Chris Havergal
@chrishavergal.bsky.social
Editor, @timeshighered.bsky.social
In @timeshighered.bsky.social, here's @nickhillman.bsky.social's verdict on Budget day: www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/univ...
Universities are paying the price for UK’s dire economic straits
After a shambolic Budget day, it is little surprise that universities have been landed with a costly and overcomplicated international student levy, writes Nick Hillman
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In @timeshighered.bsky.social, here's @nickhillman.bsky.social's verdict on Budget day: www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/univ...
English universities will be permitted to charge up to £9,790 in tuition fees next academic year, with students set to pay more than £10,000 for the first time in 2027-28 www.timeshighereducation.com/news/new-gra... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
New grants worth £1,000 as fees set to pass £10K in two years
Fee caps for next two academic years confirmed by government post-budget, as students fear extra support will ‘barely scratch the surface’
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
English universities will be permitted to charge up to £9,790 in tuition fees next academic year, with students set to pay more than £10,000 for the first time in 2027-28 www.timeshighereducation.com/news/new-gra... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
Details of maintenance grants out: for first and second years of study, £1K a year for those with household incomes below £25K, tapering down to £500 a year for those on £30K. In third year, £750/£375. Won't go very far. Plus tuition fees to pass £10K in 2027-28. More soon @timeshighered.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Details of maintenance grants out: for first and second years of study, £1K a year for those with household incomes below £25K, tapering down to £500 a year for those on £30K. In third year, £750/£375. Won't go very far. Plus tuition fees to pass £10K in 2027-28. More soon @timeshighered.bsky.social
We at @timeshighered.bsky.social modelled the impact of a £1,000 flat fee rather than 6% of fee income - flat fee saved Russell Group £100 million, with big increase in costs for some post-92s www.timeshighereducation.com/news/flat-fe...
Flat fee or percentage levy divides universities ahead of budget
Last-ditch attempts to minimise harm of incoming tax on international student fees splits sector, as research intensive universities set to save millions but post-92s would pay more
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
We at @timeshighered.bsky.social modelled the impact of a £1,000 flat fee rather than 6% of fee income - flat fee saved Russell Group £100 million, with big increase in costs for some post-92s www.timeshighereducation.com/news/flat-fe...
Full story: international student levy set at £925 per learner annually from 2028, with exemption for smaller providers (no charge for first 220 students). A win for the Russell Group, means bigger bills for other providers www.timeshighereducation.com/news/interna... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
International student levy set at £925 per student from 2028
Chancellor confirms details of controversial tax on income from overseas students, while universities also expect to be hit by changes to pension tax rules
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Full story: international student levy set at £925 per learner annually from 2028, with exemption for smaller providers (no charge for first 220 students). A win for the Russell Group, means bigger bills for other providers www.timeshighereducation.com/news/interna... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Havergal
Student loan repayment thresholds frozen for a further three years.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Student loan repayment thresholds frozen for a further three years.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
Senior professors denied emeritus status raise concerns that UK university managers are withholding honorary titles to punish dissent and silence further criticism of institutions www.timeshighereducation.com/news/free-sp... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Free speech fears as campus critics denied emeritus status
More transparency needed on how titles are awarded, academics say, as some believe they have lost out after criticising their institution
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Senior professors denied emeritus status raise concerns that UK university managers are withholding honorary titles to punish dissent and silence further criticism of institutions www.timeshighereducation.com/news/free-sp... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Science minister Patrick Vallance rejects concerns focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-16... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Post-16 plan ‘not recipe for Russell Group domination’ – Vallance
Science minister dismisses as ‘bizarre’ fears that government push for ‘teaching-only’ specialists will further concentrate research activity in small number of institutions
