This page provides a framework for managing students on suspended/closed courses, including students who may require additional time to complete their studies. It is intended to ensure that students are supported appropriately, that course learning outcomes can continue to be met, and that decisions about additional years, curriculum substitution and individual student cases are referred for consideration where required.
Suspension/closure of a course to new entrants does not, in itself, suspend or close the course for registered students. Schools remain responsible for identifying whether a viable route to completion is available and for advising students where their (the students’) choices may affect that route.
2.1 Support for registered students
Students who are already registered on a suspended/closed course will be supported to complete that course wherever this remains academically and operationally possible.
Schools must ensure that students understand the implications of any decision that may extend their period of study, including voluntary interruption of study, repeat study, reassessment, part-time study, or an additional or placement year.
2.2 Course learning outcomes
A teach-out arrangement must only be offered where students can meet the approved course learning outcomes for their course, and it is operationally possible.
Where the original curriculum cannot be delivered in full (see category 2 and 3 proposals in section 2.4 below), any alternative provision must be academically coherent and must be mapped against the course learning outcomes. The School must provide curriculum mapping to support their Outside Regulations Request. The mapping must be proportionate to the level of change.
The mapping must show how the proposed route enables students to meet the course learning outcomes and must clearly identify any module substitutions, bespoke provision, assessment changes, or restrictions on optional module choice.
2.3 Early monitoring and advice
Schools must monitor students on suspended/closed courses who may fall out of cohort. This is particularly important for students in the final recruiting cohort, as there may be no following cohort into which they can rejoin.
Where possible, Schools will support students to remain with their cohort. Where this is not possible, the School must seek advice from Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) at an early stage on whether a viable completion route remains available.
2.4 Categories of suspended/closed courses
Suspended/closed courses fall into one of the following categories, based on the extent of alternative provision that would be required for students who are unable to progress with the final recruited cohort.
Category 1: Minimal change
All compulsory modules and sufficient optional modules remain available after course suspension/closure to allow course learning outcomes to be met. Students can be supported to completion with limited or no change to the approved curriculum, although optional module choice may be reduced.
Category 1 proposals can be managed by the school and require no additional approval by QSC. Students must be clearly informed of any reduction in optional module choice. Changes to course specifications must occur through the existing late change process (refer to the ‘Annual review of curriculum’ pages linked in section 5 below).
Category 2: Moderate change
Most compulsory and optional modules remain available after course suspension/closure, but some module substitution is required, using existing modules from continuing courses.
Category 2 proposals require QSC approval, through an Outside Regulations Request. The request must be supported by curriculum mapping showing how the revised route enables students to meet the course learning outcomes and is operationally possible. If QSC approves the proposal, it will liaise with the Educator Academy - Curriculum Approvals and Advisory Team (EA – CAAT) to facilitate these changes to the course specification. The section below headed ‘Where no viable teach out route is available’ explains next steps if QSC does not approve the proposal.
Category 3: Extensive change
Most or all the original modules are no longer available. A teach-out route can only be offered where the School demonstrates that students can still meet the course learning outcomes through alternative provision and it is operationally possible.
This may include alternative combinations of continuing modules, bespoke supervised project work, portfolio-based provision, or other academically appropriate arrangements for small numbers of students.
Category 3 proposals require academic approval by QSC, through an Outside Regulations Request. If QSC is accepting of a Category 3 proposal, but thinks it requires further input from the PVC ESE to approve its operational viability, it has the discretion to seek this approval. Where PVC ESE approval is sought, both QSC and PVC ESE approval are required for a Category 3 proposal to be fully approved and students cannot be informed of the proposal without this approval. For the avoidance of doubt, if the PVC ESE does not approve a Category 3 proposal, even where QSC has been accepting of it, this will mean that the proposal is not approved, and the section below headed ‘Where no viable teach out route is available’ applies.
At UNM, the School must obtain approval from the Campus Teaching and Learning Committee (CTLC) before proceeding to seek approval through QSC and, where required, the PVC ESE.
At UNNC, the School must obtain approval from the campus Education and Student Experience Committee (ESEC) before proceeding to seek approval through QSC and, where required, the PVC ESE.
Where no viable teach-out route is available
Where the School cannot demonstrate that the course learning outcomes can be met or where a proposal is not considered to be operationally viable, students must not be offered the opportunity to fall outside cohort on that course and the steps in paragraph 4.4 below must be followed.
3.0 Roles and responsibilities
3.1 Schools
Schools are responsible for identifying students affected by course suspension/closure and for confirming whether a viable teach-out route exists.
Schools are also responsible for advising students before they make decisions that may extend their studies or affect their ability to complete the suspended/closed course.
3.2 Quality and Standards Committee
QSC considers circumstances where the proposed arrangements fall outside of regulations (i.e. the normal course structure or regulatory framework). This will normally include situations (see Categories 2 and 3 above) where core module substitution is needed, where a student requires an individual academic solution, or where an Outside Regulations Request is required.
3.3 Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience (PVC ESE)
The PVC ESE is responsible for considering operational viability of a Category 3 teach-out proposal where this is sought on behalf of the School by QSC.
Where Schools require clarity on the approval route required, they must seek advice from QSC or QSMS.
4.1 Module availability
Modules that are required only for suspended/closed courses will normally be suspended/closed after they have been taken by the final cohort of students progressing through the course in the normal sequence.
4.2 Categorising suspended/closed courses
When categorising courses, Schools must additionally determine whether additional or placement years are still a viable option that can be offered to students (see section 4.3 below).
Schools must assign each suspended/closed course to one of the categories described in section 2.4, based on the extent of alternative provision that would be required for students who are unable to progress with the final recruited cohort.
4.3 Additional or placement years
Some suspended/closed courses include the option for students to transfer to an additional year, such as a year in industry, study abroad year, data science year, computer science year, or other approved additional or placement year.
Before a student is permitted to transfer to an additional or placement year, the School must confirm that the relevant teach-out category has been considered and that any required approval has been obtained. The student must not be advised that the additional year is available unless there is an approved and deliverable route for them to return to and complete the course.
4.4 Students who fall out of cohort
Schools must monitor students on suspended/closed courses who may fall out of cohort because of interruption, reassessment, repeat study, extenuating circumstances, proceeding carrying fails, part-time study, or other changes to normal progression.
The preferred approach is to keep students with their cohort where this is academically appropriate and in the student's interests. Where this is not possible, the School must consider the student against the relevant teach-out category and seek approval or further advice where required.
Where completion on the suspended/closed course is not viable, the School must consider appropriate transfer options. This may include transfer to another course within the School, another School, or, where appropriate, advice about external options, as set out in the student protection plan (link provided in section 5).
Transfer onto a course that is already suspended or closed (even where that course is currently running for other students registered on it) is not permitted.
4.5 Communication with students
Students on suspended/closed courses must receive clear and timely information about the arrangements for completion.
Communications must explain the available teach-out route, any restrictions on module choice, the position on additional or placement years, any associated financial implications, and the need to seek advice before making decisions that may extend their period of study.
4.6 Review
Schools must keep teach-out arrangements under review while students remain registered on suspended/closed courses.
The review must consider whether the approved route remains deliverable, whether any students have fallen out of cohort, and whether further approval or student communication is required.
5.0 Related Regulations, Policies and Procedures
6.0 Version Control Table
Version Control Table
| Version Number | Purpose/Change | Approving Committee | Date |
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| 1.0 |
New page created to set out teach-out arrangements and approval routes for suspended/closed courses. |
QSC |
August 2026 |
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