An opinion poll commissioned by public universities clearly indicates that UK residents back investment in universities to maintain quality of research and teaching. The public clearly understands that high quality universities are important for the development of individuals, society and economy of the country. Universities heavily rely on external funding to provide high quality student experiences, deliver world class research and develop highly skilled graduates needed for the development of a nation. In a tight financial environment, the government is finding it tough to provide adequate funds to universities for their research activities and innovation in ways of learning.

In today’s economy, the importance of higher education extends beyond teaching. UK universities play an important role in the country’s economy. UK universities continue to enrich and impart knowledge and understanding to students globally. International students studying in the UK bring a large amount of revenue, equivalent to 3 billion pounds, to the country’s economy. International students are important for the success of the UK’s higher education system. They contribute approximately 8% to higher education budgets and also contribute to local economies through their off-campus spending. These students studying in the UK are likely to become political leaders, captains of industry and opinion formers of the future. These links play an important role for the UK in trade and diplomatic terms.

Twenty-five percent of immigrants to Britain are students and the number is bound to rise in coming years. The influx of international students is mainly the result of marketing efforts of higher educational institutions. UK universities fiercely sell their courses to international students. Each foreign students brings around 15,000 pounds in the way of fees and living expenses. UK universities continue to play an important role in an uncertain economy. International students pay full tuition fees while enabling universities to provide subsidized education to local students. In a scenario where government funding is felt inadequate, international students bring a bounty of funds that can be used by universities to improve their education and research standards to stay ahead in global competition.

UK universities now generate about 59 billion pounds and have left behind sectors such as agricultural, pharmaceutical, advertising and the postal industry. The importance of the education sector in the UK is increasing gradually. The focus of UK universities is research and teaching. Some universities are, however, research intensive and transfer knowledge to businesses and other organizations. This procedure is called knowledge transfer, and UK universities use expertise and the facilities of these business communities in return.

The United Kingdom has three legal systems. English law, which applies in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland law, which applies in Northern Ireland, are based on common-law principles. Scots law, which applies in Scotland, is a pluralistic system based on civil-law principles, with common law elements dating back to the High Middle Ages. The Treaty of Union, put into effect by the Acts of Union in 1707, guaranteed the continued existence of a separate law system for Scotland. The Acts of Union between Great Britain and Ireland in 1800 contained no equivalent provision but preserved the principle of separate courts to be held in Ireland, now Northern Ireland.

The Appellate Committee of the House of Lords (usually just referred to, as “The House of Lords”) is the highest court in the land for all criminal and civil cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and for all civil cases in Scots law. Recent constitutional changes will see the powers of the House of Lords transfer to a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

In England and Wales, the court system is headed by the Supreme Court of England and Wales, consisting of the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Justice (for civil cases) and the Crown Court (for criminal cases). The Courts of Northern Ireland follow the same pattern. In Scotland the chief courts are the Court of Session, for civil cases, and the High Court of Justiciary, for criminal cases, while the sheriff court is the Scottish equivalent of the county court.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for several independent Commonwealth countries, the British overseas territories, and the British Crown dependencies. There are also immigration courts with UK-wide jurisdiction — the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and Special Immigration Appeals Commission. The Employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal have jurisdiction throughout Great Britain, but not Northern Ireland.