DUNDEE UNIVERSITY last night defended its decision to introduce what is tantamount to a means test for older people wanting to take up a course there.

Questions had been posed, based on the introduction of the controversial age discrimination legislation, about the university’s decision to withdraw concessionary rates to pensioners except under means-tested criteria.

It was suggested that the moves came about because younger learners might be discriminated against by concessionary rates offered to older people.

At the same time, there were questions about the apparent paradox of the university offering computing for the over-50s, which suggested they would be offending against the legislation.

A spokesman for the university said their restricted concessions policy for their courses for adults programme matched the terms laid out in the employment equality regulations of last year, and they were in line with most other universities in Scotland who had adopted it.

He said, “Under the new policy those eligible for concessions are full-time students, people in receipt of unemployment or receiving invalidity credits, those on income support and people on pension credits.

“We are currently enrolling people for the next session of courses and the vast majority of people applying have been quite happy to enrol on their courses within the terms of the new policy.”

He said there was no discrepancy between this policy and computing for the over-50s.

No-one would be turned away on the basis of their being under 50.

He added, “It is simply a course aimed at making computing more accessible for older people, but if someone younger than 50 felt they could benefit from it, then they would be welcome to apply.”