Regulatory advice 17: Variation and revocation of degree awarding powers
This regulatory advice sets out guidance about how and under what circumstances the Office for Students (OfS) might vary or revoke a provider’s degree awarding powers (DAPs) authorisation.
It applies to all higher education providers in England that hold a DAPs authorisation, irrespective of how that authorisation was originally granted.
Note: This document is yet to be updated to incorporate the changes to conditions of registration that came into effect on 1 May 2022, and should be read in conjunction with the regulatory framework.
- Ref:
- 2019.48
- Date:
- 9 December 2019
Regulatory advice 17 was updated in July 2023 with an additional annex (Annex B), setting out operational guidance on the OfS’s approach to undertaking the assessment of applications for DAPs.
Although assessments will now be undertaken by the OfS, in developing this guidance, we have sought to ensure continuity of approach as far as is possible. Assessments will continue to use external academic experts, in order to test a provider’s ability to meet the criteria for the award of DAPs.
Longer term, the OfS expects to consult on and review its approach to the award of DAPs, to ensure that application processes and criteria remain fit for purpose, in the context of a growing and diverse sector.
28 July 2023 - We have made small corrections to paragraph referencing and some of the text in Annex B.
27 July 2023 - Annex B published: Operational guidance on assessment of DAPs variation and revocation.
01 May 2022 - Link added to list of consequential changes to conditions of registration, in effect from 1 May 2022.
17 June 2021 - Updated to reflect that we are accepting DAPs applications
16 December 2020 - Update to the alert message.
15 May 2020 - Notice added about the suspension of applications for degree awarding powers.
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