Every English university is to charge students more than £6,000 a year.

Many of the best A-level candidates were beaten to university places this year by those who did worse in their exams, it emerged last night.

Updated for 2011 - our list of institutions across Britain, with all the statistics, info and advice you need to make the right choice

Amid the flurry of sad stories that filled the papers today - for instance, the awful, heart-breaking accounts of the Indian troops under deadly fire from Maoist rebels phoning their families to say good-bye - the tale of Shrinivas Ramachandra Siras caught my eye.

Many of the UK's leading universities have stiffened entry requirements in the wake of a flood of applications and funding cuts that could result in the axing of thousands of teaching jobs.

The future of a government scheme to rebuild England's colleges has been left hanging in the balance by the "reckless" behaviour of the agency in charge, according to MPs.

Universities are wonderful places that should always promote the principles of free speech and vibrant intellectual debate - even if the subject matter is highly controversial.

You may not have known it, but the Government has been having a debate on the future of higher education for the past year. Last week's plea by the Universities Secretary, John Denham, for universities to offer more vocational degrees was part of his contribution to summing up what has been going on.

University vice-chancellors acknowledged today that the degree classification system is out of date.

The news that MPs on the innovation, universities and skills select committee are going to take a long, hard look at higher education is welcome — particularly in the light of the cock-up over grants. Undergraduate support is being cut after poor estimates were made of how many students were eligible for funds. The review will feed into the Government's review of top-up fees, providing some much-needed evidence on the extent to which the fees are hindering access.

Boys have finally got the better of girls – by outperforming them in university admissions tests, according to a study published today.

Student debt levels have rocketed by almost twice the level of inflation during the past year – with those starting university this autumn expected to owe more than £20,000 by the time they graduate.

Marine conservationists have called for permanent protection of one of the UK's most important colonies of dolphins which is being threatened by a boom in North Sea oil and gas exploration.