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Science minister Patrick Vallance rejects concerns focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-16... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Seven large HE providers at risk of going bust within next 12 months, but 'some light at the end of the tunnel' in English sector financial crisis, OfS chief executive tells MPs www.timeshighereducation.com/news/seven-l... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Seven large HE providers at risk of going bust within next 12 months, but 'some light at the end of the tunnel' in English sector financial crisis, OfS chief executive tells MPs www.timeshighereducation.com/news/seven-l... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Majority of Britons support UK government’s proposed 6 per cent levy on international student tuition fees, according to YouGov poll www.timeshighereducation.com/news/public-... via @tashmosheim.bsky.social
Public backs 6 per cent levy on international student fees
YouGov survey finds 57 per cent of adults support a proposed tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, even as universities warn of serious financial consequences
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Majority of Britons support UK government’s proposed 6 per cent levy on international student tuition fees, according to YouGov poll www.timeshighereducation.com/news/public-... via @tashmosheim.bsky.social
Graduates from @manmetuni.bsky.social and @manchester.ac.uk will be eligible for discount on postgraduate courses at either institution in a new partnership www.timeshighereducation.com/news/manches... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Manchester universities unite to offer joint alumni discount
First-of-its-kind offer builds on existing regional partnerships as higher education institutions lean on collaboration to solve funding crisis
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Graduates from @manmetuni.bsky.social and @manchester.ac.uk will be eligible for discount on postgraduate courses at either institution in a new partnership www.timeshighereducation.com/news/manches... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Victory by Plaid Cymru in next year’s Welsh elections could lead to a review of cross-border student and funding flows - Cardiff v-c Wendy Larner tells me she'd support a review of the Seren scheme www.timeshighereducation.com/news/welsh-v... with @helenpacker.bsky.social
Welsh v-cs expect review of student funding flows into England
Plaid Cymru has pledged to probe Seren Academy programme and crack down on student grants being used outside of Wales
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Victory by Plaid Cymru in next year’s Welsh elections could lead to a review of cross-border student and funding flows - Cardiff v-c Wendy Larner tells me she'd support a review of the Seren scheme www.timeshighereducation.com/news/welsh-v... with @helenpacker.bsky.social
Science secretary Liz Kendall rejects criticisms that Labour's increased direction of research funding towards its national priorities breach long-held conventions limiting political interference in science www.timeshighereducation.com/news/kendall... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Kendall: Haldane not breached by research spending direction
Science secretary defends decision to dedicate nearly a fifth of UKRI budget to policy priorities
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Science secretary Liz Kendall rejects criticisms that Labour's increased direction of research funding towards its national priorities breach long-held conventions limiting political interference in science www.timeshighereducation.com/news/kendall... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Only 10% of students would likely qualify for maintenance grants under Westminster govt plans, compared to 50% who accessed them pre-2016, finds @theifs.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mainten... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Maintenance grant plans reach 10 per cent of students, says IFS
Providing a £4,000 grant for low-income students on priority courses could cost about £500 million, compared with £2.6 billion to restore former system
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Only 10% of students would likely qualify for maintenance grants under Westminster govt plans, compared to 50% who accessed them pre-2016, finds @theifs.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mainten... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Nigel Seaton interview: University of Dundee finances will be 'normalised' if it secures £40m government bailout, but more job cuts are unavoidable if the institution is to have a sustainable future www.timeshighereducation.com/news/seaton-...
Seaton: Dundee finances soon ‘normalised’ but job cuts a must
In wide-ranging interview, crisis-hit university’s interim principal admits further redundancies are ‘uncomfortable’ for ministers and acknowledges ‘moral hazard’ of £62 million bailout
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Nigel Seaton interview: University of Dundee finances will be 'normalised' if it secures £40m government bailout, but more job cuts are unavoidable if the institution is to have a sustainable future www.timeshighereducation.com/news/seaton-...
