Office for Fair Access


Also found in: Dictionary, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Office for Fair Access

An independent, non-departmental public body (arm’s-length body, quango) which promotes and safeguards fair access to higher education for lower-income and other under-represented groups (after the introduction of higher tuition fees in 2006–07), by facilitating outreach work and financial support.

Access agreements cover full-time undergraduate courses and Postgraduate Certificate in Education and Initial Teacher Training courses for home/EU students at English universities and colleges.
References in periodicals archive ?
The Office For Fair Access (Offa) confirmed that 12 unnamed universities, all of whom were planning to charge over this threshold, had expressed an interest in reducing their fees.
UNIVERSITIES 'CONSIDERING LOWER FEES' Sites swayed by incentive offer
Last week all universities wanting to charge over pounds 6,000 had to submit their tuition fee plans to the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).
MP hits out at ministers' 'broken promise' on tuition fees
The Trust also called for the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) to remain independent after the higher education scheme Aimhigher was scrapped.
Private pupils 22 times more likely to enter top university
A study by the Office for Fair Access (Offa) said the gap between the proportions of rich and poor youngsters attending the UK's leading institutions has widened since the 1990s.
Equality gap remains at top universities
A study by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) said the gap between the number of rich and poor youngsters attending the UK's elite institutions, including Durham, is getting wider.
Wealth affects choice of uni; Elite establishments attract affluent teens
Sir Martin Harris, former vice-chancellor of Manchester University, was named last month as head of the new Office for Fair Access to university.
Will new watchdog have teeth ?
Up-front tuition fees would be abolished for full-time students and a new Office for Fair Access will assist those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
FIGHT OVER UNIVERSITY FEES HIKE
The Office For Fair Access has approved plans by bosses at Warwick University to charge pounds 9,000 a year for almost all courses - the maximum universities are allowed to charge.
University fees hike approved
The Government set an ultimate cap at pounds 9,000, requiring institutions charging above pounds 6,000 to have their arrangements for widening access approved by the Office for Fair Access.
Quality is the key for universities
The government''s proposals will also damage the widening participation agenda, as the Office for Fair Access, which regulates university admissions will be scrapped.
Bad news for city; emails&letters
The report has been released by the higher education equal opportunities "watchdog", the Office for Fair Access, which looked at the first year universities were allowed to charge tuition fees of up to pounds 3,000.
Uni is top of list for effort
The government has announced that Professor Sir Martin Harris has been appointed as the first director of the Office for Fair Access (Offa).
More Labour bureaucracy
Medical browser ?
Full browser ?