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The Conversation
Politics
Chris Millward, Professor of Practice in Education Policy, University of Birmingham

University funding is in crisis – and none of the political parties have a clear plan to fix it

United Kingdom Immigration SNP
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The past 14 years of Conservative-led government have, in many ways, been a successful period for the UK’s universities. Student numbers have increased by 12% to 2.9 million. Real terms income has grown by one third to £52 billion. In the latest global ranking, there are four UK universities in the top ten and 15 in the top 100.

But this success is built on fragile and unsustainable finances, with many UK universities in deficit. Each UK student now costs more than universities receive from tuition fees and government grants. Fees from international students help, but many universities experienced a downturn last year.

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