Office of the Independent Adjudicator

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is a company that handles students' complaints against universities within England and Wales. The OIA does not investigate the merits of the original complaint, which must be done by a court. It, however, reviews if the higher education institution followed their own procedures. Its remit is limited to those complaints that have first been taken through the procedures of a higher education institution's own internal system without reaching a satisfactory conclusion in the view of the complainant. Previously, all complaints to the OIA had to be made within three months of the conclusion of the internal investigation by the higher education institution (which should usually have resulted in issue of a 'Completion of Procedures' letter). However, the following now applies: the complaint must be completed within one year of your 'Completion of Procedures' letter, except if your 'Completion of Procedures' Letter is dated on or before 8 July 2015 in which case The OIA must receive the Complaint Form within three months of the Letter's date.

The OIA is the operator of the students complaint scheme as established in the Higher Education Act 2004. The OIA has effectively taken on board the powers of the visitor of an higher education institution, as student complaints were specifically excluded from the remit of the visitor in the Higher Education Act 2004. By law, all higher education bodies are required to abide by the rules of the scheme.

As a result of recommendations from the Nolan and Dearing reports, consultations began about an independent body to which students could make complaints. A white paper in 2003 set out the government goal of establishing the body via legislation. The OIA was established in 2003 and began running a voluntary scheme in 2004 with it becoming the designated operator of the student complaints scheme in 2005. The first independent adjudicator was Baroness Deech. Following her retirement in May 2008, Robert Behrens was appointed Independent Adjudicator and chief executive.

Prior to the establishment of the OIA, universities offered internal processes there was a widespread belief that these were frequently ineffective and often perceived by students as impractical. However, the students claim the current system is also frequently ineffective, biased, and often perceived by students as impractical. Some cases taking more than two years to be decided on.

The OIA is not classed as a 'public authority' but is classed as a private company. The OIA is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and not oblidged to answer requests for information.

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