Regulatory advice 12: How to apply for degree awarding powers
This regulatory advice sets out guidance for existing and new providers of higher education in England that wish to apply to the OfS for authorisation to use degree awarding powers from October 2018.
- Ref:
- OfS 2018.46
- Date:
- 24 October 2018
Changes to our regulation
- We updated the operational guidance annexed to this regulatory advice in August 2025 to streamline the DAPs evidence requirements and make assessment more efficient. Providers applying for DAPs can choose to be assessed against these revised evidence requirements or those set out in Annex C of the regulatory framework.
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We are currently consulting on proposals for a new ongoing condition of registration, 'treating students fairly', which may impact providers applying for New DAPs (specifically, the requirement to submit an updated student protection plan). Before submitting a New DAPs application, please contact the DAPs team so we can discuss the process and requirements in the event these proposals are adopted.
Annexes
Last updated 28 August 2025 + show all updates
28 August 2025 - We have updated Annex D.
08 December 2023 - Link fixed in advice pdf.
30 October 2023 - Typo corrected in Appendix B of Annex D.
28 July 2023 - We have made a small amendment to the wording in paragraph 34 of Annex D.
27 July 2023 - Annex D published: operational guidance on the OfS’s approach to undertaking the assessment of applications for DAPs.
01 May 2022 - Link added to list of consequential changes to conditions of registration, in effect from 1 May 2022.
17 June 2021 - Updated to reflect that we are accepting DAPs applications
16 December 2020 - Update to the alert message.
15 May 2020 - Notice added about the suspension of applications for degree awarding powers.
20 December 2018 - Annex C was updated to correct an error in the formulae for total higher education student numbers in cells K12 to M13 of the ‘Template – New provider’ tab.
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