Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)

What Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) does

The Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) is a UK-based international learned society founded in 1973, structured as a registered charity (No. 313850) and company limited by guarantee (Co. No. 00868820). Headquartered at Society Building, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London, it operates with a central team of 19 employees. SRHE serves the global higher education research community — academic researchers, newer/early-career researchers, postgraduate education leaders, and international higher education policy practitioners — with a mission to support and disseminate research into higher education as a discipline.

SRHE's core offering is an Individual Membership programme with tiered annual subscriptions ranging from £15 (student ODA-country rate) to £120 (standard), plus a retired annual option at £77 and a lifetime retired rate of £325. Members receive free online access to four peer-reviewed journals (Studies in Higher Education, Higher Education Quarterly, Policy Reviews in Higher Education, Research into Higher Education Abstracts), 30% discounts on Routledge/Taylor & Francis books, 20% on Wiley publications, free attendance at 20+ specialist network events, reduced conference rates, and eligibility for annual research awards of up to £10,000. The Society's digital infrastructure is built on a WordPress website integrated with CiviCRM for member and event management, supplemented by Wistia, YouTube, Zoom, and Google Analytics for content delivery and webinar operations.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring membership subscriptions, transactional conference and event registration (£45-£625 depending on tier and format), and publications revenue from journal subscriptions and article processing charges. Major partnerships include Routledge/Taylor & Francis (book series), Wiley Publishing (member discounts), the British Council (international higher education events), CiviCRM (technology platform), UKCGE, and University Alliance. Distribution occurs entirely through direct digital channels — primarily the srhe.ac.uk website and email — with no reseller, channel partner, or third-party distribution model. The flagship annual International Conference (2026 in Nottingham; online day November 27, in-person December 1-3) anchors the events calendar alongside continuous network programming and the November AcWriMo writing programme.

Name

Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)

Legal name

Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)

Website

https://srhe.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) is a UK-based international learned society, founded in 1973, serving higher education researchers through memberships, four peer-reviewed journals, an annual International Conference, research awards up to £10,000, and 20+ specialist networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual individual memberships providing access to journals, network events, professional development, research awards, and conference discounts. Tiers include standard (£120), student/unwaged (£55), retired (£77 annual or £325 lifetime), and ODA-country reduced rates (£30 standard, £15 student).
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual International Research Conference (in-person and online days), network events, workshops, and webinars. Conference fees range from £495-625 (early bird) for in-person; £160 for non-member online; SRHE members attend online free. Student members receive subsidised rates.
3. Publications Revenue: Journal subscriptions including Studies in Higher Education print (£90 with membership), article processing charges for Gold Open Access publication in Studies/Policy Reviews journals, and discounted book purchases from Routledge/Taylor & Francis (30%) and Wiley (20%).
4. Research Awards Administration: Member-only annual research awards of £10,000 administered through the Society, supporting new research in higher education studies. Award programme includes Research & Scoping Awards and Newer Researcher awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SRHE is a learned society that sells annual individual memberships granting access to four peer-reviewed journals, discounted books, free network events, subsidised conference rates, and eligibility for research awards up to £10,000. It also sells standalone conference registrations, event tickets, and research-funding award programmes that fund new scholarship in higher education studies.

Product overview

SRHE operates as a professional learned society offering a portfolio of publication products, events, and membership services. The core product is membership (Individual Membership), which provides access to peer-reviewed journals (Studies in Higher Education, Higher Education Quarterly, Policy Reviews in Higher Education), the SRHE/Routledge Book Series, and Research into Higher Education Abstracts. SRHE organizes the annual International Conference (in-person and online), supports research through Annual Research Awards (£10,000) and Newer Researchers Awards, and facilitates ongoing professional development via Network Events and SRHE News newsletter. The organization functions as a platform connecting higher education researchers through publications, conferences, awards, and networking events, rather than as a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studies in Higher Education (Journal)

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual research awards of £10,000 available to members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Routledge/Taylor & Francis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRHE has an established book series partnership with Routledge/Taylor & Francis, providing members with 30% discount on all Routledge books. The SRHE/Routledge Book Series publishes research into higher education scholarship.
• Wiley PublishingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRHE members receive 20% discount on all books and journals published by Wiley Publishing, complementing the Routledge partnership for member publication benefits.
• British CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe British Council is a key partner for SRHE's international education activities. Eduardo Ramos, Head of Higher Education Systems and Internationalisation at British Council, leads strategy for Transnational Education (TNE) programmes including the Going Global Partnerships programme and TNE Exploratory Grants. SRHE events regularly feature British Council speakers on international higher education policy.
• CiviCRMsupportingTechnology or IntegrationOpen-source CRM platform used by SRHE for member management, event registrations, conference bookings, and email communications. SRHE website integrates CiviCRM for all membership and event administrative functions.
• East Midlands Conference Centre / Nottingham VenuessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for the 2026 SRHE International Research Conference (December 1-3, 2026). The East Midlands Conference Centre at University Park, Nottingham hosts the in-person conference days. Associated Orchard Hotel provides accommodation.
• University of AberdeensupportingOthersDr Rahul Choudaha, a SRHE event speaker, served as Professor and COO in laying the foundation for University of Aberdeen's India campus, illustrating SRHE's role in connecting members with institutional partnerships.
• UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRHE networks, particularly the Postgraduate Issues Network, collaborate with UKCGE on joint publications such as the survey on Professional Doctorates across HEIs in UK and Ireland.
• University AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRHE's Postgraduate Issues Network works with University Alliance on professional doctorate research. Jennie Eldridge from University Alliance co-authored the UKCGE survey on Professional Doctorates in UK and Ireland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE): UK membership organisation focused on postgraduate research and graduate education. SRHE's Postgraduate Issues Network collaborates with UKCGE, and they share overlapping audiences in doctoral education leadership.
• Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI): UK higher education think tank producing policy analysis and commentary. Adjacent to SRHE in audience (HE leaders, researchers, policymakers) but operates as a policy think tank rather than research society.
• Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA): International society fostering adolescent development research through conferences and journal. Smaller and more narrowly focused than SRHE but follows the same learned society operating model for academic researchers.

Direct peers

• European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI): European learned society promoting research on learning and instruction across education. Comparable to SRHE in operating model, with membership, conferences, and journals serving an academic research community.
• British Educational Research Association (BERA): UK-based learned society supporting educational research through membership, journals, conferences, and research funding. Direct peer to SRHE with overlapping member base in UK education research community.
• Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE): US-based international society dedicated to advancing research on higher education, with annual conference, peer-reviewed journal, and awards programmes that closely parallel SRHE's offerings.
• American Educational Research Association (AERA): Large US learned society advancing education research through multiple journals, annual meeting, and research grants. Closest international equivalent to SRHE, serving similar researcher and scholar personas.

Broad incumbents

• Advance HE: UK-based larger membership organisation supporting teaching, leadership, and governance across higher education. Overlaps with SRHE on policy and professional development but operates at much greater scale and broader scope.
• International Association of Universities (IAU): UNESCO-affiliated global association of higher education institutions based in Paris. Operates at much greater international scale than SRHE and provides policy leadership in the global HE sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SRHE73
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-for-research-into-higher-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)