Vice-chancellors of large research-intensive universities in the UK¡¯s Russell Group were paid just over ?355,000 on average in the past academic year, a Times Higher Education analysis shows.

Financial accounts available for 22 of the organisation¡¯s 24 members put the average salary and benefits of a Russell Group vice-chancellor at ?355,115 in 2017-18.

Once employer pension contributions were included, the average costs of pay packages stood at ?379,156.

However, the latest financial statements show average remuneration paid to leaders of the UK¡¯s top universities rose only slightly in 2017-18 ¨C up by 1.8 per cent from 2016-17.?

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If pension contributions are included, vice-chancellors¡¯ average pay in the Russell Group rose by 1.7 per cent.

Rank-and-file academic staff accepted a 1.7 per cent pay uplift last year, with rises of up to 2.4 per cent for lower paid employees.

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Some of the biggest increases in vice-chancellors¡¯ cost of office?were caused by one-off costs associated with a change in leadership at the London School of Economics and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cambridge.

Highest-paid vice-chancellors in Russell Group: top 10

*now retired ** includes relocation costs *** excludes provision for housing. Estimated rental value of university-owned property occupied by head of institution is ?54,000 for LSE. UCL rental value of ?83,200 is set at ?18,191 in accounts.

Figures taken from 2017-18 accounts. Statements for the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Glasgow and Cardiff 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ not available at time of collation.

The group¡¯s highest-paid vice-chancellor in 2017-18 was the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Sheffield¡¯s Sir Keith Burnett, who received a salary and benefits worth ?448,519 in his final year of office. That rose to ?455,780 if employer pension contributions are considered.

³§³ó±ð´Ú´Ú¾±±ð±ô»å¡¯²õ say that?Sir Keith¡¯s remuneration ¡°reflect[s] the importance the university attaches to having a leader in higher education ¨C who is highly respected within and beyond the sector, both in the UK and internationally¡±?and who?led a?¡°large and complex organisation with an annual turnover of ?692 million¡±.

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Other higher earners included Sir David Eastwood, vice-chancellor of the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Birmingham, who pay and benefits of ?444,000 in 2017-18.

In a , the university said that Sir David¡¯s ¡°total remuneration reflects the size and complexity of the organisation¡±, which has 34,000 students and 8,000 staff.

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Sir David added that he had given more than ?100,000 to the university and now gave his earnings as chair of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, worth ?90,000 in 2016-17, to a charity?that ¡°supports a range of causes across the university¡±.

Alice Gast, president of Imperial College London, was another high earner. Her salary and benefits amounted to ?368,200 in 2017-18 or ?432,700 if pension contributions are included.

Imperial¡¯s accounts also state that Professor Gast $375,000 (?297,290) as a director of the US energy giant Chevron in the 12 months up to December 2017, as well as $10,000?from the Singapore Academic Research Council. In an email to staff on 11 December, Professor Gast said that she spent about 30 days a year on her external roles, adding that they ¡°strengthen [Imperial¡¯s] relationships and broaden my perspective on international collaboration and best practice in corporate governance¡±.

Last year¡¯s average pay for Russell Group vice-chancellors was also higher as institutions are now required to declare the value of subsidised housing provided to leaders under new reporting rules in England.

Tim Bradshaw, the group¡¯s chief executive, said that its members were ¡°embracing the legitimate call for greater transparency over senior pay¡±.

The highest pay package for a UK higher education head in 2017-18 comes from outside the Russell Group. Fran?ois Ortalo-Magn¨¦, dean of London Business School, received ?501,000, including ?76,000 in employer pension contributions, the school¡¯s? indicate.

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Dame Glynis Breakwell, who retired as the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Bath¡¯s vice-chancellor in August after heavy criticism over her pay, also received more than any Russell Group head in 2017-18. Her overall pay package stood at ?491,248 if non-taxable benefits of ?12,760 relating to subsidised accommodation are considered, accounts .

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com