Racial inequality will remain in UK Higher Education unless a more ambitious regulatory approach is adopted, according to new HEPI analysis

Progress towards racial equity in UK higher education has been “notoriously slow”, with deep-rooted disparities in student outcomes and academic representation persisting, a new analysis warns.  

Despite decades of reports and initiatives, Black and Asian students remain less likely to graduate with a First or Upper Second class degree. Black academics are severely underrepresented, particularly at professorial level, with only 1% of UK professors identifying as such. 

In her new paper, Making Metrics Matter: Tackling Racial Inequity in Higher Education, Dr Katharine Hubbard from Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) calls for structural changes to the regulatory system or such inequalities will continue indefinitely.  

The paper, published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), examines the current regulatory landscape, including the Equality Act (2010), Access and Participation Plans, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and the Race Equality Charter. It finds that racial equity is not positioned as a major strategic priority for institutions, allowing them to “get away with” poor performance on equity while maintaining strong reputational metrics. 

Using new analysis of TEF2023 outcomes, Dr Hubbard demonstrates that even Gold-rated institutions often have significant racial inequities. Seven TEF Gold providers have Black awarding gaps exceeding 25 percentage points, and more than half of Silver and Gold institutions significantly under-recruit Black academics. In some cases, students could complete their degree without ever encountering a Black academic. 

Dr Hubbard proposes a pragmatic model for embedding racial equity into TEF assessments. Her flag-based system would identify institutions with significant inequity in student outcomes or staff representation and adjust TEF ratings accordingly. Under one scenario, around one in five providers would see their TEF rating change due to racial inequity or underrepresentation. 

Dr Hubbard, Director of Learning and Enhancement and Academic Practice at BNU, said: “Can an institution really be considered Gold standard when it has a Black awarding gap of over 25 percentage points and students never encounter a Black academic? If racial inequity is a structural issue, we can only tackle it through changing structures. TEF is the most visible badge of quality in the sector – it’s time to make racial equity a more substantive part of the metrics that drive institutional behaviours and action.” 

Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer at BNU, said: "Dr Hubbard’s research provides important evidence for the ongoing discussion around racial equity in higher education. It reminds us that there is more to be done across the sector to address awarding gaps and representation. We remain focused on this work to ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed during their time at university." 

The paper concludes with a call to the Office for Students and the wider sector to take bolder action. It argues that Access and Participation Plans have raised awareness but lack the reputational impact of TEF ratings. Incorporating inequity and underrepresentation more directly into TEF would send a clear signal that racial disparities are unacceptable in a system that claims to champion excellence. 

Notes for Editors: 

• The full paper, Making Metrics Matter: Tackling Racial Inequity in Higher Education, by Dr Katharine Hubbard, is available here. 

• Dr Hubbard is Director of Learning Enhancement and Academic Practice at Buckinghamshire New University, a National Teaching Fellow and Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE.