The Power to Award Degrees etc. (MLA College Ltd) Order 2026

Published: Fri 23rd Oct 26

Authorized MLA College Ltd to grant taught awards and degrees in specific subjects for a four-year period starting 25 October 2026.

This Order grants MLA College Ltd the legal authority to award taught degrees up to and including master's level in specific subject areas.

It applies to the college's operations in engineering and technology, business and management, and geography, earth, and environmental studies.

The authorization is issued by the Office for Students and remains in effect for a fixed four-year period ending in October 2030.

Arguments For

The Office for Students states that it has requested and had regard to advice from the relevant body concerning the quality and standards of higher education provided by MLA College Ltd.
The Order cites section 42(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 as the legal basis for granting these powers to a provider.
Proponents may suggest that granting these powers allows the institution to operate more independently by awarding its own qualifications rather than relying on a partner university.

Arguments Against

Critics of fixed-term degree-awarding powers may argue that the four-year limit creates uncertainty for students enrolling in programs that extend near or beyond the expiration date of October 2030.
Legal scholars might note that the authorization is restricted to specific subject areas, potentially limiting the college's ability to adapt its curriculum to interdisciplinary fields not covered by the listed categories.
Regulatory bodies must ensure ongoing monitoring to verify that the provider maintains the standards justified by the initial advice throughout the fixed term.

Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Power to Award Degrees etc. (MLA College Ltd) Order 2026 and comes into force on 25th October 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the legal instrument.

It sets the date on which the college's authority to grant degrees officially begins as 25 October 2026.

Authorisation to grant awards

MLA College Ltd (registered company number 09188277) 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) engineering and technology,
(b) business and management, and
(c) geography, earth and environmental studies,

including but not limited to the subjects specified in the Schedule.

The authorisation in article 2 is for a fixed term beginning on 25th October 2026 and expiring at the end of the day on 24th October 2030.

This provision grants MLA College Ltd the legal power to issue its own degrees and diplomas, up to the level of a master's degree.

This authority is restricted to three broad subject categories and is valid for a four-year period, expiring at the end of 24 October 2030.

Schedule

Article 2

Subjects related to engineering and technology, business and management, and geography, earth and environmental studies

Engineering (non-specific)
Mechanical engineering
Production and manufacturing engineering
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering
Naval architecture
Bioengineering, medical and biomedical engineering
Civil engineering
Electrical and electronic engineering
Chemical, process and energy engineering
Minerals technology
Materials technology
Polymers and textiles
Maritime technology
Biotechnology
Technology
Materials science
Business and management (non-specific)
Business studies
Marketing
Management studies
Human resource management
Tourism, transport and travel
Finance
Accounting
Geography (non-specific)
Physical geographical sciences
Human geography
Environmental sciences
Geographical studies
Earth sciences

The schedule provides a detailed list of the specific academic disciplines in which MLA College Ltd is permitted to award degrees.

While the primary authorization covers three broad categories, this list specifies 30 individual fields ranging from maritime technology and mechanical engineering to human geography and accounting.

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