DEGREE AWARDING POWERS

The College is currently undertaking the process of applying for Degree Awarding Powers, or DAPs. This is the legal authority granted to a UK higher education provider, such as a college or university, to award its own degrees. An institution that holds these powers becomes what is known as a Recognised Body. This means the organisation becomes entirely responsible for:

  • Establishing the academic standards of the qualifications it offers.
  • Ensuring the quality of students’ learning and achievement.

In simple terms, having Degree Awarding Powers allows an institution not just to teach higher education courses, but also to confer the degrees themselves, with full national recognition and credibility.

There are three types of DAPs, which cover distinct levels of study:

  • FDAPs (Foundation Degree Awarding Powers) allows a provider to award degrees up to Level 5.
  • TDAPs (Taught Degree Awarding Powers) allows the awarding of undergraduate and master’s degrees (Levels 6 and 7).
  • RDAPs (Research Degree Awarding Powers) extends that authority to include doctoral degrees at Level 8.

CRC is seeking Full Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAPs) — the authority to award its own undergraduate and master’s degrees across the subject areas it teaches.

The Regulator

The Office for Students, often referred to as the OfS, is the independent regulator for higher education in England. It has the responsibility for protecting students’ interests and ensuring that every approved higher education provider delivers quality learning, academic rigour, and value for money.

The OfS has established a formal and rigorous process that any institution must follow if it wishes to apply for and secure Degree Awarding Powers. This process is designed to ensure that only institutions capable of maintaining national standards, independently and sustainably, are granted the authority to award degrees in their own name.

The Process

CRC is currently in the process of preparing its formal application for TDAPs. Once the application has been submitted, the OfS will conduct an initial assessment. Their task is to determine whether the evidence we provide demonstrates that CRC merits a full and detailed scrutiny process. If approved to proceed, a 12-month scrutiny period follows. During this time, the OfS examines, in a highly forensic way, whether the College can consistently uphold the standards required for awarding its own degrees. If the scrutiny is successful, the OfS may grant time-limited Degree Awarding Powers for a period of four years. After that, the College undergoes a further intensive review. Success at this stage results in Degree Awarding Powers being granted without a time limit. This is often called ‘Indefinite DAPs.’

The Key Test

Christ the Redeemer College must be able to evidence that it is: A self-critical, cohesive academic community with a proven commitment to the assurance of standards supported by effective quality systems. In this context, being self-critical is not a negative thing; it is positive and essential. It is a constructive and essential mechanism for ongoing enhancement, and it sits at the heart of what a mature academic institution does every day.

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The decision for Christ the Redeemer College to seek Full Taught Degree Awarding Powers is a bold and highly strategic step in the life of our institution. It reflects our confidence in the quality of what we do and our commitment to continual growth and improvement.

How to get involved?

The College would warmly welcome input from its stakeholders as it works through this significant project.