Submitting plans in 2024
We are taking a staggered approach to the submission of new access and participation plans. This is in response to feedback shared with us through our consultation on a new approach to regulating equality of opportunity, and to minimise burden for higher education providers.
In 2023, a small set of volunteer providers submitted new access and participation plans for 2024-25.
Remaining providers with an existing plan are expected to submit new plans in May 2024 for early recruiters and from July 2024 for standards recruiters, which would take effect from the 2025-26 academic year. Further details on submission timelines for standard recruiters will be shared with providers in January 2024.
We have notified a small number of providers where this expectation does not apply.
The OfS will share details of any additional provider support available in due course.
Student engagement
All providers are expected to engage with students in the development of their access and participation plan. Providers should demonstrate in their plan how students have had the opportunity to express their views about the content of the plan, and what steps were taken as a result.
Providers should review the information on student consultation in Regulatory advice 6 when developing their plan.
Students' unions and representatives can submit a student submission to comment on how they have been consulted with and involved in their provider's access and participation work. Providers are expected to support student representatives if they choose to produce a student submission. Guidance on student submissions and student consultation is available in Regulatory advice 6.
If you are a student or student representative interested in access and participation, please see our information for students on improving equality of opportunity.
The OfS will share details of any additional student support available in due course.
How to submit your plan
Use the OfS portal to submit the following:
- Your access and participation plan
- Fees, investment and targets document
- Annex A assessment of performance
- Annex B evidence base and rationale for intervention strategies.
Submissions via email will not be accepted.
Annexes A and B are exempt from the 30-page limit. Read more about how to submit data through the OfS portal.
Any questions regarding the portal or the submission process can be directed to [email protected].
