Access and participation plan variation requests

Deadlines

Higher education providers may request a variation to their access and participation plan at any time during the plan period, in line with the deadlines outlined below, for implementation in the subsequent academic year.

As standard student recruitment deadlines for 2026-27 have now passed, we would expect variations to take effect from the 2027-28 academic year. This is so that prospective students have accurate and reliable information to make decisions about where to study.

We strongly encourage providers to submit variation requests as early as possible to give students maximum notice of any changes. However, the latest deadlines for submitting a variation request for the 2027-28 academic year are:

• Early recruiters (providers with an early UCAS application (October) deadline): 17 July 2026
• Standard recruiters: 16 October 2026.

Variation requests submitted after the above dates would, if approved, take effect from the 2028-29 academic year.

How to submit a variation request

Please contact [email protected] to let us know if you are proposing an access and participation plan variation and when you expect to submit it, or if you have any questions. We will then send the relevant instructions.