University of Hertfordshire is latest institution to be placed on student visa ‘action plan’ www.timeshighereducation.com/news/hertfor... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Hertfordshire latest to be placed on student visa ‘action plan’
University of Hertfordshire becomes eighth institution identified by Home Office as at risk of breaching sponsorship duties in past 12 months
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
University of Hertfordshire is latest institution to be placed on student visa ‘action plan’ www.timeshighereducation.com/news/hertfor... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Last chance to apply to join @timeshighered.bsky.social as a reporter, leading our coverage of European higher education - closing date this Sunday! careers.timeshighereducation.com/jobs/6737419... #journalistjobs #journojobs
November 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Last chance to apply to join @timeshighered.bsky.social as a reporter, leading our coverage of European higher education - closing date this Sunday! careers.timeshighereducation.com/jobs/6737419... #journalistjobs #journojobs
Plans to “streamline” professional services posts at UCL are facing fierce opposition, with staff concerned that the major restructuring will see pay cuts, demotions and a worse student experience www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucl-sta... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
UCL staff feel ‘betrayed’ over professional services shake-up
Research behemoth’s plans to better coordinate staff at faculty level met with fierce opposition, amid fears of pay cuts and demotions
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Plans to “streamline” professional services posts at UCL are facing fierce opposition, with staff concerned that the major restructuring will see pay cuts, demotions and a worse student experience www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucl-sta... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Russell Group would save £100m if govt opted to charge universities a flat fee under proposed int'l student levy, but switch from % tax would mean other institutions would fare considerably worse www.timeshighereducation.com/news/flat-fe... via @patrickjack.bsky.social @helenpacker.bsky.social
Flat fee or percentage levy divides universities ahead of budget
Last-ditch attempts to minimise harm of incoming tax on international student fees splits sector, as research intensive universities set to save millions but post-92s would pay more
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Russell Group would save £100m if govt opted to charge universities a flat fee under proposed int'l student levy, but switch from % tax would mean other institutions would fare considerably worse www.timeshighereducation.com/news/flat-fe... via @patrickjack.bsky.social @helenpacker.bsky.social
Arizona State University set to offer degree programmes in London, allowing students to complete undergraduate course in the UK and receive automatic admission to postgraduate study in the US www.timeshighereducation.com/news/arizona... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Arizona State University to launch new London outpost
US giant’s capital city campus expected to attract American students to the UK, with graduates offered automatic master’s places in the US
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Arizona State University set to offer degree programmes in London, allowing students to complete undergraduate course in the UK and receive automatic admission to postgraduate study in the US www.timeshighereducation.com/news/arizona... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Course satisfaction among postgraduate taught students has reached its highest level since records began, despite a year of disruption across the UK sector, finds @advancehe.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/remote-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Remote learners help drive PGT satisfaction levels to record high
Improvements in perceptions of course quality seen across student groups and disciplines despite disrupted year for UK HE
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Course satisfaction among postgraduate taught students has reached its highest level since records began, despite a year of disruption across the UK sector, finds @advancehe.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/remote-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Universities should get partial rebate on international student levy if they help students find “meaningful” work, according to @hepi-news.bsky.social study which finds quality of part-time job can impact on academic success www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student... via @tashmosheim.bsky.social
Students in ‘quality’ jobs have higher chance of academic success
Incentivise universities to facilitate ‘meaningful’ part-time work by offering rebates on fee levy, says study
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Universities should get partial rebate on international student levy if they help students find “meaningful” work, according to @hepi-news.bsky.social study which finds quality of part-time job can impact on academic success www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student... via @tashmosheim.bsky.social
45% of English HE institutions expect to report a deficit this year, with sector income set to come in £438 million below forecasts, says regulator, warning some providers may need to take 'radical action' www.timeshighereducation.com/news/radical... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
‘Radical’ action needed as half of providers still face deficits
New modelling suggests one in six English higher education institutions will have less than 30 days’ liquidity in 2025-26
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 AM
45% of English HE institutions expect to report a deficit this year, with sector income set to come in £438 million below forecasts, says regulator, warning some providers may need to take 'radical action' www.timeshighereducation.com/news/radical... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
US computer scientist Kathleen Fisher named next chief executive of Aria www.timeshighereducation.com/news/former-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Former Darpa official named new Aria chief executive
Appointment of Kathleen Fisher to lead UK ‘high-risk, high-reward’ funding body will raise questions on shift towards defence research
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
US computer scientist Kathleen Fisher named next chief executive of Aria www.timeshighereducation.com/news/former-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Enjoyed chairing a panel at today's @suttontrust.bsky.social Higher Education Summit. Here's coverage of Jacqui Smith's comments from my colleague @julietterowsell.bsky.social: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/levy-cr...
Levy criticism ‘makes me want to run screaming’, says Smith
Skills minister says convincing the Treasury of the importance of maintenance grants was difficult to get over the line
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Enjoyed chairing a panel at today's @suttontrust.bsky.social Higher Education Summit. Here's coverage of Jacqui Smith's comments from my colleague @julietterowsell.bsky.social: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/levy-cr...