Quality and standards in English higher education
Student outcomes
Students on courses at providers registered with the OfS should receive positive outcomes from their higher education.
We consider that positive outcomes are:
- Continuation: students continuing their course from year to year
- Completion: students completing their course
- Progression: students progressing into managerial or professional employment, further study or other positive outcomes.
We set minimum thresholds for the proportion of students who achieve these outcomes on all courses at universities and colleges. We expect that universities and colleges ensure students are protected from performance below each of these thresholds.
We consider the context of the university or college and its students when making decisions about whether a provider is providing positive outcomes for its students.
We set a different numerical threshold for each student outcome measure (continuation, completion and progression) and for each mode and level of study.
- A high proportion of students are continuing and completing their courses, and going onto careers, further study or other positive outcomes after graduating from their course.
- Courses are designed and delivered effectively to meet students’ needs.
- Support for students to ensure they are able to continue and complete their studies.
- Students receive credible qualifications and relevant skills for their future.
- A lower proportion of students are continuing and completing their courses, and going onto careers, further study or other positive outcomes after graduating from their course.
- Specific groups of students being more negatively affected by course design, teaching delivery or support available than others.
- Delivery of teaching or course design not meeting students’ needs, such as daytime lectures when much of the cohort have part or full-time employment.
- Lack of support available for students experiencing issues with being able to continue or complete their studies.
Find out more
For more details, see 'condition B3: student outcomes' of our conditions of registration with the OfS.
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