In March 2025 the university published the Conditions of Registration (Apprentices ) 2025/26.
There are a number of significant changes from the previous version of this policy (Conditions of Registration (Apprentices ) 2024/25). These are:
a) General restructuring of the document to align with the new Student Policy template, including new sections ‘Alternative Format’ and ‘How to contact us’, and moving list of related policies and legislation to the end of the document.
b) Removal of paragraph in ‘Introduction’ stating that The University will notify Apprentices by email of any significant changes to this document.
c) References to ‘The Open University’ throughout this document have been replaced by ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ to improve readability.
d) New section ‘Bullying, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct’.
e) Section ‘Safe Space Reporting’ has been renamed to ‘Reporting Bullying and Harassment’, with references to ‘Safe Space Reporting’ amended to ‘Report + Support’.
f) Clarification to clause A1.1b) that not all modules and qualifications are available to study for those under the age of 18 and that employers should contact the Business Development Unit for further information.
g) Removal of clause within A1.1 stating that these Conditions will take priority over any agreement with any Open University employee or agent (unless formally agreed in writing by The Open University).
h) Updates throughout document replacing terminology ‘vulnerable adults’ with ‘at risk adults’.
i) Updates throughout document to references of UK equality legislation.
j) Amendment to clause A3.3 to include reference to Apprentices.
k) Addition of clause A4.1f) stating that apprentices may also need to enter into a supplementary agreement.
l) Removal in clause within A4.1 of a requirement that, unless exceptional permission has been obtained, the module and qualification is available to study in the country in which an apprentice is resident.
m) Addition of clause A4.1j) stating that apprentices must not be suspended or excluded from participating in study or expelled from The Open University or a subsidiary organisation.
n) New clause A4.2 stating that any additional registration requirements will be presented on the online prospectus.
o) Amendment to section A5 removing mention of ‘equivalent Nation contact’. Apprentices instead should go to the Apprentice Enrolment and Support Team.
p) Addition to clause A6.1 clarifying that apprentices on Policing programmes will have their personal information replaced with their Employer Police Force Provided Identity.
q) Removal throughout the document of the Retention of Student Data and Records policy (as subsumed into the Student Privacy Notice).
r) Clarification to clause A6.5 to state that students on Policing programmes must tell their employer if their information changes.
s) New clause in section A7.2 outlining the reasonable steps The Open University may take to mitigate circumstances outside of our control.
t) Clarification of clause A7.7b)iv) explaining that both apprentices and their employers will be given as much notice of a change to the structure or requirements of a qualification as possible.
u) Clarification of clause A7.7b)v) explaining that both apprentices and their employers will be contacted and options outlined in the situation where accreditation of a qualification is withdrawn. v) New clause A7.8.2 outlining that any withdrawal of a module or qualification will be managed in accordance with the Academic Regulations (Apprentices) and Student Protection Plan.
w) Amendment to clause B1.1 replacing references of ‘Student’ with ‘Apprentice’.
x) References to the ‘Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA)’ have been replaced by references to the ‘Department for Education (DfE)’.
y) Removal within clause B2.1 of a requirement for an employer to agree to pay any fees; employers must pay any fees outstanding to The Open University.
z) Amendment to clause B2.3 to clarify that The Open University will withdraw a Scottish apprentice’s registration if they are not eligible for funding.
aa) New clause B2.4 stating that Welsh apprenticeships are funded through Medr and that registration will be withdrawn if a student is not eligible for funding.
bb) Amendment to clause C1.2a) replacing reference of ‘Safe Space Reporting’ to ‘Report + Support’.
cc) Amendment to clause C1.2d) removing sentence stating that Fees for resits and retakes may be payable by employers.
dd) Amendment to clause C2.4 removing requirement for residency in Wales if an apprentice wishes to submit written work in Welsh.
ee) ‘Lab schools’ have been renamed ‘Laboratory schools’ throughout the document.
ff) Amendment to clause C6.1, removing the sentence stating that The Open University cannot guarantee face-to-face tutorials and improving clarity.
gg) Amendment of title D1 to refer to ‘Apprentices’ rather than ‘Students’.
hh) Clarification of clause D1.1a) to improve clarity and replace references of ‘Student’ with ‘Apprentice’; its meaning has not been changed.
ii) Amendment to clause E2.1i) to improve clarity and include reference to suspension, exclusion or expulsion from a subsidiary organisation.
jj) New clause E2.1j) stating that The Open University may cancel a Apprentice registration if we are made aware that they have been excluded from study at a subsidiary organisation.
kk) Amendment of clause E3.2 to replace use of ‘Student’ with ‘Apprentice’.
ll) Section F4 has been moved further up the document to become new clause F1.2.
mm) New clause J5 outlining appropriate use of The Open University logo, shield and crest.
nn) New clause K2.4 stating that apprentices have the right to appeal against decisions taken by The Open University following a criminal disclosure.
oo) ‘Glossary’ section has been renamed to ‘Definitions’.
pp) Clarification in definition ‘Apprenticeship Programme’ stating that Skills England will replace IfATE in March 2025.
qq) New definition ‘Department for Education (DfE).
rr) Removal of definition for ‘The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)’.
ss) Amendment to definition for ‘Enrolment’ to replace ‘Student’ with ‘Apprentice’.
tt) Amendment to definition for ‘Funding Provider’ to remove mention of ‘equivalent Nation contact’ and to replace use of ‘ESFA’ with ‘DfE’.
uu) Removal of definition for ‘Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)’.
vv) Removal of definition for ‘The Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER)’.
ww) Amendment to ‘Individual Learning Plan’ to clarify that this can also be referred to as Training Plan Part 2.
xx) Clarification in definition ‘ifATE’ stating that Skills England will replace IfATE in March 2025.
yy) New definition ‘Medr (Commission for Tertiary Education and Research)’.
zz) New definition ‘Off-the-job training’.
aaa) New definition ‘Skills England’.
bbb) New definition ‘Subsidiary Organisation’.
ccc) Reference to ‘The Open University Students Association’ has been amended to ‘The Open University Students Union’.
