Students’ personal data to be handed to companies by new watchdog

Data belonging to thousands of students are to be shared with companies by the new universities regulator.

Campaigners and MPS have criticised the move, saying students risk being “exploited” for profit.

The plans came to light in a Statutory Instrument, which was due to become law today. The legislation permits the Office for Students (OFS) to share data with entities such as Pearson, the education company, as well as the Student Loans Company, HMRC and the Competition and Markets Authority. The OFS holds data on declared mental and physical health conditions, academic progress, and graduate employment and earnings of all university students.

Labour tabled an early day motion last week, meaning a debate is required before it is passed into law.

Gordon Marsden, the shadow universities minister, said: “There is nothing we know of to stop that data being passed on or sold on to another company.” A Pearson spokesman said it was necessary to safeguard against “fraudulent access to public funding”. A Department for Education spokesman said “strict data protection laws” would be applied.