Questions remain over postgraduate loan figures Uncertainty over how many students will apply for the loans and how much the scheme will cost By John Morgan 11 December
Coherent higher education policy? Far from it Despite the introduction of postgraduate loans, the government’s education funding aims remain a puzzle, says Nigel Carrington 11 December
Australia: Coalition takes second run at higher education reform bill One day after a Senate defeat, the government renews efforts to pass controversial package of changes By Paul Jump 11 December
Universities risk only ‘social elite’ having key knowledge Emeritus professor warns over growth of higher education courses that veer towards the ‘mundane’ By Chris Havergal 10 December
Time for the taught master’s to shine? Criticism of postgraduate loans scheme smacks of the adage: ‘never let a good deed go unpunished’, writes Andrew Wathey 9 December
Postgraduate borrowers ‘would face 50 per cent tax’ George Osborne’s postgraduate loans plan would mean borrowers having upwards of 50 per cent of their salary deducted when they repay. By John Morgan 4 December
Academics label proposed Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill ‘censorship’ University leaders and lecturers fear for freedom of speech under proposed anti-extremism legislation By Chris Havergal 4 December
Student vote could topple Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam Hepi report predicts that the student vote could swing the advantage to Labour at the general election By John Morgan 4 December
National Audit Office report fuels concerns over private colleges Watchdog names those with questions over public loan access and high dropout rates By John Morgan 4 December
Postgraduate loans welcomed, but what about mature students? Loans of up to ?10,000 to be available for master’s students under the age of 30 By John Morgan 3 December
Two universities to benefit from East London development The government has awarded more than ?140 million to develop a new Education and Cultural Quarter in London at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park By Holly Else 2 December
Private provider dropout rates and loan access laid bare by NAO Dropout rates at nine alternative higher education providers were higher than 20 per cent in 2012-13, the National Audit Office has revealed By Paul Jump 2 December
MPs call for major research funding boost A group of MPs has called on the government to ensure 3 per cent of GDP is invested in research and development by 2020 or risk the UK falling behind By Holly Else 1 December
Student vote ‘could swing 10 seats to Labour’ The student vote could swing the advantage to Labour in about 10 seats at the next election and “hold the keys to power” in a close fight By John Morgan 1 December
Julia Goodfellow to be first female UUK president Dame Julia Goodfellow will become the first ever woman to lead Universities UK, after being named its next president. By John Morgan 27 November
Postgraduate loans may be limited to students in STEM fields The Autumn Statement is likely to unveil a new loans system amid concerns over funding and who will have access to the scheme By John Morgan 27 November
Are universities the engines of regional prosperity? George Osborne wants institutions to spur growth outside London, but not everyone thinks campuses can and should take on such a role By Chris Havergal 27 November
Has the market delivered for students in higher education? Paul Wellings and Toni Pearce consider the impact of higher fees 27 November
Raising taxes can shield universities from further funding cuts, says Vince Cable The view of the Liberal Democrat business secretary is in stark contrast to the Conservatives’ pledge to make ?7 billion of tax cuts By Chris Havergal 27 November
Post-war higher education: Robbins mysteries, History Boys myths Peter Mandler, Royal Historical Society president, to speak on post-war ‘escalator’ in university access By Matthew Reisz 27 November
Regional influence: universities as the new local authorities Jim O’Neill on how institutions outside London can do more to retain graduates and create jobs with government help 27 November
Beyond political prejudice A surprising graduation talk on climate change causes Sally Feldman to question her biases 27 November
Labour big beast Clarke savages possible ?6k policy A former Labour education secretary has warned his party not to reduce tuition fees to ?6,000 By Jack Grove 26 November
Universities could be forced to ban ‘extremists’ under new law The government will have the power to order universities to ban ‘extremist’ speakers from their campuses, under a new bill By John Morgan 24 November
University regulation ‘not fit for purpose’, says Which? English higher education regulation is “no longer fit for purpose” and there needs to be “a strong regulator to protect students” paying higher fees. By John Morgan 23 November
Commons row over student places figures Liam Byrne has accused the government of mixing up its figures in its plan to fund extra student places when number controls are scrapped. By John Morgan 21 November
Grammar schools 'not linked to degree advantage’ Grammar schooling is “not linked to any significant advantage” in getting a degree or graduating from an “elite” institution, new research suggests By John Morgan 21 November
HE in FE: truths and illusions Degree courses at further education colleges have the potential to ‘change lives, not society’, argues scholar By Chris Havergal 20 November
BIS officials prepare for ‘further cuts’ Financial modelling likely to include cuts to research budget although student support most ‘vulnerable’ after 2015 By John Morgan 20 November
