OFFA, British academy, research integrity office…

This week in news in brief: Universities approach OFFA, academy backs call for data release, research integrity office subscribers, and more.

Universities approach OFFA on lowering fees

The Office for Fair Access has confirmed that “five or six” universities have already contacted it with a view to lowering fees. The news is the first concrete sign that the government’s decision to penalise universities in England charging more than £7,500 a year in fees by cutting the number of undergraduate places it funds is beginning to have an effect. Any change to the regime of tuition fees, fee waivers and bursaries offered by a university has to be negotiated with OFFA. It says the enquiries have come so far from institutions with an average fee level slightly above the £7,500 limit.