How we regulate student outcomes
Numerical thresholds for condition B3
We set minimum numerical thresholds that we refer to when we make judgements about whether a provider is providing positive outcomes for their students.
Performance below a numerical threshold does not mean that a provider is not meeting our minimum expectations. We only make a judgement that a provider is not compliant after considering the context in which it is operating. This means that we may find that a provider with performance below a numerical threshold is delivering positive outcomes for its students.
Our approach
Our approach to setting numerical thresholds has three stages:
- Identification of the ‘starting point’ for a numerical threshold (the point at which we consider there to be to minimal risk that a provider is not delivering positive outcomes) using analysis of sector performance.
- Consideration of policy and contextual factors.
- Setting the final numerical threshold (see table below), which will represent our minimum expectations for the percentage of students achieving positive outcomes for each indicator.
More details about our approach to setting numerical thresholds can be found in ‘Regulatory advice 20: Regulating student outcomes’.
We set a different numerical threshold for each student outcome measure (continuation, completion and progression) and for each mode and level of study.
Summary of numerical threshold values
| Level and mode of study | Continuation | Completion | Progression |
|---|---|---|---|
|
FT Other UG |
75% |
65% |
45% |
|
FT First degree |
80% |
75% |
60% |
|
FT UG with PG components |
85% |
85% |
75% |
|
FT PGCE |
85% |
85% |
85% |
|
FT PG taught masters |
80% |
80% |
70% |
|
FT PG Other |
80% |
80% |
85% |
|
FT PG research |
90% |
75% |
85% |
|
PT Other UG |
55% |
55% |
65% |
|
PT First degree |
55% |
40% |
70% |
|
PT UG with PG components |
60% |
60% |
80% |
|
PT PGCE |
75% |
75% |
85% |
|
PT PG taught masters |
65% |
65% |
85% |
|
PT PG Other |
65% |
60% |
85% |
|
PT PG research |
70% |
60% |
85% |
|
Apprenticeship – UG |
70% |
55% |
75% |
|
Apprenticeship – PG |
80% |
80% |
80% |
Note: ‘FT’ = ‘full-time’; ‘PT’ = ‘part-time’; ‘UG’ = ‘undergraduate’; ‘PG’ = ‘postgraduate’.
We have explained why each numerical threshold is set at the value we have chosen in our ‘Setting numerical thresholds for condition B3’ publication.
How to tell if a provider is meeting the thresholds
Our student outcomes data dashboard shows measures of continuation, completion and progression outcomes for individual providers.
The dashboard and associated datafiles are updated annually.
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