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Wonkhe SUs · The 2026 webinar box set

Essentials #2: What just happened?

The last twelve months in context – a month-by-month catch-up on what’s been happening in policy and regulation, the government’s agenda, and how students fit into it.

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A month-by-month catch-up on the last twelve months in higher education policy and regulation – course closures, mergers, OfS rulings, the government's agenda and the shifting political tone – and what it all means for students and SUs. A whistle-stop tour to get new officers up to speed fast.

What we cover

  • Whistle-stop tour of the year – rapidly familiarising officers with the major events and policy shifts of the past 12 months in HE, from elections to legislation, emphasising context, continuity and catching the “HE bus” in motion
  • A new political tone – a change of government brought new urban MPs with student-heavy constituencies and a softening of tone on international students, though that shift proved short-lived
  • The Natasha Abrahart case and legal duty – EHRC guidance reinforced that universities must uphold the Equality Act, particularly around disability and mental health, but accountability and implementation remain patchy
  • Renters’ Rights and student housing – major housing reform in England abolishing fixed-term tenancies, establishing an ombuds and restricting upfront rent, but with serious caveats for students around eviction risk, joint tenancies and PBSA exemptions
  • Cost of living and awarding gaps – data revealed worsening financial hardship (students skipping meals) and widening BME awarding gaps, signalling systemic problems in access, support and outcomes
  • New OfS conditions and regulatory direction – new or proposed registration conditions in England on harassment, consumer rights and course closures, pushing universities toward more compliance-heavy, consumer-centric models
  • Closures and financial pressure – multiple course and institutional closures reflecting growing sector fragility, with a large share of English providers reported to be in deficit
  • Funding, fees and flawed maintenance – tuition fees rose for the first time in years, but maintenance support failed to keep pace with inflation, deepening real-terms cuts and inequalities
  • Mixed signals on mental health and inclusion – from compassionate communications frameworks to the National Review of Student Death by Suicide, initiatives tried to improve support but often lacked teeth, funding or enforceable standards
  • Regulatory divergence and lobbying – England moved ahead with more aggressive regulation while Wales and Scotland pursued less muscular reforms, and Universities UK pushed a sector-led “blueprint” and efficiency agenda

Things to read

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