UK universities still taking cash payments for fees ‘is money laundering risk’

Study finds one in five institutions are leaving themselves vulnerable by continuing to accept cash

A significant number of UK universities are still taking millions of pounds in cash as payment for tuition fees and accommodation, making them vulnerable to criminal gangs and money laundering, according to a study.

A fifth of universities who responded to a freedom of information (FoI) request said they had accepted cash payments, while three institutions each accepted more than 1m in cash in 2019-20 alone.