OfS and Advance HE ask staff and students about AI in higher education

Updated Sep 07, 2026

On 27 May 2026, the Office for Students announced a research project with Advance HE to explore how universities and colleges use AI, its potential effect on student outcomes, and students' expectations. It sought views through a survey, staff and student roundtables, and planned interviews with sector bodies and technology companies.

The summer survey and roundtable period has now ended. This article describes that research exercise and suggests questions institutions could use in their own evaluation. The announcement did not introduce a new mandatory institutional requirement.

What the project covered

The survey invited senior leaders, academic staff, students and others interested in AI in higher education to respond by 10 July 2026. The OfS described the work as exploratory: it wanted to understand effective practice, difficulties and changing student expectations.

The official roundtable page, updated on 20 July after the events concluded, records a programme running from 8 June to 8 July 2026. It included in-person events in London, Manchester and Bristol, alongside online sessions. The discussions addressed risks, opportunities, impacts, good practice and barriers to adoption across higher education in England.

The May announcement said the project built on work begun in early 2025, including roundtables, a student debrief and informal conversations with staff and students. At the time, the OfS expected to publish the new findings later in 2026. That was the announcement's timetable, rather than a publication date confirmed by this briefing.

Questions for local evaluation

Our practical interpretation is that institutions can use this research agenda to examine their own AI decisions. For example, a pilot evaluation could ask students whether permitted uses are clear, whether they understand where human judgement remains involved, and whether AI-supported feedback helps them act on their work.

Those questions should distinguish trust, clarity, usefulness and fairness. A faster response does not by itself demonstrate better learning, and a favourable opinion of a tool does not establish improved outcomes. Institutions can consider student comments alongside the purpose of the assessment, accessibility, staff review and relevant outcome measures.

The OfS regulates higher education in England. Institutions elsewhere may find the questions useful, but should apply their own regulatory and policy context. Neither Advance HE's involvement nor the research announcement makes this a new UK-wide obligation.

How student feedback analysis connects

Student comments can help a team explore differences between modules or pilot designs. Possible themes include unclear guidance, generic feedback, confidence in human judgement and uncertainty about acceptable use. These are suggested categories for investigation, not findings established by the OfS project.

Our student comment analysis governance checklist sets out questions about review responsibilities, access and the use of findings. Teams considering a structured analysis service can also explore Student Voice Analytics. Local evidence should retain enough context for people to review the interpretation and decide what action is justified.

FAQ

Q: Can staff or students still join the summer research activities?

A: The announced survey deadline was 10 July 2026, and the roundtables concluded on 8 July 2026. Those dates have passed. Check current OfS communications for any further opportunities.

Q: Did this announcement create a new requirement for universities?

A: No. It announced exploratory research. Institutions should distinguish the project's questions from any formal regulatory requirements that apply to them.

Q: What could institutions review locally?

A: Consider whether existing feedback covers the clarity of AI guidance, students' experience of feedback and their understanding of human oversight. These are our suggested evaluation questions, not a prescribed OfS checklist.

References

[Office for Students]: "OfS collaborates with Advance HE to conduct research into how universities and colleges are using artificial intelligence" Published: 2026-05-27

[Office for Students]: "Roundtables: tell us how your institution is responding to AI" Published: 2026-05-27; updated: 2026-07-20

Updated 7 September 2026: clarified that the summer participation period has ended and that the project introduced no new institutional requirement. Removed individual session dates and recording details that could not be checked against the current official event page.