The Power to Award Degrees etc. (Walbrook Institute London Limited) Order 2025

Published: Thu 9th Oct 25

The Office for Students (OfS), using powers granted by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, issues this Order to authorize Walbrook Institute London Limited to grant specific taught awards, effective from September 1, 2026, until August 30, 2029, confirming that the OfS has considered relevant quality advice before issuance and noting that the order imposes no impact on businesses, civil society, or the public sector.

Arguments For

  • Enables Walbrook Institute London Limited to validate its higher education programs by conferring recognized taught awards, thereby expanding educational options.

  • Provides a time-limited authorisation, suggesting a structured review process by the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure ongoing quality adherence.

  • Authorises the Institute to delegate the granting of these specific awards to other institutions, potentially broadening access or specialization under their oversight.

Arguments Against

  • The fixed four-year period introduces temporal uncertainty for long-term planning by the institution and students.

  • The explicit authorisation power might imply less autonomy compared to universities with open degree-awarding powers, placing the provider under stricter regulatory oversight by the OfS.

  • Creating a new entity with temporary award-granting powers could fragment the higher education landscape if established without long-term strategic alignment.

The Office for Students, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 42(1) and 43(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 , 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 (7) of that Act.

Citation and commencement

1.

This Order may be cited as the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Walbrook Institute London Limited) Order 2025 and comes into force on 1st September 2026.

Authorisation to grant awards

2.

Walbrook Institute London Limited (registered company number 13621269) is authorised to grant taught awards of the kind mentioned in section 42(2)(a) of the said Act.

3.

The authorisation in article 2 is for a fixed period beginning on 1st September 2026 and expiring at the end of the day on 30th August 2029.

4.

Walbrook Institute London Limited may authorise other institutions to grant such awards as specified in article 2 of this Order on its behalf.

EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order authorises Walbrook Institute London Limited to grant taught awards for a fixed term beginning on 1st September 2026 and expiring at the end of the day on 30th August 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.