There are a number of statutory obligations which the College is required to meet including the publication of information, production of specific reports and commitments under consumer protection law. 

Further details of some of these requirements can be found below. For additional information please contact the quality assurance and enhancement team.

Statutory requirements

Competition & markets authority

The competition and markets authority (CMA), formerly known as the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), is a government body designed to promote competition for the benefit of consumers. Following a consumer protection review of the higher education sector the CMA published advice regarding the application of consumer protection law within a university context in March 2015.

Read UK higher education providers - advice on consumer protection law

The CMA's advice outlines the responsibilities of the institution during a student's application, offer and enrolment and the information which a student should be provided with during each stage. 

In particular the CMA outlines the institutions responsibilities to provide material information about a programme to a potential applicant, this includes;

  • The programme title and award
  • Entry criteria
  • Core modules and an indication of likely elective modules
  • Details of the composition of the programme including the number of contact hours a student can expect and the likely workload factoring self-study
  • Details of the general level of experience of staff involved in delivering different aspects of the programme
  • The methods of assessment 
  • The length of the programme
  • Details of any accrediting bodies
  • Any terms, conditions or regulations of the university which a student may find surprising or which may prevent a student from completing their programme
  • Tuition fees (including expected increases year-on-year)
  • Any additional costs including field trips, equipment or consumables/bench fees

Material information provided to students becomes a binding term of the contract which the institution establishes with the student by making them an offer. Any subsequent changes to this information require explicit student consent.

The CMA have also published a guide to consumer rights for students.

If you have any queries regarding the CMA advice please contact the quality assurance and enhancement team.