This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 May 2026 at 11:32

Tender

17 Jan 2025 at 14:06

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Ulster has engaged in a selective procurement process through the competitive procedure with negotiation, aiming to establish an Embedded International Pathway College (IPC) on its Belfast campus. This initiative falls under the industry category of education and training services, specifically focusing on higher education services. The University is looking for an experienced partner to manage and operate the IPC, which will offer educational programmes to international students. The contract, with an estimated value of £66 million, commenced term negotiations in April 2026, with the first student intake expected in September 2026. The final procurement stage has been completed, with Oxford International Education & Travel Limited being the successful awardee of the contract for £187,307,000. The procurement process incorporated a standstill period in compliance with Public Contracts Regulations 2015, providing an opportunity for any objections to be raised before final contract entry.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training services sector, particularly those with expertise in running international pathway programmes and recruiting international students. Firms that can contribute innovative educational solutions and effective global marketing strategies will find this an attractive opportunity to expand their operations and partnerships within the UK educational landscape. The collaboration between the University of Ulster and a private partner is expected to significantly boost the international student population, thereby enhancing the educational offerings of the University and aligning with its internationalisation strategy. Businesses with a track record of delivering embedded college services and driving student recruitment and satisfaction are well-positioned to thrive in this cooperative endeavour.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Embedded International Pathway College

Notice Description

Embedded International Pathway College

Lot Information

Lot 1

Ulster University wishes to enter into a contractual arrangement with an experienced third party provider to establish an embedded International Pathway College ("IPC") on its Belfast campus to deliver educational study programmes to international students to equip them with the skills/qualifications required to enrol on an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Ulster University. This presents an exciting opportunity for a suitably experienced and innovative partner to enter into a contractual agreement with Ulster University to realise its ambitions for the IPC. The partner will be responsible for the operational running of the IPC, delivering programmes, promoting the college, recruitment of international students, administration of admissions and providing teaching services. The IPC will support the University's ambition to significantly increase the number of international students. To achieve this vision, it is envisaged that the IPC will be established in partnership with a private provider; be physically embedded in Ulster University's Belfast campus; and be established such that the IPC students will have appropriate rights and access to the University's facilities such as library, laboratories, studios, classrooms and student accommodation. It is intended that the relationship will facilitate a successful collaboration between the two entities, creating a true partnership with the shared ambition of maximising the success of the IPC. To realise this, the parties will enter into a contractual arrangement, the exact terms of which it is anticipated may form part of any negotiations undertaken during the procurement process. The key objective of this competition is to run a competitive procurement process for the University to select a private partner with whom it can enter into the contractual arrangement to set up and run an IPC on the Belfast campus. The exact programmes to be provided at the IPC will be developed by the successful tenderer in collaboration with the University, driven by market demand and business intelligence. It is anticipated, however, that the IPC will provide Foundation Year, International Year One and Pre-Masters programs leading to further study at the University on undergraduate degree and master's programmes in a range of disciplines across the four faculties: (a) Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; (b) Business; (c) Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment; and (d) Life and Health Sciences. It is anticipated that the first cohort of students will be recruited for September 2026 intake. The appointed partner will contribute expertise in successfully delivering embedded colleges for other further education institutions and the drive, determination and innovation to ensure that the IPC in Belfast is marketed and promoted successfully and effectively to the global student market, and fully aligns with Ulster University's internationalisation priorities. The University will contribute the teaching and administrative facilities required to operate the IPC; support for the partner to maximise the IPC success; and seeking to create a true partnership to optimise benefits for both parties.

Options: The estimated total contract value stated above in Section II.2.6 reflects the maximum possible contract period of 240 months, but the contractual arrangement will comprise an initial term of 120 months, which period shall commence on the date on which the first cohort of students commence their courses at the College, followed by such number of extensions (of not less than 12 months' duration each) at the option of the University as the University requires, subject to the initial term and all extensions not exceeding in aggregate a period 240 months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04d441
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045318-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

80300000 - Higher education services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80490000 - Operation of an educational centre

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£66,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£66,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£187,307,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Feb 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Apr 20262 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COLERAINE
Postcode
BT52 1SA
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0C Causeway Coast and Glens
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Causeway Coast and Glens
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
East Londonderry

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

OXFORD INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAVEL

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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