The Budget
As previously trailed in the media the Autumn Budget was focused on demonstrating the end of austerity. There wasn’t much in the way of HE announcements, however paperwork released with the budget confirms that the Government intends to continue to freeze the maximum tuition fees at the current £9,250 level (UUK report this means £200 million less funding for the sector by 2023-24). Previously announced increases to research and development funding (£1.6 billion more) were reiterated:
- £1.1 billion through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
- £120 million through Strength in Places fund
- £150 million for research fellowship schemes
- Funding for 10 university enterprise zones, and for catapult centres