Provider guide to coronavirus

Time-limited condition of registration

This condition no longer applies from 30 September 2021.

Following a consultation on proposed measures to protect the integrity and stability of the higher education sector in England, we introduced a time-limited condition, Z3.

The condition allowed us to take action against higher education providers that used offer-making practices which would not be in the interests of students and the wider higher education sector in these exceptional circumstances.

What activities did the condition cover?

The condition prohibited:

the use of ‘conditional unconditional’ offers, where an offer is only unconditional if the applicant makes that university or college their firm choice
a university or college making false or misleading statements about other higher education providers in order to discourage prospective or current students from accepting offers or registering with them.

Other unconditional offers to UK students that could materially affect the stability and integrity of the English Higher education sector could also have been found to breach the condition.

To provide clarity to providers and students, the condition also set out conduct that was permitted under the condition.

Read the condition Read our analysis of the responses to the consultation and equality impact assessment

Published 04 May 2020
Last updated 30 September 2021 + show all updates

30 September 2021: Note added that the condition is no longer in effect from 30 September 2021.
23 August 2021: Clarification that the OfS currently has no plans to consult on extending the application of condition Z3.
01 October 2020: FAQs reviewed and updated to reflect current situation
17 August 2020: Question on whether universities and colleges can accept students who have not met the conditions of a conditional offer added
03 July 2020: Details of the new condition have been added after the analysis of responses to the consultation.
22 June 2020: Added link to the DfE’s guidance for higher education providers in England on temporary student number controls
18 June 2020: Minor amend to the answer to 'When would the condition consulted on come into force?'
27 May 2020: Consultation closed
19 May 2020: New FAQs added

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Provider guide to coronavirus

Time-limited condition of registration

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