Philanthropy in the UK

The biggest gifts go to a handful of universities, writes Alison Goddard.

The number of benefactors who make gifts of £1 million or more has increased sharply, according to an annual survey by Coutts, a bank. The Financial Times says that universities have continued to (£) receive the largest share of the proceeds, taking 41 per cent of the total. Seven of the ten largest donations went to higher education institutions, including £75 million to expand the Rhodes scholarship programme at the University of Oxford. Eleven universities received more than one donation of £1 million or more; the University of Cambridge received seven and the University of Oxford received 12.

At the other end of the spectrum, The Herald reports that students from the poorest backgrounds in Scotland are up to £840 a year worse off due to cuts in bursaries.