During a meeting of the board chairman Prof Malcolm Grant publicly backed Sir David.

BBC: Scandal hit Mid Staffs 'faces being dissolved'

Malcolm Grant, provost of University College, says that around 35% of its 25, 000 students are foreign, compared with around 23% ten years ago.

ECONOMIST: Move over, Brits

Prof Malcolm Grant, provost of UCL, said the ranking would help confirm London's position as a global leader in something other than banking.

BBC: 'Research key' to universities leading global rankings

The provost of University College, London, Malcolm Grant, said better-off students who did not need public loans would be able simply to bypass the funding system - so they would get a free university education and universities would get no financial benefit from their participation.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Universities ponder Tory fee plan