Higher education quality assurance in Wales was historically overseen by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The key piece of legislation shaping that regulatory system is the Higher Education (Wales) Act 2015, which placed a duty on HEFCW to assess, or make arrangements to assess, the quality of education delivered by regulated institutions.

Following major reform, HEFCW was dissolved on 1 August 2024, with its regulatory functions transferred to the newly established Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER). The Commission now operates publicly under the name Medr (Welsh for “skill”). Medr has inherited HEFCW’s statutory responsibilities for funding, regulating and quality assuring higher education providers in Wales, and will also oversee quality across the broader tertiary education sector, including further education, apprenticeships and adult learning.

The creation of Medr was legislated for through the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022. This Act established Medr as a single regulator for the tertiary education system, with a remit to promote coherence, collaboration and continuous improvement across all post-compulsory education and training. The legislation draws heavily on the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA) used in England, including provisions for designating a quality body. This represents a shift from the previous model under HEFCW, where the role that QAA fulfilled was not defined in statute but established in practice through commissioning via a grant letter.

At present, the regulatory framework and quality processes largely reflect the arrangements inherited from HEFCW. Medr will continue to apply these transitional arrangements for now until a new quality framework is formally introduced and implemented, which is expected to be AY 2026.

Wales has ongoing monitoring of quality and periodic external review conducted by The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

Key elements of the current framework include:

Annual monitoring and assurance

Institutions must meet a set of baseline regulatory requirements based on the UK Quality Code, qualification frameworks, and other sector-wide standards. Medr requires providers to return an annual assurance statement confirming that academic standards and quality are being maintained.”

Quality Enhancement Review (QER)

This is the cyclical external review method for regulated higher education providers. Conducted approximately every five years by QAA, QER provides both quality assurance (ensuring baseline standards are met) and quality enhancement (encouraging strategic improvement of the student learning experience). QER is aligned to the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and the UK Quality Code, and it emphasises institutional self-analysis, student engagement, and continuous improvement.¹

Gateway Quality Review Wales (GQRW)

This is the review process for alternative providers seeking specific course designation or regulated status. GQRW ensures that new providers meet the baseline requirements for academic standards and quality before their courses become eligible for Welsh Government student finance support and/or for obtaining a student sponsor licence. Providers undergoing Gateway reviews must demonstrate robust internal quality assurance, appropriate standards, and strong student engagement mechanisms.²

Institutions may be subject to additional scrutiny if risks emerge between reviews, such as through analysis of student outcomes data or external examiner reports. Where necessary, Medr may also initiate investigations under its Concerns Investigations Scheme where issues are raised about the quality or standards of provision.

The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 marked a fundamental shift in how post-16 education is overseen in Wales. It created the legal basis for Medr’s establishment and a new, unified tertiary education system encompassing higher education, further education, apprenticeships and adult community learning.

From 1 August 2024, Medr formally assumed responsibility for all regulatory and funding functions previously held by HEFCW. During the transitional period (2024–2026), Medr is, for now, maintaining the quality assessment and assurance processes developed under HEFCW,³ ensuring continuity for providers, students and stakeholders.

A key feature of the new system will be the introduction of a Register of Tertiary Education Providers,⁴ expected to come into operation by 2026. Providers wishing to receive public funding or access student finance must be registered and meet a new set of registration conditions, including requirements relating to quality, governance and financial sustainability. Registration will replace the current system of Fee and Access Plans for universities and specific course designation for private providers.

The Register is intended to ensure a “single regulatory gateway”, applying consistent quality expectations across all higher education and tertiary education providers in Wales.⁵