Robin Bisson
@robinbisson.bsky.social
UK News Editor, @resprofnews.bsky.social.
Mostly #researchpolicy, #researchfunding, #highered.
British Journalism Awards finalist.
Once likened to Tintin.
Also into rivers.
Tip? [email protected]
Mostly #researchpolicy, #researchfunding, #highered.
British Journalism Awards finalist.
Once likened to Tintin.
Also into rivers.
Tip? [email protected]
Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at Bristol and Oxford, said it was “a danger sign on the demand side...a softening of demand means some individual institutions may struggle to meet targets”
12-month totals are still well down on 2023, a trend that looks persistent
12-month totals are still well down on 2023, a trend that looks persistent
January 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at Bristol and Oxford, said it was “a danger sign on the demand side...a softening of demand means some individual institutions may struggle to meet targets”
12-month totals are still well down on 2023, a trend that looks persistent
12-month totals are still well down on 2023, a trend that looks persistent
There were 29,300 student visa applications last month, 17 per cent less than in December 2024
"The Home Office will be pleased but pretty much everyone else will see it as the disaster it is—for university finances and the UK’s soft power," said Nick Hillman, director of @hepi-news.bsky.social
"The Home Office will be pleased but pretty much everyone else will see it as the disaster it is—for university finances and the UK’s soft power," said Nick Hillman, director of @hepi-news.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
There were 29,300 student visa applications last month, 17 per cent less than in December 2024
"The Home Office will be pleased but pretty much everyone else will see it as the disaster it is—for university finances and the UK’s soft power," said Nick Hillman, director of @hepi-news.bsky.social
"The Home Office will be pleased but pretty much everyone else will see it as the disaster it is—for university finances and the UK’s soft power," said Nick Hillman, director of @hepi-news.bsky.social
Today's figures also show how big a change is underway at UKRI
Research councils are less significant in terms of how the money is divided up than ever before
Instead, the industrial strategy areas are the new lens for looking at much of UKRI's spending
Research councils are less significant in terms of how the money is divided up than ever before
Instead, the industrial strategy areas are the new lens for looking at much of UKRI's spending
December 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Today's figures also show how big a change is underway at UKRI
Research councils are less significant in terms of how the money is divided up than ever before
Instead, the industrial strategy areas are the new lens for looking at much of UKRI's spending
Research councils are less significant in terms of how the money is divided up than ever before
Instead, the industrial strategy areas are the new lens for looking at much of UKRI's spending
It's become a mantra that the govt are protecting curiosity-driven research
It's still the biggest chunk of UKRI's budget
But figures out today clearly show it will decline in real-terms, while spending on govt priorities and innovation will rise
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
It's still the biggest chunk of UKRI's budget
But figures out today clearly show it will decline in real-terms, while spending on govt priorities and innovation will rise
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
December 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It's become a mantra that the govt are protecting curiosity-driven research
It's still the biggest chunk of UKRI's budget
But figures out today clearly show it will decline in real-terms, while spending on govt priorities and innovation will rise
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
It's still the biggest chunk of UKRI's budget
But figures out today clearly show it will decline in real-terms, while spending on govt priorities and innovation will rise
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
I KNEW Faisal Islam had something to do with it
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I KNEW Faisal Islam had something to do with it
The numbers are pretty ludicrous
If the UK didn't insist on the immigration health surcharge being paid upfront it would be a very different picture
If the UK didn't insist on the immigration health surcharge being paid upfront it would be a very different picture
October 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The numbers are pretty ludicrous
If the UK didn't insist on the immigration health surcharge being paid upfront it would be a very different picture
If the UK didn't insist on the immigration health surcharge being paid upfront it would be a very different picture
The steady recovery in student visa numbers since the massive crash last year was checked in June
Just before the highest volume months for visas (July to Sept)
And just after the govt said it planned more curbs on international student numbers
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Just before the highest volume months for visas (July to Sept)
