Earlier this month, the University of Warwick announced that they were to make it compulsory for every student to own a laptop that were to arrive there in 2003.

Student leaders now say that the University have agreed not to go ahead with this proposal after admitting their mistake and protests from the students of making all first years having to buy or lease their own computer.

This was announced when an e-strategy consultation paper was published on the University's website, also suggesting that students from poorer backgrounds should be given help to buy a computer. The university also claimed that by introducing such a move would end the digital divide between students.

A spokesperson from the university stated that the e-strategy document was at consultation stage and that a final decision will not be made until the end of a two month period, however, it was unlikely that this part of the strategy would be implemented. The suggestion of purchasing laptops was only one of 20 suggestions that made up this e-strategy for staff and students to look at.