VWV
4 Contributions by VWV Experts
PRACTICE NOTES
STOP PRESS: This Practice Note is currently being revised to reflect amendments to Sponsor Guidance that took effect on 6 March 2026.
See News Analysis: Detailed list of the Home Office’s Sponsor Guidance changes of 6 March 2026.
Background and underlying legal authority
Sponsored workers are barred under the Immigration Rules from switching their sponsor, or altering the tasks, obligations or pay of their present role under existing leave as a Skilled Worker, or within Global Business Mobility (including former Intra-Company routes) or Scale-up routes, except where specific circumstances do apply...
Immigration
PRACTICE NOTES
This Practice Note outlines the public law obligations of higher education institutions (HEIs) arising from statute and from conditions attached to institutional funding arrangements. It addresses, in particular, freedom of speech under section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986 (E(No 2)A 1986), academic freedom, the prevent and equality duties operating within the HEI setting, as well as fair access and participation duties designed to promote and encourage admissions from under-represented applicant groups. The link between an HEI and its students is founded on private contract yet also exhibits public law features of significance. This is because, although education is supplied to individuals as a service in return for fees, HEIs fulfil a clear societal role and receive public subsidy. Legislative reforms have broadened certain public law duties and heightened tensions between protected freedoms and constrained rights. This Practice Note
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA 2017) marks arguably the most far-reaching statutory shift in scope and effect for UK higher education since 2004. Under HERA 2017, Pt 1, a fresh regulator for higher education (HE) in England, the Office for Students (OfS), is created, alongside arrangements for a new register of providers across the system. Further particulars on the OfS’s constitution and functioning are set out in HERA 2017, Sch 1. HERA 2017, Pt 2 addresses additional education matters, such as student finance, complaints, and the deregulation of HE corporations in England. HERA 2017, Pt 3 deals with research, forming UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and defining the research and innovation roles of the councils. Expanded legislative detail is provided in HERA 2017, Sch 9. HERA 2017, Pt 4 attends to general provisions, including co-operation and
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
Unlike other education sub-sectors, UK higher education has been slow to embrace standardised contract templates. Nevertheless, every HE provider uses student contracts to set out core duties and ensure compliance with consumer law and student protection requirements. This Practice Note explores the legal nexus between students and their HE institutions, with particular attention to the point at which that relationship crystallises into a contract. It also addresses regulatory obligations arising from statute and the effects of regulatory scrutiny...
Legal status of relationship with students
Universities take a variety of legal forms. Traditionally, many have been established by Royal Charter (for eg Oxford and Cambridge) or by bespoke Acts of Parliament (for example, the University of London). Others are incorporated as companies under the Companies Act 2006. See Practice Note: University governance in England. Higher education corporations were introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988, which also
Local Government
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