§ Baroness Brigstockeasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) how many privately-funded institutions of further and higher education there are in the United Kingdom; (b) how many students are enrolled in these institutions, and how many of these students are from overseas; and (c) what arrangements there are for ensuring that these institutions are bona fide educational establishments and are of good quality. [HL311]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)Information on the number of privately funded further and higher education institutions and their students is not collected by the department unless the institution is in receipt of public funding. Therefore figures for the sector as a whole are not available.
Privately funded colleges of further and higher education are independent and autonomous institutions. Where they offer courses which receive public funding they have to meet the requirements of the relevant funding body. Where they offer courses leading to formal qualifications they have to meet the standards and other requirements of the bodies issuing those qualifications. Only institutions with recognised degree awarding powers are permitted to award UK degrees.