QAA Scotland publishes list of institutions included in National Review

QAA Scotland has published the list of higher education institutions to be included in Phase 3 of the National Review of Awarding Arrangements.

In response to the systemic risks identified by the Targeted Peer Review (TPR) of the University of Glasgow undertaken in October 2025, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) commissioned QAA to undertake a national review of awarding arrangements in Scotland to provide assurance, beyond that provided by existing quality assurance mechanisms, that the issues identified through the TPR at the University of Glasgow do not represent a systemic issue within the Scottish tertiary education sector.

Institutions have been selected for inclusion through a sampling methodology according to criteria published on 27 April as part of the National Review's Guide for Institutions. Institutions were also given the opportunity to put themselves forward to be included within this sample. Institutions selected to undergo deep-dive reviews met several criteria within the sampling methodology.

It is important to emphasise that inclusion in the sample does not suggest that there is a concern about the awarding arrangements at an institution.

QAA has written to those institutions which have been included in the sample for the National Review (including those that volunteered to be included), and to those which have not, to inform them of this decision. Those included in the sample have also been provided with details and timescales for their review processes, and have been asked to complete a self-evaluation questionnaire.

Phase 3 of the National Review will not result in formal judgements about the academic standards of institutions' awards but will result in the identification of recommendations for action to address any areas for development or weaknesses and areas of good practice.

The following institutions have been included in the sample for the National Review of Awarding Arrangements in Scotland:

• Abertay University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Heriot-Watt University
• Robert Gordon University
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• University of St Andrews
• University of Stirling
• University of the West of Scotland