News

The latest announcements, press releases and media coverage from University Alliance.

Clear filters
  1. University Alliance responds to the Government’s announcement on tuition fees and student maintenance

    University Alliance has responded to the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement today (4 November) that tuition fees and the amount of student maintenance loan available would be increased in line with inflation. Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance, said: “As University Alliance, representing professional and technical universities, we welcome this commitment to the financial sustainability of the higher education sector. “We know…

    Read more of: University Alliance responds to the Government’s announcement on tuition fees and student maintenance
  2. University Alliance publish asks ahead of 2024 Autumn Budget

    University Alliance has published their budget submission to the Treasury, which was submitted on Tuesday 10 September, outlining their asks for the October 2024 Budget and 2025/26 Departmental Expenditure Limits. Three asks have been highlighted as part of the submission, with each ask accompanied by a policy recommendations and an explanation of the rationale and benefits. The three asks are: 1. Address financial shortfalls for higher education…

    Read more of: University Alliance publish asks ahead of 2024 Autumn Budget
  3. University Alliance release ‘Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days’ 

    In a new publication, University Alliance has set out a range of impactful priority actions for the government to take in their first 100 days in power. UA’s latest policy briefing ‘Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days’ identifies policies that are cost-neutral or low-cost to deliver that could help professional and technical universities deliver the government’s agenda. In partnership with government and industry, University Alliance argue th…

    Read more of: University Alliance release ‘Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days’ 
    'Let's Get Technical: The First 100 Days'
  4. UA’s response to the OfS’ report on the financial sustainability of HE

    Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich and Chair of University Alliance said in response to the Office for Students’ report on the financial sustainability of higher education providers: ‘Today’s Office for Students’ report presents a stark picture of university finances, and comes at a critical time for the higher education sector. It underlines how impossible it is for universities to manage and plan their fin…

    Read more of: UA’s response to the OfS’ report on the financial sustainability of HE
  5. Explainer: international students at Alliance universities

    This briefing examines the drivers behind growth in the number of international students studying at Alliance universities in recent years, and the decline we have seen in 2024. By many of the government’s own measures of quality, including the Teaching Excellence Framework and the National Student Survey, Alliance Universities are some of the highest quality universities in the UK. International students know that, and it goes some way to explai…

    Read more of: Explainer: international students at Alliance universities
    faustina
  6. UA’s asks ahead of the Spring Budget

    Addressing the immediate challenges facing our universities and their students UK universities now incur losses of £6bn annually on their core activities of research and teaching for UK home students. Our members are making significant changes to adjust to financial pressures, including major restructuring and transformation programmes. Recent analysis by PwC demonstrates that all universities remain extremely vulnerable to scenarios that are not…

    Read more of: UA’s asks ahead of the Spring Budget
  7. UA briefing on international students

    International student numbers have been growing in the UK as part of a government strategy to grow education export income for the UK, provide financial sustainability for universities without increasing the contribution of taxpayers or UK students, and ensure our country remains globally connected. Universities have supported this strategy both because we believe in the power of global connectivity, and because international student fees fill a …

    Read more of: UA briefing on international students
  8. Changes to student maintenance loans: UA’s response

    On Thursday 25 January, the government announced that maintenance loan payments would rise by 2.5% from September 2024 for students in England. On Friday 26th, the Department for Education released its Equality Impact Assessment for HE student finance in 2024/25, which looked at the impact of the proposed changes. In our latest briefing, we highlight how the proposed levels of student maintenance support fall short, and make the case for improved…

    Read more of: Changes to student maintenance loans: UA’s response
    UA logo - pink
  9. Letter in the Financial Times: what’s miss­ing in the con­ver­sa­tion about uni­versit­ies

    In a letter to the Financial Times, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson talks about what’s missing in the conversations about the current challenges facing the higher education sector. “Robert Shrimsley’s piece on the crisis in higher education (Opinion, January 18) summarises the financial challenges facing universities in England well. There’s something missing however in the conversation about the value of universities, w…

    Read more of: Letter in the Financial Times: what’s miss­ing in the con­ver­sa­tion about uni­versit­ies
  10. Eight Alliance Universities awarded funding to expand degree apprenticeships

    The Office for Students has announced a £12 million investment in degree apprenticeships in England, with over £2m allocated to Alliance universities. Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance said in response to the announcement: “It’s great to see eight University Alliance members awarded funding to expand their degree apprenticeship offer. Alliance universities have long been champions of this innovative provision, and their close relationshi…

    Read more of: Eight Alliance Universities awarded funding to expand degree apprenticeships
    Vanessa Wilson