Planning

Student Pathway Provider/International Study Centre

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Apr 2026 at 09:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sussex is in the planning stage of a procurement process to select a partner provider for its International Study Centre, which is instrumental in recruiting and educating international students who later enrol as Sussex students. The tender, titled "Student Pathway Provider/International Study Centre," falls under the administrative education, marketing, recruitment, and education and training services categories. The contract is scheduled to begin on 1 August 2029 and end on 31 July 2039. The university is conducting an initial market engagement to gather insights, with a questionnaire issued on 17 April 2026 with a return date by 26 May 2026 and additional follow-up planned by 31 July 2026. Located in Falmer, Brighton, the procurement aims to reevaluate pathways across all student cohorts and models, responding to changes in the dynamic educational sector.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in educational services, recruitment, and marketing. Companies adept at adapting to the evolving student market and offering innovative solutions to meet student needs while ensuring value for money are well-suited for this engagement. By collaborating with the University of Sussex, businesses can not only contribute to the creation of sustainable student pathways but also align with institutional priorities and sector best practices. Participation in the market engagement phase, while not mandatory for future involvement, permits businesses to impact the drafting of service requirements and the procurement strategy, thereby fostering growth and expanding within the educational services industry.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Student Pathway Provider/International Study Centre

Notice Description

The university currently hosts an on-campus "International Study Centre" which delivers routes to degree courses for international students. The partner provider recruits students and provides options for entry that are taught by the provider and certified by Sussex. At the successful completion of the course students are invited to join their selected course and enrol as Sussex students. https://isc.sussex.ac.uk/programmes This provision is due to expire at the end of academic year 2029/30 (31 July 2030). The university is therefore engaging the market to assist in the formation of our plans for this key student recruitment route. We see this as an opportunity to challenge our assumptions across the board about how we can support potential students and encourage them to enrol at Sussex. To this end while the international student pathway is forming the core of our investigation in this project, we see this as an opportunity to reevaluate pathways across all student cohorts, locations, models and formats. We have recently conducted premarket engagement in our Online Distance Learning space (with a tender proposed for 2026) and across the University we are seeking ways to respond to the increasingly dynamic student market. As such rather than framing specific requirements we have provided objectives and needs to meet. Our hope is that by engaging with suppliers we can be innovative in our response to student demand in collaboration with the market to meet student needs while providing sustainable income and value for money for all involved.

Planning Information

An initial questionnaire is issued 17/04/2026 with a return date of 26/05/2026. The PME period is set at 31/07/2026 to allow for follow up iterations of PME if required. Further details regarding this engagement are available in the Instruction Document, which can be accessed via the e-sourcing portal, Proactis (search for the University of Sussex and US_25014): https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/account/login While participation in this engagement is not mandatory for involvement in any future procurement process, responses received will help inform the Contracting Authority about the level of market interest. Additionally, feedback from this engagement may help shape the final service requirements and inform the design of the forthcoming procurement strategy, ensuring it reflects both institutional priorities and sector best practice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0684e5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035025-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

75121000 - Administrative educational services

79342000 - Marketing services

79600000 - Recruitment services

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Jul 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2029 - 31 Jul 2039 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
FALMER, BRIGHTON
Postcode
BN1 9RH
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Brighton and Hove
Electoral Ward
Coldean & Stanmer
Westminster Constituency
Brighton Pavilion

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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