2.1 Principles of curriculum review
It is good practice for Schools to review their curriculum (that is, course and module specification information and curriculum maps) on an annual basis. For example, this may follow local annual monitoring or other teaching review procedures.
It is also necessary for Schools to annually check the accuracy of their published curriculum information, which includes the Online Course Catalogue and prospectus. Prospective students need to be able to rely on the published information in the Online Prospectus to make decisions about what and where to study. Also, the experience of students on a particular course and/or module should reflect the curriculum information in the Online Course Catalogue.
The annual curriculum review is different to annual course review, although the same source datasets are likely to be used for both. For example, External Examiner reports, student and staff feedback.
These annual curriculum reviews may lead to a need to make changes to that curriculum, which should be approved by School and Faculty following the relevant local processes. The curriculum review and School/Faculty approval can occur at suitable times agreed locally and in advance of the deadlines for submission of curriculum changes. University deadlines must be adhered to. In the UK, there will be different implementation schedules for course curriculum changes compared to module changes.
Any changes to existing courses and modules must comply with the university regulations for new courses and modules. Deviations from the regulations may only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, most commonly to meet PSRB requirements, must be supported by evidence demonstrating the necessity of the approach, and must be approved by the Quality and Standards Committee or Education and Student Experience Committee). Furthermore, all new courses (including new courses by change) must embrace the New Course Design Principles.
Schools must consider the impact of any planned curriculum change on all stakeholders, which may include prospective students, current students, other courses of study in the School, other Schools, partnerships and the China and Malaysia campuses. In the UK, consultation with students, including prospective students, may be necessary to ensure adherence to Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) guidelines.
2.2 Implementing curriculum changes
To implement the School/Faculty approved curriculum changes, it is necessary for those changes to be amended centrally. The curriculum record is held in the Student Record System and consists of Course and Module Specifications and curriculum maps. This is also the lead source for prospectus information. Curriculum Approvals and Advisory Team (CAAT) in the UK or local Academic Services Unit (ASU) at UNNC or Student Registry Office (SRO) at UNM are responsible for maintaining the formal, approved record of curriculum.
Deadlines for submission of curriculum changes vary slightly across the three campuses and are circulated to schools in the respective campuses ahead of the deadlines detailed below. These deadlines must be adhered to, and a strict no-exceptions policy applies.
In UNM/UNNC, there is one annual opportunity to update curriculum, managed by SRO and ASU respectively, with oversight and approval by CAAT. Information is cascaded locally regarding how to request those changes. These changes (for all necessary changes) are usually made in January/February prior to the start of the academic year of implementation.
In the UK, curriculum changes are submitted at two time points depending on whether that change is for a course or not. Information is cascaded locally regarding how to request those changes. Subsequent change to material and non-material information in the UK is not normally permitted unless it is unforeseen, one of the permitted exceptional circumstances (see Section 2.3, late change) and approved by ESEC.
- Changes to material items in courses and modules must be submitted in line with the deadlines ahead of the UG/PGT Prospectus publication, which will be published on the CAAT SharePoint site (link in Section 3 below). Typically, Schools will be asked to do this by early Autumn annually (e.g. October 2025 for September 2027 UG start).
- Changes to non-material items in coursess must be submitted in line with the annual curriculum and review process and timeline, which is also published on the CAAT SharePoint site. Typically, Schools will be asked to do this by early autumn annually (e.g. October 2025 for September 2026 UG start).
- Changes to non-material items in modules must be submitted according to the annual curriculum review process and timeline, which is also publishged on the CAAT SharePoint site. Typically, Schools will be asked to do this by January/February annually for all courses (e.g. February 2026 for September 2026).
Material information includes (but is not limited to):
- Which modules are core modules,
- course and core module titles,
- outline summary of course and core modules,
- location of study,
- duration of study,
- external accreditation,
- award type,
- assessment at course level,
- delivery of teaching at course level.
Please see of the 糖心原创's Consumer Protection Policy which provides a full list of information which is considered “material”.
Please note, UK prospectus publication dates are shown in the table below:
UK Prospectus Publishing dates for UG and PGT courses
| Undergraduate |
1 March in the calendar year before students commence the course (e.g. 1 March 2026 for 27/28 entry with changes to prospectus information being completed by by the date advertised on the CAAT SharePoint ) |
| Postgraduate Taught |
1 July in the calendar year before students commence the course (e.g. 1 July 2026 for 27/28 entry with changes to prospectus information being completed by by the date advertised on the CAAT SharePoint) |
2.3 Late changes to curriculum
It is expected that once the prospectus and Online Course Catalogue are published, no further changes to curriculum information will be made.
The Late Curriculum Change process, and associated processes (e.g. re-opening modules, subject to the one in, one out requirement), will only be allowed if the reason is unforeseen and falls within one of the exceptional circumstances detailed in the table below. Each request must be supported by evidence demonstrating the necessity of the change and receive the necessary approvals (see below).
Late change exceptions and justifications
| Exception Type | Justification |
|---|
| Optional module consolidation |
Closure of optional modules or reduced span of choice of options due to capacity issues. |
| In person assessment reduction |
Accelerated implementation of the Assessment Framework and increases capacity to schedule and deliver the examexperience for students and staff. Note, whether or not such an assessment change is a late request, these changes would not in isolation trigger a ‘new programmecourse by change’ in 25/26 academic year. |
| Change of module convenor |
Due to staff turnover, extended leave or unforeseen capacity issues |
| PSRB mandated change |
Essential requirement to meet accreditation or revalidation conditions |
| Legal or regulatory correction |
Correction required to ensure CMA or visa compliance |
| External partnership adjustment |
Required due to a change by partner institution affecting joint delivery |
| Typographical error correction (administrative) |
Correction of a typing error resulting in mis-spelling or misplaced punctuation (impacting clarity or professionalism, not function). |
Local School/Faculty approvals must first be obtained. Then, CAAT in UNUK, SRO in UNM or ASU in UNNC will consider the change requests and make a recommendation to the relevant Faculty Associate PVC for Education and Student Experience (or delegate/equivalent) who will accept or reject the request.
The next level of approval required will depend on the change being requested. If accepted by the FAVPC and the change is on the above permitted exceptions list and is a change that the CAAT team has delegated authority to approve, then they will approve the request and the late change will also be reported to Education and Student Experience Committee. If accepted by the FAVPC and either the change is on the permitted exceptions list but CAAT team do not have delegated authority or the change is not on the permitted exceptions list, then the request will go to the Education and Student Experience Committee for consideration.
Applicants and offer holders, and current students, where impacted must be informed in writing of any changes to material information that has been published in the Online Prospectus or Online Curriculum Catalogue. In some circumstances consultation may be required.
All communications to offer holders regarding changes to material information will be managed by Admissions and Marketing in consultation with the School. All current student communications regarding material changes will be managed by the School/Faculty. All communications are drafted in consultation with Marketing, CAAT and the School.
2.4 Free speech
When developing a new course, appropriate regard must be given to the importance of promoting free speech.
Please consult the following for further information about the Freedom of Speech Act:
Free speech and academic freedom statement
Free speech and academic freedom code or practice
Free speech and academic freedom webpage
2.5 Academic freedom
In relation to course and module development, approval, and delivery, it should be noted that academics would not be prohibited from developing or delivering a course or module on the ground that it involves giving serious consideration to ‘controversial or unpopular opinions’. This is not a reason that the course would be approved, rather it is not a reason it could be declined. For instance, there will remain business or logistical reasons to not grant approval to a course or module.