Our Degree Awarding Powers Service offers specialist guidance for providers in England* who are either seeking Degree Awarding Powers (DAP) or have existing time-limited or probationary powers.
This service will:
- Save you time by providing access to QAA experts who can share their extensive experience of assessing the DAP criteria and evidence requirements
- Provide you with actionable insights into risks or areas of weakness, including comprehensive written reports that offer clear recommendations and next steps
- Be fully bespoke – tailored to your needs, experience and current stage in the DAP process
Watch the video to discover the benefits of the Degree Awarding Powers Service
To find out more or register your interest, please email us at UKservices@qaa.ac.uk – we’ll be happy to help.
Why use the Degree Awarding Powers Service?
Wherever you are in the DAP process – from initial planning and application, to achieving indefinite powers – benefit from specialist QAA experts, including those who have been directly involved in the assessment of DAP applications and with experience of different provider types and operating models.
Choose to focus on a specific DAP criterion or undertake a full analysis against all the DAP criteria and evidence requirements, including advice on developing an appropriate and robust evidence base.
Our modular approach
We’ll work with you to determine which of our four modules best match your needs, enabling you to prioritise the most valuable areas and select outputs that support your next steps. Here’s an overview of each module:
Pathway to Application
For providers considering their pathway to DAP or getting ready to make an application to the Office for Students.
- Support to understand the current DAP process and criteria.
- Meetings with QAA experts to explore and advise on your preparations for DAP.
- Identification of risk and potential gaps in policies, procedures and evidence relating to the DAP criteria.
- Written report on your readiness with recommendations for improvement, and co-creation of a development plan.
Pre-Application
For providers seeking expert advice on their prepared submission documentation, before submitting to the Office for Students.
- Detailed review of your proposed self-assessment document and/or New DAP Plan and supporting evidence.
- Identification of potential issues or risks in the proposed submission documentation.
- Written report with findings and recommendations for improvement.
- Meetings with QAA experts to explore and advise on your preparations for DAP.
Mock Assessment Activity
For providers at any stage of their DAP journey, looking to gain experience of being assessed or observed in relation to the DAP criteria and evidence requirements.
- Advice and guidance on the purpose and operation of observations of practice and site visits.
- Mock visit by QAA experts to simulate the experience of an assessment visit.
- Attendance by QAA experts at institutional events to observe and advise on internal quality mechanisms.
- Written report with findings and recommendations for improvement.
Targeted Analysis
For providers at any stage of their DAP journey, seeking expert advice, guidance and support on a specific issue or area of practice relating to the DAP criteria.
- Identification of risk and potential gaps in policies, procedures and evidence relating to a specific DAP criterion or evidence requirement.
- QAA expert support to explore the issues.
- Written report and recommendations for improvement, including co-creation of a development plan (if required).
- Meetings with QAA experts to explore and advise on the identified issue.
Watch our video testimonial
Hear from Dr Steve Mackay, Founder and Dean of the Engineering Institute of Technology, about their experience of undertaking our Degree Awarding Powers Service.
Find out more about Istituto Marangoni London and their experience of using our Degree Awarding Powers Service.
Contact us
To find out more about what’s included, and to register your interest, contact our dedicated QAA Team who will be happy to help.
*This service is designed for providers who are, or intend to become, a higher education provider registered in England. QAA cannot provide this service for providers based in the other nations of the UK, as this would conflict with QAA’s existing role to provide formal assessments in those nations.