University heads received an average of £260,000 per year and 18 received pay rises over 10%, according to a salary survey from the UCU lecturers’ union.

The biggest earner in 2013-14 was the head of Nottingham Trent University whose total benefits were £623,000.

Last week, university leaders warned against cutting tuition fees to £6,000, arguing that budgets were under threat.

The UCU leader Sally Hunt said the lack of “accountability surrounding senior pay and perks is a national scandal”.

Business Secretary Vince Cable warned that universities should “think twice” about large pay rises for senior staff and that such pay levels were “hard to swallow”.

The survey from the lecturers’ union shows that the top 10 earners among vice-chancellors received between £392,000 and £623,000, based on total benefits.

It also revealed how some university heads have had substantial increases, at a time when lecturers have been campaigning over pay.

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Top 10 vice-chancellors’ pay, 2013-14

1. Nottingham Trent University, Neil Gorman: £623,000 (including accrued bonuses)

2. London Metropolitan University, Malcolm Gillies: £453,000 (including payment in lieu of notice)

3. University of Oxford, Andrew Hamilton: £442,000

4. London Business School, Sir Andrew Likierman: £419,000

5. The Open University, Martin Bean: £412,000

6 University of Birmingham, Sir David Eastwood: £410,000

7. University of Exeter, Sir Steve Smith: £400,000 (including £58,000 performance-related remuneration)

8 University of Bath, Glynis Breakwell: £395,000

9. London School of Economics, Craig Calhoun: £394,000

10. University of Surrey, Sir Christopher Snowden: £392,000

Source: University and College Union

 

More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31715020