05 - England - Types of institution

The publicly funded higher education sector is very diverse, encompassing institutions varying in terms of size, history, mission and subject mix.

The majority of publicly funded higher education institutions now have the title 'university'. All universities have their own degree-awarding powers and determine which degrees and other qualifications they will offer and the conditions which apply. They all offer research opportunities, as well as a wide range of taught courses, although the balance between these activities varies between institutions.

Universities range in size from a few thousand students to around 40,000 students. The Open University has around 180,000 students in total, most of them part-time distance learners. The combined colleges, schools and institutes of the University of London, which has a federal structure, have around 90,000 students, with a further 41,000 students studying by distance learning.

Many ‘new’ or ‘post-1992’ universities (those which gained university title since the Further and Higher Education Act was passed in 1992) retain differences of mission and subject mix in comparison with older or ‘pre-1992’ universities. Many of the ‘new’ or ‘post-1992’ universities were previously polytechnics or higher education colleges. In general, the ‘post-1992’ universities place greater emphasis on the practical application of knowledge than do the older universities. Consequently, they offer a wider range of courses leading to the professional qualifications recognised by professional institutions. They may also offer some qualifications below degree level. ‘Pre-1992’ universities provide academic courses rather than professional training, although many provide a range of professionally accredited degree courses, including engineering, accountancy, teacher training, librarianship and information science, and medical studies.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) that award only taught degrees but which do not meet the numerical criteria for university title (having at least 4,000 full time equivalent higher education students, of whom at least 3,000 are registered on degree level courses) may apply to use the title ‘university college’, although not all choose to do so.

Other higher education institutions without university title also carry out teaching, research and a wide range of other activities. Such institutions include small, specialist institutions of art and design, drama, music and agriculture.

Degrees offered by higher education institutions without their own degree-awarding powers are validated by an external body such as a university.

Higher education (HE) courses are also provided in some further education institutions. The Dearing Report (Dearing, 1997) recommended that participation in higher education should be widened, and that this expansion should mainly focus on sub-degree level courses, provided in further education colleges. The vast majority of higher education courses delivered in further education colleges comprise two-year, work-focused programmes such as the new foundation degree.

Higher education provision in further education institutions may be funded directly by the relevant HE funding body, or the funding may be provided via a franchise arrangement, where a student is registered at an HEI, which receives the funding and is responsible for quality assurance. A proportion of the funding is passed on to the further education college providing the teaching. The arrangement can cover the whole or part of the course.

The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 allows for the transfer of further education institutions into the higher education sector, if ‘the full-time enrolment number of the institution concerned ... for courses of higher education exceeds 55 per cent of its total full-time equivalent enrolment number’.

There are also some privately funded universities and colleges that are not included in the higher education sector as described here.

Institutions:

 

Open University
Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA England
Tel.:+44 (0)845 300 6090
Fax:+44 (0)1908 653744
E-mail: general-enquiries@open.ac.uk
Website:  http://www.open.ac.uk


Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe

Date: 2009
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