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The UK's only independent think tank devoted to higher education.

Nick Hillman

  • Some headlines on university entry from A-Level results day by Mary Curnock Cook

    16 August 2018 by Mary Curnock Cook

    This guest blog has been kindly provided to HEPI by Mary Curnock Cook, Senior Adviser to Cairneagle, a member of the HEPI Advisory Board and the former Chief Executive of UCAS. The UCAS data published this morning gives a useful guide to trends in undergraduate entry to higher education –…

  • How to land a jumbo jet on a postage stamp

    10 August 2018 by Nick Hillman

    I have been asked a lot, particularly by journalists, about the vagaries of the university application system – and clearing in particular – this past week. It is a peculiar, difficult and stressful process that can last for months between submitting your UCAS form and having your place confirmed. As…

  • How should we respond to reports of a declining graduate premium?

    3 August 2018

    HEPI has occasionally published hard-to-find and interesting historic educational documents, such as Anthony Crosland’s 1965 Woolwich speech heralding polytechnics and Ken Baker’s Lancaster speech extolling the virtues of expanding higher education. Another important but often overlooked historical document is the expansionary education white paper of 1972. It includes a section…

  • When is an unconditional offer not an unconditional offer – and other points missed

    26 July 2018 by Nick Hillman

    Six under-reported points in today’s debate about the sharp rise in unconditional offers for applicants to higher education. The autonomy of universities over whom to admit is enshrined in primary legislation. This was confirmed in the most recent higher education act, which was passed just over a year ago. This…

  • The hard truth about grade inflation: Testing some hypotheses

    21 June 2018

    This guest blog has been kindly provided by Dr Andrew Hindmarsh, Head of Planning at the University of Nottingham. His responsibilities include providing management information and statistical returns to official bodies. Previously, he was Head of the Undergraduate Admissions Office at the University of Sheffield. He is also the Chair…