Our relationship with government
Guidance from government
This page lists documents which cover details of strategic advice and priorities from the government to the Office for Students.
Current guidance
Historical guidance
2022
2021
- The future of access and participation (November 2021) PDF 191Kb
- Additional places for medical and dentistry schools (August 2021) PDF 93Kb
- Additional funding for Strategic Priorities Grant for 2021-22 (August 2021) PDF 106Kb
- Notification to the OfS by the Secretary of State for Education to set terms and conditions for the allocation by the OfS of strategic priorities: grant funding for the 2021-22 academic year (July 2021) PDF 187Kb
- 2021-22 medical and dental intake target incorporating deferrals from 2020-21 (May 2021) PDF 134Kb
- Guidance to the OfS: distribution of hardship funding (April 2021) PDF 97Kb
- Notification to the OfS by the Secretary of State for Education to set terms and conditions for the allocation by OfS of funding for world-leading specialist providers in the 2021-22 academic year (March 2021) PDF 195Kb
- Guidance to the OfS: Secretary of State's strategic priorities (February 2021) PDF 302Kb
- Strategic guidance to the OfS: Distribution of further hardship funding (February 2021) PDF 99Kb
- Guidance to the OfS: Allocation of higher education teaching grant funding in the 2021-22 financial year (January 2021) PDF 541Kb
2020
- Guidance to the OfS: Additional hardship funding (December 2020) PDF 99Kb
- Additional teaching grant and funding/reducing the bureaucratic burden on providers (September 2020) PDF 139Kb
- Funds for the University of Bolton (February 2020) PDF 23Kb
- Teaching Grant Budget for 2020-21 Financial Year (January 2020) PDF 75Kb
2019
Last updated 06 July 2026 + show all updates
06 July 2026 - We published letters from the Secretary of State for Education on the allocation of Strategic Priorities Grant funding for 2026-27.
10 March 2026 - Published guidance letter to the Office for Students on the expansion of dental school places.
12 February 2026 - Published guidance letter to the Office for Students on funding for defence skills programmes.
19 June 2025 - We published letter giving statutory guidance to the OfS on freedom of speech commencement; OfS letter in response to statutory guidance from the Secretary of State.
19 May 2025 - We published letters from the Secretary of State for Education on the allocation of Strategic Priorities Grant funding for 2025-26.
04 April 2024 - We published a letter from the Secretary of State for Education on the allocation of Strategic Priorities Grant funding for 2024-25.
26 January 2024 - We have published guidance from government on the use of £10 million from the Higher Education Strategic Priorities Grant.
15 December 2023 - The OfS guidance letter for 2025 medical places expansion has been added to the page.
03 October 2023 - We have published the guidance letter on the expansion of medical places for 2024.
30 March 2023 - Letter published: Guidance to the OfS on the higher education Strategic Priorities Grant for the 2023-24 financial year
26 January 2023 - Letter published: Guidance to the OfS on the use of £15 million from the Higher Education Strategic Priorities Grant for the 2022-23 financial year
25 May 2022 - Letter published: Guidance to the OfS on supporting further education providers to increase delivery of Level 4 and 5 courses over the next three years
31 March 2022 - Added guidance to the OfS on strategic priorities for FY22-23 (March 2022).
24 November 2021 - Letter from the Department for Education added setting out details for the future of access and participation.
10 August 2021 - Letter added from the universities minister about additional places for medical and dentistry schools.
09 August 2021 - Letter added from Universities Minister about additional funding for 2021-22.
20 July 2021 - Updated to include the notification by the Secretary of State for Education to set terms and conditions for the allocation by OfS of Strategic Priorities Grant funding for the 2021-22 Academic Year.
21 May 2021 - Letter added on 2021-22 medical and dental intake target incorporating deferrals from 2020-21.
28 April 2021 - Guidance letter about the allocation of hardship funding published.
26 March 2021 - Latest letter from the Secretary of State added to set terms and conditions for the allocation by OfS of funding for world-leading specialist providers in the 2021-22 academic year.
09 February 2021 - Guidance letter from the Secretary of State added about the strategic priorities for the OfS.
15 September 2020 - Strategic guidance - letter published
13 March 2020 - Letter regarding funds for the University of Bolton published
09 January 2020 - Teaching grant budget for 2020-21 financial year - letter published
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