Degree awarding powers

These pages explain what degree awarding powers are, which providers can apply for them, the different powers available, and how we assess applications.

What are degree awarding powers (DAPs)?

Students who successfully complete a course of study usually receive a diploma, certificate or degree. If they are awarded a degree, it can be a foundation degree, a bachelors' degree, a masters' degree, or a doctorate.

Study for a foundation or bachelors' degree is known as undergraduate study. Other study at a higher level is known as postgraduate study.

To award these qualifications, higher education providers need degree awarding powers.

A provider that currently has these powers does not need to apply to the OfS to keep them. But it must be registered with the OfS.

The OfS can authorise registered providers to award degrees at the following levels:

• foundation degrees only (Level 5 of the sector-recognised standards contained in the regulatory framework)
• awards up to, and including, bachelors’ degrees (up to and including Level 6)
• all taught awards (up to and including Level 7)
• research awards (Level 8 and research masters’ degrees at Level 7)

Providers can apply for these powers in specific subjects, for all subjects, and up to specific levels.