London Higher, representing over 70 higher education institutions and over 500,000 students, has responded to the Office for Students’ (OfS) consultation on its 2025-2030 strategy.
We welcome the Office for Students’ (OfS) commitment to quality, student experience, and financial sustainability, whilst highlighting key concerns in our consultation response. Maintaining high standards is vital to the strength and global reputation of the higher education sector in London and beyond.
However, this must be achieved through a regulatory strategy that acknowledges and mitigates the increasing administrative burden on institutions.
While students have expressed a desire for tailored learning experiences, universities must balance this with the need for effective delivery at scale. Full personalisation is neither financially viable nor practical, and a degree of standardisation is essential to maintain quality, ensure parity, and align student engagement with broader educational priorities.
We are particularly concerned about increased financial reporting requirements. This could disproportionately impact smaller providers and specialist institutions, whose lean teams may struggle to meet additional compliance demands.
While protecting students in the event of institutional market exit is crucial, we urge the OfS to prioritise prevention through proactive support for institutional financial resilience. London Higher advocates for a collaborative regulatory framework that enhances, rather than impedes, the sector’s ability to serve students and society.
