This paper reviews the research literature pertaining to the rise in the globalisation of higher education and the intensification of market pressures across the UK, Australia, China and Singapore. Policies designed to encourage and support the transition of traditionally under-represented groups into higher education are also discussed across international contexts. The paper explores how both the newly emerging and the established dominant ‘players’ in the higher education ‘marketplace’ are responding to the challenges and pressures of a globalised higher education landscape and highlights areas of commonalities and differences across the four different higher education systems. Particular attention is given to the shared and common themes of Globalisation, Marketisation, Performativity and Widening Participation. Notable absences in the literature are also evidenced, for example the lack of consideration given to how different ‘types’ of higher education institution respond variously to the pressures of globalisation and marketization and how this impacts deeper issues of pedagogy and identities. Moreover, much of the comparative international literature focuses on macro-level systemic policy differences rather than comparative accounts of localized pedagogic practices (situated within broader systems) which has implications for issues of equity and diversity. There is also a notable dearth of research that engages meaningfully with the student perspective of a shifting higher education landscape. Given the intensification of the marketisation of higher education and the consequent economic value associated with student perceptions of higher education, the authors conclude by drawing attention to the implications for individual student transitions into higher education as well as for global higher education systems more broadly.

Stevenson, J., Burke, P-J and Whelan P. (2014), Pedagogic stratification and the shifting landscape of UK higher education. York: Higher Education Academy. Brown, R. and Carasso, H. (2013), Everything for Sale? The Marketisation of UK Higher Education (Research into Higher Education). Abingdon: Routledge