OrganisationGB
Office for Students
The regulator for higher education providers in England.
Last refreshed: 27 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Key Question
Nearly half of England's universities are in deficit, so which ones can't be rescued?
Timeline for Office for Students
#1 26 Jul
Mentioned in: We left the UK row of the table empty
Is Britain Actually Broke?#1 31 Oct
Reported 45% of providers in deficit for 2025-26
Is Britain Actually Broke?: 45% of universities spent beyond incomeBackground
The Office for Students is the regulator for higher education providers in England, overseeing financial sustainability as well as quality and access. It reported that 45% of English higher education providers were in deficit for 2025-26, published 1 November 2025, forecasting improvement to 41% for 2026-27 as inflation-linked tuition fee rises feed through. The figures sit alongside years of warnings about universities' reliance on international student fees and falling real-terms funding per domestic student.
Common Questions
How many UK universities are in deficit?
The Office for Students found 45% of English higher education providers in deficit for 2025-26, forecasting a fall to 41% in 2026-27.Source: Office for Students
What does the Office for Students do?
It regulates higher education providers in England, covering quality, access and financial sustainability.
Why are UK universities losing money?
Falling real-terms funding per domestic student and volatile international fee income have pushed many providers into deficit.Source: Office for Students
Will university deficits improve in 2026-27?
The Office for Students forecasts the deficit rate falling from 45% to 41% as inflation-linked tuition fee rises take effect.Source: Office for Students