All the material for each review method can be found on one dedicated page.
The review methods
The review methods currently operating in England are:
Academic review
For directly funded higher education in further education colleges. The Handbook provides details on preparing a self-evaluation, on the schedule of subject review, the timeline of a review as well as example agendas and the report structure.
Access to Higher Education
We are not currently reviewing Authorised Validating Agencies. However, all the information relating to Access to Higher Education is available including the recognition scheme, key statistics and Learning from AVA review.
Collaborative provision audit
Where the collaborative arrangements in a university or college are too large to be dealt with under institutional audit, we carry out a separate collaborative provision audit. A supplement to the Handbook for institutional audit is available which includes a schedule of key dates, guidance on producing self-evaluation documents and an indicative report structure.
Foundation Degree
For all institutions that offer Foundation Degrees. Foundation Degrees are reviewed using the method outlined in the Handbook which includes the purposes and outcomes of the review, guidelines for self-evaluations and the report template.
Healthcare education
QAA is contracted to review NHS-funded healthcare programmes on behalf of Skills for Health and their partners, and osteopathic programmes and programme providers on behalf of the General Osteopathic Council. All the relevant material for programme providers and their partners, including handbooks, is contained in the heathcare education section.
Institutional audit
For universities and colleges of higher education. The Handbook includes guidance on producing institutional self-evaluation documents, guidance on producing self-evaluation documents for discipline audit trails and details of the written submission from students. Also available are details on Teaching Quality Information.
Reference points
All our review methods use a set of nationally agreed reference points, known as the Academic Infrastucture, to consider the standards and quality of higher education awards. You will find all the relevant documents in our Academic Infrastructure section.
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