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Education Blog Posts
In defence of international education
Wrong. International students are required as part of receiving their visa to achieve a minimum standard of English.
View blog postUniversity honoured for disabled access scheme
The University of Bradford has won a prestigious award for developing a system that makes it easier for disabled students to access scientific laboratories.
View blog postUniversity to close chemistry department
The university added that chemistry would continue to be taught where it was part of another subject, such as medicine.
View blog postNet migration to UK hit record high of 906,000 in year to June 2023, revised figures show
Net migration to the UK hit a record high in 2023 of 906,000 in a period covering Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s premierships, revised estimates show.
View blog postAlternative graduation makes us feel seen
An alternative graduation event has been held at Sheffield Hallam University for students who would have benefited from a quieter and less formal celebration.
View blog postHow significant is the role of the student press at UK universities?
One sign of a healthy functioning student democracy is the presence of a sharp, quick-moving student newspaper
View blog postA post-compulsory education system which works for all
Locally, a high-skill economy will not simply depend on colleges and private training providers but on a coherent skills ecosystem
View blog postDelivering economic growth: the case for a financially secure higher education sector
Universities have always curated their course portfolios but this is likely to become an ever-more regular process to ensure an agile response to our changes in income.
View blog postUK survey reveals public support for international students
A recent study by the Policy Institute at King’s College London has provided insights into public opinion and their support for the number of international students at UK universities.
View blog postOfS report hammers home universities’ finance woes
The OfS has released its latest modelling which points to a significant decrease in overall international student recruitment, with 16% fewer applications for visas in 2024 than in 2023.
View blog postHigher education reform to back opportunity and protect students
The government has today (4 November 2024) unveiled a significant package of measures to support students and stabilise the university sector.
View blog postTo enable effective higher education governance, value it
Effective governance comes from valuing governance. There was a strong sense in the discussion that governance is not valued in higher education.
View blog postEdinburgh University warns staff to expect job cuts
It comes after Dundee University admitted job cuts were “inevitable” and Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen placed 135 roles at risk of redundancy due to funding issues.
View blog post6 Highest-Paying Master’s Degrees To Pursue In 2025
If you're planning to enrol on a master's degree program in 2025, one of the essential factors you should evaluate is its return on investment.
View blog postEnhancing transparency in UCAS personal statement guidance: a traffic light approach
We believe that greater transparency in personal statement guidance is essential for UCAS’s reform to widen participation and address inequalities
View blog postBad ChatGPT Output? 5 Genius Prompts To Improve It In Seconds
Generic AI writing kills engagement but with the right tone adjustment, ChatGPT mirrors your unique voice and style, keeping readers glued to every word.
View blog postScotland university announces fully funded PhD positions for 2025
The University of Edinburgh, a public research university, is offering multiple fully funded PhD positions for the academic year 2025, in a wide range of research areas.
View blog postI get paid to study for a university degree. I'm debt free and saving up to buy a house
The apprenticeship degree scheme was first launched in 2015 in response to reports from businesses about key skill shortages
View blog postAdoping a regional tertiary education, research and innovation system in England: priorities, principles and practicalities
The financial pressures universities face have received a great deal of attention, and some universities are dangerously close to bankruptcy
View blog postThe fall in graduate salaries shows the argument for mass entry to higher education has failed
The student finance system is undoubtedly broken, yet the problems in the graduate jobs market don’t appear to be being considered
View blog post10 important steps to pass IELTS writing
To ensure fairness and accuracy while grading IELTS writing tasks, the exam body has assigned at least two seasoned IELTS examiners to review your script.
View blog postUniversities all want higher fees and funding – but the government may prefer a more targeted approach
Like most of the UK, universities were surprised by the timing of July’s general election. They had no time to influence the incoming Labour government’s policy commitments.
View blog postPersonal Statements – a redraft rather than a reform?
