1.8 Academic Quality Handbook 2023/2024: Summary of Key Changes
The following table provides a list of changes which have been made following the publication of the 2022/23 version of the AQH in September 2022.
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NEW 2.9 Annual Review of Programme Specifications Departments should undertake an annual review of its programme specifications to ensure their currency and validity; this exercise can be undertaken at any stage through the current session, but Departments are asked to forward any change to the Quality Assurance Team (qaestaff@aber.ac.uk) by the end of semester two of each academic session. Any substantive changes may require consideration and approval by the Faculty Academic Affairs Committee (dates and deadlines for papers can be found here: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/academic-registry/aqro-coms/). PDFs of programme specifications will be published at the start of each academic session for that current session. |
Quality Enhancement Review April 2022 |
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2.13 Scheme Approval Panel: dates and deadlines for papers Published Panel dates and deadlines for papers replaced with following text: A Scheme Approval Panel will be convened to consider a proposal once it has been approved by Portfolio Planning Committee to proceed to the next stage of the approval process. The deadline for papers for consideration by a Panel will be two weeks in advance of the Panel. Please contact the Quality Assurance Team for further guidance on the timing of approval panels. |
September 2023 |
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2.15 Template Forms |
September 2023 |
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3.2 Assessment policy and procedures Paragraph 6 updated to include the following sentence, and the recommended word count for coursework (and variants) for Part Two 20-credit modules has been reduced from 5000 to 4000.
(ii) It is a university requirement that a 20 credit Undergraduate module should contain no more than 2 summative assessments (pro rata per 10 credit weighting). Where there are PSRB requirements which deviate from this requirement, the Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Student Experience should be consulted.
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Academic Board |
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3.4 Monitoring Academic Progress Para 15 updated to clarify role of Senate Examination Board in exclusion of students:
15. The Academic Registry will not issue exclusion letters where recommendations from Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors are received later than the first day of Term 3. Faculties should ensure early intervention so that students can be interviewed and subsequently monitored during the course of Term 2. In cases where this has not been possible, students may be interviewed by the Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor during Term 3 and informed that Faculty reports may be taken into account by Senate Examination Boards in considering examination results. (Templates F and G). Senate Examination Board may deny students the opportunity to re-sit any failed modules and require exclusion on a permanent or temporary basis. In cases where a Faculty wishes to recommend exclusion on a permanent or temporary basis to the Senate Examination Board, and full documentary evidence should be sent to the Academic Registry and the recommendation should also be clearly recorded in the minutes of the relevant Examination Board at Faculty /Department level. The deadline for submitting recommendations for exclusion will correspond to the published deadlines for submitting examination board minutes and special circumstances documentation to the Academic Registry, and recommendations received after this date will not be considered by Senate Examination Board. The Senate Examination Board recommendation to exclude a student on a permanent or temporary basis will be subject to Academic Registry verification that the Academic Regulation on Academic Progress procedure has been followed by faculties/departments.
