HEPI

The Higher Education Policy Institute was established in 2002 to shape the higher education policy debate through evidence. We promote research into and understanding of all aspects of higher education and disseminate the useful results of such research for the education and benefit of policy makers and the general public. We are UK-wide, independent and non-partisan, and we are funded by organisations and universities that wish to see a vibrant higher education debate as well as through our own events.


Latest reports

Progression at age 16 of young people from underrepresented backgrounds towards careers in STEM

This report from UK think tank HEPI examines why some groups of students are less likely to pursue STEM subjects post-16. A new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and the Centre for Youth and Education (CfEY), supported by Mission 44, highlights the need for targeted efforts to increase post-16 participation in STEM subjects...

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Advancing translational research

This report from UK think tank HEPI explains the crucial role of translational research in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. This HEPI Policy Note explains the crucial role of translational research in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application and underscores its potential to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, foster innovation...

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Student demand to 2035

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at the various factors which may affect participation in higher education by home students in England up to 2035. This report from Bahram Bekhradnia, HEPI’s President, is the latest in a series of HEPI reports on future demand for higher education. It looks at the various factors...

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HEPI Soft-Power Index 2024

This report from UK think tank HEPI publishes the results of its eighth annual Soft-Power Index. The Higher Education Policy Institute has published the results of its eighth annual Soft-Power Index. The Index measures the number of senior serving world leaders – defined as monarchs, presidents and prime ministers – educated at a higher level...

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Undergraduate fees revisited

This report from UK think tank HEPI considers the recent history of student finance in England before proposing a 10-point plan for fixing some current weaknesses. Tim Leunig lays out the shortcomings of the current higher education funding model in England and proposes a 10-point action plan to fix the system for the benefit of...

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Stronger together: why we need a new and expanded role for universities and university groupings

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at why we need a new and expanded role for universities and university groupings. As the new Westminster Government shines a light on growth as well as devolution, it is time to ask what contribution can be made by regional groupings of universities. With more sustained investment...

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Down with the world-class university: How our business models damage universal higher education

This report from UK think tank HEPI applies business-model thinking to the university sector. What if being world-class is bad for universities? By playing the status game, UK higher education has forfeited public trust and our right to growth. What other sector would stall in an era of surging demand, as our addressable market expands...

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The characteristics and career pathways of third-space research professionals in universities

This report from UK think tank HEPI draws on recent work undertaken in various research contexts and explores how the invisible third space is beginning to be seen. The third space describes a group of university staff who can neither be described as academic nor non-academic professional staff, such as technology transfer staff, those overseeing...

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Unblocking the pipeline

This report from UK think tank HEPI explores the experiences of Black early-career academics (ECAs) in higher education. This report explores the experiences of Black early-career academics (ECAs) in higher education. Based on a survey of nearly 100 Black ECAs and 24 interviews with staff working on initiatives to support them, this report examines the...

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A minimum income standard for students

This report from UK think tank HEPI develops a minimum income standard for students. The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) is an approach developed by the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) at Loughborough University to determine how much money different groups in the population need to have for a minimum acceptable standard of living....

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Because you’re worth it

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at whether vice-chancellors are worth the pay they get. In this HEPI Debate Paper, Lucy Haire probes the issue of how to set the rate of vice-chancellors’ pay fairly. Vice-chancellors bear huge responsibility as leaders of high-revenue organisations, and they are paid less than their colleagues at...

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Not heard of this

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at employers’ perceptions of the UK’s Graduate Route visa. The Graduate Route visa was introduced in 2021 and allows international students to stay in the UK to work for two years (or three years for doctoral students), with none of the wage or job restrictions that apply...

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How can you help me?

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at students’ perspectives on careers services and employment. The Higher Education Policy Institute polled 1,105 students via the National Union of Students (NUS) for their views on careers services and employment. The results have been published as How can you help me?: Students’ perspectives on careers services and...

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Reforming the UCAS personal statement

This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at making the case for a series of short questions on university application forms. The UCAS personal statement is a 4,000 character / 47-line essay that applicants submit when applying for UK undergraduate programmes. There is growing recognition that the UCAS personal statement needs reform, including from...

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Opportunities to improve university governance in England

This report from UK think tank HEPI identifies opportunities for enhancing university governance in England. Dr Alison Wheaton considers how university governing body members in England perceive their roles and what this means for the higher education sector. The report, which is based on Dr Wheaton’s recent PhD, finds a shift towards more interactive governance...

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