Writing etiquette precludes me from including an ‘eye-roll’ emoji here, but that was definitely my first reaction
View blog postUK university cuts threaten to ‘wipe out’ black scholarship, academics say
Black scholarship in the UK risks being wiped out due to redundancies and course closures, leading academics have warned.
View blog postOxford University keeps global top spot
The University of Oxford has kept top place in an international league table for a record-breaking ninth year in a row.
View blog postAfter the ‘war’, now we must win the peace
In the run up to the General Election, then Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology
View blog postUK Universities call for tuition fee rise in line with inflation
In a report, released on behalf of Universities UK on September 30, universities have set out a package of reforms
View blog postLabour to review UK’s international education strategy
The incoming review was revealed in a statement announcing the reappointment of the UK’s international education champion
View blog postNewcastle University faces £35m black hole as international student numbers decline
A decline in the number of international students at Newcastle University will leave a £35 million shortfall in their budget, according to an email sent to staff.
View blog postUCAS: International intake flattens amid record acceptances for UK 18-year-olds
A total of 61,110 international applicants received a place this year, down 0.6% from last year, UCAS data has showed.
View blog postUK increases international student maintenance requirements
As per government policy, international students coming to the UK must provide evidence that they have sufficient savings to support themselves
View blog postLessons for UK universities from the Australian experience
The writer is president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester and former deputy vice-chancellor of Sydney University.
View blog postThe experience of student number caps from one modern university in Scotland
As England discusses whether to reintroduce student number caps for home undergraduate education,
View blog postTuition fees must go up, unis say as term begins
Higher tuition fees and direct government funding are needed to halt a growing deficit in England, a group of
View blog postUnis float £12,500 fees as freshers pack for term
Tuition fees in England would need to rise to £12,500 to meet universities' teaching costs, the vice-chancellor of King's College London has said
View blog postReduced international student numbers are a much bigger problem than you think
As new visa data shows a slowdown in international recruitment, the potentially staggering economic costs of sector contraction have become clear.
View blog postGlobal collaboration is key to driving digital transformation
UK universities are facing tough times ahead, dealing with issues such as a cost-of-living crisis, limits on international student numbers, an increase
View blog postUniversity students to be offered some free modules
University students will be able to take modules in some courses for free
View blog postApplications for the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarships is now open to apply
Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK are open
View blog postHidden in Plain Sight: The Real International Student Scandal
It is widely acknowledged that UK higher education is on the edge of a financial precipice. But the sector’s problems in fact run much deeper than this. There is also a quality crisis – which, though widely known about, is barely being discussed except amongst direct teaching colleagues.
View blog postUK’s London Metropolitan sees “significant” spike in international applications
While there is “always a bit of a rush as we come to the end of a cycle”, there has been a noticeable surge in applications from overseas students recently
View blog postRecord foreign student numbers at Scottish universities
The number of international students studying at Scotland’s universities rose to a record high in the 2022-2023 academic year.
View blog postUK international student numbers hit record levels in 2022/23
The UK hosted a total of 758,855 international students during the last academic year – with India, China and Nigeria sending the most
View blog postBig fall in migrant visa applications after changes
The number of overseas workers, students and their families applying for visas to come to the UK has fallen by a third over
View blog postLabor rejects report that international students will be capped at 40% of university enrolments
The education minister has rejected a report that the government will cap international students
View blog postUcas to reform university personal statements
Ucas is changing personal statements, long the bane of teenagers' final year at school, for university admissions.
View blog post“Be in no doubt” – int’l students welcome in UK, says education secretary
Keir Starmer’s government will move away from the “mixed messaging” of previous administrations and towards a more welcoming attitude
View blog postA greater focus emerges on tuition deposit payments
An increased focus on conversion of applications from international students coupled with diminishing university finances
View blog postLabour vows to “welcome international students” to UK
Speaking on BBC’s Today program on July 22, Phillipson recognised “the difference international students make when it
View blog postEven a PhD isn’t enough to erase the effects of class
The past few years have been challenging for anyone employing fewer women or under-represented minorities
View blog postThe role of Higher Education in driving flourishing regions
Universities are invaluable to the national economy and important anchor institutions in their regions
View blog postVisa changes had 'really big impact' on university
Changes to international student visas have had a "really big impact" on a university which is offering voluntary severance to 500 staff
View blog post'No concerns' about foreign students' entry grades
A review has found “no concerns” that universities are watering down entry requirements for international students applying to foundation courses.
