The proposed international student levy could be the tipping point for a fragile sector
A proposed 6% levy on international student fees could cost the University of Manchester £43 million annually and risk sector-wide harm.
Policy area: Government and regulation
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The US edges ahead with student loan reforms that make universities share financial risk, while the UK clings to outdated proxies.
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.
UK universities are trapped in a box. Here’s what that means in practice
Explaining the challenges facing UK universities today is not easy. The pace of change is rapid, the policy pressures are competing and the landscape is shaped by complex interplays between funding, regulation, mounting costs and increasing expectations. This makes the job of university governors particularly taxing. Many governors come from…
Universities are boxed in: Is there a way out?
In a new HEPI Debate Paper, Universities are boxed in: Is there a way out?, Professors Diana Beech and André Spicer of City St George’s, University of London, argue UK higher education institutions are boxed in on six sides: The authors outline the many ways in which university leaders are responding…
UK International Education Strategy – how it began and what should come next
Ruth Arnold urges the UK to craft an international education strategy that serves global learners and national interests alike.
HEPI / Interpath webinar: ‘What does ‘efficiency’ look like in higher education?’
**UPDATE: A recording is available below** Higher education institutions across the UK are facing difficult decisions on how and where to save costs, as well as balancing short-term financial needs with their long-term ambitions. How should institutions set themselves up for success? What does a successful cost reduction programme look…
Storm in the Quad: A Tale of Universities at the Crossroads
Universities face urgent threats from financial strain and flawed governance—challenges that demand bold, sector-wide reform today.
Are EU students about to be treated like British students once more – and, if so, what will it mean for UK universities and students?
Responding to reports in the weekend’s newspapers that the negotiations between the UK and the EU could lead to big changes for universities and students, Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI, said: ‘The idea that students from the EU might come to be treated, once again, as home students when it…
The Immigration White Paper — an Indian student’s perspective
The UK’s immigration reforms must protect international students, whose presence boosts skills, innovation and the economy.