The same sentence was added to the Monitoring Academic Progress Timeline in 3.13 |
Associate Deans Learning and Teaching July 2023 |
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3.6 Academic Practice UAPF – Investigation Report Form updated. Points-based penalty system updated. |
Academic Board September 2023 |
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3.7 Examinations and Examination Boards Section relating to time-limits for students on Postgraduate Taught schemes updated (paragraphs 24-26), and submission deadlines for taught postgraduate dissertations/projects (September and January starters) for academic sessions 2023/24 – 2025/26 added. |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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3.8 Special Circumstances and Reasonable Adjustments Financial hardship can now be used to support special circumstances (para 1) |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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3.13 Monitoring Student Progress Template E – updated to request clarification if permanent withdrawal or temporary withdrawal |
September 2023 |
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4.3.3 The award of a Bachelor’s degree to students on Integrated Master’s schemes To remove the below section (strikethrough) from the Integrated Masters Conventions: Students starting Part One on MComp and MEng Integrated Master’s Schemes FROM September 2022 2. As set out under 4.3.2, with the exception of point 2, students may fail no more than 20 credits in total across Level Two, Level Three and Level M, which contribute to the final award classification |
Academic Board June 2023 Academic Board July 2022) |
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4.4 BVSc Year 1 and Year 2: Rules for Progression 3.1 A repeat year student will be required to take all modules, and all corresponding assessments again; the overall module marks will be capped at 50%. The year must be passed as a whole and previous module marks will not count. 3.2 Students may repeat either the first or the second year but not both. The maximum registration period of the pre-clinical element of the degree will mirror that of the RVC BVetMed i.e. 3 years. The time-limit may only be extended in exceptional cases upon approval by the University. 4. AU Special Circumstances policy will apply – including in relation to absence from assessment - see AQH Special Circumstances and Reasonable Adjustments. 8. Exit awards - also see AU’s Conventions for the Award of Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education |
Academic Board March 2023 |
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4.5 Degree Schemes with Sandwich Year, or Integrated year Studying Abroad non-language schemes Updated to clarify resit opportunity: |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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New 4.11 FdSc Veterinary Nursing: Rules for Progression |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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New 4.16 CertHE Healthcare Education - Examination Conventions |
Academic Board July 2023 |
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4.17 Progression Rules for Taught Postgraduate Schemes 4.17.1 Students starting a Master’s Degree FROM September 2013 – section archived |
September 2023 |
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4.19 Progression Rules for Taught Postgraduate Schemes 4.19.2 Students starting a Master’s Degree or Postgraduate Award FROM September 2023: New para 6 added (in April 2023): 6. Placement marks do NOT count in the degree classification and credits awarded for completion of an industrial placement are not included in the award of PGCert or PGDip. Paragraphs 8 and 11 updated to include timeframe for schemes with a January intake. Registration Periods and Time Limits – following para added: 12. Where a course starts at a time other than the start of an academic session, and cannot for practical reasons be completed within 12 months of full-time or the equivalent of part-time study, the department shall specify the course length. Periods allowed for retrieval of failure shall follow the principles of the regulations for 12 month courses, i.e. two years after the completion of the registration period. |
Academic Board |
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7.11 External Examining of Research Degrees 4. Only persons of sufficient seniority and experience to be able to command authority should be appointed as external examiners. The External Examiner must possess specialist knowledge and expertise in the subject of research. They should also have experience of successful supervision of research students and internal examination of research degree candidates. 7. Former members of staff at Aberystwyth University who have retired will not normally be nominated as External Examiners. Members of staff of other Faculties Universities who have retired during the preceding 3 years may be invited without such a lapse of time to act as External Examiners at Aberystwyth University. 8. Former students of the University may not be invited to become External Examiners before a lapse of at least five years, or sufficient time for students acquainted with that former student to have passed through the system. Former students should not act as external examiner for candidates supervised by their own PhD supervisor, nor should they act as an external examiner when their supervisor is the internal examiner. 10. External examiners appointments shall be made on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and shall be approved by the Head of the Graduate School. Examiners for research degree students are nominated by departments and approved by a Panel chaired by the Head of the Graduate School, with two other members of staff in the Graduate School. Appointments are made on behalf of Research Degrees Committee and the Academic Board. A report is prepared for each RDC and AB meeting, listing external examiner appointments approved since the last meeting along with key data, and commentary on any issues that have arisen. The Panel will check that proposed examiners meet the requirements of the AQH for research degree examination and the regulations governing the examination of research degrees. The Panel will consider the two proposed examiners as a team and may approve one examiner with less experience of examining than would normally be expected if this is compensated by substantial experience in the other examiner. |
Academic Board |
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New 9.8 Learning Agreements for outgoing exchange students |
Academic Board March 2023 |
