Funding for specialist providers

We allocate additional teaching funding to specialist higher education providers that recognises the distinctive nature and the public value that they bring to the sector.

These providers contribute significantly to the diversity of the higher education provider landscape, and offer prospective students enhanced choice in their higher education experience.

The purpose of specialist provider funding is to:

• provide funding to recognise and maintain world-leading specialist teaching
• promote choice and opportunities for students in the range of providers and courses available
• recognise that these providers' world-leading status is integral to their specialism
• recognise that these providers' specialism is often integral to their small size
• address the needs of specialist employment sectors or parts of the economy
• provide value for money in targeting limited resources effectively to world-leading specialist providers where the case for exceptional support can add greatest value.

Funding for 2021-22

For 2021-22, in line with government guidance, we increased the previous funding allocations for 16 providers by approximately 11.5 per cent, so they totalled £48 million.

In addition, we have allocated £5 million following our review of specialist provider funding undertaken during 2022. Of this, £3.4 million was allocated to four providers that were newly identified as world-leading specialists, with the balance of £1.6 million distributed to other providers whose assessment as world-leading has continued.

For details of which providers received this funding see Annex A of our World-leading specialist provider funding: Outcome publication.

Funding for 2022-23

For 2022-23 we are allocating £58 million to 20 providers that were identified as world-leading following our review of specialist provider funding undertaken during 2022.

For details of which providers received this funding see Annex A of our World-leading specialist provider funding: Outcome publication.

Review of specialist provider funding

In February 2022 we published the outcomes of our consultation on a revised approach to world-leading specialist provider funding. We also invited submissions from eligible providers to be considered a world-leading specialist provider by our specialist provider panel.

In July 2022 we published a consultation on the specialist provider funding method. 

In December 2022 we published the outcomes of the specialist provider funding method consultation, alongside the panel's decisions on which providers are world-leading specialists.