You are in :

Higher education in further education colleges

We recognise that further education colleges (FECs) are important providers of higher education (HE) courses, and we support them to develop strategic HE activity. This work aims to help them build on strengths, develop distinctive provision, respond to local demand, develop education and training in higher-level skills, widen participation, and increase the accessibility of HE.

How HEFCE funds HE in FECs

We fund student numbers at FECs either directly through a teaching grant or indirectly through a franchise agreement with another institution. In many cases FECs have both directly and indirectly funded students.

Where the students are funded directly, the FEC is responsible for the administration of these places, including the nature and quality of the teaching, the student experience, and data returns on student numbers. Where the students are funded indirectly, this responsibility lies with the institution that has franchised out the student places.

Unless there were exceptional circumstances, indirect funding arrangements should provide colleges with security of funding and student numbers for at least three years. Institutions report on this through their annual accountability return.

Our frequently asked questions about HE in FECs explain these funding arrangements in more detail.

Key facts about HE in FECs

  • In 2007-08 113,000 students based on full person equivalents (FPEs) undertook HEFCE-funded HE programmes in FECs.
  • 63 per cent of students studied foundation degrees and sub-degree programmes such as HNC and HNDs.
  • While 48 per cent of students were part-time, a majority of students doing first degrees and foundation degrees were full-time.
  • The number of students at FECs enrolled on HE courses varies considerably - 104 colleges had less than 200 students based on FPE, and 26 had more than 1,000 based on FPE out of a total of 271.
  • Half of this provision (based on FPE) is funded indirectly through an HEI.

Policy and higher education strategies

In 2010 colleges submitted to HEFCE strategies for the way they run HE programmes. Information in the strategies is used to inform discussions between HEFCE and colleges, and helps colleges prepare for their audits by the Quality Assurance Agency.

HEFCE requested the strategies because a consultation on HE in FECs we ran in 2006 showed that colleges shared our view that a strategic approach to the delivery of HE in FECs would enhance and strengthen the role of colleges.

In 2009 our request for HE in FEC strategies provided detailed guidance on our expectations for HE strategies at FECs. We have published an analysis of a sample of these strategies.

Analysis of further education colleges' higher education strategies

[ Download Analysis of further education colleges' higher education strategies as Adobe PDF 114K | Download Analysis of further education colleges' higher education strategies as MS Word 76K ]

In spite of the relatively small number of places they offer, FECs are important in widening participation, including delivering HE in areas where there are no higher education institutions. Not only this, but they also offer programmes that are central to enhancing student skills and employability.

In order to support the development of good practice in the delivery of HE by FECs, we have funded several projects about leadership, management, governance.

Further information

For further information please contact Sarbani Banerjee, tel 0117 931 7056, e-mail s.banerjee@hefce.ac.uk.

Last updated 6 October 2011