Overview
Changes to programme specifications are expected to be submitted by Schools to Registry and Academic Affairs by the published deadline. The reasons for this are:
- Curriculum information in the system is used to create the teaching timetable
- Curriculum information in the systemis published to internal and external audiences via the Curriculum Catalogue
- Students use information in the Curriculum Catalogue to select modules for the next academic year
The changes must be subjected to relevant school-level scrutiny and approval prior to their formal submission to Registry and Academic Affairs. Any changes that fall within the categories stated throughout the rest of this page must be highlighted by the School.
For more information about programme specification guidance, please consult the following:
Programme specification guidance
Planned changes and notification
Includes: Student Staff Fora; Quality and Standards Committee
Any planned changes fitting into the categories below should be reported to the relevant Student Staff Fora(SSF or equivalent committee); at the first opportunity and the student representatives given the chance to comment on the changes, preferably after consulting their colleagues:
- Changes to the qualification title
- Significant changes to Section C.2 of the programme specification. A significant change is one which requires a change to the learning outcomes of the programme. It is therefore the school’s responsibility when changing Section C.2 of the programme specification to ensure that no changes to the learning outcomes are required. A series of minor changes may eventually accumulate to a change to the learning outcomes, at which point approval from on behalf of Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) is required.
- Changes to progression requirements which make progression more difficult.
- Changes to award or classification procedures which may make it more difficult for a student to receive an award or a higher class of award.
- A change of which school administers the programme.
- A change where the number of credits obtained from compulsory modules is being increased in a manner that reduces student module choice.
Where the student representatives on the SSF object to the planned change, the school will need to seek approval for the proposal (if it still wishes to go ahead) from QSC.
In the case of changes to undergraduate award or classification procedures (such as a change to degree class weightings), the changes should not apply to any existing Part I, II, or III students without their explicit written consent.
Significant changes and notification
Includes: changes contrary to guidelines for programme specifications; changes which affect another School; changes to which student representatives are opposed
Approval on behalf of Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) is required for the following changes to programme specifications:
- Changes which are contrary to the guidelines for programme specifications, the University's Qualifications Framework, or any other University policy or regulation
- Significant changes to Section C.2 (that is, the programme structure) of the programme specification. A significant change is one which requires a change to the learning outcomes of the programme. It is therefore the school’s responsibility when changing Section C.2 to ensure that no changes to the learning outcomes are required. A series of minor changes may eventually accumulate to a change to the learning outcomes, at which point approval from on behalf of QSC is required
- Changes to Section C.2 which affect another school and where the other school has objected to the change
A school changing Section C.2 of any of its programmes has a responsibility to consult another school directly affected by that change
- Changes to which the student representatives on the relevant Student Staff Forum(SSF) are opposed.
Students should be informed (either electronically or in writing) about changes to programme specifications which have a direct effect on their studies – that is, will be introduced while the student is registered on the programme and affect stages of the programme which the student has yet to complete - at the earliest opportunity.
This also applies to students who have accepted an offer of a place on a programme (and who therefore have a contract with the University) to be informed of significant changes to programme specifications.
Late changes
It is recognised that there may be a need to make changes to the curriculum for ‘essential’ and/or ‘unforeseen’ reasons after the curriculum submission deadline.
For changes falling in this category Programme leads should seek approval for the change to curriculum from their Head of School (HoS) or other nominated school curriculum lead. HoS/curriculum lead should consider whether the change meets the criteria for a late change (i.e. essential/unforeseen) before approving it.