Higher Education Act 2004
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
7 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Research in Arts and Humanities
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Transfer to Council of property etc of Arts and Humanities Research Board
Expenses of Council
Returns, reports etc. by Council to Secretary of State
Pensions
Accounts and records of Council
Northern Ireland: reserved matters
Activities outside United Kingdom
Charter of Council
Research in arts and humanities
Part 2 — Review of student complaints
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Qualifying institutions
Qualifying complaints
Designation of operator of student complaints scheme
Duties of designated operator
Duties of qualifying institutions
Termination of designation
Privilege in relation to law of defamation
Provision where designation of operator to cease
Extension of time for bringing discrimination proceedings
Exclusion of visitor’s jurisdiction in relation to student complaints
Institutions that cease to be qualifying institutions
Interpretation of Part 2
Part 3 — Student fees and fair access
Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Meaning of “
Duty of Secretary of State to impose condition as to student fees, etc.
Condition to be imposed by English funding bodies
Transitional cases in which condition must not allow fees to exceed basic amount
Regulations under section 24(6) relating to basic or higher amount
Power of National Assembly for Wales to impose conditions as to student fees, etc.
Condition that may be required to be imposed by
Sections 23 to 26: supplementary provisions
Meaning of “the relevant authority”
Director of Fair Access to Higher Education
General duties of relevant authority
Contents of plans
Approval of plans
Duration of plans
Variation of plans
Enforcement of plans...
Enforcement of plans: Wales
Review of decisions made by relevant authority
Provision of information
Provision of reports, information and advice by the relevant authority in relation to Wales
Interpretation of Part 3
Part 4 — Student support
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — Miscellaneous and general
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Exclusion of visitor’s jurisdiction in relation to staff disputes
Orders and regulations
General interpretation
Consequential amendments
Repeals
Financial provisions
Commencement
Extent
Short title, etc.
Schedules
The designated operator must provide a scheme for the review...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Designated operator must provide a student complaints review scheme Statutory regulator
The designated operator must not make any change to a...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Designated operator must consult and notify before changing scheme provisions Statutory regulator
The designated operator must comply with any requirements that the...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Designated operator must follow scheme requirements Statutory regulator
(1) The designated operator must— (a) produce an annual report...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Designated operator must produce and publish annual report on the scheme Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State or...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Designated body must conduct reviews when Secretary of State requests Statutory regulator
The designated operator must provide the Secretary of State or...
- Provide information about yourself and your scheme when requested by the Secretary of State or Assembly
(1) Where this Part of this Schedule applies—
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Restrictions on changing or ending student complaints scheme agreements Statutory regulator
Browse 50 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
This Schedule sets out the conditions referred to in section...
Condition A is that the body corporate is a suitable...
Condition B is that the body corporate is capable of...
This Schedule sets out the conditions referred to in section...
(1) A scheme does not fail to meet the conditions...
In this Schedule— “complainant” means the person making a qualifying...
(1) Regulations may amend the preceding provisions of this Schedule....
Condition A is that at any given time the scheme...
(1) Condition B is that the scheme provides that every...
Condition C is that the scheme requires every qualifying complaint...
(1) Condition D is that the scheme requires a reviewer—...
Condition E is that the scheme provides that, in a...
Condition F is that the scheme requires a reviewer to...
Condition G is that the scheme does not require complainants...
Condition H is that any fees payable under the scheme...
This Schedule sets out the duties referred to in section...
Where by virtue of this Schedule the designated operator is...
The designated operator must publish the latest version of the...
(1) The duties set out in this Schedule apply from...
This Part of this Schedule sets out the circumstances in...
(1) This Part of this Schedule applies where—
The original instrument of termination is superseded only if—
(1) An agreement made under paragraph 2 may not be...
(1) Notice given under paragraph 4 or 6 may not...
The designation is terminated if the designated operator and the...
In this case the designation is terminated on the date...
(1) The designation is terminated if the designated operator gives...
In this case the designation is terminated on the date...
(1) The designation is terminated if the Secretary of State...
In this case the designation is terminated on the date...
The designation is terminated if the designated operator ceases to...
In this case the designation is terminated on the date...
The Director and his staff are not to be regarded...
(1) The Director is to hold and vacate office in...
There are to be paid to the Director such remuneration...
(1) The Director may appoint such staff as he may...
The Director and the Higher Education Funding Council for England...
The Secretary of State may make payments to the Director....
(1) The Director must provide to the Secretary of State,...
(1) It is the duty of the Director—
In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958 (definition...
In Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000...
In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (departments...
In Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (which lists...
In Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act...
In section 41 of the Patents Act 1977 (amount of...
In section 2 of the Further Education Act 1985 (power...
Omit section 26 of the 1998 Act (imposition of conditions...
In section 28 of the 1998 Act (interpretation of Chapter...
In section 42 of the 1998 Act (orders and regulations),...
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Office for Students
Independent regulator for higher education in England. Registers and monitors higher education providers. Ensures students receive quality education and value for money.
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Regulators
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