UKCGE Statement on the Government’s Post-16 Education White Paper
The UK Council for Graduate Education welcomes the government’s ambition to reform the post-16 education and skills system. We are pleased to see recognition of postgraduate education and a commitment to widening access and removing barriers to study. However, there is greater scope for acknowledging the essential role postgraduates play in sustaining the UK’s innovation, productivity and knowledge base.
Postgraduate education is a national asset. Over 200,000 individuals study at postgraduate level each year, developing advanced analytical, creative and professional capabilities that drive national growth, productivity and regional development. Postgraduate taught (PGT) and postgraduate research (PGR) programmes form an interconnected ecosystem: master’s degrees build advanced technical and professional skills, while doctoral degrees generate new knowledge and innovation that fuel the economy and society.
UKCGE calls for a coherent national approach linking the Department for Education’s skills reforms, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s research priorities, and UK Research and Innovation’s funding mechanisms. Without such alignment, the UK risks fragmenting its talent pipeline and weakening future research capacity.
Equity and excellence are mutually reinforcing. Widening participation in postgraduate study strengthens inclusion, enriches creativity and enhances the relevance and impact of research and innovation. Yet the White Paper’s expectation that universities should specialise may lead to a reduction in the volume of research being supported, limiting access to PGR programmes and facilities. Affordability also remains a barrier: doctoral stipends and master’s loans have struggled to keep pace with costs. Many taught postgraduate qualifications fall outside the scope of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. These factors risk constraining participation and diversity at a time when the UK needs to expand its postgraduate talent base.
UKCGE and our members recognise postgraduate education as a vital part of the national skills framework, as the bridge between advanced learning, research and innovation, and a cornerstone of the UK’s prosperity and civic life.