Latest Publications

This briefing paper provides an overview of the current system of quality assessment in higher education, exploring how well it functions and the main criticisms levied at it. The report also identifies four tasks for the Government should it want to design a better system of quality assessment.

This report, kindly supported by the GLA, seeks to understand the factors affecting non-continuation and transfers at London universities.

This report, kindly supported by UPP Foundation, analyses the factors that affect student drop-out rates from universities across England.

This new research examines student retention rates among higher education institutions in England and looks at whether a focus on student success can help increase course continuation levels.

Anthony Seldon sets out his vision on how to enhance, professionalise and make more consistent the quality of teaching at British universities for undergraduates and postgraduates, without burdening universities with a heavy bureaucracy which will take excessive time and money.

New research from the Social Market Foundation think tank finds that the government is on course to miss its targets of widening participation in higher education – and has found significant differences between institutions’ intake of pupils from both minority and disadvantaged backgrounds.

In this pamphlet, the Minister for Universities and Science, the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, explores how the Robbins Report influences Government policy today and sets out his vision for the Higher Education system.

In this publication, the Social Market Foundation outlines a new funding model which takes the best of two existing proposals – tuition fees and a graduate tax – to build a system that creates a fair market for students and universities alike.

SMF Briefing Note on Higher Tuition Fees