View blog postWhat does the next government do about education?
Funding, pay and the increasing expectation from schools will challenge the next government's education policy, educators and parents in Kent and Sussex are warning.
View blog postBridging the IT Skills Gap and Seizing Opportunities
In the last few years, we have witnessed a global influx of technological advancements that have progressed faster than anticipated,
View blog postBridging the AI Divide: A Call to Integrate Industry Expertise into UK Higher Education
As the UK approaches its next general election, both the Labour and Conservative Party manifestos
View blog postWeekend Reading: Creating sustainable careers for the next generation – what can universities do?
What does sustainability really mean for the planet, for society, for universities and their students
View blog postThe Higher Education Business Model is Broken: Bridging the Gap to a New Model
Higher education is the hidden issue in the current UK general election campaign. One of the few references to the sector
View blog postDecarbonising Higher Education – The Investment Challenge
Universities and higher education (HE) institutions have an important role to play in meeting carbon reduction targets
View blog postUniversity research
At the 2019 General Election, the Conservative Party reiterated the commitments already made by the
View blog postNew constituency-level data prove the value of international students to the UK
HEPI and Kaplan International Pathways are publishing data commissioned from London Economics showing
View blog postCyber threat actors are targeting UK universities. Are security teams prepared?
UK universities have been a consistent target of choice by cyber-attackers in recent years.
View blog postUniversities' fears over cuts to overseas students
Universities across Yorkshire have warned that planned cuts to the number of international students coming to the UK
View blog postUp to 150 jobs at risk as part of university cuts
Up to 150 jobs at the University of Hull are at risk as part of a £23m cost-savings plan.
View blog postUsing AI to think with students, not for them
Last month’s invitation-only meeting focused on assessment, with four HE leaders – from the University of Greenwich
View blog postAI in finance is like ‘moving from typewriters to word processors’
The accounting and finance professions have long adapted to technology — from calculators and spreadsheets to cloud computing
View blog postThe future of higher education regulation
In England, the main regulator of higher education institutions became the Office for Students in 2018.
View blog postFour possible futures for English higher education after the election
England’s universities face serious financial challenges because there are pressures on three of their main income streams
View blog postHow are universities funded?
UK universities are funded through three main income streams: tuition fees and grants for teaching home students;
View blog postWe have a Vision for the Future – the Russell Group Students’ Union Manifesto
Higher Education is at a critical juncture. As demand for university education increases
View blog postNigeria acts over students told to leave UK
Nigeria's federal government has stepped in after crisis-hit international students
View blog postCrisis-hit students plead for more time over fees
Overseas students struggling with tuition fees amid a currency crisis in Nigeria
View blog postUKCISA responds to Home office proposals on student immigration
Today’s announcement by the Home Office proposes a review of the way universities work with global education agents to recruit international students
View blog postStudent visa rules costing city millions - uni boss
Coventry University's vice-chancellor has said the city's economy could lose out on tens of millions of pounds
View blog postUniversity raises student visa fears
New immigration laws could have a "negative impact on the UK as a study destination", a university vice chancellor said.
View blog postRishi Sunak faces cabinet backlash over plans to curb foreign student visas
Rishi Sunak is facing a cabinet revolt over plans to scrap a graduate visa scheme that allows overseas students to live and work in the UK for up to two years after graduation.
View blog postRishi Sunak appears to bow to cabinet pressure over graduate visa scheme
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has bowed to pressure from some of his senior cabinet colleagues over proposed changes to the graduate visa scheme.
