Key performance measure 8

KPM 8A shows the time taken to resolve a registration assessment. This is an application by an institution to register with the OfS. The assessment process begins when we receive a registration request from an institution and ends when we send the assessment outcome to the institution.

The table shows that we currently expect to resolve a registration assessment in up to 550 days, with an average completion time of 199 days. This is a decrease compared to the previous period, when the expected resolution limit was 1,387 days and the average completion time was 519 days.

KPM 8B shows the time taken to resolve an access and participation plan (APP) assessment since 1 April 2023. This involves a review of an APP against our published guidance and relevant legislation. The assessment process begins when we receive an APP from an institution and ends when we send the institution a final decision.

Some APP approvals may take longer if they are submitted as part of a registration or change of fee limit process, as the provider would not receive a decision until all aspects of the process are complete.

The table shows that we currently expect to resolve an APP assessment in up to 192 days, with an average of 144 days. Since 1 April 2023, the average time to resolve a case has increased but the expected time to resolve the longest cases has fallen. The data varies in a cyclical way as we assess APPs in waves.

KPM 8C shows the time taken to resolve requests for variations to access and participation plans (APP), which includes any change to an institution’s APP requested by the provider. APP variations are usually subject to the same assessment process as a new APP.

The assessment process begins when we receive a variation request from an institution and ends when we send the institution a final decision.

The table shows that the time to complete a variation has significantly reduced since April 2023. We currently expect to resolve an APP variation in up to 55 days, with an average of 30 days.

The decrease in end-to-end times partly reflects changes in the complexity of variation requests, with fewer of the variation requests completed since April 2023 being complex.

This data relates to the part of the DAPs process where we assess the applications against the criteria set out in the regulatory framework for New DAPs, Full DAPs and variations.

We have completed five assessments which were started between April (when reporting begins) and December 2023. Two of these were completed within the expected timeframe and three took more than two weeks longer to complete than the expected timeframe.

We have completed 20 assessments which were started in 2024. Nine of these were completed within the expected timeframe. Two were completed within two weeks of the expected timeframe and nine took more than two weeks longer to complete than the expected timeframe.

Fewer DAPs assessments were started overall in 2025 because we were not accepting new applications and paused work on recent applications between December 2024 and August 2025. So far, we have completed one assessment that was started in 2025, which took more than two weeks longer than the expected timeframe to complete. More information on timelines for DAPs applications is available on our degree awarding powers webpage.

‘We will mobilise the diversity, talents and commitment of OfS staff to deliver efficient, effective and impactful regulation, ensuring value for the taxpayers and institutions that fund our work.’ (The OfS strategy 2025 to 2030)

It is important that we complete key processes in a timely way. By doing so, we aim to support a predictable regulatory environment and reduce the burden on the providers affected by these processes.

This KPM reports the time it takes for us to complete four core processes:

1. Resolving registration assessments.
2. Resolving access and participation plan (APP) assessments.
3. Resolving APP variation requests.
4. Completing assessments for degree awarding powers (DAPs).

These are processes that we complete often and which are core to our responsibilities as a regulator.

For processes A, B and C, we measure timeliness using the expected resolution limit, calculated as the upper control limit (three standard deviations above the mean) of the time taken to resolve a case. This represents the longest time within which we would normally expect to resolve a case. We also report the average (mean) time it takes us to resolve a case.

We have divided our period of interest into different sections using control charts. A new period begins when there is evidence that cases are being resolved predictably faster or slower than before.

To avoid producing misleading results, we have excluded recent data. As the data is organised by when cases begin, recent data only includes those cases that are resolved quickly. This can give the impression that processes are getting faster over time when this may not be the case.

Rather than using control charts, process D divides DAPs assessments into three categories depending on timeliness. This is because there are not yet enough DAPs cases to permit effective use of control charts.

The expected timeframes are calculated based on the type of DAPs assessment undertaken and the indicative timeframes set out in Regulatory advice 12 and Regulatory advice 17.

Across all four processes, data for previous years may change as outstanding cases are resolved and included in the data. The closure of cases since the previous publication of this data in February 2026 has improved our understanding of expected resolution timelines since April 2023.

For New DAPs and Full DAPs, further information is set out in Annex D: Operational guidance for providers on DAPs assessment by the OfS (appendices G and H) of Regulatory advice 12: How to apply for degree awarding powers.

For variations, further information is set out in Annex B: Variation and revocation of degree awarding powers in England (appendix A) of Regulatory advice 17: Variation and revocation of degree awarding powers.

Download the data for KPM 8