<sod >While schools have made headlines for their financial struggles, top UK universities have been slipping down the ranks of recent global league tables â an issue experts have blamed on cuts to funding within higher education.< eod>< sod > Funding for universities and further education remains unclear While schools have made headlines for their financial struggles, top UK universities have been slipping down the ranks of recent global league tables â an issue experts have blamed on cuts to funding within higher education.< eod>