Where do university heads escape in August after a gruelling year dealing with striking academics, litigious students and the latest government directives? Vice-chancellors are just as likely to take a UK break as they are to visit exotic destinations across the globe, a straw poll by The Times Higher reveals.

Steve Smith, Exeter University's v-c, is in Singapore (following a conference), while Bristol University's Eric Thomas has just returned from a tour of New England in the US (taking in Boston, Cape Cod, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine).

Paul Wellings, v-c of Lancaster University, travelled to Australia this year, while Manchester University's Alan Gilbert enjoyed a break in Kenya.

Les Ebdon, v-c of Bedfordshire University, took time off in Mexico, while Malcolm McVicar, Central Lancashire University's head, visited Greece.

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But Mike Thorne, v-c of East London University, and Westminster University's Geoffrey Copland opted for cooler climes, both holidaying (separately) in Scotland this year. Kel Fidler, Northumbria University's v-c, went to Jersey.

Salford University's v-c Michael Harloe and Howard Newby of the University of the West of England both opted for the English countryside, visiting the Lake District and Derbyshire respectively.

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Nigel Thrift, meanwhile, clearly has a lot on his plate as the new head of Warwick University. He is spending his all of his summer in the university's vice-chancellor lodge.