Degree awarding powers and university title

The power to award degrees is regulated by law. In order to be able to award a recognised higher education degree in the UK, an organisation needs to be authorised to do so either by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament. QAA offers confidential advice to the Privy Council on applications, but we do not award these powers to organisations. QAA's Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers is responsible for overseeing the criteria and scrutiny processes, and to make recommendations on their development to the QAA Board.

It is an offence for an institution to purport to award, or to offer to award a UK degree, unless it is authorised so to do. An Act of Parliament in 1992 provided for such powers to be granted by the Privy Council, which acts on the advice of government.

Guidance and criteria

We have set out the following information for organisations looking to apply for taught and research degree awarding powers and/or university title.

• A brief guide to QAA’s involvement in degree awarding powers and university title
  This publication sets out in detail the application process, our role in this process, and information on government criteria.
• Current fee structure
  Fees for subscribing institutions are offered at a reduced rate as they are already contributing to QAA’s costs. In order to be offered a reduced rate, your organisation must have been a QAA subscriber for at least two years.
• Guidance for applicant organisations in England and Wales (PDF)
  This guidance was published by the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)) in 2004. The guidance is currently being revised and will be published in 2010.
• Guidance for applicant organisations in Scotland and Northern Ireland
  This guidance was published by the Department for Education and Skills (now BIS) in 1999.
• Policy on the disclosure of records relating to applications for degree awarding powers and university title
  This policy was revised in response to a consultation carried out between October and December 2008.

Foundation Degree awarding powers in England

Further education institutions in England are now able to apply to the Privy Council for powers to award their own Foundation Degrees. The Department for Innovation, Univesities and Skills (now BIS), in consultation with QAA, has published guidance and frequently asked questions for applicants. This information is available on the BIS website >>

Further information

For further information on degree awarding powers or university title, please contact Irene Ainsworth (01452 557019) or Nick Pack (01452 557039).

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Links to partner organisations

Further information about the taught and research degree awarding powers and university title process can be found at the following websites.

Privy Council
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Scottish Government
Welsh Assembly Government
Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland