Version 1.0 - Last Updated: 25 Oct 2023
Designation - English Providers
Offering courses to students domiciled in the rest of the UK
If an English provider offers its own courses to students domiciled in the rest of the UK, the following designation rules apply.
Own courses are those wholly provided by this higher education provider.
|
|
Wales |
NI |
Scotland |
|
An English provider that is: |
designation |
designation |
designation |
|
Approved (fee cap) with APP |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Automatic |
|
Approved (fee cap) without APP |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Automatic |
|
Approved |
Specific (course-level) designation by the Welsh Ministers |
Specific (provider-level) designation by the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland (DfENI) |
Specific (course-level) designation by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) |
English providers offering their courses to Scottish students need specific designation at course level if their organisation:
- was a publicly funded provider that registers as an Approved provider with the Office for Students (OfS)
- is a new provider
- is a privately funded provider that registers as an Approved provider with the Office for Students (OfS).
If your organisation was publicly funded in AY 2018/19 and registers as an Approved (fee cap) provider with OfS, you have automatic designation for Scottish students for full-time courses only. This includes courses run through validation or franchise arrangements. If your franchise agreement is with a provider in Scotland you must contact SAAS.
There are separate course designation rules for students domiciled in the rest of the UK for validation and franchise arrangements.
If you need specific designation at course or provider level, you need to request this from the relevant designating authority (DA) each academic year. We can request this on your behalf for Northern Irish and Scottish students. We do not request designation for Welsh students on your behalf and you need to contact HEFCW directly each academic year to apply for specific designation for Welsh students.
Validation arrangements – Welsh students
There are course-specific rules for Welsh domiciled students attending a higher education provider in England.
From AY 2019/20, providers registered in the Approved (fee cap) category can automatically enter validation arrangements with other OfS registered providers. Approved providers, and those not registered with OfS, must apply for specific course-level designation from the Welsh Ministers for courses run through a validation arrangement.
The designation for full-time and part-time undergraduate courses for each category is:
- Approved (fee cap) with plan – automatic designation
- Approved (fee cap) with statement – automatic designation
- Approved – specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers
- not on register – specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers
You must not add courses to CMS before the Welsh Ministers have granted specific designation. If the Welsh Ministers advises your courses are only designated for continuing students, you must set your course to returning students only when saving to CMS.
Franchise arrangements – Welsh students
Only providers registered as Approved (fee cap) with an Access and Participation Plan (APP) are automatically designated to run franchised courses in partnership with other OfS registered providers. All other providers must have these courses specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers.
The designation for full-time and part-time undergraduate courses depends on the registration status of both providers.
If the franchisee (deliverer) is registered with OfS and the franchisor (lead provider) is:
- Approved (fee cap) with an Access and Participation Plan (APP) – automatic designation
- Approved (fee cap) without (APP) – specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers
- Approved –specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers
If the franchisee (deliverer) is not registered with OfS, the Welsh Ministers must have granted specific designation for the courses.
You must not add courses to CMS before the Welsh Ministers have granted specific designation. If the Welsh Ministers advise your courses are only specifically designated for continuing students, you must set your course to returning students only when saving to CMS.
Example 1 – automatic designation
Provider C (the franchisor) is registered with OfS as Approved (fee cap) with an Access and Participation Plan. Provider C has a genetics course, but would like to run it at another location (Provider D who is the franchisee and is OfS registered) to use Provider D’s specialist laboratory.
Provider C is the lead provider. As it is an Approved (fee cap) provider with an Access and Participation Plan, the genetics course is automatically designated for funding since Provider D is OfS registered. Provider C can add the course to CMS and set the location to Provider D.
Example 2 – specific designation
Provider E (the franchisor) is registered with OfS as an Approved (fee cap) provider and does not have an Access and Participation plan. Provider E also has a genetics course and wants to enter a franchise arrangement with Provider D (the franchisee who is OfS registered) to use their specialist laboratory.
Provider E must apply to have the course specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers for support. They should not add the course to CMS until the Welsh Ministers has given it specific designation.
Example 3 – specific designation
Provider F (the franchisor) is registered with OfS as an Approved provider. Provider F also has a genetics course and wants to enter a franchise arrangement with Provider D (the franchisee who is OfS registered) to use their specialist laboratory.
Provider F must apply to have the course specifically designated by the Welsh Ministers for support. They should not add the course to CMS until the Welsh Ministers have given it specific designation.
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