Sending jurisdiction · Europe
United Kingdom
No separate approval to deliver abroad. Responsibility travels with the awarding body: registration conditions apply to provision made by, or on behalf of, the provider, wherever it is delivered.
- Entry route
- Not an inbound approval regime — obligations arise from OfS conditions of registration
Regulators
Regulators
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Office for Students OfS
Regulator of higher education in England; conditions of registration cover provision delivered through partnership arrangements within the UK and internationally
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/regulatory-framework-for-higher-education-in-england/ -
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education QAA
Operates the UK TNE Quality Scheme from academic year 2026-27, successor to the QE-TNE Scheme; custodian of the UK Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/international/transnational-education
Instruments
Instruments
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Regulatory framework for higher education in England — Annex A: conditions of registration
Conditions B1, B2, B4, B5 revised with effect from 1 May 2022
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/regulatory-framework-for-higher-education-in-england/annex-a-initial-and-general-ongoing-conditions-of-registration/ -
UK TNE Quality Scheme
Running from academic year 2026-27
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/international/transnational-education/quality-evaluation-and-enhancement-of-uk-tne
Branch campus
Branch campus
Not confirmed from an official source
We could not confirm a separate UK approval regime for establishing an overseas campus. Responsibility runs through OfS registration conditions and the awarding body's own governance.
Five questions, then a route map
No regulator here publishes approval timelines, fees or success rates, so none appear above. Getting to a defensible estimate means reading your specific case against the current instrument — which is where a person, not a page, is useful.
Checked against official sources on 2026-07-28