Three universities may go private

Worries that reforms of the higher education sector will lead to a loss of income have led two universities to "actively consider" plans for going private, according to a report.

By pulling out of the state-funded system the universities would hope to be able to charge unlimited tuition fees and attract more foreign students whilst avoiding new reuirements to take on more undergraduates from deprived backgrounds.

The universities were not identified in the report by management consultacy PA Consulting which also pointed out that other universities, while staying withing the state system, are trying to reduce their dependence on government money.