For colleges

Further education colleges represent a third of institutions registered with us and play an important role in the higher education sector through providing flexible and diverse higher education pathways.

Further education colleges offering higher education courses must register with us and comply with the same conditions of registration as any other higher education provider.

Registering with us enables colleges to access public funding and student support funding, and sponsor international students, among other benefits. 

Once registered with us, we work closely with colleges to ensure appropriate quality and standards, equality of opportunity and student protection.

Engaging with colleges

In recognition of the unique circumstances in which further education colleges operate, and responding to what we've learned through research and visits to institutions, we're developing a tailored engagement approach for colleges. This includes:

1. Organising a range of online and hybrid events linked to policy areas and consultations, with specific sessions for further education colleges where appropriate.
2. Meeting regularly with mission groups and other sector representative organisations, such as the Mixed Economy Group and the Association of Colleges.
3. Working with other regulatory bodies to try to reduce the duplication and minimise the burden on providers.
4. Ensuring that the views of further education colleges are taken into account through our consultations and insight groups such as our Student Interest Board.
5. Sending regular updates on our work, including regular emails to accountable officers and general newsletters which anyone can subscribe to.
6. Collating the latest news and blogs relating to further education colleges, below.

We will continue to develop this webpage with tailored information for further education colleges.