Higher education in further education colleges (FECs)

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.

FECs new to direct funding in 2012-13

We will be providing direct funding to 65 further education colleges that we did not fund in 2011-12. This happened as a result of the bidding exercise for a share from the ‘margin’ of up to 20,000 places for 2012-13.

In spring 2012 we ran a conference introducing these colleges to HEFCE. Presentations and relevant information from the conference are available.