Cambridge excellence rewarded

The University of Cambridge will see an overall increase of 5.6 per cent in its grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 2007-08.

Nationally, HEFCE has announced that it will make available £7.14 billion in funding for 2007-08 to universities and colleges in England. This represents an overall cash increase of 6.4 per cent compared with 2006-07.

Cambridge's total grant from HEFCE for 2007-08 will be £176.3 million, of which £107 million will be for research and £62 million for teaching.

The University has seen the largest increase in research funds of any English university, with a 7 per cent rise on last year. In England as a whole almost £1.41 billion will go on research, an increase of 5.4 per cent on last year.

HEFCE funding for research includes £60 million to support institutions undertaking research with business and industry, and £180 million to support high quality research funded by charities. The research funding provides for an average increase of 4.9 per cent for research rated as 4, 5 and 5* in the last Research Assessment Exercise, on a like-for-like basis.

HEFCE has also announced additional funding of £25 million for very high cost laboratory-based subjects that are vulnerable because of a mismatch between supply and demand.

Professor Tony Minson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Resources, said: “This is good news for Cambridge and recognises in particular the international standing of the University's research. Nevertheless, funding to the University for undergraduate teaching does not meet the costs and our finances remain insufficient for adequate investment for the future.”