Code of Practice for Quality Assurance for Taught Programmes of Study


Approved by LTB on 13 June 2001 and including all revisions up to 31 August 2009

Annex G: Personal Academic Support System

1. Academic Advice and Progress Monitoring

1.1 Each School will establish and publicise a clear system of academic support and advice on progress for all its students (full- and part-time). Schools may operate any part of this system at a subject level, as appropriate.

1.2 The arrangements for academic support and guidance provided by each School should be communicated clearly and fully to students and, while reflecting the range and detail of support available, should at a minimum ensure that students can consult named officers in the School for all of the following areas:

(i) Personal progress, including:

  • Module Choice and programme structure
  • Change of module or programme
  • Progression routes
  • Further/Advanced study


(ii) Academic guidance, including

  • Study Skills
  • Academic Integrity/Discipline
  • Learning Resources
  • Academic problems/difficulties


1.3 Schools are responsible for ensuring that class tutors act as a single point of contact for enquiries on these matters from evening and off-campus students.

1.4 Each School will establish and publicise a regular system of monitoring student attendance for formal teaching sessions (as appropriate, lectures, supervisions, seminars, laboratory classes) and individual student progress, including the submission of required coursework. In addition, Schools should consider how best to stimulate improved performances in all students. The monitoring system must ensure:

1.4.1 That lack of attendance at required teaching is identified at an early stage.

1.4.2 That academic progress is monitored at least once, normally at the halfway stage of a module.

1.4.3 That academic progress for each student is monitored across all modules.

1.4.4 That students whose progress is not adequate are interviewed by an officer of the School.

1.5 Each Schools will review at least once a term any general issues thrown up by the monitoring of individual students' progress.

2. Representation

2.1 Individual members of academic staff should not take on a formal role of representing or advocating the interests of an individual student on boards of examiners, review panels or other body. Where access is permitted within the regulations and where the individual student wishes to be represented, representation should be conducted by the Students' Union or other non-legal body.

2.2 Members of academic staff will continue to provide University bodies with relevant information on individual students in an objective and disinterested manner.

3. References

Each School will have responsibility for ensuring that an appropriate mechanism is in place to provide references upon request. Students will be responsible for completing and making available to their School a Personal Development statement so that an accurate reference may be written.

4. Central Services

In addition to the Personal Academic Support System provided by Schools, the University provides professional support for students meeting a diversity of needs. The University will ensure that the range and availability of these services is well publicised to students and staff. School officers responsible for personal academic support should in particular be aware of the full range so that they can refer students as appropriate to the relevant service. These services include:

  • The Accommodation Office
  • The Chaplaincy
  • The College Masters' Offices
  • Information Services (including the Computing Service & