Subscriptions
Our subscription model is designed to reflect the diversity of our membership and, to a lesser extent, the number of complaints received about a provider, through a core subscription fee and a case-related element.
All providers pay a core subscription. For most providers this is based on student numbers (see Core subscription fee rates below for more information).
Core subscription levels are reviewed annually. In line with an upward trend over several years, we again saw a significant increase in the number of complaints we received in 2024, and we expect this to continue going forward. We continued to focus on handling cases as efficiently as possible. We are aware of the considerable financial challenges facing the higher education sector. Our Board carefully considered the resource needed to deal with our caseload alongside the financial pressures in the sector and agreed to freeze core subscription rates for 2025 for all providers.
Some providers also pay a case-related element of the subscription. Points are allocated to cases received, and a fee is payable for each point above a threshold for each band. The case-related element is payable when the number of points allocated to complaints received about the provider in the previous year exceeds the band’s points threshold. The number of points above the threshold determines the fee. The points allocated to a case are based on whether it is not eligible for us to review, is settled or withdrawn before it goes to full review, or is fully reviewed. This maintains the vital principle that there should be no link between the outcome of eligible cases and the amount of any fee paid.
2024 was the first year when the increase of 10% in the points threshold for each band was applied (increasing the number of points that can be incurred before case fees are payable) and the impact of this for us will only be seen in 2025. The Board felt it important to maintain a link between costs and increased complaints received and therefore agreed to make a small increase in the per point fee from £250 to £255 for cases received in 2025 (payable in 2026).
More details of our subscriptions arrangements can be found on our website.
| Student numbers | Band | Core subscription fee (£) (All Scheme members except as otherwise specified) |
Core subscription fee (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to and including 200 students | AA | 566 | 396 |
| 201 to 500 students | A | 1,168 | 818 |
| 501 to 1,500 students | B | 2,358 | 1,650 |
| 1,501 to 6,000 students | C | 12,677 | 8,874 |
| 6,001 to 12,000 students | D | 25,152 | 17,607 |
| 12,001 to 20,000 students | E | 41,807 | 29,265 |
| 20,001 to 30,000 students | F | 63,195 | 44,237 |
| 30,001 to 50,000 students | G | 75,099 | 52,570 |
| 50,001 to 100,000 students | H | 92,415 | 64,690 |
| More than 100,000 students | I | 141,989 | 99,393 |
| Student numbers | Band | Core subscription fee (£) (All Scheme members except as otherwise specified) |
Core subscription fee (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to and including 200 students | AA | 566 | 396 |
| 201 to 500 students | A | 1,168 | 818 |
| 501 to 1,500 students | B | 2,358 | 1,650 |
| 1,501 to 6,000 students | C | 12,677 | 8,874 |
| 6,001 to 12,000 students | D | 25,152 | 17,607 |
| 12,001 to 20,000 students | E | 41,807 | 29,265 |
| 20,001 to 30,000 students | F | 63,195 | 44,237 |
| 30,001 to 50,000 students | G | 75,099 | 52,570 |
| 50,001 to 100,000 students | H | 92,415 | 64,690 |
| More than 100,000 students | I | 141,989 | 99,393 |
The core subscription fee for 2024 for the following providers was £330 (£330 in 2025):
- Providers of School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITTs)
- Providers that are brought into membership of our Scheme because their designated HE provision is franchised from another provider, and (if they are based in England) they are not on the OfS Register
- Providers in England that are not on the OfS Register but are providing a course leading to an award of another member of our Scheme that is in England.