UK higher education policy

Likely next prime minister promises parity between academic and technical education

Just half of white working-class pupils say they’re likely to attend university, compared with 82 per cent of their middle-class peers

Introducing language requirements for whole sector undermines government’s widening access mission, universities say

Prospective future prime minister ‘very engaged’ with sector challenges, according to Manchester leaders who have worked with him

Law professor will deliver talk on gender identity and sex next term after disruption forced abandonment of previous event

Newly revised outcomes data show men who studied philosophy and history earned less than non-graduates with similar GCSE grades

New IFS research suggests going to university is still financially worthwhile for most – but a quarter see negative return

Ministers moot new rules for student finance as government continues crackdown on ‘low-quality’ courses

Labour’s post-16 agency is often tasked by ministers with detailed analysis. But nearly two years on from the fanfare around its announcement, universities remain unclear why they should engage with a body that has no clear role in forming or implementing policy. Helen Packer reports  

Lack of transparency over environmental impact of technology leaves universities struggling to assess carbon footprint

Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go

Shadow minister says institutions delivering strong graduate outcomes should be better funded, with money taken off those failing to deliver for students

Range of current providers and questions around which assessment is best requires greater clarity from universities, UKCISA warns

Focus on widening participation and shorter exchanges difficult to replicate in wider Erasmus programme, experts fear

Prime minister fell short of pre-election promise to stabilise higher education sector as focus shifted to other priorities, say policy experts 

University of York leader will switch to fellow Russell Group member in October after seven years in charge

Post-Brexit programme established by Boris Johnson’s government shuttered after supporting 200,000 participants

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

New English quality framework over-reliant on data to measure student experience, critics fear

More than 300 social sciences programmes lost in past year, figures show, as critics bemoan decisions made on enrolment numbers alone

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

New leader of research-intensive grouping says ‘challenging conversations’ needed but critics urge united front against political attacks

Regulator scraps overall ratings after consultation on revamped exercise but commits to plans to limit growth at bronze providers

Labour politicians defend student finance system, including retrospective changes, as they suggest uplifting higher education funding is not a priority

Anand Menon criticises ‘absurdities’ of government policy, pointing to contradictions in UK’s efforts to rejoin flagship exchange scheme

Sector’s absence from Starmer’s trip to Beijing and Shanghai ‘wasn’t for lack of trying’, says Birmingham vice-chancellor

Updates to UK counter-terror monitoring scheme incoming despite concern Prevent not built to deal with growing problem of extreme right-wing views

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

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

Five-year tuition fee freeze, ban on franchising and introduction of new national entry test among other recommendations from Policy Exchange

Encouraging students to take part in employment opportunities essential, leaders say, but Manchester could find new commitment hard work

Fifth of job hunters report applying for more than 100 roles amid continued questioning of the value of a degree

Risk that universities will only be accessible to wealthier students owing to sky-high accommodation costs, report warns

With the NHS desperate for more capacity, increasing the number of doctors entering the system seems an obvious remedy. But with the system lacking the resources to boost training places or offer permanent jobs, insiders say that the flow of extra medical graduates must be staunched. Helen Packer reports

Renowned research sleuth says Stanford University president scandal underlines need for external inquiries when senior staff are accused

Sector stalwart picked to lead new UK grouping in next stage of development

Campaigners say UK government has not thought through plans to phase out support in favour of ‘freely available’ software

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

People increasingly sceptical of higher education’s benefits, according to social attitudes poll, while majority back limits on international students

One in 10 out-of-work young people have a degree, major review finds, as UK prime minister warns too many are missing out on ‘high quality alternatives’ to university

‘Catch-all’ responses risk driving out high-quality provision, report warns

Findings strengthen case that UK should agree early access to next framework programme as soon as possible, say v-cs

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

New fee structure for English regulator seeks to relieve ‘higher burden’ being placed on smaller providers

Hertfordshire’s announcement of course closures is the latest example of a dynamic that narrows access and deepens inequality, says Dragan Plavsic

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

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

For the initiative to fulfil its potential, we need funding incentives, clearer understanding of demand and better policy alignment, says Jamie Roberts

Regulator says ‘prolonged litigation’ not in best interests of students or universities after High Court blocked record fine

Pressure grows on institutions to pause major restructures while sector awaits news of how much coming changes will save employers

Education should be used to create more peaceful future at time of global upheaval, minister tells global gathering

Accessibility is not simply about whether procedures exist. It is about whether people can realistically understand and navigate them, says Helen Megarry

MPs revive proposal to hold back portion of university leaders’ pay, but some question whether policy designed for bankers would make any difference

Head of team that supports staff with visa issues accused of conflict of interest after standing for party that wishes to abolish leave to remain

Under half of Universities UK members sign up to take part in scheme that intends to foster more flexible, lifelong study

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

Specialist who worked at heart of government during transnational education boom discusses the underrated value of education exports, the complex nature of quality assurance and the impact of Whitehall cuts on future expansion

Sutton Trust says findings support argument that value of higher education should be judged on more than post-university salaries alone

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