Course Modification and Course Approval Guidance Notes

Quality Management Division
3. Other Course Changes requiring Course Approval
Changes to the units on a course are not considered through the course approval or
modification process, they are dealt with through the Unit Management process. However,
where there is a proposed substantial step change to a course 3 , in particular affecting
changes to core units, and/or there is a cumulative effect of changes to a course it may be
agreed that the changes are sufficiently significant to require re-approval of the whole
course.
It is not possible to provide a formulaic definition of what might constitute significant change.
The evaluation of what is considered significant cumulative and/or step change is based on
a consensus of academic judgement and will differ depending on the type of programme,
subject area, professional body, mode of delivery etc.
Where it is clear that there is significant cumulative/step change to a course the Associate
Dean (Academic) will submit a Course Approval Form 20, draft Programme Specification
and Course Structure to Curriculum Committee at Stage 2 to be considered and the
standard course approval process will be followed from Stage 2 onwards. Where it is not
clear if the cumulative/step change is significant or not, the AD(A) will form a faculty level
Pre-Approval Group to consider the course further. The Pre-Approval Group will be
formally recorded with membership as follows:
- AD(A) and AD(S)
- Non faculty member
- External Examiner (normally by correspondence)
- Course Leader and other course team members if appropriate
The purpose of the Pre-Approval Group will be to confirm whether or not the changes to the
course are substantial. In making this judgement, the Pre-Approval Group will consider the
effect of change on:
- Programme aims and learning outcomes
- Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Support Strategy
- Resource arrangements
- Recruitment market
If the Pre-Approval Group agrees the effect of cumulative/step change is significant then the
AD(A) will submit a Course Approval Form 20, draft Programme Specification and Course
Structure to Curriculum Committee at Stage 2 to be considered and the standard course
approval process will be followed from Stage 2 onwards, diagram I and III refers.
It is important to note that the six-yearly Periodic Review process is the process by which the
University affirms the continued fitness of purpose of the curriculum. The faculty-based Pre-
Approval process enables identification of significant cumulative/step change which might
occur between the Review cycles.
For further information about the course modification and course approval process, email
courseapproval@port.ac.uk.
3 These are proposed changes which are not covered by Course Modification under points 1 and 2 of
this Guidance paper and significantly impact on the original programme aims and learning outcomes,
Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Support Strategy, resource arrangements and recruitment
market.
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