This Freedom of Information (FOI) publication scheme highlights all information that is publicly available about the University.

The information is arranged under 7 headings to help you find what you want quickly:

  1. Who we are and what we do
  2. What we spend and how we spend it
  3. What our priorities are and how we're doing
  4. How we make decisions
  5. Our policies and procedures
  6. Lists and registers
  7. The services we offer

We have separate publication schemes for our subsidiary companies – University of Portsmouth Enterprise Limited (UPEL), University of Portsmouth Investments Limited (UPIL), University of Portsmouth Services Limited (UPSL), Technology Enterprises Portsmouth Limited (TEPL) and ASTA Technology Limited (ASTA).

If the information you want isn't available in our publication schemes, you can make a Freedom of Information request.

1. Who we are and what we do

This class has information on how the University is set up, including its legal status, location and contact details. It also includes information about organisations we work with.

1.1 Legal framework

This includes information about the legal and corporate status of the University.

The legal framework for the University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation

The University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation is the legal name for the University, but we're more widely known as the University of Portsmouth.

The Education Reform Act 1988 and the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 set out how universities must be constituted.

The Instruments and Articles of Government of the University

  • The Instruments of Government (PDF) sets out the constitution for the Board of Governors, its officers and their roles
  • The Articles of Government (PDF) sets out the rules for the conduct of the University, the procedures for the Board of Governors and Academic Council, and the appointment of senior officers of the University

Corporate information about the University

1.2 How the University is organised

This section includes further information about the management and structure of the University, including descriptions of the boards and committees we're legally required to have.

There's also information on the terms of reference and membership of these boards and committees.

The Board of Governors

Other statutory bodies within the University

Other information about how the University is organised

The terms of reference and membership of the following academic boards and committees are available below:

1.3 Location and contact details

1.4 Lists of, and information relating to, organisations which the University has responsibility for, those it works in partnership with, those it sponsors and companies wholly owned by it

Companies wholly owned by University of Portsmouth

  • University of Portsmouth Enterprise Limited (UPEL)
  • University of Portsmouth Investments Limited (UPIL)
  • University of Portsmouth Services Limited (UPSL)
  • Technology Enterprises Portsmouth Limited (TEPL), incorporating Portsmouth Technopol Limited and Portsmouth Technopol (Holding) Limited
  • ASTA Technology Limited

Companies we work with

1.5 Student activities

The majority of student clubs, associations and non-academic organisations are run by the University of Portsmouth's Students' Union.

Competitive sports teams are run by the University's Department of Sport and Recreation.

1.6 Freedom of Information Act compliance statistics

Compliance statistics 2021 Q3

2021 Q4

2022 Q1

2022 Q2
Requests received  59              52 69 41

Requests carried to the next quarter

 20 11 19 16
Requests responded to in the same quarter 39 41 50 25
Requests completed on time 39 39 50 20
Number of extended deadlines 0 0 0 0
Number of late responses 0 2 4 5
Number fully disclosed 26 26 33 15
Number completely withheld due to an exemption(s) 0 3 3 3
Number info not held 0 2 2 0
Number partial disclosures due to some information being exempt 8 6 11 5
Number partial disclosures due to some information not being held 5 4 1 2
Clarification was requested and not received 0 0 0 0
Request was withdrawn by the requester 0 1 0 0
Number of requests for review (annually in 2021): 2 – – – –

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2. What we spend and how we spend it

This class provides financial information about projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.

2.1 Funding/income and 2.2 Budgetary and account information

This section includes information on where the University spends or plans to spend money, sources of funding and income:

2.3 Financial audit records

The University's financial audit records are included in the annual Published Financial Reviews.

2.4 Capital programme

Information about major plans for capital expenditure:

2.5 Financial regulations and procedures

You can request a copy of the following policies from freedom-of-information@port.ac.uk:

  • Financial regulations
  • University Credit Control Policy
  • Expenses Manual
  • Inventory Management Policy

2.6 Staff pay and grading structures

Information on the Higher Education Role Analysis (HERA) scheme:

2.7 Register of suppliers

Contact the Procurement division of the Finance department by email on procurement@port.ac.uk to get details of our suppliers.

2.8 Procurement and tender procedures and reports

2.9 Contracts

The Director of Corporate Governance has responsibility for ensuring the University keeps records of contracts it bids for. You can request copies of these records from the Executive Director of Corporate Governance by emailing corporate-governance@port.ac.uk.

The Purchasing division of the Finance department has responsibility for contracts under tender. Further information is available from the procurement division of the finance department (procurement@port.ac.uk).

2.10 Research funding

You can get further information on research funding amounts in the annual published financial accounts.

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3. What our priorities are and how we are doing

This class outlines the University's strategies, plans and performance indicators and the results of audits, inspections and reviews of the University's priorities.

3.1 Annual report

The Annual Financial Reviews now include a detailed Operating and Financial Review (OFR) to complement the financial statements, which cover the University's priorities and measures against those statements.

3.2 Corporate and business plans

3.3 Teaching and learning strategy

3.4 Academic quality and standards

The Department of Student and Academic Administration is responsible for maintaining academic quality and standards.

3.5 External review information

This section includes information about the annual monitoring and review processes, and a statement of roles, responsibilities and authority of the different bodies within the institution involved in programme approval and review.

3.6 Corporate relations

Information on the University's links with employers and the development of learning programmes:

3.7 Government and regulatory reports

Accreditation and monitoring reports by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies and information that an institution is legally obliged to make available to its funding and monitoring bodies.

  • Accreditation information available on individual course pages.

3.8 The University’s compliance with its duties under the Equality Act 2010

The University publishes equality information and gender pay gap reports annually. Reports are available on the Equality and Diversity web pages.

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4. How we make decisions

This section includes documents relating to University Committee structures and minutes of boards and committees:

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5. Our policies and procedures

The following includes a list of the University's written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering services and responsibilities.

5.1 Policies and procedures for conducting university business

Details of many appropriate procedures are available in class 3, What our priorities are and how we are doing.

You can also view a list of all policies and view the procedure for requesting information from the University.

5.2 Procedures and policies relating to academic services

This section includes details of relevant procedures (for example, external review and academic quality and standards documents) are included in class 2, What we spend and how we spend it.

5.3 Procedures and policies relating to student services

Student accommodation

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Student complaints

Examination and assessment regulations

Student appeals procedure

Code of student discipline

5.4 Procedures and policies relating to human resources

5.5 Procedures and policies relating to recruitment

5.6 Code of Conduct for members of governing bodies

5.7 Equality and Diversity

The University includes equality statements in all of its policies rather than have separate equality policies. Our Equality and Diversity section lists the policies and procedures relating to equality.

5.8 Health and Safety

5.9 Estate management

5.10 Complaints by members of the public

5.11 Records management and personal data policies

5.12 Research policy and strategy

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6. Lists and registers

The Declaration of Interests register and the corporate gifts and hospitality registers are held by the Executive Director of Corporate Governance and are available to view by appointment by emailing corporate-governance@port.ac.uk.

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7. The services we offer

These are some of the documents and policies outlining the services the University offers:

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