Higher Education: 10 Questions from a Year 10
* To declare an interest, Ben Hillman is the son of Nick Hillman, HEPI’s Director.
Blog
The HEPI Blog aims to make brief, incisive contributions to the higher education policy landscape. It is circulated to our subscribers and published online. We welcome guest submissions, which should follow our Instructions for Blog Authors. Submissions should be sent to our Blog Editor, Josh Freeman, at [email protected].
Second Straight Quarter of Stabilised International Student Demand for a UK Study Visa
UK study visa applications rose 32% in Q1 2025, signaling sector recovery amid policy shifts and global competition.
Raising the Bar: A Graduate Design Engineer’s Path in Engineering
Empowering women in design engineering demands systemic, inclusive support that nurtures adaptability, resilience, and innovation for future careers.
Using Technology to Restore Trust in Testing
Anyone who has ever taken English language tests to advance in their studies or work knows how important it is to have confidence in their accuracy, fairness and transparency. Trust is fundamental to English proficiency tests. But at a time of digital disruption, with remote testing on the rise and…
UK’s rankings lead under threat from global peers in QS World University Rankings 2026
UK universities shine at the top of global rankings, but face growing international competition and mounting financial pressures.
Risk-Sharing: Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” — Implications for UK Higher Education
The US edges ahead with student loan reforms that make universities share financial risk, while the UK clings to outdated proxies.
Are universities too safe in their vice-chancellor recruitment?
University leadership must evolve beyond tradition, embracing diversity, collective models, and cross-sector insight to meet modern demands.
How should higher education respond to calls to be relevant?
Higher education’s true value lies not in skills or facts, but in transformative access to structured bodies of knowledge.
Weekend Reading: Out of Eeyore’s Gloomy Place (rather boggy and sad)
Universities must embrace change and collaboration to navigate political scepticism and ensure a sustainable, inclusive future.
Leave to Achieve?: A new framework for universities to drive local social mobility
Having a university nearby doesn’t guarantee social mobility – a new framework shows how local impact can be meaningfully measured.