The regulatory framework for higher education in England

Regulatory notices

We publish 'regulatory notices' that provide additional information about our regulatory requirements. These form part of the regulatory framework and registered providers must treat them as formal requirements. 

These are: 

• Regulatory notice 1: Guidance on access and participation plans
• Regulatory notice 2: Regulation up to 31 July 2019 of providers that were previously funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England
• Regulatory notice 3: Regulation up to 31 July 2019 of providers currently designated for student support by the Secretary of State
• Regulatory notice 4: Regulation of newly registered providers up to 31 July 2019
• Regulatory notice 5: Condition Z3 Temporary provisions for sector stability and integrity (in effect from 3 July 2020 to 30 September 2021)
• Regulatory notice 6: Condition C4 Student protection directions

Regulatory advice

We also publish 'regulatory advice' to help providers understand and meet our requirements. These do not form part of the regulatory framework. 

These are:

• Regulatory advice 1: The OfS approach to regulation
• Regulatory advice 2: Registration of current providers for 2019-20
  Please note: new providers should refer to Regulatory advice 3
• Regulatory advice 3: Registration of English higher education providers with the OfS
• Regulatory advice 4: Transition arrangements for degree awarding powers and university title
• Regulatory advice 5: Exempt charities
• Regulatory advice 6: How to prepare your access and participation plan - effective practice advice
• Regulatory advice 7: Advice on preparing your 2019-20 access and participation statement
• Regulatory advice 8: Guidance for providers about condition of registration F1: transparency information
• Regulatory advice 9: Accounts direction. Guidance on preparing and publishing financial statements - for accounting periods beginning before 1 August 2019
• Regulatory advice 9: Accounts direction Guidance on preparing and publishing financial statements - for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 August 2019
• Regulatory advice 10: Accountable officers. Guidance for providers on the responsibilities of accountable officers
• Regulatory advice 11: Guidance for providers about facilitating electoral registration
• Regulatory advice 12: How to apply for degree awarding powers
• Regulatory advice 13: How to apply for university college and university title
• Regulatory advice 14: Guidance for the Annual Financial Return
• Regulatory advice 15: Guidance on monitoring and intervention
• Regulatory advice 16: Reportable events
• Regulatory advice 17: Variation and revocation of degree awarding powers
• Regulatory advice 18: Notifications about providers from third parties
• Regulatory advice 19: The OfS’s approach to determining the amount of a monetary penalty
• Regulatory advice 20: Regulating student outcomes
• Regulatory advice 21: Publication of information
• Regulatory advice 22: Guidance on the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
• Regulatory advice 23: Arrangements for initial condition B7 quality assessment visits

Terms and conditions

We also publish terms and conditions related to the funding that providers receive from us. These do not form part of the regulatory framework. 

The latest are: 

• Terms and conditions of funding for 2023-24