A UK Education Select Committee report warned that 24 higher education providers are at risk of insolvency within 12 months, with many already cutting jobs, closing courses, or selling assets. The report focuses on a policy gap: students may not receive adequate protection until a provider’s financial condition deteriorates significantly. Committee chair Helen Hayes MP said an early warning system is essential, arguing the government and the Office for Students should be ready when institutions show early distress rather than only when they are in crisis. The report urges costed protocols for protecting students and staff, including options such as mergers, restructuring, or orderly exits. The report also tied provider pressure to sector-wide revenue dynamics, including a fee freeze for undergraduates that encouraged institutions to rely more heavily on postgraduate and international student fees. It highlighted that international students represent about a quarter of enrollments but generate over 45% of fee income.