Catherine Malpass reports for Durham University’s Palatinate on how UK colleges can now call themselves universities:

Small specialist colleges across the UK are now eligible to call themselves universities.

The announcement, made on Monday 11 June, came in response to the Higher Education White Paper from David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science. Higher education institutions will now have to facilitate 1,000 students, with 750 of those studying a degree to qualify for the title ‘university’.

The previous figures meant that universities had to accommodate for 4,000 students, with 3,000 of those studying a degree. This means that up to ten establishments could now take on the university title.

Mr Willetts commented on the changes, saying: ‘It is right to remove the red tape stopping good quality, smaller higher education providers calling themselves a university’.

Full article here.