Validation and Periodic Review deadlines

The University’s Academic Development Committee (ADC) have agreed deadlines for the approval of University programmes following validation or periodic review, by means of sign-off of ratification form AQ3 (for home programmes) or AQ4 (for collaborative programmes). The following deadlines apply to programmes for launch at the start of the academic year in September.

Courses advertised and applied for through UCAS, i.e. most Bachelor’s Degrees and Foundation Degrees (UH and UK Collaborative):

1. New courses: 30 June for courses to be advertised in time for the full UCAS cycle.

   Rationale: This is the last realistic date that approved course structures could be inputted to the student record system, to allow MarComms to populate the University’s website in time for the start of the normal UCAS application cycle.

   It is advised that proposals for new courses advertised through UCAS should be received by the January meeting of ADC at the very latest.

2. Periodically reviewed courses 24 December.

   Rationale: Any changes to courses resulting from periodic review need to be notified to applicants in advance of the January UCAS deadline. However, it should be noted that the earlier that changes to a periodically reviewed course are approved, the fewer applicants need to be informed. Therefore, Schools should aim to complete periodic reviews earlier wherever possible.

   Non-UCAS courses (e.g. Master’s courses, level 6 top-up courses):

3. New courses: 31 March for a Semester A entry point or 31 July for a Semester B entry point.

   Rationale: UCAS application deadlines do not apply. These courses would be advertised at least one month after approval, due to the time taken to input course structures and populate the University’s website. This deadline therefore provides a realistic timescale for recruitment purposes.

   It is advised that proposals for new non-UCAS courses should be received by the October meeting of ADC at the very latest.

4. Periodically reviewed courses: 31 March or 31 July for a Semester B entry point.

   Rationale: Any changes to courses resulting from periodic review need to be notified to applicants, most of whom apply to the University within 6 months of the start of their course. However, it should be noted that the earlier that changes to a periodically reviewed course are approved, the fewer applicants that need to be informed. Therefore, Schools should aim to complete periodic reviews earlier wherever possible.

   Non-standard courses (Apprenticeships, overseas collaborative provision, etc.):

5. Higher Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships (new and periodically reviewed):

   31 May (or 4 months in advance of the start of the course).

   Rationale: This is the latest possible time that an apprenticeship could be approved, as a 120-day lead in time is required put in place legal agreements.

   It is advised that proposals for new Apprenticeships should be received by the October meeting of ADC at the very latest.

6. Courses delivered by overseas collaborative partners and closed courses (new and periodically reviewed): 30 June (or 3 months in advance of the start of the course).

   This recognises that almost all of these courses are introduced for commercial reasons, and that CMA guidance does not apply in these cases.

   It is advised that proposals for new overseas and closed courses should be received by the January meeting of ADC at the very latest.

7. PSRB-initiated periodic review (following a PSRB accreditation visit, changes to PSRB regulations): These will be considered on an individual basis.

It should be noted that courses cannot be marketed prior to their approval (i.e. form AQ3/AQ4 sign-off), due to the need for the publication of ‘material information’ on the University website. These approval deadlines therefore represent the latest possible dates and earlier approval would favour the recruitment process.

Any exceptions to these deadlines must be agreed with the Director of Academic Quality Assurance. An extension to the deadline may be granted in certain exceptional circumstances, set out in the paper 'Requests for Extensions to Validation and Periodic Review Deadlines', available to University staff. If you require an extension to a validation or periodic review event, then you will need to inform and seek advice from the relevant Associate Director of Academic Quality Assurance.  You must complete the Validation and Periodic Review extension form and send it to your Schools Academic Services Officer (Academic Quality Assurance) for permission to be sought from the Director.