This page explains how students and staff can raise complaints about a university or college.
Student complaints
If students wish to raise a complaint about a university or college, they should do this in broadly two stages:
1. Raise your complaint with the university or college
Universities and colleges should have a complaints procedure that explains how to make a complaint. This will usually be on their website. If not, they should supply it on request.
2. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can raise the matter with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).
The OIA is an independent organisation that considers student complaints. You can use the OIA complaints wizard to see the sorts of complaint it can help with.
New complaints scheme for free speech - 2024
Under new legislation the OfS will operate a new complaints scheme to consider free speech complaints about universities and colleges or relevant students’ unions.
Current and former students, staff members (including applicants for academic posts) and visiting speakers (including those who have been invited to be visiting speakers) will be able to submit complaints to us.
We expect the complaints scheme to launch on 1 August 2024.
Once the OfS complaints scheme is set up, we will be able to consider eligible complaints.
Other help that’s available
Staff complaints
If you’re concerned about an employment matter, you should follow your organisation’s grievance procedure.
You could also get advice through your trade union representative.
