University funding and finances

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’

Public science sector at risk of disappearing in next decade without big injection of funds, politicians warned

Times Higher Education’s recent survey of UK university staff revealed widespread scepticism about whether the state of sector finances truly justifies the scale of job cuts being made, or the perceived rises in vice-chancellors’ pay. But what do the numbers say? Patrick Jack reports 

Requirement that universities produce ‘world standard’ research in at least half of fields taught encouraged too many ‘broad-based’ institutions, critics say, but its demise could end up hurting some

Constant power outages and lack of fuel risks causing lasting damage to island’s higher education sector, warns Reynaldo Velázquez Zaldívar

UK institutions look to structural changes to address cost pressures, but warn there is only so much they can do without government support

‘Temporary circumstances’ responsible for increased financial dominance of richest pair

Ministers urged to intervene as proposed cuts to highly regarded chemistry departments threaten UK government’s skills and growth plans

Plans to cut staff numbers in department that has produced four Nobel prizewinners will harm university’s research reputation, warns UCU

University faces major escalation of industrial action after putting 2,700 people at risk of redundancy

Attitude towards proposed deal mixed across two institutions, with Cranfield staff hoping for more security while many King’s employees see move as risky

Academics say organisation that supports disadvantaged students needs governance overhaul after being placed in administration again

Students currently need to find at least £10,000 from somewhere else to cover the cost of living. This is beyond the reach of most, says Alexis Gkantiragas

Change of government sparks optimism, but some warn plans to keep students in Wales must be ‘carefully handled’

Specialist postgraduate institution will become part of London behemoth under new plans

Latest regulator analysis shows sector financial health slightly up on expectations, but performance expected to deteriorate this year

University urged to follow Oxford’s lead and give staff extra allowance to cope with city’s high living costs

Treasury also implements A$11 million levy to fund National Student Ombudsman, and ‘enhanced security’ of student visa applications

Ministers urged to protect budget for ‘strategic priorities’ as government funding cuts over past decade place higher burden on graduates

New flagship university-based research centres may signal end of intentional sidelining of pedagogy academics

Latest tranche of financial accounts depicts a sector in hearty financial health, despite policy volatility

Vice-chancellor defends deep job losses at embattled institution, insisting restructure will help it adapt to changed environment in higher education

Uncertainty remains on whether students would be locked out of classrooms mid-semester if a university folded, education committee warns

Universities struggling to compete with the opportunities offered by the private sector as potential doctoral candidates question value of PhDs, summit hears

Institutions secured £1.55 billion in new philanthropic funds last year, with a quarter coming from alumni

Analysis of university finances finds increasing student numbers and income can cause costs to rise faster than revenue

Antonia Bance argues lower-level skills should be prioritised in response to number of out-of-work young people reaching record levels

Politicians reluctant to spell out plans to fix university funding issues as review continues, while cross-party commitment to free tuition fees leaves few avenues open for negotiations

The LLE is seen as a key part of maintaining employability in rapidly changing employment sectors. Yet with less than six months to go before applications open for the stand-alone modules central to the vision, interest among learners and providers alike appears lukewarm at best. Helen Packer reports

Proposal for riverside Hobart campus to proceed in pared-back form after sell-off of existing base agreed

Institutions capitalise on local interest in research to drive philanthropy, with Griffith University doubling donations over six years

Representative body for country’s eight institutions loses staff and has functions scaled back with policy work being taken on by in-house teams

‘Focused interim action’ required on a sector that politicians say is ‘sacrificing fundamental social benefits in the pursuit of corporate outcomes’

Unprecedented refusal rates raise fresh doubts over risk rating methodology as officials get tough on ‘non-genuine’ students

One of the last members of Universities UK to share financial accounts for 2024-25 posts one of sector’s biggest shortfalls

Money from Chris Rokos will be used to establish new school of government that will train future leaders

Geopolitical instability and economic challenges mean funding institutions used to rely on has dried up, summit hears

Fundraising becoming ever more important source of income but analysis shows institutions outside of London and Oxbridge struggling to secure increases

Increased federal funding and student demand fuel a boost to most institutions’ bottom lines in Sunshine State

A wave of dismay about student loans has flooded the UK media recently, with graduates complaining that ever-rising debt levels are threatening to capsize their personal finances. How could or should the government bail them out? We ask the experts: Philip Augar, Kate Ogden and Nicholas Barr

Institutions face tough choices, as Tertiary Education Commission warns of ‘challenging fiscal environment’

Canberra v-c insists he is not picking a fight with new campaign that pokes fun at more illustrious institutions

Ongoing restructures expected to ease long-term pressures on institutions after sector records collective £79 million deficit

Short-term academic work becoming ever bigger problem in Canada as teaching seen as ‘variable cost’ amid changing enrolments and budgetary shocks

Headline enrolment growth masks weaknesses in educational exchange and country’s standing as a TNE player

Increase in PhD stipends, efforts to estimate true cost of research and reforms to key grant schemes included in long-awaited recommendations from review panel

Treasury reaps the rewards from high contribution rates which appear to be pushing disadvantaged students away from university, analysis finds

University increases size of payout and extends deadline as it insists more staff will take up offer to move pensions after union describes scheme as ‘abject failure’

‘We know best’ mindset perpetuates Indigenous Australians’ isolation from higher education and wealth, report argues