Degree awarding powers

These pages explain what degree awarding powers are, the different powers for which registered higher education providers can apply, and how they can do so.

What are degree awarding powers (DAPs)?

Students who successfully complete a course of study usually receive a diploma, certificate or degree. If they are awarded a degree, it can be a foundation degree, a bachelors' degree, a masters' degree, or a doctorate.

Study for a foundation or bachelors' degree is known as undergraduate study. Other study at a higher level is known as postgraduate study.

To award these qualifications, higher education providers need degree awarding powers.

A provider that currently has these powers does not need to apply to the OfS to retain them. But they must be registered with the OfS.

The OfS can authorise registered providers to award degrees at the following levels:

• foundation degrees only (Level 5 of the sector-recognised standards contained in the regulatory framework) 
• awards up to, and including, bachelors’ degrees (up to and including Level 6)
• all taught awards (up to and including Level 7)
• research awards (Level 8 and research masters’ degrees at Level 7)

Providers can apply for these powers in specific subjects, for all subjects, and up to specific levels.

‘Full’ and ‘new’ powers

When they apply for degree awarding powers, registered providers do so through one of two routes: 'new degree awarding powers' or 'full degree awarding powers'.

In both cases, the provider will only be granted the powers initially for a period of three years.

New degree awarding powers

If a provider has been offering higher education for less than three years, it will not have a sufficient track record to apply for full degree awarding powers.

Instead, it can apply for new degree awarding powers, which grants it powers on a probationary basis.

This normally means the provider can only make awards to students for specific courses and that it cannot validate or subcontract courses to other providers.

A provider with new degree awarding powers holds the powers for a time-limited period and needs to satisfy probationary reviews.

A provider which has offered higher education for more than three years can apply for new degree awarding powers, if it wishes.

A provider applying for new degree awarding powers can apply to award degrees for:

• foundation degrees
• awards up to, and including, bachelors’ degrees
• all taught awards.

Full degree awarding powers

A provider which has offered higher education for more than three years can apply for full degree awarding powers.

If the OfS authorises these powers, at the end of the three-year period the provider will be able to apply for an authorisation to grant awards without a time limit. This is referred to as ‘indefinite degree awarding powers’.

A provider can apply for full degree awarding powers for the following awards:

• foundation degrees only
• awards up to, and including, bachelors’ degrees
• all taught awards
• research awards (if full degree awarding powers for taught awards are already held or are applied for at the same time).