The government must confront the ‘no-fail’ culture in higher education and accept the possibility that a university could go under. Private providers could be allowed to step in to take over all or part of a failing institution.

Sink or swim? analyses the history of troubled mergers in British universities and takes a closer look at the accountability framework keeping universities in check. It considers the case for failure in the overcrowded London market and outlines some of the major financial threats for universities on the horizon.