Though the cash value of donations fell, thousands more students gave something to their former university

The monetary value of donations to UK universities fell by more than a fifth in the middle of the recession – but thousands more students gave money to their former places of study.

Universities received £532m in 2008-09 – 21% less than the previous year, researchers at the National Centre for Social Research found. This includes cash, art work, new buildings and any other donations.

But some 163,547 graduates donated – this is the equivalent of 55% of all UK students awarded their first degree in 2008-09. The figure is 16,000 more than in the previous year.

Oxford and Cambridge universities received more than half (51%) of all cash donations, while other institutions in the Russell Group of leading research-intensive universities took a further 24%.

While four universities were given single donations of £4m each, 22 received gifts of £1m or more. Some 165 graduates donated £500,000 or more, compared to 119 the previous year.

The average donation for the Russell Group was £1,306, while for the smaller research-intensive universities of the 1994 Group it was £133. Universities established after 1992 which are part of the Million+ group were given on average £21.

Donations now provide 2.3% of income to higher education, the research found.

The study was commissioned by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Europe (Case) and the Ross Group of university development directors.

Joanna Motion, Case's vice-president for international operations, said small, regular donations created "a pipeline for the future".

She said: "We are greatly encouraged by the steady increase in the numbers of people getting involved in giving to universities."

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