Across the UK and Europe, the higher education (HE) sector is under severe strain. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute, 43 UK universities are reported to be in financial crisis, with several announcing rounds of redundancies in the past year. 

The Universities of Kent and Greenwich have announced they are merging to stave off their financial challenges. Domestic tuition fees have all but been frozen since 2017 while operating costs rise. 

Falling numbers of international students — traditionally relied upon to balance the books — are compounding the problem. For decades, overseas fees have subsidised the sector, but tightening visa rules, rising living costs, and increasing global competition mean that this pipeline is no longer reliable. What was once a dependable safety net is now fraying.

Yet finances tell only part of the story. At the same time, the very nature of learning and teaching is changing.