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This paper examines the development of policies designed to widen access to higher education policy in the United Kingdom. These policies have evolved in the context of the devolution of political authority to the Scottish Parliament and Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, which has resulted in some policy variation. The paper examines the "post-code premium" paid by the funding authorities to universities based on the students from poorer areas. By using Northern Ireland data the paper demonstrates the major problems to this approach arising from the "ecological fallacy". The paper concludes by expressing surprise that policy developed with little apparent awareness of these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]