Europe

Diverging financial pressures are putting untold strain on common pay and pension arrangements. As recent pay awards constrain richer universities’ ability to reward their staff as they see fit while pushing others into further strife, might a breaking point be close? Tom Williams reports 

A merit-based admissions lottery and strict caps on how many private school pupils go to Russell Group universities are necessary for a more egalitarian society, argue Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman

Global network of research universities aims to help displaced learners as United Nations hits halfway mark on access target

Radical proposal to overhaul admissions to the UK's research-intensive universities would tackle ‘elite formation’, say LSE and Oxford professors

September and January deadlines disadvantage some and consume time off, academics say

Goldsmiths and Chichester cases could be start of rising tide of court challenges from aggrieved students, lawyers say

The UK’s austerity-fixated new government is highly unlikely to find significant extra money for universities, says Andrew McRae

Survey respondents warn of misuse of process, inadequate consultations and impact on staff left behind

Leading Finnish university will require fewer publications for article-based doctorates, as well as fewer course credits

UK prime minister blames previous government for state of higher education sector, as his government continues to consider options for solving funding crisis

Wealthiest halls able to offer allowances worth more than twice as much as those at less moneyed outposts

High-profile or opinionated candidates may receive short shrift with ‘CEO in all but name’ Lord Vallance firmly in charge of UK science, experts predict