View blog postEx-ministers warn UK universities will go bust without higher fees or funding
Vice-chancellors and former ministers are warning that the cash crisis facing universities is so serious that the next government
View blog postCrisis-hit university students ordered to leave UK
Nigerian students have been thrown off university courses and ordered to leave the UK after a currency crisis left them struggling to pay tuition fees on time.
View blog postStudent visa curbs are ‘blunt instrument’, warns St Andrews vice-chancellor
Leading UK universities have warned that any move to restrict graduate visas to the “brightest and best” foreign students
View blog postNext government must make hard university funding decisions, fast
Why are universities in such financial dire straits? According to one sector leader, it’s because they are losing mone
View blog postMaintaining quality through the cost-of-living crisis
Published last week, HEPI’s report A Minimum Income Standard for Students highlighted the ‘bleak picture’ painted by the latest research
View blog postLandmark HEPI and TechnologyOne report shows students studying outside London need £18,600 to have an acceptable standard of living
A major new report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (www.hepi.ac.uk) and TechnologyOne
View blog postHigher education to play an urgent role in tackling global challenges
As 13 nations across the Commonwealth head to the ballot box this year, and families, parents, and citizens consider their priorities for the ensuing decade,
View blog postUK graduate visa vital for local economies, city leaders tell MAC
City leaders have attempted to mount a defence of the UK’s at-risk graduate visa, highlighting how it brings £5 billion net benefit to their economies.
View blog postCap overseas student numbers and scrap graduate visa, says report
The number of international students in the UK should be capped and the graduate visa should be abolished immediately,
View blog postTop Three Education Trends for 2024
Educators must stay up-to-date with the latest technology developments and innovative teaching techniques,
View blog postHow AI impacts on academic publishing
The London Book Fair 2024 shed light on numerous critical issues currently impacting the publishing industry
View blog postWhy a fresh approach is needed for university drop-out rates
the UK has had the lowest drop-out rate among developed countries, with Ireland in second place;
View blog postHow are universities seeking to improve international students’ learning experience?
The Jisc report on international students’ digital experience was a welcome publication encompassing 18 years of research
View blog postLincoln to Host World-Leading Economics Conference
A host of figures from esteemed institutions, including the World Bank, London School of Economics, United Nations University
View blog postNew report examines the gender pay gap in higher education
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has released a comprehensive report,
View blog postIncreasing university spinouts: we need to talk about people
t has been said that the translation of research into profitable and impactful businesses is one of
View blog postCreating a sense of empowerment through engagement data
In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, universities are increasingly embracing engagement dashboards
View blog postUniversity strategy in an age of uncertainty
That the operating environment for UK universities is more uncertain than ever is now an accepted truth.
View blog postHow can aspects of wellbeing be addressed in the curriculum?
In a world that has changed due to the Covid pandemic and the cost of living, students are increasingly
View blog postIs data the driving force for better insights in 2024?
A year ago, generative AI like ChatGPT was barely on our radar. Today, the technology has moved into the mainstream.
View blog postLunchtime Reading: Investing in Quality
The urgent need for long-term funding solutions for higher education across the UK has been the topic of much discussion in recent months
View blog postStatement on the MAC review of the Graduate route March 2024
The Graduate immigration route was created as a post-study work route to attract international students to the UK as part of the UK Government’s International Education
View blog postUniversities consider firing staff and cutting courses as foreign student enrolments plummet
Hundreds of university staff are at risk of being fired as educational institutions scramble to cut costs following a substantial drop in the number of foreign students enrolling on courses.
View blog postLamentations in UK as international students number drop on strict student visa rule
Officials in UK universities worry about the economic fallout from a sharp decline in international student enrollments due to strict immigration policies.
View blog postDelivering civic value to communities – the impact of UK universities’ social science research
UK universities have increasingly had to speak the language of ‘impact’, which has become another addition to the sector’s lexicon of buzzwords.
