Deadlines

Aligned with ESFA deadline

Individual Learner Record (ILR) data return

Every registered further education college and sixth form college will need to submit details of individual students and the courses they are studying.

The data collected underpin the OfS’s regulatory approach including metrics used to monitor condition B3 (student outcomes).

This data is collected by ESFA. Further information is available from GOV.UK.

Within seven calendar months and two weeks of a provider’s financial year end
(exact dates will be issued to providers)

Annual Financial Return

Every registered provider (excluding further education colleges and sixth form colleges) will need to submit financial data consistent with its latest audited financial statements, forecast financial and student number data, and other relevant contextual information, including signed, audited financial statements. A provider will need to submit the management letter from its external auditor.

The data collected is used to monitor the financial viability and sustainability of providers, in particular in considering compliance with Condition D (financial viability and sustainability).

This data is collected by the OfS. 

Our letter of 20 July 2021 gives early information about the requirements for the Annual Financial Return 2022.

Within 15 working days of the OfS sending the provider its ‘2020-21 access and participation plan impact report’

2020-21 access and participation plan monitoring: impact report

Providers will need to submit either:

• the URL of the location on the provider’s website of a document setting out information included in the 2020-21 access and participation plan impact report, or
• written confirmation that the provider has not published this information.

Guidance on submission requirements will be published in autumn 2021.

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Providers with access and participation plans covering academic year 2020-21

1 February

Higher Education Students Early Statistics survey 2021-22

Providers will need to submit data on the number of higher education students studying in the 2021-22 academic year.

Updated guidance on submission requirements will be published in the autumn.

3 February

Consultation on Data Futures and data collection

The Office for Students is consulting on how we can ensure that we have the necessary data to perform our functions while ensuring that our data requirements from registered higher education providers are proportionate.

Read and respond to the consultation.

4 February (noon)

Deadline for nominations for membership of specialist provider panel

The OfS is establishing a specialist provider panel which will oversee and make decisions in relation to whether a registered higher education provider is a world-leading specialist provider.

See more details and how to submit nominations

(This deadline has been extended by two weeks from 21 January to 4 February 2022.)

18 February

Graduate Outcomes survey (2020-21): Cohort B

Providers will need to submit and check the contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by HESA.

For further education and sixth form colleges, initial contact details will be sourced from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) but will still need checking.

See the HESA website

17 March

Consultation on a new approach to regulating student outcomes

The Office for Students is proposing a new approach to its regulation of student outcomes in English higher education providers.

Read and respond to the consultation

n/a

n/a

17 March

Consultation on the Teaching Excellence Framework

This consultation sets out proposals for the future Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). 

Read and respond to the consultation

n/a

n/a

17 March

Consultation on constructing student outcome and experience indicators for use in OfS regulation

This consultation sets out proposals for the construction, presentation and interpretation of the data which would form the evidence base for regulating student outcomes and would inform TEF assessments.

Read and respond to the consultation

n/a

n/a

31 March

(early submission is strongly encouraged)

TRAC 2020-21

Providers will need to submit a TRAC return that has been reviewed and approved as set out in the TRAC guidance.

(Note – as last year, providers will not be required to submit a TRAC(T) return for the 2020-21 year.)

See the TRAC guidance

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Only providers that submitted a TRAC return in 2019-20

8 April

2020-21 access and participation plan monitoring: monitoring return provider submission

Providers will need to submit the 2020-21 access and participation plan monitoring return that the OfS will consider in order to assess its progress in meeting the objectives and targets set out in its 2020-21 access and participation plan.

Guidance on submission requirements will be published in the autumn.

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Providers with access and participation plans covering academic year 2020-21

12 April

Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction survey (2020-21)

Providers will need to submit information about the location of their campuses and their internal organisation. This data allows the OfS and others to understand the geographic distribution of higher education.

See the HESA website

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excluding further education and sixth form colleges

20 May

Graduate Outcomes survey (2020-21): Cohort C

Providers will need to submit and check the contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by HESA.

For further education and sixth form colleges, initial contact details will be sourced from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) but will still need checking.

See the HESA website

22 June

Provider profile (2021-22)

Providers will need to submit information about the location of their campuses and their internal organisation. This data allows the OfS and others to understand the geographic distribution of higher education.

See the HESA website

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excluding further education and sixth form colleges

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excluding further education and sixth form colleges

19 August

Graduate Outcomes survey (2020-21): Cohort D

Providers will need to submit and check the contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed by HESA.

For further education and sixth form colleges, initial contact details will be sourced from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) but will still need checking.

See the HESA website

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