QR funding to be shared with new providers, government confirms

New private universities will be able to participate in the Research Excellence Framework and obtain public sector research and teaching grants, the Department for Education has confirmed.

Ian Coates, the department’s higher education strategy and policy director, said that the “door will be open” to new providers wishing to obtain full access to the funding distributed by the Office for Students and Research England.

New universities will be eligible for quality-related funding that is to be distributed by Research England following the next Research Excellence Framework. In order to access public funding, they will need to be listed on the official register of providers and also to accept the government’s £9,000 cap on course fees.