20 per cent cash fillip for smaller institutes

All institutes with fewer than 1,000 students will get up to 20 per cent more cash from the Higher Education Funding Council for England from next year. The move is mainly designed to protect the income of Oxbridge colleges following the decision to phase out college fees over the next ten years.

Meanwhile, all universities with buildings constructed before 1914 are being invited to bid for extra funding as part of an old and historic buildings initiative, also to help protect the income of Oxbridge colleges.