University autonomy in Europe ‘hit by austerity’ Warnings that state involvement in funding decisions is harming institutions’ abilities to compete By Ellie Bothwell 6 April
EU research funding should be a three-stage rocket Horizon 2020 could have more success getting technologies off the ground if it does not neglect the basic work that sparks breakthroughs, say Geert de Snoo, Floor Frederiks, Peter Lievens and Katrien Maes By Geert de Snoo 6 April
Germany catches up with UK on ERC starting grant success More money and competition for tenure has helped country’s young researchers progress By David Matthews 5 April
Central European University in peril as Hungary passes law Parliament approves legislation that institution says would force it out of Budapest By David Matthews 4 April
Number of international students at Dutch universities soars Netherlands' market share of mobile scholars grows by 15 per cent in 10 years By Holly Else 4 April
EU research ‘still failing to include social sciences’ Without input from other disciplines, new technologies will fail to improve lives, report warns By David Matthews 3 April
Plymouth QAA review kept secret after successful appeal Challenge means that institution’s entry into teaching excellence framework based on 2009 report By John Morgan 3 April
Clare Marchant named next Ucas chief executive Current head of Worcestershire County Council will succeed Mary Curnock Cook By Chris Havergal 3 April
Will new institutions shake up teaching in old elite? New institutions across the world believe that they can compete with big-name universities that are stuck in the past, explains Jack Grove By Jack Grove 2 April
Do private providers have higher dropout rates? New data allow greater scrutiny of student retention in England’s ‘challenger’ institutions By Simon Baker 1 April
Tread carefully with altmetrics, European Commission told Transparency ‘crucial’ to the introduction of new metrics in Continent’s research system By Holly Else 31 March
'Nudging' encourages students to apply to top universities Teenagers who received personalised letters more likely to get into Russell Group institutions By Chris Havergal 30 March
