This page contains instructions for the approval of new courses (formally programmes) of study to be offered by the university on all campuses. This includes approval for new micro-credential courses offered by UoNO.
The purpose of the approval process is to ensure that appropriate academic standards are set and maintained, and that courses offered to students make available learning opportunities which enable the intended learning outcomes to be achieved.
Please note, terminology for a programme has been renamed as ‘course’ from academic year 2025/26 onwards.
To meet the responsibility for academic standards and quality of learning opportunities, please consult the UK Quality code for HE advice and guidance, QAA Characteristics statements and QAA Subject benchmark statements (see links below).
The university regulations on minimum expectations for teaching and learning must be consulted and adhered to. Similarly, the requirements of the university course design principles must also be followed. Link provided in Section 6 below.
2.1 Temporary restriction on new UG or PGT courses
There will be no new UG or PGT courses approved for the next 12 months (from November 2025). The only exceptions are where changes to current courses will significantly improve the student experience, reduce complexity, or where there is an evidenced case of exceptional market demand. These should be discussed with the Director of ESE Enhancement in the first instance ahead of any development work happening.
2.2 Course design requirements
When creating new courses they must embrace the Course Design Principles and comply with university regulations.
Deviations from university regulations are only permitted in exceptional circumstances, most commonly to meet PSRB requirements, must be supported by evidence demonstrating the necessity of the approach, and must be approved by the Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) or Education and Student Experience Committee (ESEC), as appropriate.
2.3 Free speech
When developing a new course, appropriate regard must be given to the importance of promoting free speech.
Please consult the following for further information about the Freedom of Speech Act:
Free speech and academic freedom statement
Free speech and academic freedom code or practice
Free speech and academic freedom webpage
2.4 Academic freedom
In relation to course and module development, approval, and delivery, it should be noted that academics would not be prohibited from developing or delivering a course or module on the ground that it involves giving serious consideration to ‘controversial or unpopular opinions’. This is not a reason that the course would be approved, rather it is not a reason it could be declined. For instance, there will remain business or logistical reasons to not grant approval to a course or module.
2.5 Timeline for approval and CMA considerations (UNUK Only)
The UK prospectus publishing deadlines are provided in the table below. To meet these publishing deadlines for the undergraduate and postgraduate prospectus, and to achieve a full cycle of marketing, Schools must have their course developed and approved by the dates published on the CAAT SharePoint site. For avoidance of doubt, the dates for new course approval will be much earlier than the dates outlined below for UK prospectus publishing.
UK Prospectus publishing dates for UG and PGT courses
| Undergraduate |
1 March in the calendar year before students commence the course (e.g. 1 March 2025 for 26/27 entry. |
| Postgraduate Taught |
1 July in the calendar year before students commence the course (e.g. 1 July 2025 for 26/27 entry. |
It is expected that once the prospectus and Online Course Catalogue are published, no further changes to curriculum information will be made.
The Late Curriculum Change process, and associated processes (e.g. re-opening modules – noting the one-in, one-out requirement for modules, which must be adhered to), will only be allowed if the reason is unforeseen and falls within one of the exceptional circumstances detailed in late changes section of the Annual review of curriculum Quality Manual page.
Each request will be carefully considered by the Curriculum Approvals and Advisory Team (CAAT), Marketing, Admissions, the Legal team and other key individuals in the university as appropriate. For new courses, the main consideration would be whether there would be a viable cohort of students recruited without a full marketing and recruitment cycle. In these circumstances the Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor (FPVC) or FPVC nominee will be presented with information about potential recruitment or CMA risks and asked to decide whether to proceed as planned or delay, weighing up the benefits against the outlined potential risks. If accepted, it must then to go Education and Student Experience Committee for approval.
3.0 Roles and responsibilities
Endorsement from the School and Faculty must be sought prior to developing a new course of study. Then, the School are responsible for completing the course outline form and for preparing the appropriate business case (see below). This includes liaison with stakeholders e.g. affected Schools, Markets Insights team, employers, students and external advice as appropriate.
CAAT colleagues will review the course outline form and later the appropriate business case (or form) and liaise with necessary university colleagues.
Refer to the CAAT Sharepoint page (link provided in Section 5 below) for full information about the process.
Liaise with ss-curriculumadvice@nottingham.ac.uk for further information and guidance.
Courses cannot be advertised and students may not be registered on them until they have been fully approved.
5.0 Related regulations, policies and procedures
6.0 Version control table
Version control table
| Version Number | Purpose/Change | Approving Committee | Date |
|---|
| 1.0 |
Changes to clarify the process to request a new programme. Also, reformatted to align with the new University of Nottingham Policy Management Framework |
QSC |
August 2024 |
| 1.1 |
Updates reflect the temporary restriction on new course/programme creation, the updated approval process and restricted reasons for late change.
Terminology for a programme has been renamed as ‘course’ from academic year 2025/26 onwards.
|
QSC |
January 2026 |
| |
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