Rise in unconditional offers could ‘distort’ students’ decisions Guaranteed places may be ‘irresistible’ to UK students but unlikely to be in their best interests long term, warn experts By Patrick Jack 5 March
Review whether students with no A levels should get loans – v-c ‘Difficult questions’ must be confronted as English funding system ‘not working for anyone’, says Birmingham’s Adam Tickell By Jack Grove 4 March
Ministers urged to investigate students’ posts mourning Ayatollah Islamic student groups in the UK say statements calling Iranian supreme leader a ‘martyr’ were ‘free speech’ and deny inciting violence By Tom Williams 4 March
UK study visa ban for four countries ‘cruel and short-sighted’ Home Office puts ‘emergency brake’ on some applications after surge in asylum claims, affecting thousands of potential students By Helen Packer 4 March
Threat of libel ‘chilling academic freedom’, say UK researchers Academics urge government to strengthen legal protections for scholars undertaking studies in controversial fields By Jack Grove 4 March
Anxiety ‘understandable’ but science money ‘is there’ – Vallance Science minister says way physics funding cuts were communicated was ‘pretty gruesome’ but insists most budgets will increase By Jack Grove 3 March
Disappointment as Rachel Reeves silent on student loans Critics decry ‘missed opportunity’ to help graduates as chancellor skips chance to cut debt levels By Helen Packer 3 March
Bitcoin billionaire targets Nobel Prizes with £20 million gift Mega-donation from Ben Delo highlights growing interest from tech moguls in alternative science funding structures By Jack Grove 3 March
UK universities join forces to coordinate support for refugees New platform launched to coordinate responses to humanitarian crises will initially focus on refugee inclusion in branch campuses By Helen Packer 2 March
Lincoln Bishop pivot to law, business raises GUS ‘takeover’ fears Figures with links to private education group appointed to university’s board to provide ‘strategic’ guidance By Patrick Jack 2 March
Scholars stung in free speech rows call for complaints scheme Lengthy wait for legislation to introduce an amended Office for Students-run grievance process is unnecessary, claim campaigners By Jack Grove 2 March
Hiring established scholars to junior Oxbridge roles imperils disciplines As lay-offs continue elsewhere, postdocs’ inability to land permanent roles will block the pipeline of future faculty, Cambridge academics argue 2 March