And just after the govt said it planned more curbs on international student numbers
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
July 10, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The steady recovery in student visa numbers since the massive crash last year was checked in June
Just before the highest volume months for visas (July to Sept)
And just after the govt said it planned more curbs on international student numbers
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Just before the highest volume months for visas (July to Sept)
And just after the govt said it planned more curbs on international student numbers
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Sometimes you have to love the Lords. Hansard can be like reading Dickens or some Victorian children's book
July 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Sometimes you have to love the Lords. Hansard can be like reading Dickens or some Victorian children's book
More than half said they were restricting bids for charity funding
In 2023-24, cost recovery rate on charity research grants was just 55% (compared to 67% overall)
One in three were restricting applications for fellowships - bad news for early-career researchers
3/4
In 2023-24, cost recovery rate on charity research grants was just 55% (compared to 67% overall)
One in three were restricting applications for fellowships - bad news for early-career researchers
3/4
July 8, 2025 at 8:26 AM
More than half said they were restricting bids for charity funding
In 2023-24, cost recovery rate on charity research grants was just 55% (compared to 67% overall)
One in three were restricting applications for fellowships - bad news for early-career researchers
3/4
In 2023-24, cost recovery rate on charity research grants was just 55% (compared to 67% overall)
One in three were restricting applications for fellowships - bad news for early-career researchers
3/4
Nothing we didn't know already for R&D in the infrastructure strategy, but interesting to see a detailed map of the famous Oxford-Cambridge "growth corridor" (especially for those of us who live somewhere in the middle)
June 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Nothing we didn't know already for R&D in the infrastructure strategy, but interesting to see a detailed map of the famous Oxford-Cambridge "growth corridor" (especially for those of us who live somewhere in the middle)
This is a really hefty win for British institutions in latest @erc.europa.eu Advanced Grants
Swept the floor on social sciences and humanities - 25 out of 80 grants went to the UK
Must be a few champagne corks popping
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Swept the floor on social sciences and humanities - 25 out of 80 grants went to the UK
Must be a few champagne corks popping
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
June 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This is a really hefty win for British institutions in latest @erc.europa.eu Advanced Grants
Swept the floor on social sciences and humanities - 25 out of 80 grants went to the UK
Must be a few champagne corks popping
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Swept the floor on social sciences and humanities - 25 out of 80 grants went to the UK
Must be a few champagne corks popping
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
At 9pm, The Times published a piece on the spending review including crucial details of the UK's 4-year R&D budget, which DSIT sent in a press release *embargoed* for...tomorrow
Look out for a piece from us on this with some actual analysis
www.thetimes.com/article/a0f4...
Look out for a piece from us on this with some actual analysis
www.thetimes.com/article/a0f4...
June 7, 2025 at 8:54 PM
At 9pm, The Times published a piece on the spending review including crucial details of the UK's 4-year R&D budget, which DSIT sent in a press release *embargoed* for...tomorrow
Look out for a piece from us on this with some actual analysis
www.thetimes.com/article/a0f4...
Look out for a piece from us on this with some actual analysis
www.thetimes.com/article/a0f4...
Priceless from the European Commission's audiovisual dept
Subtlely suggesting Starmer is a plonker?
Subtlely suggesting Starmer is a plonker?
May 21, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Priceless from the European Commission's audiovisual dept
Subtlely suggesting Starmer is a plonker?
Subtlely suggesting Starmer is a plonker?
The FT published a piece earlier with an interview with Patrick Vallance including details about plans for 10-year R&D funding
On Friday afternoon DSIT sent a press release on 10-year R&D funding...embargoed for Monday 🤷
Do we need to have a recap on how embargoes work?
On Friday afternoon DSIT sent a press release on 10-year R&D funding...embargoed for Monday 🤷
Do we need to have a recap on how embargoes work?
May 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The FT published a piece earlier with an interview with Patrick Vallance including details about plans for 10-year R&D funding
On Friday afternoon DSIT sent a press release on 10-year R&D funding...embargoed for Monday 🤷
Do we need to have a recap on how embargoes work?
