Is higher education in the UK becoming more competitive?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the extent to which recent changes in the UK's higher education sector are likely to increase the level of competition and change the behaviour of UK higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on a conceptual framework developed to understand competitive conditions and behaviours in order to provide an analytical device to guide the narrative of the paper. The paper draws on a number of national and international sources. Findings It is likely that competition between UK higher education institutions will intensify in the future especially in light of the introduction of student tuition fees and this will lead to further changes in behaviour. Originality/value The paper offers an original approach and conceptual basis to make a contribution to a growing debate about the future of the UK higher education sector.