BRIGHT teenagers can accept cash from big businesses to pay their university education - if they agree to sign off a chunk of their earnings.

The schemes are already available in America and are due to come in before university top-up fees, next September.

Firms hope to profit by targeting students likely to command a large salary.

A typical deal could involve an £8,000 up-front payment in return for one per cent of income for 10 - 15 years.