Subscriptions for 2024
Core subscription fee rates
The information below sets out the core fee rates for 2024. For further education colleges and sixth form colleges which provide higher education ("HE in FE providers") there is a reduction of 30% in the core subscription fee. This is to reflect the different regulatory and funding environment in FE.
The Board agreed an increase in core subscription fee rates for 2024 of 9.0% for all providers
| Student numbers | Band |
Core subscription fee (£) |
Core subscription fee (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to and including 200 students | AA | 566 | 396 |
| 201 to 500 students | A | 1,168 | 818 |
| 501 to 1,500 students | B | 2,358 | 1,650 |
| 1,501 to 6,000 students | C | 12,677 | 8,874 |
| 6,001 to 12,000 students | D | 25,152 | 17,607 |
| 12,001 to 20,000 students | E | 41,807 | 29,265 |
| 20,001 to 30,000 students | F | 63,195 | 44,237 |
| 30,001 to 50,000 students | G | 75,099 | 52,570 |
| 50,001 to 100,000 students | H | 92,415 | 64,690 |
| More than 100,000 students | I | 141,989 | 99,393 |
All providers of School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITTs) pay the same core subscription fee for 2024 of £330.
Providers that are brought into membership of our Scheme because their HE provision is franchised from another provider and are not on the OfS Register, or because they are a provider in England that is not on the OfS Register but is providing a course leading to an award of another member that is in England, pay a core subscription fee for 2024 of £330.
Data source and period
Where possible we take the student numbers we use to put providers into bands from the most recent relevant published data from HESA or HESES data returns. This includes students reported through the HESA Aggregate Offshore record, and from 2022 those in HESA’s alternative provider data. We use the 2021/22 reporting period for 2024 subscriptions.
Where a member does not report their student numbers through these returns we use self-reporting. We reserve the right to review and adjust self-reported figures following a cross-checking process.
Case-related element of subscriptions
Subscriptions may also include a smaller case-related element which is charged where the number of complaints we received from students at the provider in the previous year exceeded the band's point threshold. Each case that students bring to us above that number incurs "points" and then the number of points the provider is over the threshold determines the fee.
In 2023 we reviewed the case element of subscriptions to make sure that it is continuing to operate as fairly as possible for all providers. To recognise the general increase in the volume of complaints in providers, we have raised the points threshold for each band by 10%. The higher thresholds apply to cases received in or after 2024 (for the thresholds applying to cases received in 2023, please see subscriptions information for 2023).
For cases received in 2024, there is one point for each case that is not eligible for us to review, two points where the case is settled or withdrawn before it goes to full review and five points where we fully review the case. Where we decide not to review a complaint because, for example, we decide that the complaint is intended to cause disruption or annoyance, it will not incur any points. Group and linked complaints will be dealt with on a case by case basis. We will make the final decision about which category any case falls into. We may need to make some assumptions at year end, which we will change later as appropriate (for example if we find we can settle a case that we had expected to fully review).
From 2024 each point over the threshold is worth £250.
| Band | 2024 points threshold |
|---|---|
| AA/Providers not on the banding system | 6 |
| A | 6 |
| B | 7 |
| C | 11 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 43 |
| F | 65 |
| G | 89 |
| H | 166 |
| I | 462 |
We pro-rate the points threshold for providers joining our Scheme part way through the year. However, we do not reduce the points threshold below five points. This is to make sure that no provider pays the case element for the first case we receive during the calendar year.
We normally invoice for the case element each year in the Spring for the previous year's cases. We provide interim statement information in-year to help with record keeping.
If you have any queries about our subscriptions please contact subscriptions@oiahe.org.uk.
Non-payment of OIA subscriptions
Under the Higher Education Act 2004, providers that are members of the OIA Scheme are required to pay our subscriptions. In the rare event that a provider does not pay, we will pursue payment in line with our procedure for non-payment of OIA subscriptions.
We are funded by subscriptions from higher education providers that are members of our Scheme. Our Board sets the level of subscriptions each year. There are two elements to the subscription fee, a core subscription and a case-related element.
For the purposes of subscriptions, our year runs from January to December. Where appropriate, rates will be pro-rated, for example where a provider joins our Scheme part way through a year.
If you have any queries, please email subscriptions@oiahe.org.uk.