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UK Law Reference
Higher Education and Research Act 2017 overview

Higher Education and Research Act 2017 — full text by section

Consolidated text as published on legislation.gov.uk, snapshot 2026-08-24. Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk

138 sections. Default extent: E+W+S+N.I..

  1. s.A1Duty to take steps to secure freedom of speech
  2. s.A2Code of practice
  3. s.A3Duty to promote the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom
  4. s.A4Duties of constituent institutions
  5. s.A5Duty to take steps to secure freedom of speech
  6. s.A6Code of practice
  7. s.1The Office for Students
  8. s.2General duties
  9. s.3The register(E+W)
  10. s.4Registration procedure
  11. s.5The initial and general ongoing registration conditions
  12. s.6The specific ongoing registration conditions
  13. s.7Proportionate conditions
  14. s.8Mandatory ongoing registration conditions for all providers
  15. s.9Mandatory transparency condition for certain providers
  16. s.10Mandatory fee limit condition for certain providers
  17. s.11Duty to publish a list regarding the fee limit condition
  18. s.12Mandatory access and participation plan condition for certain institutions
  19. s.13Other initial and ongoing registration conditions(E+W)
  20. s.14Public interest governance condition
  21. s.15Power to impose monetary penalties
  22. s.16Suspension of registration
  23. s.17Suspension: procedure
  24. s.18De-registration by the OfS
  25. s.19De-registration by the OfS: procedure
  26. s.20De-registration: appeals
  27. s.21Refusal to renew an access and participation plan
  28. s.22Voluntary de-registration
  29. s.23Assessing the quality of, and the standards applied to, higher education(E+W)
  30. s.24Quality Assessment Committee(E+W)
  31. s.25Rating the quality of, and the standards applied to, higher education
  32. s.26Report on operation of section 25 schemes(E+W)
  33. s.27Performance of assessment functions by a designated body(E+W)
  34. s.28Power of designated body to charge fees(E+W)
  35. s.29Power to approve an access and participation plan(E+W)
  36. s.30Duration of a plan
  37. s.31Content of a plan: fees
  38. s.32Content of a plan: equality of opportunity
  39. s.33Variation of a plan
  40. s.34Review of decisions on approval or variation
  41. s.35Advice on good practice
  42. s.36Duty to protect institutional autonomy
  43. s.37Power of Secretary of State to require a report
  44. s.38Duty to monitor etc the provision of arrangements for student transfers
  45. s.39Financial support for registered higher education providers
  46. s.40Financial support for certain institutions
  47. s.41Financial support: terms and conditions
  48. s.42Authorisation to grant degrees etc
  49. s.43Supplementary powers with authorisation
  50. s.44Variation or revocation of section 42 authorisation
  51. s.45Variation or revocation of other authorisations to grant degrees etc
  52. s.46Grant, variation or revocation of authorisation: advice on quality etc
  53. s.47Grant of authorisation: notification of new providers
  54. s.48Variation or revocation of authorisation: procedure
  55. s.49Appeals against variation or revocation of authorisation
  56. s.50Validation by authorised providers
  57. s.51Validation by the OfS
  58. s.52Sections 42 to 49: consequential amendments
  59. s.53Unrecognised degrees
  60. s.54Unrecognised degrees: supplementary
  61. s.55Saving for right to grant degrees under the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533
  62. s.56Use of “university” in title of institution
  63. s.57Unauthorised use of “university” in title of institution etc
  64. s.58Revocation of authorisation to use “university” title
  65. s.59Revocation of authorisation: procedure
  66. s.60Appeals against revocation of authorisation
  67. s.61Entering and searching premises with a warrant
  68. s.62Power to require information from unregistered providers
  69. s.63Cooperation and information sharing by the OfS(E+W)
  70. s.64Duty to compile and make available higher education information
  71. s.65Duty to publish higher education information(E+W)
  72. s.66Designated body(E+W)
  73. s.67Power of designated body to charge fees
  74. s.67APower for the OfS to publish notices, decisions and reports
  75. s.67BPublication of decision to conduct or terminate investigation
  76. s.67CProtection from defamation claims
  77. s.68Duty to monitor and report on financial sustainability
  78. s.69Studies for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness
  79. s.69AGeneral functions relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom
  80. s.69BFunctions of the OfS in relation to students’ unions
  81. s.69DOverseas funding: registered higher education providers
  82. s.69EOverseas funding: students’ unions
  83. s.70Registration fees
  84. s.71Other fees
  85. s.72Retention of fee related income
  86. s.73Costs recovery
  87. s.74Grants from the Secretary of State
  88. s.75Regulatory framework
  89. s.76Secretary of State's power to confer supplementary functions
  90. s.77Secretary of State's power to give directions
  91. s.78Power to require information and advice from the OfS(E+W)
  92. s.79Power to require application-to-acceptance information
  93. s.80Use of application-to-acceptance information for research purposes
  94. s.81Higher Education Funding Council for England
  95. s.82The Director of Fair Access to Higher Education
  96. s.83Meaning of “English higher education provider” etc
  97. s.84Designation of other providers of higher education(E+W)
  98. s.85Other definitions(E+W)
  99. s.86Power to make alternative payments
  100. s.87Section 86: consequential amendments(E+W)
  101. s.88Other amendments relating to financial support(E+W)
  102. s.89Qualifying institutions for purposes of student complaints scheme(E+W)
  103. s.90Higher education corporations in England
  104. s.91United Kingdom Research and Innovation
  105. s.92The Councils of UKRI
  106. s.93UK research and innovation functions
  107. s.94Financial support: supplementary provision
  108. s.95Exercise of functions by science and humanities Councils
  109. s.96Exercise of functions by Innovate UK
  110. s.97Exercise of functions by Research England
  111. s.98Exercise of functions by the Councils: supplementary
  112. s.99UKRI's research and innovation strategy
  113. s.100Councils' strategic delivery plans
  114. s.101Grants to UKRI from the Secretary of State
  115. s.102Secretary of State's power to give directions to UKRI
  116. s.103Haldane principle, balanced funding and advice from UKRI
  117. s.104General duties
  118. s.105Power to require information and advice from UKRI
  119. s.106Studies for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness
  120. s.107Provision of research services
  121. s.108Representing the United Kingdom
  122. s.109Predecessor bodies and preservation of symbolic property
  123. s.110Amendments to powers to support research
  124. s.111Definitions
  125. s.112Cooperation and information sharing between the OfS and UKRI
  126. s.113Joint working
  127. s.114Advice to Northern Ireland departments
  128. s.115Transfer schemes
  129. s.116Power to make consequential provision etc
  130. s.117Transitional, transitory or saving provision
  131. s.118Pre-commencement consultation
  132. s.119Regulations
  133. s.120Directions
  134. s.121General interpretation
  135. s.122Minor and consequential amendments
  136. s.123Extent
  137. s.124Commencement
  138. s.125Short title