Contents
Requirements for data returns
This page is intended to provide a summary overview and reminder of upcoming deadlines. More detailed information and requirements for data returns can be found in:
- Deadlines and requirements for 2025-26 data returns, published 10 July 2025
- Deadlines and requirements for Annual Financial Return 2025, published 12 June 2025
We do not routinely offer extensions to deadlines for data returns, but we will consider granting one in exceptional circumstances if you follow our procedure for requesting a data return extension.
Deadlines which vary by provider
| Deadline | Submission | Approved providers | Approved (fee cap) providers |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Within five months of a provider’s financial year end |
Annual Financial Return Registered providers (except further education and sixth form colleges) need to submit financial data. We use this to monitor the financial viability and sustainability of providers. |
✔ | ✔ |
|
Aligned with DfE requirements |
Individual Learner Record (ILR) data return (2024-25) Registered further education and sixth form colleges need to submit details of individual students and the courses they are studying. The data underpins our regulatory approach, including metrics used to monitor student outcomes (condition B3). |
✔ | ✔ |
2025 deadlines
| Deadline | Submission | Approved providers | Approved (fee cap) providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July |
Regional access partnerships: call for evidence We’re seeking views on how best to create new partnerships to address local risks to equality of opportunity. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 30 July |
Capital funding for financial year 2025-26 Deadline for receipt of competitive bids for capital funding. |
|
✔ |
| 31 July |
Access and participation plans (standard recruiters) Providers that wish to charge above the basic tuition fee limit and do not currently have a plan approved for the 2026-27 academic year need to submit a new plan in 2025. |
|
✔ |
| 4 August |
Payment of annual OfS registration fees 2025-26 Registered providers must submit their fees on or before 4 August. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 22 August |
Discover Uni record Providers should submit information about courses that they offer. This helps prospective students to make decisions about what and where to study. Find out more about submitting data for the Discover Uni record |
✔ |
✔ |
| 5 November |
Student record Providers must submit details of individual students and the courses they are studying. The data collected underpins our regulatory approach. |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
| 10 November |
Medical and Dental Students survey All providers with eligible medicine or dentistry courses will need to submit data relating to the intake of medical and dental students. A nil return is not required from other providers. We use the data to monitor medical and dental recruitment and to inform funding allocations. We will publish guidance on submission requirements in the autumn. |
|
✔ |
| 12 November |
Annual fee information Providers should submit information on the maximum fees that they wish to charge ‘qualifying persons’ in connection with each ‘qualifying course’ provided in 2026-27. The data is used to fulfil the duty in section 11 of the Higher Education and Research Act. We will publish guidance on submission requirements in the autumn. |
|
✔ |
| 14 November |
Graduate Outcomes survey – Cohort A Providers that have completed the Student record must submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by the designated data body. The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 18 November |
Staff record Providers must submit demographic and contract information for academic staff and governors. The data is used by the OfS, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Education, to understand the makeup of the academic and research workforce. |
|
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
| 25 November |
Aggregate offshore record Providers must submit information about the number of students studying overseas who are either registered or studying towards their awards. We use this data to understand the nature and extent of providers’ offshore activity and for general monitoring purposes. Find out more about submitting the aggregated offshore record |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
| 28 November |
National Student Survey (NSS) 2026 Providers will need to: a. Populate their NSS 2026 sample templates with contact details for all students on their target list. b. Review and/or update their NSS provider contact details. c. Submit their ‘My survey options’ form. Providers that are new to the NSS will also be issued additional advice and guidance by the contractor to help them complete their NSS actions. The NSS is used to improve the student experience and inform student choice. It is a key component of the quality and regulatory landscape in UK higher education and is used to support public accountability. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 1 December |
