Wales’ first Register of Higher Education Providers comes into force

New statutory register strengthens transparency, accountability and learner protection across Wales’ higher education sector

Medr’s Register of Higher Education Providers in Wales comes into force on 1 August 2026, marking a key milestone in the effective regulation of the tertiary sector in Wales.

The Register provides a publicly accessible record of higher education providers in Wales that have successfully met Medr’s registration requirements. It identifies registered providers and their registration status.

Registration demonstrates that a provider has satisfactorily met the minimum requirements of initial registration and the initial registration conditions and is committed to ongoing regulatory requirements designed to protect learners, safeguard public funding and maintain quality standards.

Registered providers must continue to meet ongoing registration conditions throughout their period of registration.

Where there is significant and evidenced risk relating to compliance, Medr may impose a Specific Ongoing Condition. These measures help protect learners, support improvement and address identified risks. Details of any such conditions will be published within a provider’s Register entry.

In serious cases, providers may be removed from the Register if they no longer meet registration requirements or where de-registration is required under legislation or the Regulatory Framework. Any removal will be reflected publicly in the Register.

The Register contains two categories:

Higher Education (Core)
Providers are eligible for Medr higher education funding, can offer courses automatically designated for Welsh Government student support and are subject to additional regulatory requirements.

Higher Education (Alternative)
Providers are not eligible for Medr higher education grant funding but can offer courses automatically designated for Welsh Government student support at a lower level than the Core category.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, said:

“The introduction of the Register is an important step in strengthening Wales’ tertiary education system. It provides learners, students and stakeholders with clear information about providers that have met Medr’s registration requirements and are subject to ongoing regulatory oversight.

“The Register supports transparency and accountability while helping to ensure confidence in higher education provision across Wales.”

The Register is now available.