On Friday afternoon DSIT sent a press release on 10-year R&D funding...embargoed for Monday 🤷
Do we need to have a recap on how embargoes work?
The number of applications in April 2025 was 14,800, an increase of 35 per cent on April 2024 (9,600) and 36 per cent on April 2023 (9,500)
May 12, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The number of applications in April 2025 was 14,800, an increase of 35 per cent on April 2024 (9,600) and 36 per cent on April 2023 (9,500)
There's been a relatively hopeful trend for uni finances in number of student visa applications - steady 5-month improvement after last year's crash
Big qu today is what the immigration white paper will do to this trend
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Big qu today is what the immigration white paper will do to this trend
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
May 12, 2025 at 7:06 AM
There's been a relatively hopeful trend for uni finances in number of student visa applications - steady 5-month improvement after last year's crash
Big qu today is what the immigration white paper will do to this trend
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Big qu today is what the immigration white paper will do to this trend
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
And yes the govt does pay via student loans which aren't fully paid back, but the reforms kicking in mean 80% will be (according to IFS)
ifs.org.uk/education-sp...
ifs.org.uk/education-sp...
May 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
And yes the govt does pay via student loans which aren't fully paid back, but the reforms kicking in mean 80% will be (according to IFS)
ifs.org.uk/education-sp...
ifs.org.uk/education-sp...
May 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A delicious irony that the cabinet office has missed its deadline for releasing stats on FOI requests, which should give info on how many FOI requests were responded to on deadline 🙄
April 30, 2025 at 9:59 AM
A delicious irony that the cabinet office has missed its deadline for releasing stats on FOI requests, which should give info on how many FOI requests were responded to on deadline 🙄
This is the kind of news I need more of at the moment
March 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is the kind of news I need more of at the moment
A whopping 81% of UK bids to Horizon Europe rated as 'excellent' after review have not been funded - higher than any other country
Likely the figure is inflated by years the UK spent outside Horizon, but trend carried on during 2024, RPN understands
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Likely the figure is inflated by years the UK spent outside Horizon, but trend carried on during 2024, RPN understands
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
March 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A whopping 81% of UK bids to Horizon Europe rated as 'excellent' after review have not been funded - higher than any other country
Likely the figure is inflated by years the UK spent outside Horizon, but trend carried on during 2024, RPN understands
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Likely the figure is inflated by years the UK spent outside Horizon, but trend carried on during 2024, RPN understands
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Given @ukri.org CEO Ottoline Leyser told me "Budgets are very tight and I think they will continue to be through the next spending review"
4 years could feel like a long time
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
4 years could feel like a long time
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
February 13, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Given @ukri.org CEO Ottoline Leyser told me "Budgets are very tight and I think they will continue to be through the next spending review"
4 years could feel like a long time
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
4 years could feel like a long time
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
“The tightening of control over universities in China…pushed foreign research collaboration away,” Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at @soasuni.bsky.social, told @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
Data show China-UK R&D projects have evaporated
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Data show China-UK R&D projects have evaporated
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
January 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
“The tightening of control over universities in China…pushed foreign research collaboration away,” Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at @soasuni.bsky.social, told @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
Data show China-UK R&D projects have evaporated
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Data show China-UK R&D projects have evaporated
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
New joint UK-China research projects funded by @ukri.org dwindled to almost 0 in 2022, after hitting a peak of 142 projects with £112m of matched-funding in 2016 during David Cameron's 'golden era'
Exclusive data shared with @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Exclusive data shared with @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
December 18, 2024 at 7:49 AM
New joint UK-China research projects funded by @ukri.org dwindled to almost 0 in 2022, after hitting a peak of 142 projects with £112m of matched-funding in 2016 during David Cameron's 'golden era'
Exclusive data shared with @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Exclusive data shared with @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Enjoyed this nugget from @politico.eu about the incoming Starmer plan...
December 5, 2024 at 9:41 AM
Enjoyed this nugget from @politico.eu about the incoming Starmer plan...