This book addresses policy-making and policy implementation in higher education from a theoretical perspective informed by policy sociology. Using case studies and data drawn from a number of countries its chapters show how and why policy-making is a more complex process than is often assumed. They also explore why the outcomes of higher education policy are sometimes very different from those originally envisaged by policy makers. After an introductory overview which contextualizes this work in recent academic thinking about higher education policy and change. Three chapters report the outcomes of large scale funded research projects which focus on the national and institutional levels of the policy process. Three further chapters report ‘close up’ research work by individual academics examining processes internal to higher education institutions. This book will be of interest to policy makers, institutional and departmental leaders and anyone with an interest in change processes in higher education.