A5.7 Degree-Awarding Bodies¶
Official Link: https://www.gov.uk/check-university-award-degree
1. Studying in England
Your award is officially recognised if:
Your higher education provider has its own degree-awarding powers (check the Office for Students (OfS) Register).
The type of award you get is listed in the List of Recognised Awards.
The award is granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The award is granted by the Royal College of Nursing.
If you have questions, contact: OfS (Office for Students), providerverification@officeforstudents.org.uk
2. Studying in Northern Ireland
Your award is officially recognised if:
It is listed by the Department for the Economy (DfE) list of recognised and listed bodies.
It is listed in the List of Recognised Awards.
If you have questions, contact: Department for the Economy, hepolicy@economy-ni.gov.uk
3. Studying in Scotland
Your award is officially recognised if:
It is listed by the Scottish Government list of recognised and listed bodies.
It is listed in the List of Recognised Awards.
If you have questions, contact: Scottish Government Central Enquiry Unit.
4. Studying in Wales
Your award is officially recognised if:
It is awarded by an institution on the list of recognised bodies in Wales (see list below).
It is listed in the List of Recognised Awards.
If you have questions, contact: Welsh Government, customerhelp@gov.wales
Tips and Steps
First Step: If you are unsure which organisation will ultimately award your degree, first ask the college you are studying at, or check its official website and prospectus.
Double-Check: Once you know the awarding body, you can further verify whether it is recognised using the official lists above.
List of Recognised Bodies in Wales
The following is a list of 'recognised bodies' in Wales (i.e., universities) with their own degree-awarding powers:
Aberystwyth University
Bangor University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University
Glyndŵr University
Open University
Royal College of Nursing
University of South Wales
Swansea University
University of Wales
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
List of Recognised Awards
Certain professional institutions or bodies have the power to award their own specific degrees; these are known as 'recognised awards'. Here are some examples:
Recognised Award Name | Awarding Institution or Body |
Mastership in Clinical Biochemistry | Awarded jointly by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal College of Pathologists, and the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine |
Degree of Barrister-at-Law (Northern Ireland) | The Executive of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland |
Degree of Utter Barrister | The Honourable Society of the Inn of Court |
Mastership in Horticulture | Royal Horticultural Society |
Mastership in Chemical Analysis | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Mastership in Food Control | Awarded jointly by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, and the Institute of Food Science and Technology |
List of UK Higher Education Institutions with Degree-Awarding Powers (Recognised Bodies)
A
University of Aberdeen
Abertay University
Aberystwyth University
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglo-European College of Chiropractic
Archbishop of Canterbury, The
Arden University
Ashridge Business School
Aston University
B
Bangor University
University of Bath
Bath Spa University
University of Bedfordshire
Birkbeck, University of London
University of Birmingham
Birmingham City University
University College Birmingham
Bishop Grosseteste University
University of Bolton
Arts University Bournemouth
Bournemouth University
BPP University
University of Bradford
University of Brighton
University of Bristol
British School of Osteopathy, The
Brunel University London
University of Buckingham
Buckinghamshire New University
C
University of Cambridge
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University
University of Chester
University of Chichester
City, University of London
Courtauld Institute of Art, The
Coventry University
Cranfield University
University for the Creative Arts
University of Cumbria
D
De Montfort University
University of Derby
University of Dundee
Durham University
E
University of East Anglia
University of East London
Edge Hill University
University of Edinburgh, The
Edinburgh Napier University
University of Essex
University of Exeter
F
Falmouth University
G
University of Glasgow
Glasgow Caledonian University
University of Gloucestershire
Glyndŵr University
Goldsmiths, University of London
University of Greenwich
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
H
Harper Adams University
Hartpury College
Heriot-Watt University
University of Hertfordshire
Heythrop College, University of London
University of the Highlands and Islands
University of Huddersfield
University of Hull
I
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Institute of Cancer Research, The
Institute of Education, University of London
K
Keele University
University of Kent
King's College London
Kingston University
L
University of Central Lancashire
Lancaster University
University of Leeds
Leeds Beckett University
Leeds College of Art
Leeds Trinity University
University of Leicester
University of Lincoln
University of Liverpool
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
University of London
London Business School
London Institute of Banking and Finance, The
London Metropolitan University
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
London School of Economics and Political Science, The (LSE)
London South Bank University
University College London
Loughborough University
M
University of Manchester
Manchester Metropolitan University
Middlesex University
N
NCG
Newcastle University
Newman University, Birmingham
University of Northampton, The
Northumbria University Newcastle
Norwich University of the Arts
University of Nottingham
Nottingham Trent University
O
Open University, The
University of Oxford
Oxford Brookes University
P
University of Plymouth
University of Portsmouth
Q
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Queen Mary University of London
Queen's University Belfast
R
Ravensbourne University London
University of Reading
Regent's University London
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
University of Roehampton
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Agricultural University
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal College of Art
Royal College of Music
Royal College of Nursing
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Veterinary College, The
S
University of Salford
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
University of Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam University
University of South Wales
University of Southampton
Solent University
University of St Andrews
St George's, University of London
University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth
St Mary's University, Twickenham
Staffordshire University
University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde
University of Suffolk
University of Sunderland
University of Surrey
University of Sussex
Swansea University
T
Teesside University
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
U
University of the Arts, London
University College of Estate Management
Ulster University
University of Law, The
W
University of Wales
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
University of Warwick
University of the West of England, Bristol
University of West London
University of the West of Scotland
University of Westminster
University of Winchester, The
University of Wolverhampton
University of Worcester
Writtle University College
Y
University of York
York St John University
The following higher education institutions only have the power to award Foundation Degrees
Blackpool and the Fylde College
Grimsby Institute of Higher Education
Hull College
New College Durham
Newcastle College
Warwickshire College
Department for Education：
https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies