1.8 Academic Quality Handbook 2025/2026: Summary of Key Changes
The following table provides a list of changes which have been made following the publication of the 2024/25 version of the AQH in September 2024.
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Section |
Change |
Date |
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Part A and Part B |
AQH updated to reflect revised committee and faculty structures |
Sept 2025 |
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Scheme approval process updated to reflect new committee structure (2.3-2.8) |
April 2025 |
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AMTS – AMTS1 and AMTS2 replaced with Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which now includes External Examiner Reports summary, and 2.10 updated accordingly. |
Sept 2025 |
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Updated to reflect introduction of AberOnline 3.2. 7. Except where specified to the contrary, a Postgraduate Taught Master’s dissertation or approved equivalent submission should not exceed 15,000 words. In the case of online schemes with 30 credit dissertations, or approved equivalent, the length shall not exceed 10,000 words. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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3.8 Special Circumstances and Reasonable Adjustments Chapter updated to reflect new procedure and submission via student record.
27. Link to Reasonable Adjustment Policy updated: (https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departmental/theuniversity/policies/studentsupport/Policy-on-reasonable-adjustments-to-examinations-(Nov%2724).pdf) |
Sept 2025 |
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3.9 Coursework Extensions Updated to reflect central faculty extensions@aber.ac.uk submission point, and three-day response deadline |
Sept 2025 |
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4.8 BSc Nursing (Adult) and BSc Nursing (Mental Health) Amendment to resit arrangements to remove the restriction on the number of credits that could be resat in the supplementary assessment period for Nursing students, and clarification that the Professional Practice component is a pass/fail module, only has one re-sit opportunity and is not included in the classification of the award |
Q&SC Feb 2025 |
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4.10 Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree schemes (BEng/MEng) - new section |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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4.12 FdSc Veterinary Nursing: Rules for Progression Rules for progression updated to lift the restriction on the number of credits that could be re-sat in the supplementary assessment period (with immediate effect). Wording on the number of resit opportunities clarified. Reference to Special Circumstances Window of Opportunity removed (in line with decision taken during previous academic year). |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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4.18 Wiping the Slate Clean – section removed as only relevant to students who commenced their studies at Aberystwyth University as a registered student BEFORE September 2016 and who entered Part Two BEFORE September 2017. |
September 2025 |
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Minor changes to terminology |
September 2025 |
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Updated to reflect introduction of AberOnline 6.5.6. Students are not normally permitted to withdraw outside of the teaching period. All withdrawal notifications made outside the teaching period will be considered and the date used as the withdrawal date may vary from that entered by the student. Withdrawal dates can only be registered up to 10 working days in advance or back dated by a maximum of 10 working days from completing the online withdrawal process. Students following Distance Learning, including AberOnline, schemes should seek guidance from their department if they wish to withdraw temporarily or take a period of leave of absence. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Sections 9.3 and 9.7 updated to reflect review of Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy in response to QAA Publication: Achieving credit transfer at scale: An analysis of UK university policies. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree schemes (BEng/MEng) Paragraphs 22b (link to bespoke Examination Conventions), 30 (credit transfer) and 34 (exit awards) updated following introduction of bespoke Examination Conventions for Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree schemes (BEng/MEng). |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Updated to reflect introduction of AberOnline 9. Unless specified to the contrary in Regulation 21, below, the taught modules shall consist of 120 credits approved by the University. Candidates may also be required to complete a period, or periods, of professional training or practical experience. The dissertation element, or approved equivalent (see Regulation 21 below) will be worth 60 credits. In the case of some online schemes, taught modules may consist of 150 credits approved by the University and the dissertation element, or approved equivalent, will be worth 30 credits. Separate arrangements for the MRes are described in Regulation 22 below. 13. The dissertation, or approved alternative (see Regulation 21 below) shall embody the methods and results of a research project. Its length shall not exceed 15,000 words (or 30,000 words for candidatures for the degree of MRes). In the case of online schemes with 30 credit dissertations, or approved equivalent, the length shall not exceed 10,000 words. 21. The 60 credit independent study module may take the form of a dissertation but may also be approved in other formats which satisfy the degree scheme learning outcomes in the view of the Scheme Approval Panel. For example, schemes in Creative and Performing Arts may entail an artefact, score, portfolio of original works, performance or exhibition, accompanied by a written commentary placing it in its academic context together with any other items which may be required (e.g. a catalogue or audio or visual recording). Other approved examples include submission of two reports and/or assessed presentations based on the dissertation topic. Appendix Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas 2. Candidates may also register for Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas on a full-time, part-time or distance learning basis, where this is available. These may either be derived from existing named Master’s awards and carry the same title, or they may be approved as free-standing, separately named awards. 3. The dissertation or approved equivalent from a Master’s programme must not form the whole of a Certificate or part of a Diploma. Where the Certificate or Diploma carries the same title as a Master’s award and is based on modules available as part of the Master’s scheme, the scheme structure should specify which modules must be taken and in which order. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Regulations for the Award of the Degree of PhD (by Published Works) |
Application 5. A prospective candidate for the Degree of PhD (by Published Works) shall identify the most appropriate Department of the University for registration and shall submit an application to the PG Admissions Office stating the subject with which their contribution to scholarship appears to be most nearly connected and specifying the published work or works on which their claim to the degree is based. In assessing the application, the Department shall draw upon staff with relevant subject expertise, including the candidate’s prospective advisor, to consider the works submitted in order to decide whether or not there is a prima facie case to support the referral of the works for examination, prior to admission. In approaching this decision, departments must be convinced, inter alia, that the material presented can be assessed (e.g. that there is a full video record for performance artworks) and that, in the case of materials jointly authored, the precise contribution of the candidate can be determined. Such issues must be considered in full prior to admission and any applications that raise concerns around viability of materials on such grounds must be referred to the Head of the Graduate School for a final decision on admission. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Regulations for Senior Doctoral Degrees |
Regulations withdrawn |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Standing Order 22 |
Regulations withdrawn |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Section reviewed and revised June 2025 to ensure currency following removal from AQH of the Admissions Policies and Terms and Conditions to the Admissions webpages. |
Q&SC May 2025 |
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Chapter updated following annual review of process, and penalty table updated to reflect |
TBC |
Updated: November 2025