Changes to our approach

The second phase of our consultation on our approach to regulating quality and standards ran from 20 July 2021 to 27 September 2021.

The second phase of consultation built on phase one. It proposed a revised set of conditions of registration that set out minimum requirements for quality and standards for all registered providers, and new conditions of registration for those seeking to join our Register.

It also included revised guidance about our proposed approach to gathering evidence and monitoring compliance.

Protecting all students, wherever they study

In this consultation we also proposed that all students, no matter where they are studying and whatever their background, should expect the same level of quality for their courses and reliable standards.

This meant that we would apply the same regulatory requirements to all courses, including those provided by a registered provider in partnership with others, those offered on a modular or flexible basis, or those delivered outside of England through transnational education (TNE).

Decision and analysis of responses

We have published an analysis of responses to our phase two consultation and our final decisions to introduce revised and new conditions of registration.

The analysis and decision document summarises and responds to responses to our phase two consultation.

Information on the implementation of the revised and new conditions can be found in the analysis and decision document and the Notice we have published.

The revised conditions

The revised conditions and guidance introduced following the phase two consultation cover:

1. High quality courses: We introduced three revised conditions that apply to all registered providers relating to academic experience; resources, support and student engagement; and assessment and awards.
2. Sector-recognised standards: We introduced revisions to the previous condition B5. The condition continues to set out requirements for academic standards for courses through a set of ‘sector-recognised standards’ and we added degree classification descriptors to the existing ‘sector-recognised standards’ to allow us to regulate undergraduate degree classifications.
3. New initial conditions for new providers: We introduced two new initial conditions for providers seeking registration, conditions B7 and B8, which make clear our requirements, and allow us to more effectively assess those that are new to delivering higher education and wish to register with the OfS.
4. A targeted approach to intervention: We will continue to take a flexible and risk-based approach to monitoring and intervention, minimising the regulatory burden for high quality providers.
5. Protecting integrated higher and degree apprenticeship standards: We will make sure that registered providers that deliver integrated higher and degree apprenticeships are compliant with our condition of registration that relates to assessment and awards.