Latest news

Teachers offered excellence fellowships
More than 100 school and college teachers will be going back to university as part of a scheme aimed at widening participation in higher education. Some 30 universities will offer excellence fellowship awards, allowing teachers to spend a term at university. Each university will get £60,000 to spend on awards, while participating teachers will be eligible for £1,000 bonuses.

• Participating institutions:
  University of Birmingham; University of Bradford; University of Bristol; University of Central England in Birmingham; University of Central Lancashire; University of Durham; University of Greenwich; Gloucestershire University; University of Leeds; University of Lincoln; University of Liverpool; Liverpool Hope; University of Luton; University of Manchester; Manchester Metropolitan University; University of Northumbria at Newcastle; University of Oxford; University of Plymouth; Queen Mary, University of London; South Bank University; University of Sunderland; University of Sussex; Sheffield Hallam University; University College London; University of Warwick; University of West of England; University of York; Bolton Institute of Higher Education; Canterbury Christ Church University College; Southampton Institute.

Will Wills drop out of St Andrews?
There is scepticism in St Andrews University over reports that Prince William has been contemplating dropping out of his history of art degree or transferring to Edinburgh University. A university spokesperson refused to comment, saying she could not discuss individuals, but fellow students say they were "surprised" by the reports. A spokesperson for Prince Charles said: "We are not commenting on these speculative stories."

British student threatens to sue FBI
Oxford Brookes University student Adeel Akhtar, at the centre of an airline security scare in which he was mistaken for an international terrorist, said today he was considering legal action. The law student, who unwittingly prompted a huge security alert as he travelled from London to New York with Air india, said he was "shattered" after being led off the jet in handcuffs by FBI agents.

Oilman's $150m Texas gift is 'largest ever'
John "Jack" Jackson, 88, a former Texas oilman, has pledged his $150 million (£105 million) estate to the University of Texas in what president Larry R. Faulkner says is the largest gift ever made to a single public university in the United States. Last year the University of Colorado System, which includes several schools, received a $250 million gift.