Degree awarding powers

Higher education providers applying from 1 April 2018 are subject to the provisions set out in the regulatory framework. 

We have published guidance for providers that want to apply for authorisation for:

• Foundation degrees - up to and including Level 5 of the sector-recognised standards contained in the regulatory framework
• Awards up to, and including, bachelors' degrees - up to and including Level 6
• All taught awards - up to and including Level 7
• Research awards - Level 8 and research masters' degrees at Level 7

Changes to evidence requirements

To make our assessment of degree awarding powers more efficient we have made some changes to our evidence requirements that underpin the DAPs criteria.

We have:

• reduced duplication so providers don’t need to submit the same or similar evidence against multiple criteria  
• removed or revised unclear or less relevant requirements, so assessment teams and providers can focus on the things that matter most to their application
• presented the requirements in a more logical order, to make it easier for providers to submit their evidence and assessors to write reports  
• explained how assessment teams will tailor their assessment based on type of application (for example, New or Full DAPs) and a provider’s current delivery arrangements
• sought to reduce additional information requests and subsequent delays in assessments by helping applicants submit relevant information at their initial submission
• more closely aligned the evidence requirements and the OfS’s ongoing quality conditions, so providers’ work on quality compliance can be more readily repurposed.  

Our guidance on applying for degree awarding powers provides more detail.