An overview of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022, it's passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.
Contents
Overview
The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 establishes the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, the independent regulatory body responsible for the funding, oversight and regulation of tertiary education and research in Wales, to replace the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). Tertiary education encompasses all post-16 education including further and higher education, apprenticeships and sixth forms.
The Act also makes other provision about tertiary education, including:
- registration and regulation of providers
- securing funding
- apprenticeships
- learner protection, complaints and engagement
- information, advice and guidance
This Bill Summary produced by the Senedd provides a further useful overview:
and the Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions:
Read the full Act:
Coming into force
Sections 143 to 146 and 148 to 149 of the Act came into force on 9 September 2022, which was the day after it received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 148(1):
Section 148(2) provides for other provisions of the Act to come into force when one or more orders are made by the Welsh Ministers.
The following orders have been made:
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 7, Transitory, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2026 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 7, Transitory, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2026: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2025 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitory and Transitional Provisions) Order 2025 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitory and Transitional Provisions) Order 2024 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitory Provision) (Amendment) Order 2024 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2023 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitory Provision) Order 2023 on legislation.gov.uk
- The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2022 on legislation.gov.uk
Subordinate legislation made under the Act
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The Bill was introduced by Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language on 1 November 2021 and passed by Senedd Cymru on 28 June 2022.
More information about the Bill and it's passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.
The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised after Stage 2).
The Act received Royal Assent on 8 September 2022.