Introducing access agreements
What is an access agreement?
Access agreements set out how institutions will sustain or improve access and student success, which includes retention, attainment and employability. An access agreement must set out:
- your proposed tuition fee limits
- the access and student success measures you intend to put in place
- how much these measures will cost
- your targets and milestones
- how you are going to tell students about the financial support you are offering.
Who has to have an access agreement?
From 2012-13, you need to have an OFFA-approved access agreement if you:
- provide undergraduate higher education courses and/or those postgraduate courses, such as PGCEs, that are subject to regulated fees, and
- are directly funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England or the Secretary of State for Education and
- are subject to a ‘condition of grant’ under Section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004 and
- wish to charge home/EU students more than the basic fee for fee-regulated courses (see our fee and bursary table for current fee levels/caps).
You will need an access agreement if you propose to charge any fees above these levels, even if only for one student on one course.
How long do access agreements last?
Pre 2012-13 access agreements can cover a period of up to five years. Access agreements for 2012-13 and subsequent years are subject to annual review.
I need to develop an access agreement – how do I start?
Our website offers full guidance on the process and our expectations. Start by clicking here.
You can also call our team of policy advisers for one-to-one discussion and advice. Contact details