As of August 2023, UUK is led by President Sally Mapstone[2] – Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of St Andrews – and Chief Executive Vivienne Stern.

In the early 1960s, working parties set up by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals were responsible for the creation of the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA).

[8] It found that 34% of those who had achieved Key Stage 4 and expressed a motivation to go to university reported that the financial aspects of higher education, such as fees and living expenses, had made them think about not applying.

Following comments by Prime Minister David Cameron that universities should not enforce gender segregation on audiences, the case study which triggered this debate was withdrawn.

In response to the report, the "Efficiency Exchange"[17] was set up to help higher education institutions to share ideas and good practice.

[19] This was criticised by some Conservative and UKIP Members of the European Parliament, who said that such political activity undertaken by a registered charity which is largely state-funded was wrong.

By 12 April 2018, 12,000 people had signed a petition demanding that Universities UK be made subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.