Policy and analysis

illustration of students walking around university buildings

Mental health

We ensure that wellbeing and mental health are a strategic priority for universities.

Brexit and UK universities

We are working with our members, the university sector and government on the implications for universities and students of the UK's vote to leave the EU.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We support and promote life-changing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds at every university.
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Immigration

We want to see an immigration system that helps UK universities to attract international students and highly skilled staff from around the world.
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Innovation, growth and skills

Universities are vital in supporting business and communities, promoting local and national economic growth and innovation, and supplying highly skilled and employable graduates.
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Regulation of higher education

Effective regulation is essential to provide accountability for public funds, protect the interests of students and safeguard the reputation of UK higher education.
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Student experience

The UK’s universities want to provide students with a world-class education so that they can achieve their full potential.
Seats in classroom

Funding

​A sustainable funding environment is essential for universities.
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Efficiency and value for money

​Universities across the UK are committed to delivering value for money for students, for government and for the wider public.​

Research policy

Our universities lead the world in science and research, but government must invest more if we are to maximise the benefits to the economy, society and people's everyday lives.
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Professional education

Universities are committed to the renewal of the teaching profession through provision of excellent training programmes which produce the teachers our education system needs.
Woman looking down microscope

Health

Universities train and educate the healthcare workforce and carry out research which improves the health of the nation and drives growth.
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Universities and counter-terrorism

​Universities have a role to play in the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism. But they must also be allowed to balance this against their duty to promote freedom of speech within the law.
Pensions

Pensions

We represent higher education employers in discussions on the future of the USS. We are working to make the scheme sustainable while offering the very best pensions that can be afforded.
group of students laughing aroung a table

Internationalisation

We want to support the development of UK universities’ influence on the world stage, and ensure that the UK higher education sector remains competitive by international standards.

Blog

The grades u-turn caused a ripple effect throughout education – it could be catastrophic for unis

25 August 2020
From over-stretched finances to lack of space and facilities, universities are facing a perfect storm of problems.

A ‘whole university approach’ to wellbeing: meeting the challenges of Covid-19

22 July 2020
Dr Hannah Friend and Dr Diana Beech explain how having a recently-developed wellbeing strategy in place helped the University of Warwick respond to the challenges of Covid-19.

News

UUK response to updated DfE guidance for universities

10 September 2020
Responding to updated government guidance for universities ahead of students starting the new term, Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:

A business is born every two hours at UK universities

28 August 2020
​University graduates start 4,000 new businesses and are responsible for supporting tens of thousands of jobs every year.