With the UK Government moving to a posture of 'war fighting readiness' amid intensifying global conflict, a new HEPI Policy Note warns higher education remains an untapped asset in national preparedness. "The Wartime University: The Role of Higher Education in Civil Readiness" by Gary Fisher argues UK universities must be recognised as central pillars of national security and resilience. The paper highlights how higher education institutions represent a 'composite capability' to enhance and sustain civil readiness, spanning defence, health, skills, logistics and democratic continuity, but warns this potential remains under-recognised and poorly integrated into emergency planning frameworks. Drawing on historical precedents, the current example of Ukraine and existing UK sector capacity, the report shows that universities are not only vulnerable in times of crisis but also indispensable. From supplying military officers and advancing defence research, to hosting community aid centres and strengthening democratic resilience, higher education institutions already operate across domains critical to national preparedness -- and the new Policy Note covers a range of existing examples. Without clearer policy design however, the diffuse capacity across the UK higher education sector risks remaining fragmented and under-leveraged.