Registration with the OfS
Changes to the conditions of registration
This page lists the changes to some of the conditions of registration relating to quality and standards.
About the changes
In winter 2020 and summer 2021 the OfS undertook two phases of consultation on proposals to change these conditions.
On 2 March 2022 we announced changes to the conditions of registration that relate to quality and standards, a summary of which is set out on this page.
Revised ongoing conditions of registration B1, B2, B4 and B5 will come into effect from 1 May 2022.
The new initial conditions of registration B7 and B8 will apply to applications for registration made on or after 1 May 2022. Transitional arrangements will apply to applications for registration which are live at any time between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022. The implementation arrangements are set out in this Notice.
Read more about the changes to quality and standards.
New initial and general ongoing conditions
Condition B1
This condition is effective from 1 May 2022.
Summary: The provider must ensure that the students registered on each higher education course receive a high quality academic experience.
A high quality academic experience includes but is not limited to ensuring that each higher education course:
- is up-to-date;
- provides educational challenge;
- is coherent;
- is effectively delivered; and
- requires students to develop relevant skills.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
| General ongoing condition only | Yes | Yes |
Condition B2
This condition is effective from 1 May 2022.
Summary: The provider must take all reasonable steps to ensure:
- students registered on a higher education course receive resources and support to ensure:
a. a high quality academic experience for those students; and
b. those students succeeding in and beyond higher education; and - effective engagement with students to ensure:
a. a high quality academic experience for those students; and
b. those students succeed in and beyond higher education.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
| General ongoing condition only | Yes | Yes |
Condition B4
This condition is effective from 1 May 2022.
Summary: The provider must ensure that:
- students are assessed effectively;
- each assessment is valid and reliable;
- academic regulations are designed to ensure that relevant awards are credible;
- academic regulations are designed to ensure effective assessment of technical proficiency in the English language in a manner that appropriately reflects the level and content of the course; and
- relevant awards granted to students are credible at the point of being granted and when compared to those granted previously.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
| General ongoing condition only | Yes | Yes |
Condition B5
This condition is effective from 1 May 2022.
Summary: The provider must ensure that, in respect of any relevant awards granted to students who complete a higher education course provided by, or on behalf of, the provider (whether or not the provider is the awarding body):
- any standards set appropriately reflect any applicable sector-recognised standards; and
- awards are only granted to students whose knowledge and skills appropriately reflect any applicable sector-recognised standards.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
| General ongoing condition only | Yes | Yes |
Condition B7
The new initial condition of registration B7 will apply to applications for registration made on or after 1 May 2022. Transitional arrangements will apply to applications for registration which are live at any time between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022. The implementation arrangements are set out in this Notice.
Summary: The provider must:
- have credible plans that would enable the provider, if registered, to comply with conditions B1, B2 and B4 from the date of registration; and
- have the capacity and resources necessary to deliver, in practice, those plans.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial condition only |
Yes |
Yes |
Condition B8
The new initial condition of registration B8 will apply to applications for registration made on or after 1 May 2022. Transitional arrangements will apply to applications for registration which are live at any time between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022. The implementation arrangements are set out in this Notice.
Summary: The provider must demonstrate, in a credible manner, that any standards to be set and/or applied in respect of any relevant awards granted to students who complete a higher education course provided by, or on behalf of, the provider (if registered), whether or not the provider is the awarding body, are consistent with any applicable sector-recognised standards.
Read the full text for this condition
| Initial or general ongoing condition? | Approved (fee cap) providers | Approved providers |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial condition only |
Yes |
Yes |
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