Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Mary Kelly Foy (Labour) on Monday, 2 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2026 (named day). It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Higher Education

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the number of course closures announced in higher education over the past year.

Answer

We are aware that some higher education (HE) providers are making difficult decisions about course consolidation and closures. As autonomous institutions, HE providers are responsible for managing their own finances. It is therefore right that they focus on ensuring their courses are financially sustainable.

The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the HE sector’s financial sustainability. The department works closely with the OfS to understand the sector’s changing financial landscape and level of risk.

The government recognises that the sector's financial environment is challenging. This is why tuition fee caps were uplifted in line with forecast inflation for 2025/26, with further uplifts planned for 2026/27 and 2027/28. We will then legislate to increase tuition fee caps automatically for future academic years. The department has also appointed Professor Edward Peck as OfS Chair, where he will play a key role in strengthening its commitment to financial sustainability.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
116861
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Closures Higher education
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk