Regulation 6: General academic regulations and procedures for students on taught programmes

These regulations apply to all students on taught programmes of study leading to undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate awards as specified in Appendix 1.

6.1 Entry requirements

To be admitted to a taught programme of study, a candidate must:

(a) have reached the age of 17 on the first day of the month in which his/her programme of study would commence. Candidates who have reached the age of 17 but not 18 will only be admitted with the written authorisation of an appropriate adult, normally their parent or guardian. Anyone who has not reached the age of 17 on the first day of the month in which their programme of study would commence will not be admitted without the Registrar & Secretary, or his / her nominee, being made aware of such admission and must obtain the written authorisation of an appropriate adult, normally their parent or guardian and inform the Registrar and Secretary, in writing, of such authorisation.

(b) meet other programme entry requirements specified by the Board of Studies.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To specify entry requirements for relevant taught programmes.

6.2 Enrolment requirements

(a) Enrolment periods for awards relating to taught programmes are set out in the relevant programme specification, as approved by Senate.

(b) This includes parameters for reductions (through application of the Policy on the Accreditation of Prior Learning and the award of credit) and extensions.

(c) Programme requirements, including variations to enrolment requirements, are as approved by the Senate on the recommendation of the Board of Studies concerned. These are set out in relevant departmental documents.

(d) Students enrolled for an award may only be enrolled at the same time for a qualification at this or another institution, if such enrolment forms part of an approved programme of study involving another institution or institutions.

(e) Students are not permitted to count the same period of enrolment for more than one award.

(f) Paid employment: Students enrolled on full-time programmes may undertake a maximum of sixteen hours’ paid employment per week. This maximum is subject to any restrictions imposed by the student’s sponsor or funding body and the approval of his/her supervisor.

It shall be a condition of whatever arrangements are made regarding paid employment, residence and attendance that regular supervision will be provided for.

(g) Exceptions: Exceptions regarding the above may only be made by the Senate on the recommendation of the Board of Studies.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To recommend to Senate for approval requirements for taught programmes.
  • To recommend to Senate any exceptions to the specified award and enrolment requirements, including those relating to the accreditation of prior learning.

6.3 Supervision

Students on taught programmes are allocated a supervisor who must be a member of University staff. An additional supervisor (who is not necessarily an academic member of staff of the University) may be appointed where desirable.

Students must attend supervisory meetings (or participate in alternative arrangements in the case of distance learning programmes) in accordance with their department’s supervision policy. For undergraduate students, supervisory meetings usually take place at least once per term.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To specify alternatives to face-to-face meetings between students and supervisors – for example, in the case of distance learning programmes
  • To recommend to Senate programme-level exceptions to supervisory requirements.

6.4 Residence and attendance

(a) Students must normally live within reasonable travelling distance of their designated place of instruction for the duration of designated periods of study. For the purpose of the regulations, this will be interpreted as being within 30 miles of their designated place of instruction for full-time students and 60 miles for part-time students . Where fieldwork or practice placements constitute part of a programme of study, these locations may be regarded as the designated place of instruction.

(b) Students may be absent from their designated place of instruction during periods of study provided they are not away at any time at which academic engagements have been arranged. Students are responsible for seeking approval for absences at other times from their supervisor or, in the supervisor’s absence, the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned.

(c) “Designated periods of study” will usually equate to University terms. Exceptions to this will be recorded as programme requirements in departmental documentation.

(d) Exceptions: distance learning programme: Students on distance learning programmes are expected to demonstrate attendance through participation in all designated academic engagements.

(e) Exemptions: Students seeking exemptions from residence or attendance requirements for up to four weeks on medical or other reasons should follow the procedure set out in the Mitigating Circumstances Policy. This also includes a procedure for self-certification for short periods of absence due to ill-health.

(f) It shall be a condition of any arrangements that are made regarding paid employment, residence and attendance that regular supervision will be provided for.

Powers of Boards Studies

  • To define designated places of instruction.
  • To define designated periods of study where these do not correspond with University terms.
  • To define the academic engagements required for programmes of study
  • To define exceptions to residence and attendance requirements in programme documentation, as approved by Senate.
  • To approve exemptions or recommend exemptions to residence or attendance requirements to Senate in accordance with the Mitigating Circumstances Policy.

6.5 Progress and programme transfers

(a) Students must meet progression requirements as specified in the University regulations and in programme documentation. Students who fail to meet progression requirements will not be permitted to continue and their enrolment with the University may be terminated or they may be permitted to transfer to another programme.

Students may appeal against decisions on academic progress and programme transfer. Such appeals can be made to Special Cases Committee (see Regulation 6.7 below).

(b) Students following a programme leading to a professional qualification must comply with the requirements of the external organisations in which training and education is undertaken and/or with the requirements of appropriate professional and regulatory bodies. Students who fail to meet such requirements will not be permitted to continue and their enrolment with the University may be terminated or they may be permitted to transfer to another programme. Further details are specified in the University’s Fitness to Practise Policy.

(c) All students are required to complete successfully the online University Academic Integrity Tutorial before the end of the first stage or year of their programme of study as specified in Regulations 2.6(c) and 5.7.  Failure to comply with this regulation may result in termination of enrolment with the University.

(d) Plagiarism detection software packages may be used at the University's discretion to detect unfair practice in student submissions.  As part of the academic community, students accept that work they submit for assessment may be submitted to these software packages.  Further information relating to how such software is used can be found in the University's Data Protection Statement, the Academic Integrity website and departmental handbooks.

(e) Procedures for investigating academic misconduct and the penalties applied where it has been committed are contained in Academic Misconduct: Policies, Guidelines and Procedures for all programmes of study.

(f) All cases of students who, in the opinion of the Board of Studies concerned are academically unsatisfactory, other than in the circumstances described above, shall be referred to Special Cases Committee for consideration. All relevant evidence about the student concerned shall be made available to Special Cases Committee, whose decision in each case will be final.

(g) Requests to transfer enrolment

(i) Students wishing to transfer their enrolment to a different programme of study must obtain the approval of the relevant Board of Studies.

(ii) Where a transfer of enrolment requires exemption from an assessment requirement or the repeat of programme elements already studied, the approval of Special Cases Committee is also required.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To specify programme progression requirements for approval by the Senate.
  • To make recommendations to the Senate regarding academically unsatisfactory students, including those relating to programme transfers.
  • To consider requests for transfers of enrolment and make recommendations to Senate where necessary.

6.6 Suspension of enrolment

Students enrolled on taught programmes may seek permission to suspend their enrolment for a period that will not subsequently be counted towards their award. The circumstances under which suspensions may be considered and the procedure to be followed are set out in the documentation for applying for leave of absence. Permission to suspend enrolment may be subject to any restrictions imposed by a student’s sponsor or funding body.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To make recommendations, using the relevant documentation, to Special Cases Committee regarding suspension of enrolment for individual students.

6.7 Academic appeals and hearings

Further guidance relating to academic appeals and hearings for students on taught programmes of study is available in Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes - Academic Appeals and Hearings.

6.7.1 General principles regarding appeals

(a) Students wishing to exercise their right of appeal against a decision or recommendation reached by a Board or Studies or Board of Examiners must follow the Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes – Academic Appeals and Hearings.

(b) In order for an appeal to be heard, there must be a prima facie case that the decision or recommendation concerned may be invalid. The Chair of a relevant sub-committee, acting on behalf of the Senate, will reach a decision on whether a prima facie case has been established. The procedure and timescale to be followed by the Chair is set out in the Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes – Academic Appeals and Hearings. Reasons will be stated where a decision not to hear an appeal is reached.

(c) Students may not appeal against the academic judgement of examiners.

(d) Where a student has also made a complaint under the University’s complaints procedure and the outcome of that complaint might be relevant to consideration of an academic appeal, the Chair may decide that the appeal should be held in abeyance until consideration of the complaint under the complaints procedure has been completed in whole or in part.

(e) Only a student about whom a decision has been made can lodge an appeal against that decision; appeals by third parties are not accepted.

6.7.2 Recommendations or decisions against which an appeal may be considered

A student may appeal against the following decisions or recommendations reached by a Board of Studies or Board of Examiners:

(a) decisions reached as a consequence of assessment of a student's academic performance, including those relating to the outcomes for awards, pass/fail or processing of individual marks;

(b) decisions reached on whether or not, and on what conditions, those who have failed an examination or other assessment should be permitted a re-assessment opportunity;

(c) decisions concerning student progression, programme transfer or suspension of studies;

(d) a recommendation that a student's enrolment should be terminated on the grounds that the student is academically unsatisfactory;

(e) a recommendation that a student's enrolment should be terminated or transferred to another programme on the grounds that the student has failed to comply with the requirements of an external organisation in which training or education is undertaken, or of an appropriate professional or regulatory body;

(f) other decisions concerning requirements of professional or regulatory bodies in relation to the Policy on Fitness to Practise;

(g) decisions relating to the application of the Academic Misconduct Policy and Procedures.

6.7.3 Grounds for appeal and circumstances in which hearings are held

(a) An appeal against a recommendation concerning termination of enrolment or against a decision arising out of academic misconduct is always heard.

(b) In all other cases, an appeal will only be heard if, in the judgement of the Chair of a relevant sub-committee, acting on behalf of Senate, evidence has been presented that the decision or recommendation concerned may be invalid. Where a case for an appeal has been established on these grounds, the Board of Studies or Board of Examiners concerned may be asked if it is prepared to reconsider its recommendation or decision. Students retain the right to appeal against a subsequent recommendation or decision following such reconsideration.

(c) Students may appeal against a decision reached as a consequence of assessment only if (a) they believe that a procedural irregularity has occurred, or that the assessment was conducted unfairly or improperly; or (b) if for good reason, relevant mitigating circumstances can be shown that could not reasonably have been brought to the attention of the examiners before a decision on academic performance was reached. Further information on mitigating circumstances can be found in the Mitigating Circumstances Policy.

(d) Taught postgraduate students(Categories 1 and 2) may appeal, on the grounds that academic supervision received was seriously inadequate, against a decision reached as a consequence of assessment where their dissertation or research project has been failed by the examiners. In such cases, good reasons must be given by the student for not having made known their dissatisfaction with the supervision received before the submission of assessment.

(e) An appeal on the grounds of inadequacy of academic supervision may only be made in the circumstances outlined in (d) above and not in relation to the outcome of the award.

6.7.4 Procedures for consideration of appeals, constitution of the appeal panel and for appeal hearings

(a) All procedures are set out in detail in the Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes – Academic Appeals and Hearings.

(b) Appeal panels are constituted in accordance with the Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes – Academic Appeals and Hearings. The members of the panel will not be members of the same department as the student concerned or have had involvement with the case, other than in relation to the initial decision.

(c) Students whose appeals are to be heard may:

(i) attend the hearing and present their case

(ii) be accompanied by a relevant individual as specified in the Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes – Academic Appeals and Hearings

(iii) make a written statement to the panel, as specified in the Procedures, whether or not they choose to attend the hearing.

(d) The appeal panel may invite evidence from any person whom it deems to be relevant to the case.

6.7.5 Outcome of an appeal hearing

As a result of an appeal hearing, the panel may decide:

(a) to uphold or dismiss the appeal;

(b) to uphold, dismiss or vary the recommendation or decision against which the appeal has been made. Where appropriate, consultation with competent examiners will take place prior to a final decision;

(c) to refer the matter back to the Board of Studies or Board of Examiners for reconsideration of the original recommendation or decision;

(d) that the examination or assessment should be conducted anew; and that, if appropriate, one or more of the examiners should be replaced;

(e) that the student should be permitted a re-assessment opportunity; or that the conditions on which such permission is given should be varied;

In every case the Committee or panel will give reasons for its decision.

Students who remain dissatisfied with the outcome of an appeal lodged under this Regulation may complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE). Further information about the OIAHE is available on the website http://www.oiahe.org.uk/ 

6.8 Re-admission

(a) Applications for admission received through UCAS from students who have failed a University examination at another university shall be considered in the normal way, and may be accepted without special reference to the Senate (Special Cases Committee);

(b) Applications for admission from students whose enrolment with the University has been terminated as academically unsatisfactory must, if approved by the Board of Studies concerned, be submitted as recommendations to the Special Cases Committee;

In cases (c) to (e) below, applications for admission must be submitted as recommendations from the Board of Studies to the Special Cases Committee if the student is seeking admission to the same, or any of the same, subject(s) s/he studied previously at York or if the student has already twice been admitted to a first year at York. Otherwise they may be accepted directly by the Board of Studies concerned.

(c) Applications for admission received through UCAS from students whose enrolment at York has been terminated through failure to progress;

(d) Applications for admission by transfer to another department the following October from students who have failed a University examination;

(e) Applications for admission from students who have withdrawn from the University.

Regulations