This Order, made by the Office for Students under the powers conferred by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, amends the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 2023 to authorize Hult International Business School Ltd to grant taught awards up to Master’s level in defined subjects, effective from 1st December 2025 and expiring on 31st December 2029.
Arguments For
It implements a regulatory decision by the Office for Students (OfS) following consultation over the quality and standards of higher education provided by Hult International Business School Ltd.
It grants specific, time-limited authorization for Hult to award taught degrees (up to Master's level) in defined subject areas, providing clarity and oversight to its operations.
The fixed term (2025 to 2029) allows for periodic regulatory review based on ongoing adherence to established standards, ensuring accountability.
Arguments Against
The fixed term might create administrative uncertainty for the institution, requiring renewal or further legislative action to maintain authorization beyond 2029.
Expanding or altering the scope of degree awarding powers requires continuous monitoring by the regulator, potentially increasing administrative burden on both the OfS and the institution.
The Order revises previous authorizations, which may imply that the original 2023 Order required subsequent refinement or that new subjects were requested for inclusion.
The Office for Students, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 42(1) and 44(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 1, makes the following Order.
The Office for Students has requested advice from the relevant body regarding the quality of, and standards applied to, higher education provided by the provider and has had regard to that advice in accordance with section 46(1)(a) and (b) and 46(7) of that Act.
The Office for Students has complied with the procedure on giving notifications in accordance with section 48 of that Act.
The Office for Students (OfS) issues this legislative Order using powers granted under Sections 42(1) and 44(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
Before making this decision, the OfS sought and considered advice from the relevant body concerning the quality and standards of the higher education delivered by Hult International Business School Ltd, adhering to specific requirements detailed in Section 46 of that Act.
Furthermore, the OfS confirmed compliance with the necessary notification procedures outlined in Section 48 of the Act.
- Citation and commencement
This Order may be cited as the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 2023 (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on 1st December 2025.
This new legislation has a formal title: the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 2023 (Amendment) Order 2025.
The rules and authorizations contained within this Order become legally effective starting on December 1st, 2025.
- Variation of the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 2023
This section introduces the main purpose of the Order, which is to make changes to the existing 2023 Order concerning Hult International Business School Ltd’s authority to award degrees.
(1) The Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 20232 is varied in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3) and (4).
The preceding 2023 Order governing Hult International Business School Ltd's degree-awarding powers is now officially modified according to the specific variations detailed in the subsequent paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this amending document.
(2) For article 2, substitute—
“2. Hult International Business School Ltd (registered company number 03005603) is authorised to grant taught awards of the kind mentioned in section 42(2)(c) of the said Act for taught awards up to and including master’s level for subjects related to— (a) business and management, (b) business computing, (c) psychology (non-specific), (d) economics, and (e) politics.”.
Article 2 of the original 2023 Order is replaced entirely.
The new provision authorizes Hult International Business School Ltd (company number 03005603) to formally grant taught qualifications, specifically up to the Master’s degree level, as defined under Section 42(2)(c) of the relevant Act.
The authorized subject areas for these degrees include business and management, business computing, non-specific psychology, economics, and politics.
(3) For article 3, substitute—
“3. The authorisation in article 2 is for a fixed term beginning on 1st December 2025 and expiring at the end of the day on 31st December 2029.”.
Article 3 of the previous Order is substituted with a new provision establishing a time limit for the authorization granted in the revised Article 2.
This authorization starts on December 1st, 2025, and will officially terminate at the conclusion of the day ending December 31st, 2029.
(4) Omit the Schedule.
Any Schedule that was previously attached to the 2023 Order is now formally removed and is no longer part of the governing document.
[Signatures and Date Block]
This section contains the formal signing details, indicating that Jean Arnold, Deputy Director of Quality for the Office for Students, signed the Order on October 1st, 2025.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order)
This Order varies the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Hult International Business School Ltd) Order 2023 to authorise Hult International Business School Ltd to grant the taught awards mentioned in article 2 of this Order for a fixed term beginning on 1st December 2025 and expiring at the end of the day on 31st December 2029.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on businesses and civil society organisations. The instrument has no impact on the public sector.
The explanatory note clarifies that the Order modifies the 2023 Order to specifically enable Hult International Business School Ltd to grant the listed taught awards between December 2025 and December 2029.
The note also confirms that since this instrument only modifies scope and timing for an already established institution, it has no measurable impact on businesses, civil society, or the public sector, therefore waiving the need for a formal impact assessment.
Related
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026
The Order established 500-metre safety zones around three offshore installations undergoing decommissioning and revoked safety zones for three other specific offshore features.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) (Emergency) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
The Secretary of State imposed immediate, temporary emergency restrictions prohibiting low-altitude flight below 1,500 feet over the M5 Avon Bridge area near Bristol, effective immediately via Statutory Instrument.
Read MoreCorrection Slip
The document formally corrected a cross-reference error within Regulation 13(5) of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2026.
Read MoreThe Diocese of Salisbury (Educational Endowments) (Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher’s House) Order 2026
The Secretary of State appointed the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education as trustee for the endowment funds of the former Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House and ordered that these assets be consolidated with existing diocesan educational endowments under uniform statutory trusts.
Read More