Special Report
The entry and experience of private providers of higher education in six countries
Published August 2016

This is an updated version of the earlier August 2016 report.

Dr Stephen Hunt (UCL Institute of Education), Professor Claire Callender (Birkbeck College and UCL Institute of Education) and Professor Gareth Parry (University of Sheffield) investigate the emergence and nature of private universities in six countries: the US, Australia, Germany, Poland, Japan and Chile.

Their report is based on desk research, conducted between March and April 2016, drawing on recent relevant and publicly available literature.

The research explores: the history, context and nature of market entry by private providers; the relationships and interactions between private and public providers and the growth of private provision; patterns of course provision and student participation; the role of governments and regulatory authorities; and situations and instances of market failure and their impact on student participation, retention and achievement.

While private higher education in each of the six countries has unique features, the report identifies some common characteristics and discusses some of the lessons from these six countries’ experiences for the UK.

Recent publications

Working Paper 119
November 2024
James Hunt
David Palfreyman
Working Paper 117
September 2024
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Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė
Sören Carlson
Daniel Klasik
Annette Bamberger
Cosmin Nada
Katharina Resch
Georgiana Mihut
Thais França
Sahizer Samuk
Sazana Jayadeva
Sanam Roohi
Suvi Jokila
Keanen McKinley
Nathalie Aerts
Zahide Erdogan
Ying Yang
Joyce Aguiar
Orlanda Tavares
Anu Härkönen
Magali Ballatore
Antonina Levatino
Sevgi Kaya Kasikci
Merve Zayim Kurtay
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