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English regulator proposes exemption to participation, financial and governance conditions for some providers ahead of expected expansion of sector

Body mirrored on one being set up to oversee nuclear power could help universities avoid ‘excessive’ bureaucracy, according to Nigel Thrift

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

Universities complaining about over-regulation should stop committing ‘own goals’ with franchising and grade inflation, says new OfS chair who believes Labour reforms can pave way to stronger sector

Regulator indicates it will act when financial pressures impact student choice and ‘supply of critical skills’

Birmingham professor to temporarily oversee access and participation at English regulator following departure of John Blake

Former teacher steps down after one term, having overseen revamp in widening participation efforts

Two London universities deemed to have breached new rules on safeguarding qualifications as regulator sounds alarm over how degree classifications are calculated

Splitting up degree programmes into smaller parts could aid lifelong learning but students risk being seen as dropouts under current system

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

Higher education institutions could be penalised if they offer courses deemed subpar as universities await Labour’s reform plans

Schools coming under ‘intense pressure’ to enrol students as universities become ever more reliant on cross-subsidy

Threat to academic freedom from secret recordings of seminars being passed to state governments must be taken seriously, says Office for Students free speech lead

Regulator says universities should only enter partnerships when they are satisfied that teaching and support standards will be maintained

OfS and UKRI seen as particularly vulnerable to meddling from government, with report authors calling for more safeguards to ensure independence

Concerns raised over proposals that would allow the OfS to halt payments to franchised providers without investigation

Sussex v-c says media attacks motivated by view that fewer people should obtain a degree

Women’s negative experiences of reporting reflective of wider barriers, with problems likely to be exacerbated by funding crisis

‘Shocking figures’ show ‘devastating’ impact on students, with women and LGB people particularly vulnerable

Revamped version of quality benchmark scheme will force more higher education providers to participate and punish those with lower ratings

Reversing some recent trends in teaching and learning is sure to generate mixed responses from students. Regulators must step in, says Ian Pace

Regulator wants vice-chancellors to advise on policy as part of new chair’s attempts to build better relationship with sector

Incoming conditions require institutions hoping to access student loan funding to be upfront about course changes and compensation processes

Calls for regulator action as no universities voluntarily sign up to scheme that aims to prevent ‘passing the perpetrator’

If the UK has decided it can no longer afford the sub-Oxbridge university model, expectations need to be systematically lowered, says Robert Dingwall

Regulator to examine quality controls at institution delivering degrees of UK’s biggest franchise university

No incentive for wealthy institutions to support initiatives such as bespoke clearing scheme, experts fear, as policymakers face hurdles in developing process for market exits

Regulator reviewing processes after administrative mix-up weeks before applications set to reopen

Liverpool Hope and Manchester to provide support as Spurgeon’s College shuts after nearly 170 years

Institutions including Liverpool and Southampton to continue to ‘discourage’, rather than prohibit, staff-student relationships despite new regulations, as others opt for partial bans

Increased fees will be hard to swallow but we are working hard to reduce the regulatory burden, says Susan Lapworth

Office for Students (OfS) proposes to create new condition of registration as some partnerships ‘still being mismanaged’

Several student protection directions active in last financial year, with 71 institutions subjected to formal monitoring

Students more positive on all aspects of university life than last year, but regulator flags management problems at some institutions

Regulator tells universities it will not discourage diversity initiatives but says they must be run in accordance with free speech duties

The beefed up document could temper the influence of anti-rational ideologies and restore public trust in academia, say Ian Pace and Abhishek Saha

Universities warned against restricting lawful speech as one in three academics claim they are scared of discussing controversial subjects

Regulator to reopen to new applications after heavily criticised eight-month pause

Courses at Brit College de-designated as investigation into quality concerns continues

Repeated efforts to bring about ‘high-level systematic reform’ in English higher education flounder without buy-in from those doing the doing, says access tsar

The OfS’ recent imposition of its first fines over franchised provision highlighted what some regard as the dark underbelly of UK higher education. But is there really a significant problem in the for-profit sector? And, if so, who is to blame – and what should be done about it? Helen Packer reports

Ministers to seek to ensure money used to support high-cost subjects better aligns with priorities for growth

Religious institutions’ governing documents incompatible with OfS rules, says secular society

Office for Students warns providers against being overly ambitious in their forecasting after financial performance declines for third year running

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson takes action over concerns about attendance and recruitment at Oxford Business College

English universities pushing to show they are serious about tackling sexual misconduct ahead of new regulatory requirements but experts say efforts still ‘patchy’

English regulator promises to take more active role in protecting students during industrial action, as wave of fresh strikes hits the sector

University handed record fine over free speech breaches claims ruling gives ‘free rein’ to racists and sexists

OfS’ free speech director tells institutions to ensure they are meeting ‘regulatory obligations’ after Sussex fine

Now-closed private provider also documented education students working in cafes, clothes shops and building firms as part of their course

Leaders warn that over-regulation could shut down provision entirely after fraud connected to partnership agreements comes under the spotlight again

Any academic who adopts a social constructionist view of gender without studying the alternatives is embarrassingly superficial, says Eric Heinze

OfS defends ‘thorough’ investigation that legal expert says leaves institutions ‘without clear guidance’

The law around free speech is complex, but Sussex just seems to have got it wrong and has paid a hefty price, says James Murray

Regulator says English sector finances ‘appear to be towards the most pessimistic end’ of predictions, with risks escalating

Regulator heavily criticised for pausing much of its work to focus on finances announces ‘staggered’ restart in applications

Regulator ‘looking forward to getting on with it’ after key interventions delayed by political wrangling

New chair with long history in higher education welcomed by universities but Office for Students told it still has work to do to address long-running grievances

Most institutions in trouble can find balance between income and expenditure on their own, according to prospective new OfS chair 

Edward Peck had already announced he would step down from university role this summer