Politics

The coalition’s move to allow for-profit colleges more access to student loans opened the door to “a lot of dross”, Vince Cable has admitted

Vince Cable has predicted that the Conservatives could raise fees “significantly” and abolish student grants if they win power at the election

The head of the University of Oxford has said he is “baffled” by the UK’s “hostile” student visa system, and called for a shift to evidence-based policymaking

Information is intended to start conversations on finding local solutions to filling gaps in subject provision and employability

Revised system is close to exceeding cost of its predecessor, Tory policy adviser Margot James tells event at party conference

But universities minister’s minor input into Tory conference attracts NUS criticism

The “cold spots” of higher education have been mapped in a new project

Claim rejected by UUK chief executive who defends breadth of university sector

Education systems in England are reinforcing divergence in wealth – we must guard against it

Academics from controversial university were due to present papers at the European Association of Israel Studies’ annual conference

Labour ‘will not make promises it can’t afford’, John Morgan hears at the party conference

Government aims to prioritise standards over enrolment, claims minister

Boris Johnson was a popular shadow HE minister but universities might not find him so cuddly in the top job, writes Wes Streeting

The £9,000 fee system “wastes money hand over fist” and vice-chancellors are engaged in a culture of “fee envy”, according to a senior Labour figure.

Labour must provide an alternative on fees and funding if it wants to secure the student vote, according to the National Union of Students president

Universities Scotland will “continue to work closely” with the Scottish and UK governments on funding and policy following today’s referendum result.

Vladimir Tismaneanu on a book that argues against the self-righteousness of neoliberalism

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls wants to formulate funding before announcing policy

‘Rushed’ policy took no notice of ‘precedents at home or abroad’, says report

Former minister warns Labour’s Liam Byrne that lowering tuition fees will cause him no end of grief

In the 2015 election, says NUS president Toni Pearce, students will be seeking a fairer future, not revenge for fees hikes

Students who want to do master’s degrees are stymied by a lack of state finance. Paul Jump investigates how funding can be fixed

Alex Salmond pressed the principal of the University of St Andrews to tone down her remarks about the impact of Scottish independence on research.

Responses to THE Scottish independence referendum survey show different opinions on how outcome will affect universities

The government has postponed controversial cuts to the Disabled Students’ Allowance until 2016-17.

Labour has pledged to remove international students from the net migration target and break with the coalition’s “nonsense” policy.

New universities minister delighted at rising student numbers and prepares to tackle postgraduate funding

Survey reveals that staff are divided by discipline over independence

Greg Clark has refused to back calls for the government to remove overseas students from the net migrant count.

The UK’s spending on higher education has fallen once again, with Canada taking over as the world’s biggest spender on universities.

Universities UK has called for “stability” and “political consensus” from an incoming government on fees and funding.

The government’s Prevent counter-terrorism strategy is causing controversy in universities

Analysis of British Social Attitudes survey finds class bias with regard to future student numbers

10 per cent threshold for refusal rates may cause many to lose their licences to recruit overseas students

Plans to slash maintenance payments to European Union students have been unveiled by universities minister Greg Clark

Labour would make new “earn while you learn” degrees delivered by “Technical University” partnerships the priority in higher education expansion

New research has demonstrated the monopoly of a small social elite over public leadership positions in Britain

Former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine has criticised the inclusion of foreign students in government plans to cut net immigration to the UK

A majority of the public say the government should not reduce overseas student numbers, polling suggests.

The Liberal Democrats will offer manifesto pledges to ring-fence the science budget and provide “further support” for Catapult centres.

Minister in dual role has a more extensive list of responsibilities than predecessor David Willetts

The medical journal The Lancet has defended its decision to publish an open letter condemning Israel’s military action in Gaza

MPs warn it is “highly doubtful” the Scottish government’s position on tuition fees would be legally sustainable if the country became independent

Times Higher Education has launched a survey to see whether Scottish university staff believe leaving the UK would be good for their institutions

The opposition must give universities guarantees about funding if it wants to gain support, argues Bill Rammell

Why is the University of London closing a place to build work skills?, asks Kevin Fong

Elisabeth Kendall’s work on jihadist poetry led to tribespeople seeking her expertise

Expert warns that new threshold could mean ‘sudden death’ threat for smaller universities

University leaders voice concerns about impact of party’s mooted plan to lower fees to £6,000

Universities and colleges told proportion of visa refusals allowed will halve

Former minister says he looked at idea while in government

Allegations have further shaken public trust in the country’s governing class

BIS budget may have to bear extra burden, some worry

Architect of Australia’s HECS says change will leave universities free to raise charges far above the cost of teaching students

College Measures, a site comparing US graduate salaries by subject and institution, is not welcomed by all college presidents

Willetts’ prediction that market forces would keep fees down have been proved false

Greg Clark’s portfolio will benefit institutions by recognising the vital role they play in local communities, Lord Heseltine argues

Concerns over what new role of life sciences minister could mean for policy

A flat-cash settlement for research in the next spending review could cause a “slowly gathering storm” to hit the sector, a group of peers has heard.

BIS committee also criticises plans to sell loan book