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Newcastle academic's research informs swords-and-sandals blockbuster. James Titcomb reports

Young people from poor backgrounds are more likely to see university study as "a means to an end" than to view it as an intrinsically worthwhile experience, a survey suggests.

Penalties emphasise universities' inability to boost income through expansion. Simon Baker reports

Ministers are looking closely at a proposal for allocating all university places in an auction, with the government judging bids according to which ones offer the best deals for the taxpayer.

Annual return reveals Sally Hunt's 'modest' rise and size of UCU's surplus. John Morgan writes

Council claims it has no deal with government as thousands join campaign. Paul Jump reports

Access and dropout rates improve but elite still face participation hurdles, writes Rebecca Attwood

A plan by funding chiefs to link support for postgraduate research students to a university's research quality is another step towards recreating a "binary" higher education system, a pro vice-chancellor has claimed.

Quality warning for overseas campuses that fail to export 'institutional culture', writes John Morgan

Attack on public sector's collective bargaining rights brings unexpected results, Jon Marcus writes

Scottish higher education is "in crisis", beset by staff disputes over "farcical" management structures that leave universities rife with "cronyism".

This male finback whale was first spotted at sea in 1865 by a coastguard, who mistook it for the upturned keel of a wrecked ship.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for philosophy to be saved at the University of Greenwich.

The University of Greenwich has appointed a new vice-chancellor.

A union official has called on a cross-party group of MPs to investigate whether universities are colluding on tuition fees.

The vice-chancellor of the second post-1992 university to set £9,000 fees has called on the government to “pause” fee rises and new legislation to allow time for a “new Dearing report” into the sector’s future.

The University of Derby has announced that it intends to set variable tuition fees of up to £8,000 from September 2012.

By Scott Jaschik, for

Some pharmacy students are getting less than half as much contact time as their peers at other UK universities, according to new figures.

Lecturers at Liverpool Hope University are to strike next week in a row over job losses.

Just six months after Lord Browne’s landmark review of higher education, and amid growing concern about the cost of the new tuition fee system, the coalition government has radically changed its proposals for university funding.

But union welcomes option to rein in universities' institutional autonomy. Hannah Fearn reports

Universities may impose maximum fees to pre-empt expected reductions, writes John Morgan

The Quality Assurance Agency has launched a full investigation into the impact of course closures on students at the London College of Communication.

QAA reforms aim to boost public knowledge and inform applicant choices. Simon Baker reports

American higher education economist advocates full-fee discounts in England. John Morgan reports

New universities in Wales are to bear the brunt of next year's funding cuts as the Welsh funding council protects high-quality research at the expense of teaching.

UCU plans further strike action in May to break deadlock over pensions. John Morgan writes

Vocal support for philosophy and ethics units saved the day, staff claim. John Morgan reports

More funding, hiring bonanza and four-year degrees all part and parcel of reform. John Morgan reports

Treat students like adults and bring back dissent, scholar urges academy. Matthew Reisz writes

Foreign governments are warning their students and academics to avoid the UK in the wake of funding cuts and new visa regulations, universities have been told.

Academics welcome proposal but warn financial constraints may interfere, writes Rebecca Attwood

Discipline has multiple applications and must not be cut, conference hears. Matthew Reisz reports

Students say the Disney College Program teaches skills they can't learn in class. Jon Marcus reports

A new indicator of a university's "international outlook" has been proposed for the 2011-12 ̽����Ƶ World University Rankings.

This striking object, held by the observatory at Uppsala University, could be a fragment of the world's first mechanical calculator.

University governance must be overhauled to address the problem of "dispassionate" independent board members who protect their own interests at times of crisis rather than those of the institutions they serve, according to a new study.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Reading is to step down.

Any attempt by the government to siphon off a percentage of student places and reallocate them to universities offering the lowest fees would drive down quality and lead to larger class sizes, a vice-chancellor has told a cross-party group of MPs.

By Allie Grasgreen, for

The Arts and Humanities Research Council has strongly denied that it has been pressurised into funding research on the Conservative Party’s “Big Society” agenda.

Two years ago, Leeds Metropolitan University was the only higher education institution in England offering a substantial discount on tuition fees, charging just £2,000 a year.

A branch of the US Republican Party has been accused of attacking academic freedom by using freedom of information laws to access emails sent by a University of Wisconsin-Madison academic who criticised its policies.

Members of higher education unions will take to London’s streets to join a day of protest against government cuts to public services, while students plan to inject some “radical spirit” via a feeder march.

Occupations are under way at two London universities as students rally in support of lecturers mounting a national strike over pensions, pay and jobs.

Aston University has become the first institution from outside the 1994 and Russell groups to announce plans to charge tuition fees of £9,000 in 2012.

Matthew Reisz on an ESRC-funded seminar series aiming for closer links between arts and education

Academics must change to get the best from technology, Jisc hears. Hannah Fearn reports