Dispatches: Season 2018, Episode 5

2018 - 5: Britain's University Spending Scandal

Dispatches investigates the expenses of Britain's top universities, revealing over £7 million of spending by the institutions' senior leadership teams. Amid the national debate over university vice chancellors' large pay packets, Dispatches shines a light on the opaque area of spending on luxury hotels, executive travel, fine dining around the world, and other creature comforts. Britain has some of the best universities in the world, but does what they spend always represent value for money for students, and the taxpayer? Since fees tripled in 2012, vice chancellor pay has increased by at least 7 per cent, prompting the government to bring in a new regulator to keep pay 'under control'. But will the new body be tough enough? Reporter Antony Barnett lives the life of a vice chancellor as he interrogates receipts and credit card statements obtained by Dispatches under freedom of information laws.