BUILA welcomes the Education Select Committee’s report on the funding of higher education
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
BUILA welcomes the Education Select Committee’s report on the funding of higher education and is pleased to see several of the conclusions reflect the evidence we submitted in September 2025.
In particular, we are encouraged that the Committee has highlighted the lack of a clear Government plan for universities facing financial pressure, and the need for stronger protections for students. It is also positive to see alignment with BUILA’s concerns around the proposed BCA metrics, which we continue to believe require careful reconsideration given their potential unintended consequences for the sector.
The report rightly recognises the structural financial pressures facing higher education, including the sector’s reliance on international students, a position that has been shaped by successive Government policy decisions. The Committee’s call for more joined-up thinking across Government, and stronger coordination between departments, is especially welcome.
We also strongly support the recommendation for an independent evaluation of recent graduate route changes, as well as the need for Government to carefully assess the impact of the proposed International Student Levy and tighter compliance measures. As highlighted in our submission, there are real risks that these changes could impact institutional sustainability, recruitment diversity, and the UK’s wider international reputation.
The most recent January intake data, showing a 31% decrease, further underlines the fragility of current trends and the importance of policy stability and clarity at this time.
Taken together, these findings reinforce a key concern for the sector: that without coherent, long-term policy alignment, there is a growing risk of reduced confidence in the UK as a globally competitive and predictable destination for international higher education.
BUILA would like to recognise the significant work of the Education Select Committee in producing this report, and the value of engaging directly with sector evidence. Our submission was a collective effort from across the BUILA community, and we are grateful to all colleagues who contributed.
We look forward to continuing to work with Government and stakeholders to ensure the UK remains a trusted global leader in international higher education.
- Andrew Bird, Chair, BUILA
The full report is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/52983/documents/295982/default/
Summary is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/203/education-committee/news/213482/a-very-serious-problem-no-clear-government-plan-for-universities-risking-insolvency-mps-find-in-new-report/