English universities face autumn ‘tipping point’ as financial crisis looms

Vice-chancellors fear weaker institutions need bailout to avert failure due to fewer students and higher costs

Universities in England face a tipping point" this autumn engulfing some of them in financial crisis, according to vice-chancellors who say urgent government intervention may be needed to stop institutions from going under.

The warnings come as hundreds of thousands of sixth formers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland await their A-level results next Thursday. Their decisions on where and when to attend higher education will be a make-or-break point for several universities.