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<p>The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA) provides clarity on the respective
responsibilities of the Office for Students (OfS) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI),
including with regard to postgraduate students.</p><p> </p><p>The OfS is responsible
for protecting the interests of all students (including postgraduate taught and research
students) and the quality of all regulated provision, working with the designated
quality body, the Quality Assurance Agency. OfS will be responsible for the funding
of taught postgraduate education, including the teaching grant currently allocated
for this purpose through Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It
will be the regulator for all degree awarding powers (DAPs), but in respect of research
DAPs, there is provision for taking into account the views of UKRI.</p><p> </p><p>UKRI
will be responsible for all research funding, which will include the funds that Research
Councils currently distribute for doctoral studies. UKRI will also be responsible
for all research funding currently distributed by HEFCE, including quality-related
research funding, which has an element to support the provision for doctoral students
in England. UKRI, through its councils, will also be responsible for the financial
sustainability of the research base. The two organisations will work together and
with other bodies to understand the pipeline and take oversight of the health of disciplines
through all levels of education, including postgraduate.</p><p> </p><p>The two bodies
are also committed to working effectively together on areas of mutual interest, including
postgraduate provision, and are developing a collaboration agreement to support this
aim. OfS must also have regard to any guidance given to them by the Secretary of State
in performing its functions and duties, under HERA section 2(3), as must UKRI under
HERA section 104.</p>
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