Official statistics

National Student Survey: data by provider type

Results for English providers by OfS typology

This page contains a visualisation of the positivity measure for each of the themes in the National Student Survey (NSS) for English providers grouped by OfS finance typology and student typology.

The visualisation shows the positivity measures across a three-year timeseries from NSS 2023 to NSS 2025, the results can be filtered by NSS theme.

Provider typologies

The methodology and data sources used to assign providers to the typology groups are set out in our report published in November 2022. Providers that have registered with the OfS since the 2022 report have been assigned to a group using a similar methodology.

The finance typology provider groups are based on the amount and type of income received by providers, as well as the level and subject areas predominantly studied by their students. The factors used in this typology are:

  • Proportion of higher education student FTE at Level 4 or 5.
  • Specialist indicators (i.e. the proportion of provision across one or two subject areas).
  • Qualifying income (QI) – (i.e. public grant funding from the OfS, any fee income from taught awards (exclusive of VAT) and any fee income from research awards (exclusive of VAT)).
  • Proportion of total income from QI.
Table: Description of the finance typology provider group naming conventions used in the visualisation
Name for provider group

Description Count of providers 2025
Larger teaching intensive

QI over £200 million and over 70% of income 14
Larger research intensive

QI over £200 million and less than 70% of income 21
Medium

QI £100 million to £200 million 43
Smaller

QI less than £100m or unknown 56
Level 4/5

Majority Level 4 and 5 132
Specialist: creative

Specialist: creative 38
Specialist: other

Specialist: other 41

The student typology provider groups are based on the student population and study characteristics at each provider. The factors used in defining this typology are:

  • Proportion of higher education student FTE at Level 4 or 5.
  • Proportion of higher education student FTE at undergraduate level.
  • Specialist indicators.
  • Average tariff points for young entrants to the provider.
Table: Description of the student typology provider group naming conventions used in the visualisation

Name for provider group

Description

Count of providers 2025

High tariff

High tariff

23

Medium tariff

Medium tariff

39

Low or unknown tariff

Low or unknown tariff

72

Small Level 4/5

Over 50% FTE at Level 4/5, FTE less than 300

53

Large Level 4/5

Over 50% FTE at Level 4/5, FTE more than 300

79

Specialist: creative

75% or more FTE in one subject area or 90% or more FTE in two, main subjects in creative arts

38

Specialist: other

75% or more FTE in one subject area or 90% or more FTE in two

40


Read the 2022 OfS provider typologies report
Published 09 July 2025

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