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Course and Programme Approval

Definition of major/minor programme change

The authority to approve all programme change proposals rests with College Boards of Studies. College Board of Studies may find it convenient to consider major and minor changes through slightly different processes; for example, minor programme changes could be approved by the Convener of the Board of Studies rather than by the full Board. 

The table indicates when consultations with an External Examiner and Students are required on the proposal for programme amendments, based on the changes being categorised as major or minor.

Any proposal containing at least one major change must go to consultation with both students and External Examiners

EXCEPT where each major change:

  • Aligns with School, College or University-mandated changes or
  • Aligns with the requirements of an accrediting body or
  • involved prior consultation with students or
  • involved students in their design or
  • resulted from student feedback

Please note:

  • Major changes typically require or are accompanied by multiple changes to other parts of a proposal, so all revised sections (including changes that would individually be ‘minor’) should be included in any consultation to ensure and maintain overall high quality of the proposal.
  • If changes are made to a suite of courses, then the cumulative impact of those changes should also be considered at programme-level, and a programmatic approach to the consultation may be appropriate.
  • Where no consultation is required, students should still be informed of any change.

When consultations with External Examiner and Students are required on the final proposal for a Programme amendment, based on the changes being categorized as major or minor

 

Field

Major Change

(Consultations with External Examiner and Students required *)

Minor Change

(Consultations with External Examiner and Students not required)

1

Programme Title(s) and Code(s)

Any (Note that a consultation with External Relations and applicants are also required for a programme title change)

-

5

Entrance Requirements

-

Any**

6

Recognition of Prior Learning or Experiential Learning

-

Any

7

ATAS Certificate Requirement

-

Any**

8

Attendance Type

Any change to ‘full-time’ or ‘part-time’ exclusively

Any change to ‘Both full time and part time’

9

Programme Aims

Any removal, addition, or substantive change

Any minor rephrasing for clarity or consistency

10

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Any removal, addition, or substantive change

Any minor rephrasing for clarity or consistency.

11

Typical Learning and Teaching Approaches

-

Any

12

Typical Assessment Methods

-

(Please note that although this is a minor change, if a suite of course-level changes to assessment methods significantly alter the overall balance of assessment types across the programme (e.g. shifting weight from in‑course assessment to end-of-course examinations), a programme‑level consultation may be required, even if the assessment methods themselves remain the same).

Any

13

Programme Structure and Features

Addition, deletion or replacement of a core course, or a shift in credit weightings between core courses on the programme. 

Addition, deletion or replacement of an elective course(s), or a shift in credits between elective courses, where the changes affect at least 1/6 of the programme’s total credits or at least 1/2 in any single year of the programme.

(Please note that any changes to the content of courses should be considered at course-level [link to major/minor table], however, if changes are made to a suite of courses, then the cumulative impact of those changes should also be considered at programme-level, and a programmatic approach to the consultation may be appropriate).

Addition, deletion or replacement of an elective course(s) where the changes affect less than 1/6 of the programme’s total credits or less than 1/2 in any single year of the programme.

14

Are courses on this programme eligible for compensatory credit?

-

Any

15

Programme Accredited By

-

Any**

16

Locations

Any

-

17,18

College, Lead School

-

Any

19

Collaboration

Any

-

20

Awarding Institution(s)

Any

-

21

Teaching Institution(s)

Any

-

22,23

Language of Instruction, Language of Assessment

Any

-

24

QAA Benchmark Statements

-

Any

25

Additional Relevant Information

-

Any

26

Online Distance Learning

Any

 -

* Consultation on the final proposal is NOT required with either students or External Examiner when major changes align with School, College or University-mandated changes, accreditor requirements, involved prior consultation with students, involved students in their design, or resulted from student feedback.

** These changes must be approved by the full Board of Studies, rather than only the Convener.