OfS registration fees
Higher education providers registered with the OfS usually pay an annual registration fee.
Key points
- Registration fees are due by 1 August each year.
- We send a fee notification to providers, usually in June.
- We don’t issue separate invoices, quote POs or accommodate bespoke payment plans.
- If you paid by direct debit last year and nothing has changed, you do not need to do anything.
This guide explains:
- why we charge registration fees
- how to pay
- who pays and who may get a discount or waiver
- the current fee bands and how they are calculated.
Why we charge registration fees
We charge registration fees to help cover the cost of regulating higher education providers in England.
Who pays fees
Providers that are registered with the OfS at the start of the registration year (1 August to 31 July) are required to pay an annual registration fee.
Providers joining or leaving the register during the academic year will pay a pro rata fee based on the number of complete months in the year they have been registered.
Some providers may pay a reduced fee or no fee if they qualify for a discount (for example micro-providers, or some new providers).
Current fee bands
Your annual fee depends on your provider’s fee band, which is based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) higher education students at your provider.
Other fees providers might need to pay
OfS registration fees are separate from and should not be confused with:
- fees for investigations
- costs of quality and standards assessments for providers applying to register or applying for degree awarding powers
- fees charged by the designated data body (Jisc): registered providers are required to pay fees charged by designated data body. Jisc has published its own guidance on designated data body fees.
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