Higher
Get the latest on UK higher education, with news from universities, research institutions, and sector regulators. Topics include student life, tuition fees, academic policy, and institutional strategy.
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Dec- 2025 -22 December
Susan Lapworth to step down as OfS chief executive in 2026
The Office for Students has revealed that its chief executive Susan Lapworth will be stepping down at Easter 2026. Lapworth has led the higher education regulator since its creation in 2018, overseeing the introduction of a new regulatory system for universities and other higher education providers in England with a…
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18 December
Southampton Uni to join Sutton Trust UK summer schools from 2026
The University of Southampton will join the Sutton Trust’s UK Summer Schools consortium from 2026, expanding the programme’s reach across the South and South West of England. The move will add a new Russell Group institution to the scheme, which provides free, residential academic experiences at highly selective universities for…
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17 December
UK to rejoin Erasmus from 2027 under wider EU reset deal
The government has announced today (17 December) that the UK will rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme from 2027 after reaching an agreement with Brussels as part of a wider reset of relations covering education, energy and trade. The decision follows a commitment made at the UK-EU Summit in May and…
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16 December
OfS refers unis to National Trading Standards over contract concerns
The Office for Students (OfS) has referred several universities and colleges to National Trading Standards (NTS) after identifying potential consumer protection concerns in student contracts, including clauses linked to industrial action. The referrals were made under an existing partnership between the higher education regulator and NTS, which examines notifications from…
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9 December
Govt to tighten oversight of uni franchising under fraud crackdown
The government plans to bring university franchising arrangements under tighter oversight as part of a wider effort to curb abuse of the student finance system, which officials say cost taxpayers £2m in 2022/23. Under the proposals, franchiser providers with 300 or more students would be required to register with the…
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5 December
Staff at Northumbria to be balloted over pension plan dispute
Staff at Northumbria University will be balloted for strike action over plans they say would pressure employees to leave the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. The industrial action vote opens on 15 December and closes on 23 January. The ballot follows a branch meeting last month in which University and College Union…
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5 December
OfS launches investigation into University of Greater Manchester
The Office for Students (OfS)has opened an investigation into the University of Greater Manchester to assess whether its governance arrangements meet regulatory requirements set out in the higher education framework. The regulator said it will consider whether the university’s governing documents uphold the public interest governance principles and whether management…
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3 December
UCU condemns Uni of Essex plan to cut 400 jobs and close Southend campus
The University and College Union has criticised the University of Essex after the institution outlined plans to cut 400 jobs and close its Southend campus next year. In an email to staff, the vice-chancellor confirmed proposals to remove 200 academic posts during the current academic year and 200 professional services…
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2 December
OfS proposes plans to simplify rules for further education colleges
The Office for Students (OfS) has outlined plans to simplify how it regulates further education colleges in England by removing some requirements that overlap with Department for Education (DfE) oversight. The regulator has opened a consultation on the proposed changes, which focus on reducing duplication while maintaining protections for students…
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Nov- 2025 -28 November
Staff at 33 colleges to strike in January over pay and conditions dispute
Staff at 33 colleges in England are due to strike for three days in January after members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted to take industrial action over pay and working conditions. The union said stoppages are set for 14, 15 and 16 January, at the start of…
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