51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Delight in US, gloom in Europe and scratching of heads in Australia. Phil Baty assesses reactions

Report advocates an 'efficient and fair' alternative to the student loans system, writes Hannah Fearn

Matthew Reisz on startling research into the role facial features play in our opinions of other people

Are you on the shortlist?

Publish data to show reality of study and prospects, says quality chief. Rebecca Attwood reports

Ministerial 'bungle' distracts attention from sector's major problems. Simon Baker writes

Business secretary still seeks progressive system linking payments to earnings. Simon Baker reports

Global ethics guidelines set out researchers¡¯ duties to be clear and above board, writes Paul Jump

Vince Cable used a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat party conference to defend his stance on cutting some science funding in the forthcoming public spending review.

Canada, Japan, France and UK are home to just a quarter of forecast prizewinners, writes Paul Jump

David Willetts tells the British Academy that the government values its work. Matthew Reisz reports

The ¡°artificial¡± barriers between universities and further education should be swept away in a bid to a create a ¡°revolution¡± in post-16 education and training, Vince Cable has told the Liberal Democrat party conference.

One of Britain¡¯s best-known physicists has attacked government plans to severely cut the science budget as ¡°ludicrous¡±, warning of a devastating impact on the UK economy.

By Steve Kolowich for

A coalition government agreement to abolish tuition fees in England and replace them with a system closer to a graduate tax is near and simply needs edging ¡°over the line¡±, Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrats¡¯ deputy leader, has said.

Europe¡¯s first major academic school of government, which opens today at the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford, has been bankrolled by one of the largest philanthropic gifts received by the institution in its 900-year history.

After two years of staff losses further reductions will hurt quality, universities warn. Hannah Fearn writes

Postdoctoral research scientists should look elsewhere for fruitful careers as the financially stretched academy increasingly cannot accommodate them, delegates at the British Science Festival heard this week.

CSU chancellor calls for sector to show restraint over tuition fee rises, reports John Morgan in Paris

Internationally prestigious research must take priority, Dame Nancy Rothwell tells Paul Jump

This cast of Chang and Eng Bunker, the original "Siamese twins", can be found in the Mutter Museum in the US.

Scholar offers insights to bolster communications between leaders and led. Cat Davies reports

Charter calls for students to determine the format of tutors' responses. Hannah Fearn reports

Vitae conference told of hard choices ahead over postgraduate development. Hannah Fearn writes

Universities must diversify income streams in an era of austerity, EUA warns. Hannah Fearn reports

US dominates revamped . John Morgan reports

Phil Baty looks at the rankings winners and losers and explains how weightings have affected results

What would Cardinal Newman make of 'impact' and the REF? John Morgan investigates