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??