Higher education

The content covered in these pages applies to England only. Higher education policy for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is covered by their respective parliaments and assemblies.

Latest

• 21 March 2012 Written Ministerial Statement (PDF, 11 Kb)  Rt Hon David Willets, Minister of State for Universities and Science; Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - Be the 'Greenest Government ever' for universities
  
• 8 March 2012: the Government has made a written ministerial statement on student finance arrangements for higher education in 2013/14 (PDF, 60 Kb) . Maximum tuition charges and maximum loans will be maintained at 2012/13 levels, while maximum maintenance grants for low income students attending full-time courses will be increased in line with inflation. Maximum fee and course grants for part-time and distance learning students, who started their courses before September 2012, will also be increased in line with inflation. All other grants and loans for living costs will be maintained at 2012/13 levels in 2013/14. Household income thresholds for grants for tuition and living costs and loans for living costs will be maintained at 2012/13 levels for 2013/14. A more detailed breakdown of the changes to student finance for 2013/14 will be on the Student Finance England practitioners website
  
• February 2012: As part of the Government's 2011 higher education white paper, Professor Sir Tim Wilson was asked to undertake a review. This review looks at how we make the UK the best place in the world for university-industry collaboration. The independent report A review of business-university collaboration (PDF, 891 Kb)  has now been published. It calls for universities to be at the heart of the economy, to promote growth in the UK and to improve the employability of our graduates. View the Wilson Review website.
  
• October 2011: Reform of the Teachers' Pension Scheme - Many FE and HE teachers and lecturers are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). If you're a member of the scheme, please read this as it will affect your pension. The Government commissioned former Work and Pensions Secretary, Lord Hutton, to make recommendations about how pensions could be made sustainable and affordable, whilst remaining fair to the workforce and all taxpayers. His independent report, published this year, made it clear that the cost of pensions is rising rapidly because people are living longer. See the guide to the proposals for reforms to the TPS on the Department for Education website.
   
• June 2011: The white paper Higher education: students at the heart of the system (PDF, 711 Kb)  was published. It sets out the Government's proposals for a higher education sector which is sustainably funded; to deliver a better student experience; and contribute fully to the efforts to increase social mobility. These proposals represent a radical reform of the higher education system. View the students at the heart of the system consultation website.
   
• February 2011: David Willetts received the final report of the Student Charter Group (PDF, 1.2 Mb) , which is being published today. Giving the Dearing lecture at the University of Nottingham, David Willetts thanked the Group's Chairs (Janet Beer and Aaron Porter) and encouraged HE Institutions (HEIs) and Students' Unions to use the good practice toolkit to refresh or develop their charters. A Student Charter acts as a front page for the range of information which universities and HE Colleges provide to students. It sets out what is expected of students, with a summary of what the HEI and Students' union will provide.
   
• On 10 February the Government made a Written Ministerial Statement, to announce Guidance to the Director of Fair Access for higher education and further details about the National Scholarship Programme. See Ensuring higher education is open to all for more information.
   
• The Government is taking forward two measures that formed part of the Higher Education reforms announced in November 2010. These measures respond to the Browne Review, and are part of the Department for Education-led Education Bill. The Education Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday 26 January. To find out more visit www.education.gov.uk/educationbill.
   
• BIS is supporting the work of the Social Work Reform Board, led by the Department of Health and Department for Education, in taking forward recommendations that aim to improve the quality of entrants into social work and to develop a social work system that provides high quality services by social workers who are well supported, and in whom the public feels confident. The "first anniversary" report of progress made by the Board is available on the Social Work Reform Board website.
   
• Government announces plans for reform of higher education and student finance to maintain England's world class universities.

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