The Office for Fair Access (OFFA)

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) was an independent public body in England that aimed to promote fair access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It worked with universities and colleges to develop strategies that would help these institutions recruit and support a diverse student population. OFFA focused on ensuring that all qualified individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status, had the opportunity to attend university. In 2018, OFFA was merged into the Office for Students (OfS), which continues to oversee access and participation in higher education.