About OFFA
“Working collaboratively we promote fair access to higher education in particular for low income and other under-represented groups.”
Who we are
The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is an independent, non-departmental public body. Our role is to promote and safeguard fair access to higher education for lower income and other under-represented groups following the introduction of higher tuition fees in 2006-07.
What we do
We help safeguard fair access by approving and monitoring access agreements – agreements in which universities and colleges set out their tuition fee limit and the access measures they intend to put in place e.g. outreach work and financial support. Access agreements cover undergraduate, PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and ITT (Initial Teacher Training) courses for home/EU students at English universities and colleges. Access agreements do not cover postgraduate courses or apply to overseas students.
All publicly funded providers of higher education in England that wish to charge tuition fees above the basic level have to submit an access agreement to us for approval. We then monitor their progress in meeting their access agreement commitments on an annual basis. We also have a role in identifying and disseminating good practice and advice connected with access agreements and bursary support.
OFFA is led by the Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, Sir Martin Harris, who reports to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. There are currently 11 other OFFA staff.
Search all current access agreements