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January 2004 (revised)
Guide


Higher education in the United Kingdom

This guide presents an overview of the structure, activities and funding of higher education in the United Kingdom. It includes key facts about HE and sources of further information. The guide updates HEFCE 01/56, published in October 2001.

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Higher education in the United Kingdom (2004 edition)
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Contents

The nature of higher education

Universities and colleges

  • universities
  • colleges
  • staff
  • governance

Funding and resources

  • the funding bodies and the Government
  • tuition fees
  • arrangements in Scotland
  • arrangements in Northern Ireland
  • student loans
  • student support funding

Who studies at HEIs?

  • students in the UK
  • international students
  • how to get a place at university or college
  • how to select a university or college

Courses and qualifications

  • modularisation and credits
  • postgraduate courses
  • some examples of qualifications
  • new PhD courses
  • academic infrastructure
  • professional and statutory bodies
  • Institute for Learning and Teaching

Research

  • research councils and the OST
  • research in the arts and humanities
  • science parks
  • computer networks
  • UKeUniversities

Quality and standards

  • quality assurance in higher education
  • research assessment

Impact on the economy

  • employment

Higher education institutions

Useful addresses

Sources of information, structure and glossary

List of abbreviations