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Graduates in engineering and science disciplines will get a new career bonus if government plans get the go ahead.

A "golden carrot" scheme is being proposed to dish out £1,000 a year to science and engineering undergraduates.

The plans are part of a five-point scheme from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to double the number of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The aim is to give a boost to the competitiveness of UK industries.

It is thought that the bursaries, which would cost around £200 million a year, would go towards tuition fees in these increasingly less popular disciplines.

Over 2.4 million employees with engineering and technical skills are expected to be needed by 2014.

Industrial, energy and utility companies are anticipating a recruiting shortfall of up to 80 per cent this year.

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, said: "Urgent action is needed to reverse a decades-long decline in the science, technology, engineering and maths subjects and meet the needs of a changing UK economy.

"Too many potential scientists and engineers are abandoning these subjects and missing out on rewarding, varied and lucrative career options."

Results for this year's A-levels, the qualifications which typically lead on to a place on an undergraduate degree course, are due out on Thursday.

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