Frequently asked questions about the application process 

Our handbooks for educational oversight contain full information about the review process. There is also a guidance note for applications for educational oversight by QAA with further information about eligibility criteria and fees.

If you have any questions relating to the work of the UK Border Agency (UKBA), please contact UKBA directly or refer to their website.

For any questions relating to the work of the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), visit their website or email Tier4@ISI.net.

1  We've missed the deadline for applications. Are we still able to apply for educational oversight from QAA?

2  How do I know whether to apply to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) or the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)?

3  My organisation offers a mix of further education and higher education qualifications. Will we have to undergo two separate reviews?

4  I run a language school. Is my college eligible for educational oversight by QAA?

5  How soon after applying will QAA review my organisation?

6  When will we know our review dates?

7  Will QAA provide guidance on the review process?

8  There is more than one review handbook, which handbook is most appropriate for me?

9  Is there a judgement resulting from the application form?

10  When will we need to pay for the next stage of this process?

11  What are the fees for educational oversight from QAA?

12  How will reviews be prioritised?

13  Can I apply to be a reviewer?

14  Who do I contact for further information?

It is likely that QAA will accept new applications for educational oversight during summer 2012. Reviews would be scheduled for 2013. We will announce the date for new applications on our website, or you can register your interest by emailing edoversight@qaa.ac.uk.

If most of your qualifications are at level 3 or below (further education), then you should apply to ISI. If your qualifications are mainly at level 4 or above (higher education), then you should apply to QAA.

In consultation with UKBA, it has been agreed that institutions that offer predominantly higher level qualifications at level 6 and above of the NQF/QCF should also apply to QAA for educational oversight review. For more details please see the joint statement from educational oversight bodies.

QAA and ISI are working closely to ensure a smooth process for applicants for educational oversight. If you are unclear about which designated body to apply to, please check our guidance note or contact QAA at edoversight@qaa.ac.uk. Organisations need only apply to ISI or QAA. If you apply to the wrong designated body, ISI or QAA will pass on your application form to the other designated body.

No. ISI and QAA are working together to ensure a commonality of approach. The information you provide in your application will confirm whether your organisation predominantly offers higher education programmes – and is eligible for educational oversight by QAA – or predominantly offers further education or English language programmes, and is eligible for educational oversight by ISI. Where there is uncertainty about the mix of programmes, please check the joint statement from educational oversight bodies. 

No. You will need to apply to ISI.

QAA is likely to carry out the second round of educational oversight reviews in 2013.

Applicants who proceed to the review stage of educational oversight by QAA will receive a letter at least 12 weeks in advance of their review visit.

Our handbooks for educational oversight reviews are available on the QAA website and contain full information about the review process. Applicants who are accepted to go forward for a review will be invited to a briefing event provided by QAA. The briefing event will include information about educational oversight reviews and self-evaluation.

Assuming that your application for educational oversight by QAA has been approved and that you proceed to the review stage, QAA will write to you confirming which type of educational oversight review will apply to you. The majority of applicants will undergo a Review for Educational Oversight (REO).

There are eligibility criteria that applicants must satisfy. Applicants must:

• be registered at Companies House or be a registered charity
• have the majority of their students studying higher education programmes
• submit a completed application form with supporting documentation and fee by the deadline for applications (to be confirmed).

The application process is intended to be both developmental and judgemental. Judgemental in the sense that:

• QAA and UKBA can be assured that an applicant is a genuine organisation 
• it distinguishes between whether an applicant should be reviewed by QAA or inspected by ISI
• applicants have an appropriate quality assurance framework to proceed to a review.

This last point is also the developmental aspect. It is in nobody's interest for organisations that do not have a recognisably coherent quality assurance framework to progress to a review. This is not to say that if an applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria, they will gain confidence judgements in their review.

Peers will carefully consider the application forms on an initial basis and come to a view on the eligibility of an applicant for educational oversight, and whether there is a sufficiently coherent and robust quality assurance framework against which a QAA review team could undertake a review.

The review fee will be payable in full within 30 days of being notified of the date of your review.

Please see the guidance for applicants and fee structure.

All second round educational oversight reviews by QAA will take place between January and December 2013. We request on your application form that you let us know your term and exam dates. All QAA reviews include meetings with students and so we will need to schedule your review during term time. Where possible we will try to accommodate requests for specific dates for a review, but we are unable to guarantee that we can accommodate all requests.

Please see the reviewer appointments page to check whether we are currently recruiting reviewers for this method.

If you have any further questions about educational oversight from QAA, please email edoversight@qaa.ac.uk or phone 01452 557098.