Quality Handbook

This Quality Handbook provides academic and administrative staff with an essential summary of the main quality assurance procedures in place at The University of Buckingham. It includes the key procedures and guidance for the approval of new and revised taught academic provision, the annual and periodic review of programmes, the external examining procedures and Code of Practice, information on collecting student feedback and good practice and enhancement.

Section 1: Introduction

• 1.1 Introduction to Quality and Standards
• 1.2 Sector-Recognised Standards
• 1.3 Programme Naming and Family Group Convention Guidance
• 1.4 Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration Summary
• 1.5 Subject Benchmark Statements

Section 2: New Programmes and Modules

• 2.1a New Programme and Module Approval Procedure (PDF)
• 2.1b New Programmes and Modules Flowchart (PDF)
• 2.1c New Programme Approval (Validation Panel) Procedure (PDF)
• 2.2a Business Case Form (Word)
• 2.2b Business Case (Financial) Template (Excel)
• 2.3 Employer Consultation Form New Programme (Word)
• 2.4 Programme Specification Template (Word)
• 2.5 Module Specification Template (Word)
• 2.6 Module Mapping Template (Excel)
• 2.7 Assessment Matrix template (Excel)
• 2.8 Calendar Entry Grid Undergraduate (Word)
• 2.9 Calendar Entry Grids_Masters Entries (Word)
• 2.10 Approval Checklist – New Programmes (Word)
• 2.11 Approval Checklist for New Modules on Existing Programmes (PDF)
• 2.12 Early Marketing Procedure (PDF)

Section 3: Changing Programmes and Modules

• 3.1 Changes to Provision Procedure v1 Sept 2022 (PDF)
• 3.2 Changes to Provision Flowchart (PDF)
• 3.3 Change Request Submission Portal (PDF)

Section 4: Annual Monitoring

• Section 4: Holding Page November 2022 (PDF)

Section 5: Periodic Reviews

• Section 5: Holding Page November 2022 (PDF)

Section 6: Closure or Suspension of Programmes

• 6.1 Closure of Programme Procedure (PDF)
• 6.2 Closure of Programmes Forms (PDF)
• 6.3 Re-Activation of Programme Form (PDF)

Section 7: External Examining

• 7.1 External Examiner Code of Practice (PDF)
• 7.2 Appendix 1 Standard Operating Procedure for External Examiner Nomination, Approval and Appointment (PDF)
• 7.3 Appendix 2 External Examiner Appointment Form (Word)
• 7.4 Appendix 3 Standard Operating Procedure for Processing External Examiner Payments (PDF)
• 7.5 Appendix 4 Standard Operating Procedure for External Examining (PDF)
• 7.6 Appendix 5 Assessment Verification Form (Word)
• 7.7 Appendix 6 External Examiners Annual Report & Response Form (Excel)

Section 8: Student Feedback

• 8.1 National Student Survey Overview (PDF)

Section 9: Good Practice and Enhancement

• 9.1 Good Practice Guide for Staff (PDF)

Section 10: Published Information Policy

• 10.1 Published Information Policy (PDF)