This article provides a critical discussion of the neoliberal reforms of higher education focusing on new managerialism and New Public Management. It also distinguishes between democratic and market accountability regimes, examining how the former arise from classical liberalism and the latter from neoliberalism. The article then examines "neoliberal technologies of government" by reference to Foucault and analyzes "neoliberal governmentality", providing an account of contractualism, professionalism and quality assurance, before comparing various forms of research and performance audit and research quality within "the culture of performance". (Contains 8 notes.)