Prevent accountability and data return If providers have received both a detailed assessment outcome and Prevent review meeting outcome by 1 August 2025, they must submit a set of declarations confirming that they have continued to show due regard to the Prevent duty. They must also submit data on key areas of the Prevent duty: welfare, events and external speakers, and training. This data is used to provide assurance that providers continue to demonstrate due regard to the Prevent duty. |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
| 12 December |
Graduate Outcomes survey – Cohort A Colleges should submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by the designated data body. We will source initial contact details from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) - which colleges will need to check. The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice. |
✔ For further education and sixth form colleges |
✔ For further education and sixth form colleges |
2026 deadlines
| Deadline | Submission | Approved providers | Approved (fee cap) providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 January |
Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) 2024-25 Providers that were required to submit a TRAC return for 2023-24 will need to submit a TRAC return that has been reviewed and approved as set out in the TRAC guidance. The data is used to understand the application of costs across activity, including cross subsidies in higher education. It is also used by UKRI and other public funders for funding purposes. |
|
✔ |
| 30 January |
Higher Education Students Early Statistics survey 2025-26 (HESES25) Providers will need to submit data on the number of higher education students studying in the 2025-26 academic year. This is used to inform funding allocations. We will publish guidance on submission requirements in the autumn. |
|
✔ |
| 13 February |
Graduate Outcomes survey – Cohort B Submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by the designated data body. The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 14 April |
Annual capital funding monitoring 2025-26 All providers in receipt of OfS project capital funding and/or formula capital allocation in 2025-26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) will need to complete a monitoring return. This is used to provide assurance that funding has been spent in line with terms and conditions, and to evidence the impact of capital grants at individual providers. We will publish further information in spring 2026. The format will be similar to previous years. |
|
✔ |
| 15 May |
Graduate Outcomes survey – Cohort C Providers must submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by the designated data body. The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice. |
✔ |
✔ |
| 24 June |
Provider profile (2025-26) Providers must submit information about the location of their campuses and their internal organisation. This allows us to understand the geographic distribution of higher education. |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
✔ Excludes further education and sixth form colleges |
| 14 August |
Graduate Outcomes survey – Cohort D Providers must submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by the designated data body. The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice. |
✔ |
✔ |
Stay informed
See our monthly roundup of news, blog posts, publications and webpage updates published on our site.
10 July 2025 - Data return deadlines added for 2025 and 2026.
21 February 2025 - The consultation on OfS strategy for 2025 to 2030 has now closed.
06 February 2025 - We added a deadline for our consultation on reforms to OfS registration requirements.
12 December 2024 - We have added our consultation on OfS strategy for 2025 to 2030 to the list of deadlines.
06 September 2024 - Added Equality in Higher Education Innovation Fund.
18 July 2024 - Added deadlines and requirements for 2024-25 data returns.
28 May 2024 - Graduate Outcomes Survey (2022-23): Cohort C deadline passed. Call for evidence: Approach to OfS public grant funding deadline passed. Proposed new name for City, University of London deadline passed. Consultation on proposed regulatory advice and other matters relating to freedom of speech deadline passed.
24 May 2024 - Added link to letter 'Deadlines and requirements for Annual Financial Return 2024'.
30 April 2024 - Consultation on NSS theme measures added.
25 April 2024 - We have added the deadline for our consultation on a proposed new name for City, University of London
26 March 2024 - We have published our consultation on proposed regulatory advice and other matters relating to freedom of speech.
21 March 2024 - We have added the deadline for our consultation on a proposed new name for the University of Bolton.
18 March 2024 - The consultation on the OfS’s approach to regulating students’ unions on free speech matters has closed.
13 November 2023 - Further details of extensions for registered providers required to submit the 2022-23 Student (Data Futures) record: 2022-23 Student (Data Futures) return; Graduate Outcomes Cohort A contact details; the 2024 NSS contact details return; and the HESES return.
12 October 2023 - Deadlines extended for: 2022-23 Student (Data Futures) return; Graduate Outcomes collection; and National Student Survey collection.
06 October 2023 - Added links to recently published guidance.
29 August 2023 - We have updated the deadline for the 2022-23 Student Return from 20 October 2023 to 3 November 2023.
27 July 2023 - Deadline added for the consultation on the inclusion of higher technical qualifications in Office for Students’ student outcome measures.
