Degree awarding powers

This page explains when a provider can apply to vary its degree awarding powers or when we might revoke a provider’s powers.

Revocation

This is a form of regulatory intervention in which the OfS might restrict the scope of a provider’s powers, or remove them altogether, if we have concerns that the provider is not meeting our conditions of registration.  

We might consider revoking powers if:

• the provider ceases to be registered
• we have serious concerns about quality or standards
• the provider’s circumstances change, creating serious future risk.

Variation

If a provider already has held full degree awarding powers for three years, it may wish to apply to change the level or subject for which it can award degrees, or apply for indefinite powers.

Assessment process

For variation or revocation, the assessment process will follow the same broad stages.

The assessment for the variation of DAPs will not normally require the same level of scrutiny as when the provider was first assessed.  

Instead, it aims to confirm that the provider has exercised its current powers securely and will do the same for any new powers that it is seeking.

In the case of revocation, the OfS may carry out an assessment if other regulatory measures have failed.