University funding/finances

Australian deficits fuelled by unnecessary costs, report argues, but universities say analysis lacks ‘financial rigour’

Banker gifts institution £4 million collection including works by Antony Gormley to kickstart new philanthropic donation model

Sector should be wary of asking businesses to pay ‘additional tax’ and focus on tweaking current system instead, says Universities UK chief

Buoyant figures reflect enrolment decisions made before politicians attempted to bring in restrictions, vice-chancellor says

University changes course on redundancies under pressure from unions and politicians, but says new proposal requires ‘significant public funding’

Doubling of international fees, closing visa ‘loopholes’ and tying student debt to mortgages among the ideas proposed ahead of poll

Australian scholars with ongoing roles almost as fearful as casuals about being out of work

Deputy first minister chairing ministerial group to consider fresh help for university, amid continuing doubts over its viability

University cuts £18 million from its pay bill with voluntary severance scheme, but remains some way short of its target for cost reductions

Vice-chancellors say they have ‘no choice’ about downsizing, but unions question the need as 2024 accounts reveal recovery trend

Australia must fund its universities in ways that reflect their mission – not just their margins, say Rhodri Davies and Dorrit Jacob

China’s Double First-Class project appears to be paying off as the country’s institutions continue to lead the rankings. Why have similar schemes elsewhere struggled to reap rewards, and can China keep advancing despite economic slowdown and an ageing population? Helen Packer reports

Budget cuts of €500 million to higher education and research funding in the Netherlands breach government agreement, universities say

Universities should reinvest any money made from commercialisation rather than see it as a way of fixing financial problems, says expert

Institution known for innovation and risk-taking faces doubts over its future but is still planning new ways to do things differently

Medical training a bright spot for the sector, in an election campaign mostly focused elsewhere

Union declares institution ‘greylisted’, with academics urged not to apply for jobs or act as external examiners

Stagnating government funding means tuition fee rises may be inevitable, says Japanese university leader

Risk of ‘lasting damage’ to academic reputation in latest round of job losses

Irish institutions hope new employment grade could help retain staff and drive research

Pilot and engineer training provider suddenly enters administration after operating for 90 years, with most courses ending immediately

University blames steep drops in international enrolments as it finally publishes its delayed figures, but accounts of four institutions still outstanding

Australian university set to become first foreign institution with base in Middle Eastern country, but its staff think it should focus closer to home

New boss rules out further forced redundancies as cash-strapped university aims to break even next year

UK sector faces ‘critical moment’, says institution’s vice-chancellor as she announces plans to ‘resize’ the university

Former banker who chaired last funding review says recommendation that fees be frozen ‘taken too far’

‘Lingering doubts’ over future of higher-level opportunities adds to anxiety for institutions that have become more financially reliant on levy money

Alan Langlands to chair taskforce set up to look at teaching and research offer of stricken institution

Medr hatched last year with a radical remit to oversee both further and higher education. But will its baptism of fire singe its wings or provide it with an opportunity to find its teeth and reshape the Welsh university sector for the national benefit? Juliette Rowsell reports

‘Financial resilience’ strategies needed as survey finds vast majority of institutions expecting staff and capital expenditure to increase in next five years

Institutions ‘not always aware of the scale of the challenges involved’, regulator warns, as financial crisis exacerbates likelihood of bankruptcies

‘Transactional’ approach to funding reform unlikely to lead to ‘radical’ changes, according to Universities UK president

Shadow skills minister calls for end to post-study work visa and denounces changes to apprenticeship funding as he settles in to new role

Leading institution plans to save £20 million over two years, with 200 professional services staff expected to depart

‘Hard-fought’ result no reason to ‘lose focus’ in a ‘turbulent and often unpredictable environment’, says Monash v-c

Union urges senior management to rule out compulsory redundancies following cash injection

Apparent recovery owes much to bump in government funding, and may prove short-lived as international earnings tumble

South coast institution latest to cut back on staff costs ahead of coming national insurance rise

Budget projections that changes in repayment rules will incur no extra expense ‘lack credibility’, expert says

Expensive pension schemes among issues highlighted as institutions look for ways out of current turmoil

Cost-of-living help unveiled for students, staff and graduates, but sector remains all but empty-handed

External team to investigate why financial concerns that have led to more than 600 planned job losses were not raised sooner

Up to 185 more jobs in the frame, as restructuring of university switches from teaching to operations

Tally of unsubsidised students could reach thousands, representative body warns, after enrolments surpass projections

UCU urges management to rule out compulsory redundancies as it stages walkout at institution hit by several waves of restructuring

Alex Salmond’s famous anti-fees pledge remains cast in stone. But with the debacle at Dundee lending credence to the view that Scottish universities are in an even deeper financial hole than their English counterparts, some suggest it is time for students to help haul them out. Tom Williams reports

Fees rising and scholarships disappearing as visa constraints reduce incentive to keep students’ costs low

Institutions still waiting for a budget to be set for financial year amid Javier Milei’s unprecedented austerity drive

Cash recovered from alleged money-laundering pays for development of new institution in Islamabad that prime minister hopes will ‘rival Oxford’

Regulator says English sector finances ‘appear to be towards the most pessimistic end’ of predictions, with risks escalating

‘Cultural shift’ needed in universities to better recognise work academics do with local communities, Lords committee hears

Union branch at redundancy-hit institution to stage one-day walkout

Ten university cities expected to participate in strikes ahead of April Senate vote on budget

Institution would have run out of money by end of June without additional Holyrood support, leaders tell MSPs

Union members hold Parliament rally urging ministers to bail out sector

Cash-strapped institution confirms it will not be investing upfront in new Central Asian outpost

New education plan aims to create four city hubs and expand enrolment as youth population swells

Extra £10 million in funding made available to universities such as Dundee to ‘navigate current financial challenges’

Professional services staff most affected in move unions warn will ‘make life worse for students’

Education committee announces investigation into state of funding in the sector and its impact on staff and students