Ministerial role

Minister of State for Universities and Science

Organisations: Department for Education and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Responsibilities

In December 2018, the role of Minister of State for Universities and Science was replaced by the role of Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation.

The minister is responsible for:

Higher education

  • widening participation for students and providers
  • student finance
  • education exports strategy
  • preventing violent extremism
  • international students and migration
  • student experience

Science and research

  • research funding
  • postgraduates
  • public engagement in science
  • STEM (science technology, engineering and mathematics) skills
  • open access / research data
  • relationship with Government Office for Science on science in policy
  • Newton Fund
  • Agri-Tech industrial strategy

Innovation and commerce

Note that, until May 2015, this ministerial role also included responsibility for cities policy and local and regional growth.

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Jo Johnson

    2015 to 2016

  2. The Rt Hon Greg Clark

    2014 to 2015

  3. The Rt Hon David Willetts

    2010 to 2014