The University of Bradford is offering to pay Asian students £1,080 cash to complete a special course.

The initiative aims to give promising students a second chance - even if they quit school with no qualifications.

Those who can prove they have "the nous" can undertake the 18- month fast-track course in Inner City Studies.

And in doing so they will leapfrog other students to GNVQ 4 level without the need for any GCSE or A-level qualifications. Fifty students will have their fees waived and be helped with transport and childcare costs. They will be paid for each module they complete - £1,080 in all.

"Traditionally, 18-year-olds need two or three A levels to study here," said Anne Weston, widening participation development officer at the Great Horton Road campus. "This course is quite unique."

She said it differed from other access courses - for example at Bradford College - in that cash payment was being offered. It also represented a bigger than normal step-up, with students able to transfer directly to the second year of a standard degree course once they'd finished.

"You are leaping in at quite a high level - the equivalent to the first year of a degree.

"It's for people who have got plenty of nous without necessarily having pieces of paper to show it. It's a way of giving people like that a chance."

When the part-time course finishes the students can transfer to the second year of a standard degree course, perhaps in social studies or to the university's world-famous School of Peace Studies.

The initiative has been funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) which will pay for 50 places. To qualify, people must be of South Asian origin, at least 18 years old and live in the inner city areas of either Bradford or Keighley.

They will study contemporary inner city issues, such as ethnicity, gender, health, housing and employment.

Throughout the course students will be supported by personal tutorials, study skills, and educational and career guidance. Part of the course will include a work placement.

This money will not affect receipt of state benefits.

Information sessions where would-be students can discover more information will be held at 2 Claremont, University of Bradford on Friday July 27, from 10am until noon; Monday September 3, from 1pm until 3pm; Friday, September 7, from 10am until noon. To book a place, or for further details, ring (01274) 233210, or e-mail 2Clare@bradford.ac.uk