HAMPSHIRE college principals said today they feared the government's planned radical shake-up of university applications would mean less teaching time for students.

A government taskforce has recommended that students apply to university after receiving their A-level results rather than before, as happens now.

This would mean pupils siting their final exams a month earlier, examination boards speeding up their marking by two weeks and degree courses starting three or four weeks later.

But education minister David Miliband, speaking on a visit to Woodlands Community College in Southampton, insisted the principals' fears were unfounded.

Neil Hopkins, principal at Peter Symonds College in Winchester and a member of the University College Admissions Service board, which oversees applications, said the squeeze on teaching time was his biggest concern about the changes that could be introduced in 2007.

"The aspect that concerns me most is that teaching time will be reduced because the final A-level exams will be brought forward," he said.

"Some change is needed because it is a lottery. Teachers are pretty good at predicting grades but about one in ten grades are wrongly predicted."

He conceded that changes were needed to the existing system, which he said was based on "informed guesswork".

Jenny Fitten of Taunton's College in Southampton said it was a good idea but difficulties would need to be overcome.

She said: "The time is already very short and concentrated. I would want some reassurance that it wasn't becoming even more concentrated.

"If applications were made after results I would want to be assured universities took into account factors other than grades, such as personal statements, references and so on."

Mark Bramwell of Totton College said: "I would broadly welcome the change but it would have to be well planned. Some initiatives in the past have been

rushed and it creates problems but aslong as these changes are planned properly I would support it.

"It would be a fairer system than the current one."

Welcoming the proposals, Mr Miliband said: "I think the idea that we move away from predicted grades to actual ones is a good one, providing the system that we introduce does not mean any reduction in teaching time.

"It could make a big difference to students and help them make their choices.

"There are still a lot of details to work out but one thing is for certain - we are not going to compromise on teaching time."

Under the current admissions system, applicants make five choices on a UCAS form, which they fill in between October and Christmas, although applications to Oxford and Cambridge are made earlier.

Admissions tutors look at a student's GCSE results, personal statement, confidential reference and their tutor's predicted grades before offering a place.

Students can then accept one first choice and one second choice offer before taking their A-levels.