The Law of Higher Education

Universities and colleges in the UK have to deal with many legal issues. Some are specific to the sector, such as; constitution and organisation; rights of members; relationships with students and academic staff; research contracts; information services; and student unions. Others are of a more general character, such as; employment; estates; and risk management. Whilst technically universities are private self-governing corporations, they in fact operate within a statutory public funding and regulatory regime, in addition to having all the legal responsibilities of major employers and landowners. A number have a student and staff population larger than that of small towns, manage significant public and private funds and are increasingly commercial in their outlook as they compete for the best students and staff, research grants and contracts, both in the UK and internationally. Colleges, while generally smaller, have a range of responsibilities very similar to those of universities.
This comprehensive and practical guide to the UK law of higher education provides extensive treatment of the complex legal framework in which universities work and the remedies which may be sought in the event of disputes. Although focussing on UK laws, it will include material on the international context, particularly important as institutions are increasingly involved in international exchanges and collaborations, as well as being subject to the increasing globalisation of higher education. The text is linked to the updating service on the OxCHEPS website so that users can keep up to date with developments. The book will be extremely useful for solicitors and barristers trying to keep up to date with this complex area of law, together with higher education administrators and employees.