OfS proposes changes to streamline its regulation of further education colleges in England
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) is consulting on changes to simplify how it regulates further education colleges while continuing to protect the interests of students and public funding.]]>
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[New analysis from the Office for Students (OfS) finds continued pressure on university finances, despite evidence of increased recruitment.]]>
OfS publishes interim evaluation report on the Degree Apprenticeship Funding Competition
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[An interim evaluation of the OfS’s Degree Apprenticeship Funding Competition (DAFC) suggests the first wave of funding helped institutions to attract prospective degree apprentices from currently underrepresented groups.]]>
OfS publishes new research on students’ perceptions of their rights as consumers
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[Independent research commissioned by the Office for Students (OfS) finds a mixed picture of students’ understanding of their rights and entitlements.]]>
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The funding has been allocated for the 2025-26 financial year and will help institutions to deliver courses that will increase opportunities for students and support national growth, regional economies, and local employers.]]>
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[Today, the Office for Students (OfS) publishes a new strategy that explains how it will strive to deliver exemplary regulation in the interest of students.]]>
OfS welcomes Chris Millward as interim Director for Fair Access and Participation
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students has welcomed the appointment by Ministers of Professor Chris Millward as interim Director for Fair Access and Participation. ]]>
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Access and Participation while an open and fair recruitment to the role takes place.]]>
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The OfS is advising institutions with degree awarding powers on steps they should take to ensure that the classifications of degrees they award appropriately reflect the knowledge and skills of students. ]]>
Investigation into Fairfield School of Business and Bath Spa University
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[On 28 February 2025, the Office for Students (OfS) opened an investigation of Fairfield School of Business and Bath Spa University, specifically in relation to Bath Spa University students taught by Fairfield School of Business through a partnership between the providers. ]]>
OfS publishes student outcomes data for subcontracted courses
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) has published new data that shows evidence of weaker outcomes for students taught under subcontractual arrangements.]]>
Supporting disabled students: OfS publishes considerations for universities and colleges
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) has shared points for institutions to consider when reviewing the ways they support students with disabilities and improve their experiences of higher education.]]>
OfS publishes new data on the scale of sexual misconduct in English higher education
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[A survey of final-year undergraduate students across the country finds that nearly one quarter of those who responded have experienced sexual harassment since entering higher education. ]]>
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) has published a case report explaining its regulatory decisions following an investigation into the quality of business and management courses provided by Buckinghamshire New University.]]>
OfS proposes revised Teaching Excellence Framework to drive up the quality of education for students
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) is consulting on a new quality assessment system that would provide students with a clear view of the quality of teaching and learning delivered by every registered university and college.]]>
Student contract terms amended at a higher education provider following Trading Standards referral
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[SP Jain London School of Management (SPJ) has amended its student contract after the Office for Students (OfS) referred concerns about potentially unfair terms and conditions to National Trading Standards.]]>
OfS seeks senior leaders of universities and colleges to join new Provider Panel
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[Our new Provider Panel will help shape future regulation in the interest of students. ]]>
OfS announces reforms to its registration tests to protect students and public money
style="text-indent: 2em; "<![CDATA[The Office for Students (OfS) is introducing new initial conditions of registration and changes to its application requirements, to ensure that only institutions that are ready to deliver high quality higher education and treat their students fairly are registered.]]>