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12. Academic Appeals |
12.1.6 updated to give the Chair of the Academic Appeal Panel the authority to executively reject an appeal on grounds. Academic Appeal Application form updated to include a tick box: If the evidence submitted relates to a third party, tick here to confirm that you have their permission for it to be used. |
Academic Board September 2023 |
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13. Final Review |
Support to Study added to Section B of Final Review application form, and Fitness to Attend replaced with Support to Study in the list of procedures against which a Final Review can be raised in section 13.1 Final Review Application form updated to include a tick box: If the evidence submitted relates to a third party, tick here to confirm that you have their permission for it to be used. |
Academic Board November 2022 |
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Minor changes: some identified on the basis of specific investigations during 22/23 and areas in need of greater clarity and flexibility and based on updated sector guidance from OIA and UUK, along with the current OfS consultation for English HE institutions. |
Academic Board September 2023 |
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New 16.7 Appendix 4 Fitness to Practise Guidelines and Procedures for Veterinary Nurses |
Academic Board July 2023 |
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Part B – Important information for students |
Section reviewed as it contained a broad range of guidance, policies, and directions to other sources of information; the previous format did not make this information accessible to students. Some sections have been removed and Section 23 ‘Problems with the Law or Criminal Convictions’ will be moved in to AQH 15 Student Discipline Procedure. |
Academic Board September 2023 |
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Part B – Rules and Regulations for Students |
New 2.9.6 Students must not engage in the following forms of behaviour: harassment, sexual harassment, harassment on grounds of sexual orientation, harassment on grounds of gender identity, racial harassment, harassment of disabled people, bullying, stalking, cyber-bullying, and sexual abuse. This list is not exhaustive and other forms of behaviour may be found to be in breach of these Rules. Other minor changes to the chapter were also made. |
Academic Board September 2023 |
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4.6 Where a decision to exclude a student has been made at a departmental Examination Board, that decision should be recorded in the departmental Examination Board minutes, and the associated paperwork forwarded to Academic Registry. Senate Exam Board will confirm students to be excluded, and Academic Registry will issue exclusion letters following the Boards. The Senate Examination Board recommendation to exclude a student on a permanent or temporary basis will be subject to Academic Registry verification that the Academic Regulation on Academic Progress procedure has been followed by faculties. |
Associate Deans Learning and Teaching July 2023 |
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Updated to include: Presenting work generated by AI as if it were your own (April 2023) 10.1 On receipt of a report concerning suspected unacceptable academic practice where there is uncertainly if the work submitted by the student is their own, and where the member of staff is not able to find documented evidence to support a case of UAP, for example if it is suspected the work has been obtained from an essay bank or generated through AI software, the Chair of Examination Board may determine that an interview to determine authenticity of work be held to establish the authenticity of the work submitted. 10.8 Where a student admits that they committed unfair academic practice as part of the interview process the Chair of Examination Board will refer the case to the Academic Registry to determine the appropriate penalty. There will not be a requirement for a UAP panel to meet with the student. The student will have an opportunity to request that their case is considered by a UAP panel if the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the interview. |
Academic Board |
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Para 10 updated to include: Credits awarded for completion of an industrial placement shall not be included in the award of PGCert or PGDip. Para 17 updated (in April 2023) to include timeframe for schemes with a January intake: Where a course starts at a time other than the start of an academic session, and cannot for practical reasons be completed within 12 months of full-time or the equivalent of part-time study, the department shall specify the course length. Periods allowed for retrieval of failure shall follow the principles of the regulations for 12 month courses, i.e. two years after the completion of the registration period. |
Academic Board |
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To remove the below section (strikethrough) from the Regulations for Modular Initial Degrees
22. Bachelor degree students may fail no more than 20 credits which contribute to the final award classification (excluding Level S Modules). Integrated Master’s degree students may fail no more than 20 credits across Level Two (Second Year) and Three (Third Year) and may fail no more than 20 credits at M Level (Fourth Year), with the exception of students commencing MEng and MComp Integrated Master's degrees FROM September 2022 - see below. 22a. Students commencing MEng and MComp Integrated Master's degrees FROM September 2022 may fail no more than 20 credits across Part Two as a whole. 22a. BSc Nursing schemes - all 360 credits must be passed in Part One and Part Two, i.e. no failed credits are permitted. (September 2022). |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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New Regulations for FdSc Veterinary Nursing |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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New Regulations for CertHE Healthcare Education |
Academic Board July 2023 |
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Revised Regulations for Submission and Examination of Research Theses |
September 2023 |
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Revised Regulations for the Award of the Degree of PhD (by Published Works) (Approved for entry from September 2023) |
Academic Board June 2023 |
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Revised Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Approved for entry from September 2023) |
Academic Board June 2023 |
Updated: Sept 2023