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

Publications

In recent years, HEPI has produced over 20 reports a year. They are all available free of charge here on our website and all our longer reports are also available in hard copy from the HEPI office.

The version on the website should be regarded as the version of record.

  • The characteristics and career pathways of third-space research professionals in universities: Reflections from practice

    8 August 2024 by Dr Jonathan Grant and Dr Tom Kennie

    The third space describes a group of university staff who can neither be described as academic nor non-academic professional staff, such as technology transfer staff, those overseeing specific labs or equipment and people serving external clients who are commissioning research from a university. This report draws on recent work undertaken…

  • Unblocking the Pipeline: Supporting the Retention, Progression and Promotion of Black Early-Career Academics

    1 August 2024 by Dr Becca Franssen, Josh Freeman, Dr Opeoluwa Aiyenitaju, Dr Bola Babajide, Dr Mercy Denedo, Steven Kator Iorfa and Dr Adegboyega Oyedijo

    This report explores the experiences of Black early-career academics (ECAs) in higher education. Based on a survey of nearly 100 Black ECAs and 24 interviews with staff working on initiatives to support them, this report examines the challenges faced by Black ECAs in securing a post and advancing their careers.…

  • Who cares? How postgraduate parents fall through the gap for government childcare grants, and how to fix it

    18 July 2024 by Billy Davis, Dr Sabrina Fairchild, Nichola Purdue and Dr Joanna Jenkinson

    The provision of support to subsidise childcare has been a salient policy topic in recent years. In 2023, the Conservative Government announced an expansion of support for workers, offering 15 free hours a week for two-year-olds. From September 2024, this expands to babies from nine months old, rising to 30…

  • 2024 Applicant Index from Unite Students and HEPI

    16 July 2024

    The Unite Students Applicant Index, produced in partnership with the Higher Education Policy Institute, is an annual survey that asks students about their lives before they attend higher education and tracks changing attitudes year on year.

  • An overview of US higher education

    4 July 2024 by Professor Nicholas W Hillman

    In this HEPI report, Professor Nicholas W. Hillman of the University of Wisconsin-Madison presents an introduction to the US higher education system, providing an overview of its size, scope and governance model.

  • General Election Briefing 2024

    27 June 2024 by Josh Freeman, Nick Hillman and Rose Stephenson

    This Briefing is for candidates standing in the 2024 General Election and anyone with an interest in higher education policy. It covers the following seven topics:

  • Where will students hold the balance of power in the 2024 General Election?

    17 June 2024

    This report by HEPI and the National Union of Students, authored by Josh Freeman, uses data from the 2021 census to model the potential impact of student voters in the 2024 General Election. It finds that students hold the balance of power in 50 constituencies which are expected to be…

  • Student Academic Experience Survey 2024

    13 June 2024

    This year’s HEPI / Advance HE Student Academic Experience Survey (SAES), authored by Jonathan Neves, Josh Freeman, Rose Stephenson and Dr Peny Sotiropoulou, is the 18th edition of this longstanding publication. It explores, in depth, the experiences of full-time undergraduate students. The SAES has become a firm feature of the higher…

  • Four futures: Shaping the future of higher education in England

    6 June 2024

    Former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands responds to the financial and policy challenges facing the English higher education by sketching out four different plausible futures: Scenario 1: The evolution of the present Scenario 2: Delivering the 2010 vision Scenario 3: A place-based tertiary system Scenario 4: A differentiated system All…

  • Trans and non-binary student experiences in UK higher education

    23 May 2024 by Josh Freeman and Rose Stephenson

    This report explores the experiences of trans and non-binary students across UK higher education. It compiles new and existing data, alongside interviews with students and academics, to outline the journey from application, through study, to post-graduation. It highlights the unique combination of challenges trans and non-binary students face, including lower…