Higher education policy

Nick Clegg has defended the Liberal Democrats’ decision to back higher fees and said “wild predictions” about their impact have proven unfounded

Malcolm Gillies on why the metropolis could (and perhaps should) go it alone

Hepi director’s mea culpa comes as he considers ‘problems in the status quo’

Phil Ashworth on how to get scientific experts inside the political machine

Michael Gove has vetoed plans for a free school sponsored by the Institute of Education, as the proposal failed to reach the government’s “high bar”

MPs in charge of examining public spending “don’t have confidence” in the government figures behind the £200 billion student loans system.

Grant letter keeps new cuts down and widening participation funding stays

Striking academics call for better pay, but the PhD students who support their work are suffering even more, Fern Riddell says

Could England force a similar reversal? Howard Hotson asks

But possibility could still be open if strong case made to EU

Tristram Hunt, Labour’s shadow education secretary, has been criticised by party colleagues after crossing a University and College Union picket line

The government has delivered a £125 million cut to higher education funding in today’s grant letter, while criticising vice-chancellors on pay

The Home Office has suspended an organisation’s English language tests for immigration purposes after cheating was allegedly uncovered on some exams.

England’s funding council has been forced to abandon plans to examine a draft of the grant letter due to continued budget battles within government

Suggestion that wrangle over Access to Learning Fund is now delaying letter

The UCU’s action is about fairness, equality and defending public higher education, say Tom Hickey and John Holmwood

No consensus among student representatives on segregated audiences for campus events, THE poll suggests

Palestinian scholars welcome the American Studies Association resolution

Alistair Carmichael hits back at Michael Russell’s claims of xenophobia in Westminster

Chair of Commons committee wants universities to ‘pull their socks up’ and tackle gender inequality

SLC data show two private institutions received more than the globally renowned London School of Economics and Soas

Independence would also leave Scotland off international ‘top table’ for research

A commitment by government to consult over a long-term plan for science capital investment has been welcomed by the Lords Science and Technology Committee.

The new chair of the Student Loans Company will be Chris Brodie, chair of council at the University of Sussex and a former investment banker

Australia’s top universities have asked to be freed from price capping for courses with the highest graduate-earning premium

Fees would be a focus in Competition and Markets Authority investigation, sources believe

Human rights invoked in guaranteeing female-free seminars

Scotland’s universities are being damaged by a Westminster immigration policy that is “driven by Ukip and a nasty xenophobia”

Queen’s and Ulster can take part in Science Foundation Ireland’s Investigators Programme

Arguing the case for market forces in higher education will become harder if a university looks likely to fail, warns Emran Mian

George Osborne “must step back” from forcing cuts “that will cause such damage to universities”, the Universities UK president has warned.

Universities face “difficulties” in planning student recruitment because of a row in government on whether to scrap funding for the poorest students.

Figures show effect of £9,000 tuition fees and relaxation of student number controls

UEA head blames home secretary for UK’s first fall in international students

Does more mean better or worse?

Delayed approval from No 10 raises questions about future of role

Vince Cable has told MPs he agrees that scrapping student opportunity funding would “most impact” groups such as low-income and disabled students.

A vice-chancellor has backed those fighting to save funding for poorer students that is under extra pressure now research money is said to be “safe”

Peers to look at whether damage is being done to universities

The number of non-EU students at UK universities fell by 1 per cent last year, the first such decline ever recorded.

Party’s former universities secretary proposes radical policy change for general election manifesto

Scientists can speak more freely without fear of being sued, explains Síle Lane

Familiar scenarios may have academics rolling, or reeling, in the aisles

Student Loans Company payments suspended until proof given to support residence claim

Student opportunity fund to be slashed in grant letter, says Million+

It is “hard to see” how an independent Scotland could legally continue to charge students from the rest of the UK tuition fees

V-cs fail to get David Willetts’ commitment to protect research spending

Times Higher Education assesses the differing attitudes to rising FoI demands

Exiled scholars speak of hopes for renewal and fears for lost generation

More polling stations should be set up in universities to encourage students to vote, an MP has told the House of Commons.

By Elizabeth Redden, for Inside Higher Ed

The former head of England’s funding council thought the government was setting fees “too high” at £9,000.

Student Rights’ agenda questioned by LSE, Birkbeck, Goldsmiths unions

Times Higher Education columnists suggest some thought-provoking options for new year commendations

The reckless pursuit of rank threatens the academy’s future, argues Roger Brown

New head of Academy of Social Sciences probed government mistakes and found no shortage of data

We’ll make the principles of Robbins a 21st-century reality, minister promises

Academics describe the complex, arbitrary bureaucracy, emotional turmoil and career limbo wrought by Britain’s policies

International students could be hit by new healthcare charges for migrants in the UK.

A clutch of professors have been knighted while the former head of Loughborough University is among those made a dame in the New Year’s Honours.