HEFCE funding and reporting: early thoughts about changes
David Norman
Higher Education Policy Advisor
What did Browne say?
• “Popular HEIs will be able to expand to meet student demand”
• Majority of funding via fee loans to students – including part time
• HEFCE funding only for priority subjects• HEFCE, QAA, OFFA, OIA HEC• Access and Success Fund• Low earners pay less, higher more than now
What did David Willetts say?
• “We will not necessarily accept all of it” • UCAS tariff SNC “has raised questions about
practicalities”• Merging HEFCE and OFFA would be
sensible• £150m National Scholarships Programme
What has already changed?
• £6/9000 fee caps, no levy• Increased threshold for full interest• Decreased part time % required• Annual increases in repayment threshold
What are people saying now?
• “We will set out priorities for [XYZ] in the forthcoming higher education white paper”
• Monthly payments will be lower• I won’t be able to afford that!• Chris Cook, FT Jan 4th “Student quota system
still in doubt”
What did HEFCE’s grant letter say?
• Long term role for new providers and FECs: diverse provision of cost effective locally accessible programmes
• Commitment to develop system to constrain costs without restricting student choice, would welcome ideas
• Priorities: WP/Access, SIVS, small/special, PT• 6% reduction in T-funding 2011/12• Individual grants announced on 16 March
What does it all mean?
Number controls and the market
• Interim 2011/12: SNC, reduced funding• Interim 2012/13: new fees, no Act, market?• Long-term: system allowing more movement
What does it all mean?
HEFCE funding
• HEFCE will fund high cost/priority courses• Is it a good idea to shift to engineering?• HEFCE’s “Access and Success” fund??
