Data collection

Transparency return

Transparency 2021 information

For the 2020-21 academic year, the OfS will draw on HESA and ILR student data to produce a reduced set of transparency information (the Transparency 2021 information) which providers will be required to publish on their website in June 2021. This is due to the continued disruption caused by coronavirus and our intention to review the approach to the transparency information for the longer term.

For details of the specification of the Transparency 2021 information, how providers can access their Transparency 2021 information, and requirements and guidance on publishing the information, please see Condition F1 - Transparency 2021 information: Specification and publication guidance.

The remaining content of this page below is provided for reference only and relates to the Transparency return 2020 which was suspended due to coronavirus as set out in the F1 Notice issued on 19 February 2020.

See more information about regulatory requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The information and data collection tool below are for reference only.

Data collection tool

The OfS, working with UCAS, has developed a data collection tool for providers for recording applications, which is available to download below.

The tool allows you to copy your UCAS data into it and record your direct applications, so that the two sets of data are consistent. It then uses this data to compile the aggregate data that you are required to submit.

Use of the data collection tool is not mandatory. You can use your own systems, as long as the way in which you record the application data enables you to provide aggregated data in the format required by the OfS for submission.

Data collection tool

XLSX, 9290Kb

Tool to aggregate data for the Transparency return 2020

Frequently asked questions

Below are a selection of common queries relating to the completion of the Transparency return. They are for reference only.

How should applications for deferred courses be recorded?

Applications should be included for the year in which the student starts the course. For example, the Transparency return 2020 collects information for study starting in the 2019-20 (in-year) (1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020) and the 2018-19 academic year (1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019).

How should changes in characteristics between application and registration be recorded?

If a characteristic at time of application is known, it should be used for the 'Applications, offers, acceptances and registrations' table.

If an applicant characteristic associated with an application is not known at time of application, but data is later collected (at time of registration, for example), the unknown characteristic should be replaced with the known value for all stages across the 'Applications, offers, acceptances and registrations' table.

For more information see Section 2 of Guidance for providers on submitting the Transparency return 2020

Attainment and completion data will be based on the characteristics as reported in HESA and ILR data.

Do postgraduate-only providers need to complete the Transparency return 2020?

If you are a postgraduate-only provider, then you will need to complete a nil return to confirm that you had no relevant applications. This nil return will need to be signed off by your accountable officer.

You are not required to publish any data relating to the transparency information on your website.

Which version of the English IMD should be used in the Transparency return 2020?

For 2019-20 in-year applications, offers, acceptances and registrations data, the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019 should be used.

For 2018-19 full-year year applications, offers, acceptances and registrations data, the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2015 should be used.

For more information see Section 2 of Guidance for providers on submitting the Transparency return 2020

What is the difference between the IMD ‘N/A’ and ‘Unknown’ categories?

The ‘N/A’ category should be used for students domiciled in the UK but outside England.

The ‘Unknown’ category should be used where the student's postcode is not known, or where the student's postcode is known and is in England, but the IMD lookup is not available (most likely because the postcode is new).

Contact

If you have any general queries relating to the transparency data collection, email [email protected].

If you have any technical queries relating to the transparency data collection, email [email protected].

Last updated 29 April 2021 + show all updates

29 April 2021: Transparency 2021 information added
26 March 2020: The requirement to submit transparency returns in April 2020 is suspended

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