University leaders call for rethink over rising 'regulatory burden'

University leaders have urged England's regulator of higher education to rethink its priorities, saying that smaller institutions will be financially harmed by the increasing costs of its bureaucracy.

- Richard Adams

The Office for Students (OfS), the regulator, already charges smaller institutions such as the Royal College of Music up to 20 times more for each student in registration fees than it charges larger universities, with vice-chancellors fearing that the costs of meeting the OfS's demands will continue to balloon.

Universities UK (UUK), which represents vice-chancellors, is objecting to the OfS's strategic plans for the next five years. It argues that universities have had to hire 18 extra staff on average to meet the current regulations, with the OfS's plans to expand its powers creating further expenses during the funding crisis within higher education.

Vivienne Stern, UUK's chief executive, said: "The regulator should bear in mind that increasing regulatory burden means increasing the amount of time and money universities have to spend on regulatory demands, rather than frontline teaching and support for students.