Parliamentary briefings and submissions

We produce parliamentary briefings on a range of subjects based on the current legislative programme, our policy priorities and campaigns.

These include briefings on immigration and freedom of speech.

Briefing: Implementation of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017

Briefing
9 June 2017
Parliament and government Regulation of higher education
The legislation is primarily concerned with the creation of two new bodies to regulate and fund higher education providers: the Office for Students (OfS) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
UUK/GuildHE letter on HE bill

Joint UUK and GuildHE letter: Higher Education and Research Bill

26 April 2017
Parliament and government
​A letter from Universities UK and GuildHE to MPs and peers as the Higher Education and Research Bill reaches the final parliamentary stages.
Industrial strategy regional briefings

The industrial strategy and universities: regional briefings

18 April 2017
Funding Innovation, growth and skills Parliament and government
At the local and regional level, universities support growth by providing and creating jobs, and leading on local economic and social issues.

Response to 'Building our industrial strategy: green paper, January 2017'

Consultations and responses
18 April 2017
Funding Parliament and government
The UK’s universities have a central role to play in the development of the government’s modern industrial strategy, and are essential to the UK’s productivity performance and long-term economic growth.
HERB – Lords second reading

Parliamentary briefing: Lords Amendment 156 to the Higher Education and Research Bill

Briefing
7 April 2017
Immigration International Parliament and government
Our briefing for MPs ahead of the Higher Education and Research Bill returning to the House of Commons for the consideration of Lords amendments, focusing on Amendment 156 regarding international students and staff.
Consultation response front cover

Response to the UK funding councils consultation on the second Research Excellence Framework

Consultations and responses
23 March 2017
Parliament and government Research policy
We welcome the recognition by the funders that the Research Excellence Framework's (REF) primary focus is identifying research excellence, and is not intended to become an audit of all research produced in UK universities.
HERB – Lords second reading

Parliamentary briefing: Ensuring sufficiency of supply in trainee teachers in England

Briefing
20 March 2017
Parliament and government Professional education
Briefing for parliamentarians setting out the important role universities play in the training of new teachers, with recommendations about how to address some current issues with teacher recruitment, retention and professional development.

Universities UK response to the Office for Students consultation on registration fees and other fees

14 March 2017
Parliament and government Regulation of higher education Student experience
A fee-based approach to OfS funding will be an opportunity to strengthen accountability to the sector. However, as the costs of the OfS will also indirectly fall on students, fees and funding should be value for money, sustainable and proportionate.
Lord Hannay briefing front cover

Parliamentary briefing: Lord Hannay amendment to the Higher Education and Research Bill

Briefing
10 March 2017
Parliament and government
Our briefing ahead of the Report Stage sitting of the Higher Education and Research Bill, that will debate an amendment led by Lord Hannay regarding international students and staff.
HERB – Lords second reading

The economic impact of international students

Briefing
6 March 2017
Economic impact Immigration Parliament and government
This briefing outlines new figures for 2014–15 on the economic impact of international students studying in the UK, including the jobs generated at a regional level and the income they provide local businesses.
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Blogs

General election 2019: what the parties say on higher education

27 November 2019
UUK's Karmjit Kaur takes a look at the policy commitments on higher education in party manifestos ahead of the general election.
City with blue sky

General election 2019: skills, jobs and opportunity

11 November 2019
UUK's Karmjit Kaur on the policies that all parties should commit to, to ensure UK universities remain a global success story.

News

UUK response to DfE announcement on action agreed to support students into their preferred universities

20 August 2020
Universities UK has responded to the Department for Education's announcement on the measures to support students into their preferred universities
group of students looking at their results

Record numbers of 18-year-olds and applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds accepted into university

13 August 2020
UUK responds to the record numbers of 18-year-olds and applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds that have been accepted into university in 2020

UUK response to government's higher education restructuring plan

16 July 2020
Universities UK has responded to the government's announcement on the higher education restructuring plan