University funding/finances

Keeping costs down ‘not an objective’ for research-addicted sector, says accountancy professor  

Protest comes as House of Representatives prepares to debate controversial cuts to higher education and research of more than €1 billion

Questions cause alarm but the panel ‘wouldn’t be doing its job’ if it avoided them, commentators say

‘Quite a few’ institutions actively considering mergers, claims David Maguire

Little prospect of convincing politicians or the public of the need to raise fees higher, leaving universities dependent on an upturn in economy and international student market, says Shitij Kapur

Better to revise the previous government’s tuition fee hikes than redirect taxpayers’ money into wealthy graduates’ pockets, says Maxwell Yong

As questions about the size and shape of UK higher education persist, debates about the part number controls could play are making a comeback

English fee rise does little to relieve pressure on institutions, with increased staff costs likely to swallow additional funding

The removal of recruitment caps in 2015 was hailed by ministers as a boon to institutions’ and students’ ambitions. But the tuition fee’s declining value and the Russell Group’s ever-growing market share now threaten the viability of some institutions, and calls are growing for a U-turn, writes Juliette Rowsell

Announcement follows the departure of 400 staff members last year as efforts to close budget black hole continue

Universities need £60 million boost from Holyrood budget to avoid further cuts to per-student funding, says IFS

Few universities confirm plans to charge full uplift to all undergraduates, with sector set to miss out on millions in extra revenue

Union says withdrawal of some business degrees ‘raises serious questions’ but university insists it is separate to wider restructure

Any new home undergraduate enrolling on a course at University College Birmingham will be eligible for the allowance

Staff fear cost-cutting motivations behind university’s drive for more secure employment

Lower than anticipated student recruitment worsening financial situation for more institutions, according to OfS analysis

Ensure that your exit causes minimal inconvenience, regulator tells private colleges

New LSE vice-chancellor discusses ‘Wild West’ US, dealing with campus protests and the personal turmoil that led him to make the switch to London

Wartime austerity could slash research output and disproportionately hit disadvantaged students, sector leaders warn

John Cater, who is set to retire after 31 years at the helm of Edge Hill University, warns that sector finances have never been more challenging

Latest redundancy round militates against the government’s growth aspirations, observers warn

Science Tokyo head says joining forces is an ‘effective strategy’ for institutions facing funding and demographic shortfalls

Horse set to follow the cart, as critics warn of perverse consequences

Increase in amount paid by undergraduates will not cover additional staff costs imposed on institutions in the budget

Bridget Phillipson confirms inflationary fee rise and adds £414 extra per year to maintenance loans

Some A$15 billion of student debt relief will do almost ‘nothing’ to help cash-strapped Australian institutions

Poll finds third of UK undergraduates worried for future of their institution amid funding crisis

UK institutions look ahead to next autumn as survey confirms devastating impact of visa restrictions

Area studies and languages at risk at Leiden University, with academics foreseeing humanities ‘apocalypse’

Addressing the sector’s woes has, at best, been kicked down the road to next year’s spending review. How disappointing, says Nick Hillman

Chancellor goes ahead with 1.2 percentage point increase, hiking staff costs for already cash-strapped institutions

University leaders under ‘extraordinary pressure’ amid funding crisis, says departing University of Southern Queensland chief

“Workforce change” processes under way at seven institutions likely to claim well over 1,200 jobs, with more campuses expected to follow suit

New crackdowns on overseas students have recently been introduced by Australia, Canada and the UK in response to concerns about immigration levels, housing costs and visa abuse. But will they work? Will they last? And where do they leave universities struggling to stay afloat? Patrick Jack reports 

THE’s flagship summit began with a focus on immediate funding woes but ended with a reaffirmation of universities’ founding principles

Vice-chancellors want access to support for public sector organisations if expected levying of national insurance on employers’ pension contributions goes ahead

Pressure group attacks ‘shocking’ rise in ‘fat cats’, but institutions insist it is right that they offer competitive salaries

Number of institutions claiming financial exigency now into ‘double figures’

Troubled institution joins neighbouring ANU in flagging major cuts, saying it is ‘spending beyond its means’

First budget under new right-wing government insufficient, sector leaders say

New post-16 regulator finally comes into being as Welsh institutions face funding crisis

Declines in international student numbers blamed for fresh round of university redundancies

Proposed rises in employer national insurance and levy on pension contributions could ‘unwittingly tip the balance’, warns UUK leader

Universities UK urges ‘ambitious’ increase in research spending, not real-terms cut, ahead of budget

Welsh higher education minister rows back on Senedd remarks after acknowledging bailouts across the border are a Westminster matter

New restructure proposals, ‘the last of the year’, would claim more than 100 positions

New Manchester vice-chancellor on why universities need to collaborate more closely, how to turn research into impact, and the ‘opportunity’ for the UK on international students

Record increases scheduled as caps proposal leaves universities ‘singing different songs’

Waiving pay during Covid did not prevent redundancies, union warns members

Charge students to retake passed exams, Norwegian government tells universities

Struggling universities unlikely to see greater support as warring parties focus on political reform

Capital seen as being able to absorb ramifications of a market exit, while regional towns and cities would feel much greater impact

Pandemic-style redundancies feared as universities count their losses

English higher education is already very diverse. Aggressive top-down attempts to diversify it further will do more harm than good, says B.V.E. Hyde

Irene Tracey says policymakers and universities need to work together to tackle funding crisis

Half of sector goes backwards in this year’s table, as international student caps threaten more damage

Former minister says his government was right to focus on outcomes of degrees but disowns talk of ‘Mickey Mouse degrees’

Oxford breaks record at number one spot, defying trend of declining UK reputation 

British and Canadian vice-chancellors warn their financial models have never faced greater threats, but do not want to further deter international students

Releasing details of Paddy Nixon’s final-year earnings of $A1.8 million would be ‘contrary to the public interest’, Canberra insists