Universities will face sanctions if not enough students go on to graduate-level jobs within 15 months, if too many drop out or fail to earn degrees, England’s higher education regulator has warned.
The Office for Students published its new tests of “low quality” subjects that could see large fines or deregistration imposed on universities where fewer than 60% of graduates in a university’s subject area find work, set up their own business or go on to further study after finishing their course, with allowances made for those with caring responsibilities or travelling.
Sanctions could also be applied by the OfS against universities in England where more than one in five full-time undergraduates drop out, or where more than one in four of those who complete the course ultimately fail to gain a degree.
The OfS said it would investigate subjects at colleges and universities that failed to meet any of the three thresholds, which come into force next week, and examine the reasons for the results. The regulator said that it “has the power to intervene and impose sanctions for a breach of its conditions of registration” in cases where it remained unhappy with an institution’s explanations.
“This should include the wide range of benefits that students take from their university education, including meaningful and satisfying careers which have value far beyond income,” the UUK spokesperson said.
Different thresholds will be applied for part-time or postgraduate courses or apprenticeships. Figures for 2020-21 published by the OfS showed that just over 3% of full-time undergraduates were studying at universities below the continuation measure, while 2.5% were on courses below the employment threshold.