Fifty years of free speech at Berkeley Massimo Mazzotti on the legacy of the 1964 movement 20 November
Government agrees to extend student complaint rights to private providers The government has agreed to offer more protection to students at private providers, giving them the right to adjudication on unresolved complaints By John Morgan 18 November
NUS publishes ‘roadmap for free education’ The National Union of Students has outlined its proposals for reforming how higher education in England is funded By Chris Parr 17 November
Recruitment drive for EU students may crash loans system Study Group says universities are ‘proactively’ seeking EU expansion By John Morgan 13 November
Visa rules no bar to post-study work, says Greg Clark But Russell Group chair says immigration ‘rhetoric’ is hurting universities’ ability to attract international students By John Morgan 13 November
Environmentalist urges universities to take fossil fuels off back burner Institutions ‘disappointingly slow’ at divesting of non-sustainable energy sources, says Bill McKibben By Chris Parr 13 November
University consortium calls for the academy to join the fight against global corruption The Poznan Declaration calls on the higher education sector to play a far more active role By Matthew Reisz 13 November
Mass movements in higher education Alan Ryan on the parallels between Moocs and the early days of The Open University 13 November
Government rules out student loans review The government has ruled out an urgent review of the sustainability of the student loans system despite being advised to do so by a group of MPs By Chris Parr 6 November
Fears for higher education sector as key BIS role splits in two Departure of Sir John O’Reilly will see ‘existing talent’ within the Civil Service fill higher education and science roles By Paul Jump 6 November
Open doors make a fairer world, says José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ‘Non-political’ visa policy, Spanish language and top business schools are key to Spanish sector’s future, according to Spain’s former leader By John Morgan 6 November
Sir John O’Reilly to quit as top HE and science civil servant Sir John O’Reilly has announced his resignation as director-general for knowledge and innovation at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills By Paul Jump 3 November
Cambridge v-c: immigration attitudes and policy harming UK The vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge has criticised the “ever more parochial” attitude to immigration in the UK. By Chris Havergal 31 October
Parents' education ‘has greater effect’ in unequal countries Earnings gap greater in UK and US, suggests Institute of Education research By Chris Havergal 31 October
Glasgow ‘reassures’ students and staff on fossil fuel work The University of Glasgow has insisted it remains committed to teaching and research on fossil fuels as part of its work in science and engineering By Chris Parr 30 October
Minister accused of complacency over fall in Indian enrolments James Brokenshire labelled ‘silly’ as he defends immigration policy despite traffic from the subcontinent dropping by half By John Morgan 30 October
Utopian Universities: reflections on radical beginnings Leading scholars discuss seven institutions created in the Sixties By Matthew Reisz 30 October
University Alliance names new chief executive Whitehall civil servant Maddalaine Ansell has been named as the next University Alliance chief executive By John Morgan 28 October
Next government must ‘prioritise’ new HE law, says Hefce Higher education legislation should be a priority for the new government after 2015, according to England’s funding council. By John Morgan 24 October
‘Cheap, pathetic gestures’ on immigration harming HE A business leader has said he is “appalled” to see universities end up as “victims of political point-scoring” and a “meaningless” migration target By John Morgan 24 October
University levy on graduates could end taxpayer ‘burden’ - thinktank Public funding for universities should be scrapped and replaced by graduates paying an earnings levy to their institutions, according to a thinktank. By John Morgan 23 October
Cracks show at immigration working group Key members argue that ‘innocent’ students need greater concessions By Chris Havergal 23 October
Higher education must address gender-related violence Universities need to ensure that those with everyday contact with young people recognise and challenge abuse, says Miriam David 23 October
Must do better: Gove adviser’s verdict on the sector We urgently need to confront grade inflation, poor-value degrees, unequal access and lack of contact time, writes Jamie Martin 23 October
Willetts appointed to teach and research at King's College London David Willetts, the former universities and science minister, has been appointed as a visiting professor at King’s By John Morgan 21 October
Milburn tells universities to put ‘shoulders to the wheel’ on access The abolition of student number controls presents a “unique opportunity” to increase the number of poorer students going into higher education. By John Morgan 20 October
Tuition fees hike plan unveiled in Flanders Flemish government proposes rise despite student protests By Karen Shook 20 October
NUS highlights students’ key role in general election With less than seven months left until the general election, eyes are turning towards the impact that university students may have on the outcome. By Jack Grove 19 October
Blog: Keith Vaz and Aldwyn Cooper on immigration own-goals Co-ordinated approach the only way out of policy mess, conference to hear 17 October
Ukip: cut foreign university students from migration figures Party policy is to remove non-European Union students from the UK’s net targets By John Morgan 16 October