Donations to UK universities hit new high

UK institutions received a record amount in donations last year, figures reveal, although elite universities continue to receive the lion’s share.

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) shows that UK providers recorded £2.2 billion in donations and endowments for 2022-23.

This was recorded across 304 providers, although it does include a number of charities such as the Salvation Army and the Prince’s Foundation, which offer some higher education and receive large donations.

Analysis of the institutions that have provided figures for every year of the dataset shows a large uptick in donations. Last year, these 156 providers were given a total of £809 million, which was a 31 per cent increase from £620 million in 2021-22.

This marked both the biggest annual increase and the highest total level of donations since comparable records began in 2015-16.

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But the rise was even larger among elite institutions, with donations to Russell Group universities jumping 42 per cent year-on-year. In contrast, donations increased by just 3 per cent among those outside this group.

The 24 members of the mission group were responsible for 77 per cent of the total donations received in 2022-23 by these 156 providers. This was up from 71 per cent in 2021-22 among the same institutions, and just 60 per cent in 2015-16.

The University of Oxford received the most in donations, with £186.9 million – which was up from £106.7 million in 2021-22. It was followed by the University of Cambridge’s £132.4 million, representing a 151 per cent increase in donations in the past year.

The next highest among the Russell Group were the University of Edinburgh (£55.1 million), Imperial College London (£51.5 million), and UCL (£29 million).

Although institutions such as Cambridge experienced huge annual increases in donations, nine universities within the Russell Group received less than they did in 2021-22. Donations fell by almost 50 per cent at Durham University and the London School of Economics. Durham clarified that its 2021-22 figures had included a valuable gift of physical property to the university and that, excluding this, it had recorded a year-on-year increase in donations.

Meanwhile, total donations to Oxford and Cambridge dwarf those of some of their rivals. The lowest levels of philanthropy received among this group were at Cardiff University (£1.4 million), the University of Liverpool (£2.6 million), and the University of Nottingham (£2.9 million).

A recent study by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (Case) found similar results to Hesa, with the amount of cash received by participating higher education institutions in the UK and Ireland hitting an all-time high in 2022-23.

The organisation said the figures show continued and significant philanthropic support to the higher education sector.

The Case report found that organisations, such as trusts and foundations, companies, and lotteries, accounted for 73 per cent of new funds reported. Gifts from individuals, including alumni and non-alumni, contributed the other 27 per cent.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com