Deadlines

Within five months and two weeks of a provider’s financial year end

Annual Financial Return

Registered providers (excluding further education colleges and sixth form colleges) need to submit financial data consistent with their latest audited financial statements, forecast financial and student number data, and other relevant contextual information, including signed, audited financial statements and the management letter from its external auditor. The data is used to monitor the financial viability and sustainability of providers.

Find out more about the Annual Financial Return

Aligned with ESFA deadline

Individual Learner Record (ILR) data return

Registered further education and sixth form colleges need to submit details of individual students and the courses they are studying. The data underpins our regulatory approach, including metrics used to monitor condition B3 (student outcomes).

Find out more about the ILR data return

16 August

Graduate Outcomes Survey (2022-23): Cohort D

Providers will need to submit and approve contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed.

See the HESA website

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23 August
or two calendar months after the date of the provider’s registration (whichever is later)

Discover Uni record (formerly Unistats) (2024-25)

Providers will need to submit information about courses that they will offer to their students. This helps prospective higher education students to make decisions about what and where to study.

See further information on the HESA website

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18 October

Annual fee information

Providers intending to charge fees above the basic fee level for 2025-26 will need to submit information on the maximum fees that they wish to charge ‘qualifying persons’ in connection with each ‘qualifying course’ provided in 2025-26.

The data is used to fulfil the duty in section 11 of HERA.

Guidance on submission requirements will be published on the OfS website in the autumn.

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1 November

Student record (2023-24)

Providers will need to submit details of individual students and the courses they are studying.

The data collected underpins the OfS’s regulatory approach.

See further information on the HESA website

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

8 November

Medical and Dental Students survey 2024

Provider with eligible medicine or dentistry courses will need to submit data relating to the intake of medical and dental students.

Only providers with eligible medicine or dentistry courses will be asked to submit this return; a nil return will not be required from other providers. 

The data is used to monitor medical and dental recruitment and to inform funding allocations. 

Guidance on submission requirements will be published on the OfS website in the autumn.

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15 November

Graduate Outcomes Survey (2023-24) - Cohort A

Providers will need to engage with the Graduate Outcomes survey, including submitting and approving contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice.

See further information on the HESA website

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For providers that have completed the Student record

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For providers that have completed the Student record

18 November

Staff record (2023-24)

Providers will need to submit demographic and contract information for academic staff they employ and their governors.

The data is used by the OfS and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Education, to understand the makeup of the academic and research workforce.

See further information on the HESA website

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

18 November

Aggregate offshore record (2023-24)

A provider will need to submit information about the number of students studying overseas who are either registered with it or studying towards its awards.

The data is used to understand the nature and extent of providers’ offshore activity and for general monitoring purposes.

See further information on the HESA website

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

National Student Survey (NSS) 2025

A provider will need to:

1. Populate its NSS 2025 sample templates with contact details for all students on its target list.
2. Review and/or update its NSS provider contact details.
3. Submit its ‘My survey options’ form.

Instructions on how to supply this information will be included in the NSS 2025 set-up guide to be issued in late October 2024 by the contractor working on behalf of the OfS and the UK funding and regulatory bodies.

The NSS is used to improve the student experience and inform student choice. It is a key component of the quality and regulatory landscape in UK higher education and is used to support public accountability.

See further information

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Prevent accountability and data return

Providers will need to submit a set of declarations confirming that they have continued to show due regard to the Prevent duty.

They will also need to submit data on key areas of the Prevent duty: welfare, events and external speakers, and training.

These are used to provide assurance that providers continue to demonstrate due regard to the Prevent duty.

For all providers that have received both a detailed assessment outcome and Prevent review meeting outcome by 1 August 2024.

See further information

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

Graduate Outcomes Survey (2023-24) - Cohort A

Providers will need to engage with the Graduate Outcomes survey, including submitting and approving contact details for students who have completed their studies, who will then be surveyed.

For further education and sixth form colleges, initial contact details will be sourced from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) but will still need checking.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is used to understand student progression and outcomes, including to inform student choice.

See further information on the HESA website

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For further education and sixth form colleges only

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For further education and sixth form colleges only

Higher Education Students Early Statistics survey 2024-25 (HESES24)

Providers will need to submit data on the number of higher education students studying in the 2024-25 academic year.

The data is used to inform funding allocations.

Updated guidance on submission requirements will be published on the OfS website in the autumn.

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TRAC 2023-24

Providers will need to submit a Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) return that has been reviewed and approved as set out in TRAC guidance.

The data is used to understand the application of costs across activity, including cross subsidies in higher education. It is also used by UKRI and other public funders for funding purposes.

See the TRAC guidance

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Only providers that were required to submit a TRAC return for 2022-23

Annual capital monitoring 2024-25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025): Annual report sign-off

This is used to provide assurance that capital funding has been used in line with OfS terms and conditions of funding, and to evidence the impact of capital grants at individual providers.

Further information about annual reporting will be published in spring 2025. The format will be similar to previous years.

If the monitoring information is not submitted by the deadline, the OfS will seek to reclaim the capital funding provided during the year.

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All providers in receipt of OfS competitive capital funding in financial year 2024-25.

All providers in receipt of OfS formula capital allocation in financial year 2024-25.

Provider profile (2024-25)

A provider will need to submit information about the location of its campuses and its internal organisation. This data allows the OfS and others to understand the geographic distribution of higher education.

See further information

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)

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(excluding further education and sixth form colleges)