UK Government Cracks Down on ‘Rogue’ University Franchises
2 Min Read
The UK Government is finally taking decisive action to clean up a murky corner of the higher education system: the so-called ‘rogue’ university franchises. These are external providers, often private colleges, that subcontract teaching from established universities. While the system can be valuable for widening access, it has become notorious in some quarters for poor standards, high dropout rates, and allegations of exploitation and fraud, costing the taxpayer a reported £2 million in 2022/23 alone.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has declared that the days of operators treating students “as a route to fast cash, not as people investing in their future,” are over. Under the new reforms, all franchised providers with 300 or more students will soon be forced to register with the Office for Students (OfS) and adhere to the same rigorous quality standards as fully-fledged universities.
Failure to meet these standards will result in a complete cut-off from accessing student loan funding from the 2028/29 academic year. The government is directly targeting courses showing “clear signs of exploitation,” such as admitting students with inadequate English skills or low attendance, often with the primary aim of accessing public money through student loans. The OfS is also strengthening its own regulatory oversight, ensuring that the universities holding the main franchise are more accountable for the quality of their partners.
The expansion in this area has been significant, with the number of students on these franchised courses more than doubling in five years. Now, with the government pushing forward its ‘Plan for Change’, the focus is firmly on restoring the integrity and reputation of Britain’s world-class higher education sector. Providers have been given a clear ultimatum: clean up or close down.
The new rules mark a crucial turning point, shifting the balance away from unchecked commercial gain and back towards student outcomes and responsible use of public funds. By bringing these large-scale franchise operations under mandatory regulation, the government is not simply tweaking a policy; it is fundamentally asserting that all students, regardless of where their course is delivered, deserve a high-quality education and a fair shot at a better future. This necessary crackdown reinforces the UK’s commitment to academic excellence and fiscal accountability, ensuring that public money genuinely supports educational investment, not exploitation.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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