Changes to our approach

We are developing our approach to the regulation of quality and standards.

We have been consulting in phases on how we should set minimum requirements for quality and standards and take action when these are not satisfied. This includes how we would set higher, more challenging, minimum baselines for student outcomes.

We are taking forward these consultations because we think it is necessary to:

Strengthen our approach to ensure that all students, whatever their background or where and how they study, are protected from low quality courses or qualifications that do not meet sector-recognised standards.
Ensure that students, from the UK and beyond, as well as the wider public and the taxpayers who subsidise their education, can have confidence in the quality of the courses offered by English higher education providers and that they represent value for money.
Provide clarity for providers, students and other stakeholders about a provider’s obligations for the quality and standards of all of the courses it is involved in delivering.
Improve transparency of the indicators used to regulate student outcomes.
Ensure that our approach to monitoring is risk-based and that there is an appropriate balance between the regulatory burden that our regulatory activity places on providers and our ability to regulate effectively in the interests of students.

Phase one: strengthening our approach

In November 2020, we launched a consultation which set out our initial proposals for developing our approach to quality and standards.

This initial consultation sought views on the principles and definitions that would underpin our approach to regulating quality and standards.

That consultation has concluded. You can:

Read the phase one consultation
Read the analysis of responses to our phase one consultation
Read a summary about the phase one consultation

Phase two: high quality courses and reliable standards

In July 2021, we launched the second phase of our consultation. This builds on the first, and proposes a set of revised conditions of registration relating to quality and standards. This includes academic experience, resources, support and student engagement, and assessment and awards.

The proposed conditions and supporting guidance aim to more clearly express our minimum requirements for quality and standards for all students, both for providers registering with the OfS for the first time and for providers that are already on our Register.

This consultation is open from 20 July 2021 to 27 September 2021.

Read and respond to the phase two consultation
Read more about the phase two proposals

Phase three: student outcomes and the TEF

A later phase of consultation will focus on our proposals for regulating student outcomes (condition B3 of the current quality and standards conditions) and the numerical baselines we may set and against which providers’ performance would be assessed. This aspect of the initial consultation received a significant number of responses.

At the same time, we will also be consulting on the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF).

This will include proposals for how the TEF and our regulation of baseline quality through conditions of registration will align.

This consultation will open in autumn 2021.

Read the first analysis of responses to our phase one consultation
Read more about the TEF
Read the statement on the development of the TEF proposals

Published 17 November 2020
Last updated 20 July 2021 + show all updates

20 July 2021: Changes to reflect the launch of the consultation on quality and standards conditions.
26 January 2021: Copy updated to reflect consultation being closed
15 January 2021: Consultation deadline extended

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Changes to our approach

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