Statutory Instruments
2024 No. 942
EDUCATION
FEES AND CHARGES
The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024
Made
9th September 2024
Laid before Parliament
12th September 2024
Coming into force
4th October 2024
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations, with the consent of the Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 56(1) and (2) of the Finance Act 1973(1).
Citation, commencement and extentI1
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 4th October 2024.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
InterpretationI2
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
“database” means a collection of information including the comparison of UK qualifications with overseas qualifications;
“overseas qualification” means a qualification issued by a body that is based outside the United Kingdom;
“qualification” means any record, issued by a body whose ordinary activities include the issuing of such records, of having attained a particular standard following a course of study or training;
“qualification reference statement” means a statement providing information about an individual’s UK qualification;
“qualification reference statement bundle service” means services including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of qualification reference statements;
“refugee” has the meaning given by the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 and its Protocol;
“refugee bundle service” means services including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of statements of comparability, with each statement processed on an expedited basis;
“refugee organisation” means an organisation, including any body corporate or unincorporated association and any combination of persons, that, as part of or all of its service, provides help or information to refugees;
“standard bundle service” means services including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of statements of comparability, with each statement processed on an expedited basis;
“statement of comparability” means a statement comparing an individual’s overseas qualification to a UK qualification or level of UK qualification;
“subscription package” means the provision of a range of services for a period of 12 months including, but not limited to, access to a database;
“UK qualification” means a qualification issued by a body that is based in the United Kingdom.
(2) For the purposes of these Regulations, a body is based—
(a)where its registered office is,
(b)if it does not have a registered office, where its head office is, or
(c)if it does not have a registered office or a head office, where its principal place of operation is.
Charges for statementsI3
3. Schedule 1 specifies the charges for an application for—
(a)a statement of comparability, and
(b)a qualification reference statement.
Charges for a bundle serviceI4
4. Schedule 2 specifies the charges for—
(a)a standard bundle service,
(b)a refugee bundle service, and
(c)a qualification reference statement bundle service.
Charges for a subscription packageI5
5. Schedule 3 specifies the charges for a subscription package.
Charges for an ancillary serviceI6
6. Schedule 4 specifies the charges for an ancillary service.
Payment of chargesI7
7. Any charge for any service provided under these Regulations is payable—
(a)to the organisation providing that service on behalf of the Secretary of State, and
(b)at the time that the application is submitted.
Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Minister for Skills)
Department for Education
9th September 2024
We consent
Vicky Foxcroft
Jeff Smith
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
9th September 2024
Schedules
Regulation 3
Schedule 1Charges for statements
1.
Table 1
Charges for statementsI8,I9
| Number of charge | Type of application | Amount of charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | A statement of comparability. | 49.50 |
| 1.2 | A statement of comparability provided under a priority service. | 173.50 |
| 1.3 | A statement of comparability provided under a super priority service. | 223.50 |
| 1.4 | A qualification reference statement. | 49.50 |
2. In this Schedule—
“priority service” means an optional service including but not limited to—
the processing of an application on an expedited basis, and
the delivery of the statement of comparability in electronic format containing an electronically verifiable signature;
“super priority service” means an optional service including but not limited to—
the processing of an application within a period shorter than that under the priority service, and
the delivery of the statement of comparability in electronic format containing an electronically verifiable signature.
Regulation 4
Schedule 2Charges for a bundle serviceI10
Table 1
Charges for a standard bundle service
| Number of charge | Number of statements of comparability provided | Amount of charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1.1 | 5 | 400 |
| 2.1.2 | 10 | 750 |
| 2.1.3 | 20 | 1,400 |
| 2.1.4 | 30 | 1,950 |
| 2.1.5 | 40 | 2,400 |
| 2.1.6 | 50 | 3,000 |
Table 2
Charges for a refugee bundle service
| Number of charge | Number of statements of comparability provided | Amount of charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2.1 | 5 | 125 |
| 2.2.2 | 10 | 250 |
| 2.2.3 | 15 | 375 |
| 2.2.4 | 20 | 500 |
| 2.2.5 | 25 | 625 |
| 2.2.6 | 30 | 750 |
| 2.2.7 | 40 | 1,000 |
| 2.2.8 | 50 | 1,250 |
| 2.2.9 | 60 | 1,500 |
Table 3
Charges for a qualification reference statement bundle service
| Number of charge | Number of qualification reference statements provided | Amount of charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3.1 | 5 | 400 |
| 2.3.2 | 10 | 750 |
| 2.3.3 | 20 | 1,400 |
| 2.3.4 | 30 | 1,950 |
| 2.3.5 | 40 | 2,400 |
| 2.3.6 | 50 | 3,000 |
Regulation 5
Schedule 3Charges for a subscription packageI11
Table 1
Charges for a subscription package
| Number of charge | Description of service | Amount of charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom are given access to 1 database. | 925 |
| 3.2 | Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases. | 1,300 |
| 3.3 | Maximum of 10 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases. | 2,150 |
| 3.4 | Maximum of 30 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases. | 3,200 |
| 3.5 | Unlimited number of individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases. | 4,800 |
Regulation 6
Schedule 4Charges for an ancillary service
1.
Table 1
Charges for an ancillary serviceI12,I13
| Number of charge | Type of service | Amount of charge (£) | Amount of charge (£) for a subscriber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | The delivery of a statement of comparability or qualification reference statement in electronic format containing an electronically verifiable signature. | 7.50 | 7.50 |
| 4.2 | The dispensation of any need for a certified translation into English of any documents that evidence an overseas qualification as part of an application for a statement of comparability. | 40 | 40 |
| 4.3 | Provision of a half day of training regarding education, qualifications and the services in respect of which regulations 3 to 6 specify a charge. | 255 | 210 |
| 4.4 | Provision of a full day of training regarding education, qualifications and the services in respect of which regulations 3 to 6 specify a charge. | 355 | 310 |
| 4.5 | Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a conference regarding education or qualifications and further to obligations deriving from a relevant international agreement. | 545 per delegate | 495 per delegate |
2. In this Schedule—
“certified translation” means a translation certified to be a correct translation;
“relevant international agreement” means—
the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, signed by the United Kingdom at Paris on 25 November 2019(2), or
the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, signed by the United Kingdom on 7 November 1997(3);
“subscriber”means a person who receives a subscription package under an agreement between the person and the provider of the service.
1973 c. 51; section 56(1) was amended by paragraph 17 of Schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16).
Cmnd. 497. United Nations Treaty Series, registration number 57727.
Cmnd. 5577. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 2136, p. 3.