved, go to www.asme.org.uk, email info@asme.org.uk, or telephone 0131 225 9111.



studentBMJ 2001;09:171-216 June ISSN 0966-6494