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What's in a Name? The Effect of Brand on the Level of English Universities' Fees

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Jenkins

    (Department of Social Science, University College London)

  • Alison Wolf

    (School of Management, King's College London)

Abstract

Higher education is increasingly competitive and international in its recruitment of both students and faculty, and international 'league tables' are increasingly publicised and discussed. In many jurisdictions, universities also now have freedom to set fees for at least some students, and those with a high reputation are well placed to charge large amounts. England has a university sector which is highly differentiated in reputational terms, and a fee regime which allows universities to set fees for a large proportion of their students. It is therefore possible, using administrative and income data, to examine how far commonly recognised measures of reputation explain universities' teaching income per student, after controlling for a wide range of other factors. The results confirm that reputation, or 'brand', appears to have a very large impact on fee and teaching income, and that it is therefore entirely rational for English universities to prioritise activities which raise their international visibility and reputation.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Jenkins & Alison Wolf, "undated". "What's in a Name? The Effect of Brand on the Level of English Universities' Fees," DoQSS Working Papers 16-12, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    • Handle: RePEc:qss:dqsswp:1612
    as

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    File URL: https://repec.ucl.ac.uk/REPEc/pdf/qsswp1612.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lorraine Deardon & Neil Shephard & Jack Britton & Anna Vignoles, 2016. "How English domiciled graduate earnings vary with gender, institution attended, subject and socio-economic background," Working Paper 397281, Harvard University OpenScholar.
    2. Michael K. McLendon & James C. Hearn & Christine G. Mokher, 2009. "Partisans, Professionals, and Power: The Role of Political Factors in State Higher Education Funding," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 80(6), pages 686-713, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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