Office for Fair Access


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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 ?
Combining the existing regulatory functions of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), the Office for Students (OfS) will act as a single body to regulate the sector with a strong focus on choice and competition.
United Kingdom : Applications open for chair of new Office for Students
6 million in 2009/10, a report by the Office for Fair Access said.
Universities forking out to support less well off students
Teesside University, in Middlesbrough, has lowered its fees following approval by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).
University reduces fee; Only one in North to make the move
The Office for Fair Access has yet to agree the measures universities will adopt to widen participation where the proposed fees are above the pounds 6,000 level.
Universities face 'big funding gap'
All universities planning to charge more than pounds 6,000 will have to have their fees approved by the Office for Fair Access (Offa), and sign access agreements showing how they plan to ensure poorer students are not priced out.
Students hit out at plans for pounds 9k fees; Newcastle joins list of universities charging top whack
To charge more than pounds 6,000, universities need approval from the Government's Office for Fair Access.
Charging top fees will secure our future, says John Moores
A study by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) reveals that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are not influenced by the size of a bursary on offer when picking universities.
Poorer students 'using smaller bursaries'
The Ormskirk-based establishment has been ranked in the UK top 10 by The Office For Fair Access on the back of figures which show it gives back 35% of all its tuition fees in the form of bursaries, scholarships and support packages.
District News; West Lancs
Newman is ranked in the top ten of all universities in a survey issued by the Office for Fair Access.
Why it pays to be at Newman
The Government has set up a new Office for Fair Access to university to make the admissions systems fairer.
EDUCATION: Official: Poor struggle to get into university
Figures from the Office for Fair Access revealed a list of institutions did not meet its goals last year to support candidates from less well-off backgrounds.
Poor students target missed
Universities had to submit plans for widening participation in higher education to the Office for Fair Access (Offa), which is today approving proposals for 139 institutions nationally.
High cost of graduating; Fees approved but universities will invest more
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