Where do university heads escape in August after a gruelling year dealing with striking academics, litigious students and the latest government directives? Vice-chancellors are just as likely to take a UK break as they are to visit exotic destinations across the globe, a straw poll by The Times Higher reveals.

Steve Smith, Exeter 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's v-c, is in Singapore (following a conference), while Bristol 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's Eric Thomas has just returned from a tour of New England in the US (taking in Boston, Cape Cod, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine).

Paul Wellings, v-c of Lancaster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, travelled to Australia this year, while Manchester 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's Alan Gilbert enjoyed a break in Kenya.

Les Ebdon, v-c of Bedfordshire 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, took time off in Mexico, while Malcolm McVicar, Central Lancashire 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's head, visited Greece.

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But Mike Thorne, v-c of East London 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, and Westminster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's Geoffrey Copland opted for cooler climes, both holidaying (separately) in Scotland this year. Kel Fidler, Northumbria 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's v-c, went to Jersey.

Salford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ's v-c Michael Harloe and Howard Newby of the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the West of England both opted for the English countryside, visiting the Lake District and Derbyshire respectively.

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Nigel Thrift, meanwhile, clearly has a lot on his plate as the new head of Warwick 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ. He is spending his all of his summer in the university's vice-chancellor lodge.