What is Open Awards and why does it matter?

Who is Open Awards?

Open Awards, formerly the Open College Network North West Region, is a regulated, not-for-profit awarding organisation and one of the UK's leading Access Validating Agencies (AVAs). Based in Liverpool, it operates nationally, awarding qualifications to tens of thousands of adult learners every year through more than 600 approved delivery centres.

Open Awards is quality-assured by Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) in England and by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for its Access to HE provision. This dual regulation ensures that the qualifications it awards meet national quality standards and are accepted by universities.

Open Awards's role as an Access Validating Agency

An Access Validating Agency is a body licensed by the QAA to develop, validate, and award Access to HE Diplomas. Open Awards is one of approximately ten AVAs operating in the UK.

As an AVA, Open Awards is responsible for:

• Validating the subject-specific Access to HE Diploma programmes offered by approved delivery centres
• Setting quality standards for teaching, assessment, and learner support across its network of providers
• Issuing certificates to learners who successfully complete an Access to HE Diploma
• Reporting learner outcomes to the QAA and UCAS to ensure tariff points are correctly allocated

The Access to HE Diploma validated by Open Awards is accepted at over 140 UK universities. Around 20,000 Access to HE learners progress to a UK university degree course each year, and Open Awards supports fully flexible online delivery through its approved centres.

What qualifications does Open Awards award?

In addition to the Access to HE Diploma, Open Awards awards a wider portfolio of vocational qualifications at Levels 1 through 7, including:

• Level 2 and Level 3 vocational qualifications in education, health, social care, and business
• Level 3 Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas in a range of professional subject areas
• Community learning qualifications supporting basic skills and personal development

Providers approved by Open Awards to deliver qualifications can award Open Awards certificates to successful learners. When evaluating an online course, check that the qualification is quality-assured by Ofqual and that the awarding body (Open Awards or another regulated body) is listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications.

Why Ofqual regulation matters

Ofqual regulation provides a quality assurance guarantee for learners. Qualifications on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications have been reviewed against national standards for design, assessment, and delivery. This means:

• The qualification is nationally recognised
• Grades awarded carry a consistent standard across all providers delivering the same qualification
• The awarding body is subject to ongoing monitoring, review, and regulatory action if standards fall

When you see a qualification described as 'Ofqual-regulated' or 'on the RQF', it means these safeguards are in place. Qualifications that are not Ofqual-regulated may still have value in specific contexts, but they will not appear on the Register and will not generate UCAS tariff points.

Open Awards and Lift College

Lift College delivers Access to HE Diplomas validated by Open Awards, allowing adult learners to gain a nationally recognised, university-accepted qualification through online distance study. Browse Access to HE qualifications on the Lift College website to see the current range of subject pathways available.