OFT to examine England's universities

The Office of Fair training is to invesitage universities, focusing in particular on competition for students since the introduction of higher fees.

The OFT has launched a call for information on the provision of undergraduate higher education in England, this is in response to the introduction of the new fees and funding system. If these initial investigations reveal issues which require further investigation a more full study of the market could be initiated by the OFT.

The OFT is particularly interested in receiving information about how universities compete, the impact regulation has on universities, and students' experience of the current system, including in relation to:

• how universities compete between themselves for students, in order to deliver value for money, including how they go about setting fees, deciding what courses to offer and how they should be delivered
• whether the regulatory system is contributing to effective competition or undermining it - for example by creating any barriers to universities expanding or innovating
• whether students can access the right information to enable them to make properly informed choices about universities and courses, and whether there is sufficient clarity about what students can expect
• whether universities meet students' expectations and whether there are appropriate channels for complaints and access to redress if things go wrong.

Views and information are invited to be submitted by email to highereducation@oft.gsi.gov.uk by 31^st December 2013.