Survey raises concerns about differing fortunes in business school research

The Chartered Association of Business Schools’ annual member survey – based on 59 responses from schools across UK higher education institutions – highlights particular worries about drops in international postgraduate recruitment, and the knock-on effect this will have on university finances.

But the survey also describes a “marked divergence” in business schools’ plans to invest in research: while 26 per cent of schools were spending either slightly or significantly less in 2026–27, another 28 per cent reported a slight increase in research investment levels. This trend was expected to continue into 2027–28 as well:

Overall, research was the area most likely to see reductions in investment in the current year – but as the chart above shows, this by no means represents a uniform picture across the sector.

Those responding to the survey also observed that wider university financial pressures were seeing business schools asked to secure more corporate funding for research – 23 per cent in the current academic year, rising to 35 per cent expecting to be asked to do so next academic year.

A separate question on research cost recovery showed another point of divergence. Asked what percentage of total spending for active research grants was being covered by the funder, more than half replied that this was above 70 per cent, with most of these suggesting it was between 71 per cent and 80 per cent.

However, one in five business schools answering the survey said that they were covering at least 80 per cent of the cost of research internally.