University funding and finances

Any concessions made by new prime minister likely to be fiercely opposed by universities fearful of losing millions of pounds in income

No signs Flávio Bolsonaro would depart from jailed father’s anti-science legacy, experts say, but Lula has also struggled to relieve pressure on higher education

New £500 million development built on site once compared to a war zone gears up for autumn launch

Recovery rate of research improves slightly in latest Trac figures, but remains well below historic highs

A distressed institution is unlikely to have the cash, management bandwidth and capacity to absorb disruption required by a merger, says David Lloyd

Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Green politicians urge new chancellor to make system more ‘supportive of aspiration’

Proposed penalties most disadvantageous to the universities already struggling with volatile enrolments, submissions say

Eagerly anticipated higher education review set to focus on student support funding, dismantling Seren and ‘bold reforms’, but recommendations must be ‘fiscally neutral’

Top university told it must clamp down on salaries and spending to manage ‘downside risks’ of government international education policies

Serial deficits plague universities that have failed to recover their pre-pandemic international revenue, analysis finds

Most universities still treat Ukraine as a marginal topic even as need for specialists with deep knowledge of the country rises

University for the Creative Arts loses more than half its funding after support for creative subjects reduced to zero

‘Historic’ agreement will see Royal College of Art support Norwich University of the Arts with its undergraduate provision

One study wants a flat fee and another backs income-based tiers – but neither supports the status quo

With financial pressures intensifying and income sources drying up, new report argues for more differentiated sector to avert worst-case scenario

Institutions could mothball buildings at less busy times of year to cut exorbitant energy costs, estate expert suggests

Ministers reject calls to legislate to clarify process for university going bust, despite admitting arrangements are unclear

With two universities set to become one entity next month, unions say there are still too many unknowns about how the new institution will operate

Critics fear ‘act of self-harm’ as Dundee becomes latest to consider shutting public exhibition space

Union members to stage prolonged walkout after university announced it is looking to cut 200 more jobs

Ministers decline to introduce more exemptions to new tax in its response to consultation

Technical institutions suffer as high youth unemployment pushes students towards international alternatives 

Arts institutions warn creative education is becoming increasingly hard to deliver as government slashes funding from September onwards

Plans to close courses would have national impact, politicians write in letter urging university to reconsider

Leading university calls for fresh review of higher education as emergency budget adds to financial woes

Education minister defends reduction in light of tuition fee rises as Strategic Priorities Grant falls to £1.25 billion

Universities may pause major staffing changes as they are predicted to save millions, experts say, but ‘volatility’ of scheme means some will press on

Genetics pioneer Richard J. Roberts criticises plans to cut posts at ‘brilliant’ department that launched his scientific career

Universities to use government transformation funding to explore collaboration opportunities, but representatives insist institutions will maintain their own identities

Broadcaster Matthew Bannister leads star-studded group of alumni in bid to protect site that has launched dozens of careers

Long-awaited accounts reveal leaders departed crisis-hit institution with large payouts despite presiding over period where costs grew by almost half

Former ANU vice-chancellor and physics laureate Brian Schmidt says loss of research expertise should only be ‘last resort’

As academics warn university reforms will threaten autonomy and decimate faculties, country’s education minister says changes are needed to align with labour market needs

Last year’s 1 per cent decline in overall sector income may look insignificant, but it is the tip of an iceberg that could ultimately sink significant swathes of a structurally unbalanced and precarious sector. Fadime Sahin runs through the numbers

Achieving bold attainment goal requires country to overcome fears about ‘over-education’ and provide the right resources, say university leaders

By neglecting to adequately fund university teaching, the UK government is undermining its own growth ambitions for the creative sector, say Goldsmiths’ interim vice-chancellor David Oswell and, separately, Creative Industries Skills Audits co-author Heather Carey

DfE reportedly considering introducing minimum entry standard, potentially blocking tens of thousands of applicants from accessing student finance

Rising cost of tuition more about plugging government deficit than helping fund higher education, say rectors

Former education secretary says mergers the solution for institutions in financial crisis as he calls for more ‘ambition’ in higher education

Universities are using a short-term cash crunch to make long-term structural changes, including greater reliance on private providers, says Glyn Robbins

Chinese tuition fees contribute 35 per cent of revenue for leading Australian universities, as figures reveal ‘structural gap’ in funding

Sudden departure revealed days after financially ‘strong’ university opened consultations over 140 proposed job losses

Coming reduction in funding for high-cost subjects and access programmes ‘extraordinarily frustrating’, says Universities UK leader

Both sides of politics eroding opportunities to meet neighbours’ needs and solve skill shortages back home, according to former Liberal power broker

‘Time is right’ to lower tuition fees for some accelerated degrees, says UK’s oldest private institution

Developers behind ‘university retirement communities’ believe the model can benefit pensioners, students and institutional finances

Majority elect to stay enrolled on more expensive TPS despite offer of incentives up to £12,000

Governance structures and lack of funding blamed as estates built quickly to accommodate 1960s boom in student population become unusable

Interim leader of arts institution takes swipe at striking UCU branch, saying it is ‘not facing up to harsh financial realities’

Governing body accepts audit recommendations as accounts reveal A$117m surplus

With hundreds of jobs on the line and dozens of courses at risk, staff living through one of the biggest university restructuring projects of recent years fear they are shouldering the blame for wider failures

Falling UK government investment in teaching must be considered as part of review of student loan system, MPs told

Members at union’s congress debate whether to hold another national ballot despite failure to reach threshold last year

‘Decisive action’ is needed to address structural deficit despite recent cost-saving measures, says principal 

Select group of elite universities increase share of fee money as others lose out, leading experts to fear ‘two-tier’ sector is developing

Western educators are mostly oblivious to a change of guard in higher education, authors of a new ‘mapping exercise’ warn

Changes fall short of comprehensive overhaul prescribed in landmark innovation report but are welcomed anyway

Union fears remaining staff will face even heavier workloads as 500 jobs have already been lost over past two years

‘Class size crisis’ hitting disadvantaged students hardest, claims Australian union which blames Jobs-ready Graduates reforms for ballooning recruitment

Smaller English institutions among those faring best in current financial crisis because they ‘never had the fat years’