Access to HE: Organisational structure
Publication date: 20 Dec 2019
QAA has been responsible for managing and maintaining the scheme for the regulation and quality assurance of Access to HE courses since 1997.
We licence and review Access Validating Agencies (AVAs), set requirements about the Access to HE Diploma and its assessment and work with AVAs and providers to improve their practice, and collect and publish statistics and other information about Access to HE. We also continue to promote the growth of Access to HE.
Our QAA team
Our Access to HE work is overseen by the QAA Board, supported by the Access Regulation and Licensing Committee. The Board delegates day to day leadership to the Chief Executive and Executive Committee who work with the Access to HE team to manage the QAA regulation scheme for Access to HE.
Delivery support services are provided by staff with responsibility in the following areas: data and reporting, facilities, human resources, finance and planning, marketing and events, governance, policy and communications and information technology.
Our Governance
QAA’s Board is responsible for policy relating to QAA's Access to HE responsibilities and is advised by the Access Regulation and Licensing Committee (ARLC). The ARLC has responsibility for oversight of QAA's Regulation Scheme, which is the regulatory framework through which Access to HE courses are recognised and regulated.
The ARLC is assisted by two expert groups: the Access Qualification Development Group (AQDG) and the Access Data Development Group (ADDG).
The Access Regulation and Licensing Committee (ARLC) is a committee of the QAA Board, which has overall responsibility for the operation and development of the Regulation Scheme. ARLC membership includes representatives from further and higher education, and former Access to HE graduates. It is chaired by a member of the QAA Board. For current membership details, please see the ARLC register of members' interests
Access Regulation and Licensing Committee: Register of Interests
Publication date: 27 Jun 2024
The ARLC is assisted by two expert advisory groups, the Access Qualification Development Group (AQDG) and the Access Data Development Group, which both report to the ARLC. For more information, please see the full terms of reference of the ARLC.
Access Regulation and Licensing Committee: Terms of Reference
Publication date: 08 Apr 2024
The Access Qualification Development Group (AQDG) is an expert advisory group which reports to the Access Regulation and Licensing Committee (ARLC). Its membership includes current practitioners and other stakeholders. It is chaired by a member of the ARLC.
For more information, please see the full terms of reference of the AQDG.
Access Qualification Development Group - Terms of reference
Publication date: 03 Jul 2019
The Access Data Development Group (ADDG) reports and makes recommendations to the Access Regulation and Licensing Committee (ARLC) on matters relating to the development of data about Access to HE. Its membership includes data analysts and experts from funding and data collection bodies in further and higher education, AVAs and other interested bodies.
For more information, please see the full terms of reference of the ADDG.
Access Data Development Group - Terms of reference
Publication date: 03 Jul 2019
Our Funding
QAA is funded to maintain and manage the Access Regulation Scheme through fees from Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) and a contribution from QAA membership income. We also receive development and research funding from grants and other sources.
We have a number of policies and procedures that govern our activities. We publish these as part our commitment to working in an open and transparent way.