New regulations confirmed ahead of OfS register reopening

Higher education institutions hoping to access student loan funding will have to provide more information about how they are treating students fairly under new rules announced by the English regulator. 

The Office for Students (OfS) has confirmed that it will move ahead with proposals to create a new condition of registration, known as C5, which will come into force on 28 August, when the register reopens to new applicants after an eight-month pause.

Institutions must be registered with the OfS if they want access to student loan funding for their students.

The regulator said the new condition, which was first suggested in February, will “ensure that universities and colleges are treating their students fairly at the point of registration”.

“Institutions seeking registration will be required to provide students with clear, easy to access information about what will happen if changes are made to their course, as well as fair processes for refunds and compensation and complaints,” the OfS said in a statement. 

A new condition related to effective governance will also come into force, known as E7. 

Terms include having staff with the knowledge and expertise needed to make sure their institutions can comply with the OfS’s ongoing regulatory requirements and comprehensive arrangements for detecting, preventing and stopping fraud and misuse of public money.

It follows a series of investigations into providers offering franchised degrees on behalf of universities, with some accused of enrolling non-genuine students with no intention of paying back student loans. 

The OfS is also moving ahead with proposed changes to the registration application process, requiring new providers to submit additional information about their finances and historical or ongoing investigations.

The new conditions will apply to any applications for registration received by the OfS on or after 28 August. 

From January 2026, a restriction preventing an institution reapplying within 12 months of receiving a final decision by the OfS to refuse registration will also come into force.

“Our reforms will ensure that we can efficiently register well-prepared institutions that will deliver high-quality education and treat their students fairly,” said Philippa Pickford, OfS director of regulation. 

“Our new registration requirements will also help us to swiftly and clearly identify and refuse registration for institutions that are not ready to do this.”

When the register reopens, the regulator will prioritise work on institutions that had already submitted applications when the pause was put in place before assessing new entrants. 

“We understand there may be several institutions waiting to apply for registration, and we have increased our capacity to be ready to meet a rise in demand,” Pickford said.   

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com