England may fare better than Scots after RAE

English research departments could be better funded than their Scottish counterparts after this year's research assessment exercise.

Last week, a board meeting of the Higher Education Funding Council for England announced that universities would get block grants for departments rated 3a and 3b for research following the 2001 RAE.

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has indicated that it does not intend to fund departments rated 3a and 3b in a document out for consultation.