New operational guidance for universities and colleges to apply
for degree awarding powers (DAPs) has been published by the
Office for Students (OfS) today.
Today’s guidance sets out the process for universities and
colleges to apply for new powers, or to vary existing degree
awarding powers. The OfS may authorise higher education
providers to grant different types of degrees, which include:
- foundation degrees only (up to and including Level 5
qualifications)
- awards up to, and including, bachelors’ degrees (up to and
including Level 6)
- all taught awards (up to and including Level 7)
- research awards (research masters’ degrees at Level 7 and
doctoral degrees at Level 8).
The guidance sets out how the OfS will undertake assessments for
DAPs, including how it will draw on the judgements of academic
experts in relevant fields of study, and on advice from its
independent Quality Assessment Committee.
The OfS has recently granted New DAPs for New Model Institute for
Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and SP Jain London School of
Management.
Jean Arnold, Director of Quality at the OfS, said:
‘Today’s new guidance underlines the OfS’s work to facilitate
diversity and innovation within English higher education.
Granting degree awarding powers to new and existing providers
results in greater choice of high quality courses for students
and introduces new approaches to learning and teaching to the
sector.
‘NMITE and SP Jain have joined the growing list of higher
education providers that have been granted degree awarding powers
by the OfS. NMITE’s engineering courses provide hands-on
experience with employers, with students assessed on their
portfolio of work rather than exams. SP Jain offers students the
chance to specialise in marketing, finance or entrepreneurship
across its global business schools. These higher education
providers and others on the OfS Register are providing students
with greater choice to develop their skills to meet the needs of
the future economy.’
ENDS
Notes
- The Office for Students is the independent regulator for
higher education in England. Our aim is to ensure that every
student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience
of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
- Read the Degree awarding powers:
Operational guidance for providers on assessment by the
OfS (see Annex D).
- Read the Variation and revocation
of degree awarding powers in England: Operational guidance for
providers on assessment by the OfS (see Annex B).
- Read about the OfS’s regulation of degree awarding
powers.
- NMITE and SP Jain will appear on the OfS Register once
authorised by the government’s Stationery Office. See
the OfS Register.