27 April 2023 - Link added to letter on AFR23; Deadline added for submission of Unistats 2023 valid dataset.
29 March 2023 - Deadline for the consultation on the approach to publication of results of the National Student Survey added
09 March 2023 - Deadline added for the consultation on payment of fees for investigations.
28 November 2022 - Deadline added for the risks to equality of opportunity call for evidence
23 November 2022 - Added the deadline for the artificial intelligence and data science postgraduate conversion course scholarship funding competition
10 November 2022 - The deadlines have passed for the consultations on regulating equality of opportunity and a proposed new name for Newman University.
06 September 2022 - Consultation on changes to the National Student Survey and consultation on specialist provider funding method deadlines have passed.
05 August 2022 - Refreshed page with 2022-23 data deadlines.
18 July 2022 - Deadline has passed to apply to join the TEF panel - opportunity removed
14 July 2022 - Deadline added for the consultation on specialist provider funding method
28 June 2022 - The consultation on the suitability of Jisc as the designated data body has now closed
27 June 2022 - Deadlines to respond to the call for evidence on international students and to apply to be a quality assessor have passed
20 June 2022 - Deadline to apply to join the OfS student panel has passed.
31 May 2022 - Deadlines added for opportunities to get involved in our work: to join the OfS student panel, to join the TEF panel or to be a quality assessor
17 May 2022 - The deadline for the call for evidence: Working in partnership to improve international student integration and experience has been extended to 24 June
12 May 2022 - Deadline added for the supplementary consultation on the publication of information about higher education providers.
28 April 2022 - A new deadline for the 23 May has been added, and updates have been made to the list of forthcoming publications.
16 March 2022 - Deadline added for our call for evidence: Working in partnership to improve international student integration and experience
23 February 2022 - Updates made to upcoming publications listing.
10 February 2022 - Deadline added for submission of monitoring return of capital funding allocated in the financial year 2021-22.
04 February 2022 - The planned release of the consultation outcome on the publication of information about individual providers has moved to spring/summer.
31 January 2022 - Removed entry for 8 April 2022 for '2020-21 access and participation plan monitoring: monitoring return provider submission' as this is no longer required.
24 January 2022 - Deadline for nominations for membership of specialist provider panel extended by two weeks from 21 January to 4 February 2022.
20 January 2022 - Deadlines added for our three consultations on student outcomes and teaching excellence
06 January 2022 - The consultation on the OfS strategy for 2022-25 has now closed.
14 December 2021 - Past 2021 deadlines removed
25 November 2021 - Updated to reflect the release of publications in November and the delay of other publications to the Spring/Summer.
20 October 2021 - Consultation on an approach to world-leading specialist provider funding deadline added and degree classifications moved
14 October 2021 - Discover Uni widget deadline added
04 October 2021 - September deadlines removed.
28 September 2021 - The deadline for the consultation on quality and standards conditions has passed.
27 September 2021 - Updates to the list of upcoming publications.
17 September 2021 - Medical and Dental Students survey 2021 and HESES21 deadlines added
20 July 2021 - Deadlines added for data returns for academic year 2021-22
12 July 2021 - Senior staff remuneration publication moved to autumn 2021
08 July 2021 - Annual fee information return deadline added.
06 July 2021 - Uni Connect annual report for 2019-20 added to upcoming publications for July.
25 June 2021 - Past June deadline removed
23 June 2021 - The release date for the two June consultation outcome documents has moved to July and the annual review has been moved to release in winter 2021.
10 June 2021 - New section added on upcoming publications.
03 June 2021 - Update to annual financial return deadline
02 June 2021 - May deadlines removed
27 May 2021 - Graduate Outcomes contact details (Cohort C) deadline passed and removed
07 May 2021 - Consultation on recurrent funding deadline passed and removed
26 April 2021 - Consultation on distribution of capital funding deadline passed and removed
01 April 2021 - March deadlines removed
31 March 2021 - Update to include the provider profile deadline.
26 March 2021 - Capital and recurrent funding consultations deadlines added
15 March 2021 - Deadline removed for consultation on publishing information about providers
08 March 2021 - Deadline removed for consultation on monetary penalties
01 March 2021 - Deadline removed for consultation on reportable events
25 February 2021 - Details of monitoring of capital funding allocations for 2019-20 and 2020-21 updated
17 February 2021 - Deadlines extended for the consultations on reportable events, monetary penalties, and publication of information.