View blog postInternational Research: Scotland's world leading offer
Scotland’s world class university research and its key outputs of new knowledge and insights are fundamental
View blog postRiding the wave of technological change to enable transformative learning for all
As I was leaving home to attend a recent HEPI roundtable event, my A-level-year-daughter asked where I was heading
View blog postThe financial impact of AI on institutions through breaches of academic integrity
Breaches in student academic integrity include, but are not exclusive to, acts such as cheating, plagiarism
View blog postThe Canary Doesn’t Look So Well: early warning signs on international student recruitment
Miners would famously take a canary below ground with them as a form of early warning signal.
View blog postTough government action on student visas comes into effect
Restrictions to student visa routes came into effect yesterday, as the government continues to slash migration and curb abuse of the immigration system.
View blog postWhere next? A new dawn for the OfS (OfS over the horizon, part II)
Yesterday we focused on the story so far for the OfS. It has been troubled, but the course can be corrected.
View blog postCreating Robust Safeguarding Policies to Enhance the Student Experience
Before I worked at HEPI, I worked at the University of Bath, developing organisational policy – so I have a particular interest
View blog postInternational students put employability at top of the wish list
International students have long been a vital part of UK higher education.
View blog postQuality in HE, an over-the-horizon look at OfS – part I
Public debate is focused on what might happen after the General Election. Change is in the air,
View blog postThe unexplored impacts of international students
International students and their dependents are a rare migrant group in that the number of them in the UK
View blog postInternational Education and Economic Growth: Maximising exports
Our excellent post-16 education sector also plays a vital role in strengthening Scotland’s international reputation and economy.
View blog postA manifesto for the future
On 30 January, the National Union of Students launched our Manifesto for our Future which represents the aspirations of the millions of students
View blog postWhatever happened to all those ‘alternative providers’ of higher education?
While Margaret Thatcher was the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the 1970s,
View blog postNumber of international students applying for university courses in UK rises
The number of international students applying for a place on a higher education course in the UK has risen this year, Ucas figures show.
View blog postHow can we use data to improve student and staff wellbeing?
Higher education has come a long way in recognising and being aware of mental health issues that students enter their studies with.
View blog postExplaining the rise in student mental health and wellbeing issues
Over the past few years there has been veritable blizzard of articles and reports about the rise in wellbeing and mental health issues,
View blog postDesperately Seeking Educational Gain, the Dark Matter of Learning and Teaching
Since its inception in 2017, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) has become an integral part of assessing and recognising the quality of undergraduate teaching
View blog postScotland's International Education Strategy
Scotland welcomes international students, staff, and researchers, recognising the important and valuable contribution they make to the Scottish economy
View blog postWhy degree apprenticeships deserve your attention
Degree apprenticeships. They’re Skills Minister Robert Halfon’s “two favourite words in the English language”
View blog postOnline learning as a response to global shifts in higher education
UK higher education has had a strong international reputation for many years.
View blog postThe increase in student maintenance hides a critical shortfall in financial support for students
Yesterday’s announcement from Robert Halfon, Minister for Higher Education,
View blog postIs technology the ticket to bridging the £17bn gap in university income?
UK universities are set to lose more than £17bn in real income over the next four years as persistent inflation erodes the value of tuition fees, according to newly released research.
View blog postStaff told to take ‘more flexible approach’ in move university says will bring rules into line with those for UK offer-holders
The University of York has told staff to take a “more flexible approach” to admitting overseas students with lower-than-expected grades, in the latest sign that UK higher education is facing severe recruitment and financial pressures.
View blog postHostility to international students is partly about the rate of expansion
It can feel baffling for those that see international recruitment as a UK success story.
View blog postHome Secretary unveils plan to cut net migration
The UK Government will introduce a plan to deliver the biggest ever cut in net migration and curb abuse of the immigration system.
View blog postOUR CORNER 🏘️
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