University funding

Sustainable funding is essential for universities. We identify risks to the financial health of the sector and influence policy to help our members be financially sustainable.

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30 January 2024 Explainer

30 January 2024 Explainer

Are universities letting international students in on lower grades?

Recent headlines have argued that international students are buying their way into UK universities through back door routes. But is this true? Director of Universities UK International, Jamie Arrowsmith, fact checks these claims.
30 April 2026 Opinion

30 April 2026 Opinion

Autonomy is not enough: a hard truth for UK higher education

Professor Amanda J Broderick, Vice Chancellor and President at UEL shares how protecting and strengthening higher education will require renewal driven from within, with universities willing to listen and evolve how they operate.
7 September 2023 Opinion

7 September 2023 Opinion

Does the university funding system work well?

We asked experts in the sector whether they think the university funding system works well and what could be improved.
8 June 2026 Insights and analysis

8 June 2026 Insights and analysis

Government must start treating higher education like the investment in the future of our country it is

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of UUK, and Amira Campbell, President of the NUS (National Union of Students), discuss how there needs to be a re-evaluation of who pays for higher education, moving towards a model that recognises its value to society.
24 November 2025 Data

24 November 2025 Data

How teaching funding per student in England has declined over the last decade

Our analysis highlights how universities now receive substantially less in real terms for teaching students compared to ten years ago, as funding has not kept pace with inflation during that time.
21 October 2019 Insights and analysis

21 October 2019 Insights and analysis

Presenting university income and spending to students

How student contributions are spent
13 February 2026 Data

13 February 2026 Data

The financial impact of government policy decisions on universities

Our analysis shows that government policy decisions lead to an estimated £3.7 billion reduction in funding to higher education providers in England from 2024-25 to 2029-30.
7 September 2022 Speech

7 September 2022 Speech

Vivienne Stern's first speech as Universities UK's Chief Executive

Speaking at our annual conference in her home town of Leicester, Vivienne Stern sets out her priorities in her first speech as Universities UK's Chief Executive.
6 May 2025 Explainer

6 May 2025 Explainer

What is the future of collaborative outreach in England?

Naomi Abayasekara, Policy Adviser, explores how a new national fund could help to support the future of efficient, impactful outreach activity to reach future learners.
7 September 2023 Opinion

7 September 2023 Opinion

What’s next for university funding?

Following our previous work on funding, we asked experts what's next for university funding.

University funding

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