03 February 2021 - Annual TRAC return and Higher Education Early Statistics survey 2020-21 (HESES20) data sign off deadlines removed
26 January 2021 - Deadline for teaching capital funding monitoring 2019-20 moved to Other and deadline for consultation on quality and standards removed
21 January 2021 - Deadline removed for the Uni Connect consultation.
19 January 2021 - Deadline to be confirmed for teaching capital funding monitoring 2019-20
15 January 2021 - Consultation on regulating quality and standards in higher education deadline updated
15 January 2021 - Deadline extended for funding competition to improve access and participation for black, Asian and minority ethnic students in postgraduate research
05 January 2021 - Deadline updated for the consultation on quality and standards.
18 December 2020 - Several deadlines added for the return of data in 2021.
15 December 2020 - Deadlines added for the consultations on reportable events, monetary penalties, publication of information about higher education providers and Uni Connect.
10 December 2020 - Deadline added for the Uni Connect consultation
17 November 2020 - Details added for the consultation on regulating quality and standards in higher education
03 November 2020 - Deadlines added for the consultation and bidding process for additional funding for 2020-21 and monitoring of medical and dental intake targets
27 October 2020 - Deadline for teaching capital funding monitoring 2019-20 confirmed
26 October 2020 - Deadline for providers participating in the National Student Survey 2021 added
22 October 2020 - Deadline added for bids for funding competition to improve access and participation for black, Asian and minority ethnic students in postgraduate research
16 October 2020 - Deadline added for Prevent accountability and data returns 2020
15 October 2020 - Removed digital teaching and learning review call for evidence deadline, as the deadline has now passed
09 October 2020 - HESES20 survey submission deadlines published
02 October 2020 - Deadline added for the mental health funding competition
14 September 2020 - Deadline removed for consultation on student protection directions - now closed
03 September 2020 - Digital teaching and learning call for evidence deadline added
24 August 2020 - Removed a deadline that had passed
19 August 2020 - Removed a deadline that had passed
30 July 2020 - Deadlines updated following a letter to accountable officers
17 July 2020 - Deadline to respond to our consultation on student protection directions added
14 July 2020 - Removed a deadline that had passed
19 June 2020 - Deadlines published following a letter to accountable officers
27 May 2020 - Deadline for our consultation on the integrity and stability of the higher education sector in England removed
07 May 2020 - Deadline for our consultation on the integrity and stability of the higher education sector in England added
30 April 2020 - All information removed except holding notice.
24 April 2020 - Updated entries
17 April 2020 - Updated entries
27 March 2020 - Updated entries
26 March 2020 - Update on the Transparency return 2020 deadlines
23 March 2020 - Updated entries
16 March 2020 - Updated entries and page introduction
11 March 2020 - Updated entries
09 March 2020 - Updated entries
06 March 2020 - Updated entries
05 March 2020 - Updated entries
03 March 2020 - Updated entries
27 February 2020 - Updated entries
26 February 2020 - Updated entries
21 February 2020 - Updated entries
14 February 2020 - Updated entries
07 February 2020 - Updated entries
05 February 2020 - Updated entries
03 February 2020 - Updated entries
31 January 2020 - Updated entries
24 January 2020 - Updated entries
15 January 2020 - Updated entries
13 January 2020 - Updated entries
09 January 2020 - Updated entries
06 January 2020 - Publications forward look to June 2020
19 December 2019 - Updated entries
12 December 2019 - Updated entries
04 December 2019 - Updated entries
29 November 2019 - Updated entries
25 November 2019 - Updated entries and introductory text
22 November 2019 - Updated entries
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