The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body that checks on standards and quality in UK higher education. It conducts quality assessment reviews, develops reference points and guidance for providers, and conducts or commissions research on relevant issues. QAA checks how universities, colleges and alternative providers of UK higher education maintain their academic standards and quality. It does this through external peer review. Reviewers check that the core expectations of the Quality Code, agreed and recognised by the UK higher education sector, are met. It also provides advice to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, on institutions' requests for degree awarding powers and the right to be called a university. In addition to its role in sustaining the reputation of UK higher education, QAA also regulates the Access to Higher Education Diploma, a qualification that enables individuals without A Levels or the usual equivalent to enter higher education. QAA works closely with other organisations that have an interest in the reputation of UK higher education, including the Office for Students, Universities UK and GuildHE. Mission and strategic aims QAA's mission is 'to safeguard standards and improve the quality of UK higher education wherever it is delivered around the world'. Its four strategic aims may be summarised as: to address the needs of students; to safeguard standards; to drive improvements; and to improve public understanding of UK higher education. Structure and funding QAA is an independent body, a limited company and a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland. Its objects and constitution are set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Its board includes representatives of UK universities, funding councils, and students. QAA's funding comes from a combination of Membership subscriptions from UK universities and colleges, contracts with UK higher education regulators, funding bodies and government departments, and commissioned work including international reviews and business development work. It has a head office in Gloucester, a Scottish office in Glasgow, and subsidiary offices in London and Cardiff. Role and responsibilities Higher education review work UK degree-awarding bodies (mainly universities) set their own standards for the degrees and other qualifications they award (academic degrees), but since most courses are partly or entirely publicly funded (including through student loans) there is a requirement that they undergo external review to demonstrate that a national 'threshold' standard is met, and that quality is satisfactory. QAA is the body that