University funding and finances

Charging interest on loans already repaid would be illegal in other sectors, senator highlights

Institutions that charge moderate fees and can’t pass costs on to students likely to be greatest victims of new tax, while some believe policy will help weed out lower-quality players

Holyrood politicians must look at size and shape of tertiary sector, and consider closer research ties with rest of UK, says Anton Muscatelli

Universities face estimated costs of £166.8 million in loss and damage from effects of changing climate, landmark study concludes

First major foray abroad for one of Australia’s top-ranked universities since Singaporean venture closed after just a semester

Institutions say impact of recruitment changes behind difficult financial picture but predict stronger numbers in future

Institution agrees to pay undisclosed sum after cutting unique master’s programme amid review of provision

Regulator announces it is probing governance arrangements at under-pressure institution

Low value of support on offer not enough to move the dial on university access, critics fear

Dark tales abound of various UK universities being at risk of breaching agreements with their banks. But what exactly are covenants? Why have they come to play such a prominent role in the conversation about sector health? And would breaking one really lead to institutional ruin? Helen Packer reports  

Limits of current model mean trying something different can be challenging, according to Cara Aitchison, as government discussions start on future university funding

Reprieve for decades-old institution reflects outpouring of community concern and improvement in university’s financial position

Jobs and achievement the new mantra in a ‘refocus on what matters most’ in the tertiary system

Australia’s new higher education steward may lack the power to overhaul widely opposed system of university fees and subsidies

ANZ universities notch ‘major’ new agreements with big publishers, but negotiations with the biggest break down over price concerns

Academics claim changes made to higher education system a decade ago have divided sector into ‘winners and losers’, with government-imposed limits on income exacerbating financial challenges

University told to come up with a plan for financial recovery before it enforces more job losses

Even with boosts in investment and research, can ‘Vision 2030’ really propel universities into the global elite?

Canberra’s ‘intergenerational community’ will help educate the young, house the elderly and ease loneliness for both, advocates say

Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored 

YouGov survey finds 57 per cent of adults support a proposed tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, even as universities warn of serious financial consequences

UUK says shortfall in teaching money is ‘baked in’ to higher education funding system as institutions brace for new tax in upcoming budget

In wide-ranging interview, crisis-hit university’s interim principal admits further redundancies are ‘uncomfortable’ for ministers and acknowledges ‘moral hazard’ of £62 million bailout

Last-ditch attempts to minimise harm of incoming tax on international student fees splits sector, as research intensive universities set to save millions but post-92s would pay more

New incentives needed to encourage collaboration and specialisation among providers, conference hears

As government finalises legislation for forthcoming commission, architect expands its to-do list

New modelling suggests one in six English higher education institutions will have less than 30 days’ liquidity in 2025-26

Australia should focus on training required number of fluent experts and leave basic translation to AI, Asia expert says

University leaders should advocate for grants to be diverted to early years education to reduce later attainment gaps, conference hears

New health and welfare payments mandated in country’s budget will leave institutions ‘unable to fulfil their mission’, scholars say

Government and business should pick up the tab for national priorities, says opposition leader turned university boss

More than half of deans say parent universities want them to enrol more students, as leaders express concern over ‘growing disparities’

University says financial uncertainties continue as government’s proposed student levy will ‘wipe out any benefits’ from rising tuition fees

Qantas and McDonald’s move into Australian higher education delivery, offering institutions employer-led pathways and potential new income streams

Most voters believe universities are unduly focused on revenue and their students shoulder an excessive share, survey finds

‘More interventionist, more activist’ stance from government will result in deep changes to the sector, but vice-chancellors say key details missing

Formalising process around market exit would make it impossible for institution to come back from the brink, fears UUK chief

Government commits to raising tuition fees and maintenance loans, with universities expected to deliver higher-quality teaching and more specialised research in return

Buyers likely to require drastic changes to move ahead with sale, experts say, as institution seeks to move on from torrid year

UUK calls on government to hit pause on fee levy plans amid fears chancellor will progress policy next month

Universities’ manifesto ahead of 2026 Senedd poll also wants independent commission on participation

Former politician not for turning, amid denunciation of culture, oversight and spending at national university

Proposed job losses almost triple since March as unions prepare to vote on nationwide industrial action

Specialist institutions could be subsumed without high-level oversight of sector consolidation, MPs warned

Union plans to call four weeks of continuous strikes as university reviews staffing across several academic departments

Possibility of even slower visa processing ranks among the factors fuelling ‘pessimism’ about Australian university finances

Universities projected to dip into the red next year due to falling fee income and rising staff costs, with any long-term recovery likely to be uneven

Decline set to accelerate, as government puts block on over-enrolments

Ex-employees threaten legal action after collapse of private provider leaves salaries unpaid

Institutional finances warrant their own review, accounting expert says, amid contested claims about the necessity for redundancies

Analysis reveals half of closures have come at lower-tariff universities, creating a ‘vicious cycle’ for institutions struggling to attract students

Incoming leader of new entity says course sharing on the cards ‘where it makes sense’ as unions fear merger will result in more job cuts

Plunging international student retention rates are exacerbating the financial pain for Australian universities

Big cities outside London ‘do not pull their weight’ in the innovation economy, warns Centre for Cities report

Construction on A$2bn Fishermans Bend site paused for at least five years, amid revenue concerns and systemic delays

Performance-based research fund also faces overhaul, as Wellington embraces least disruptive and costly aspects of landmark review’s proposals

Looking at existing services offered by other providers before tendering could help universities save up to 10 per cent, report finds

Universities need extra funding for ‘important’ but unfancied subjects, and permission to collude without contravening competition law, says Evans

A$770m measure would be a ‘serious downpayment’ on reversal of Job-ready Graduates ‘excesses’, representative group says

Universities of Oregon and Chicago latest to cut provision as experts predict ‘slow attrition’ across the sector in coming years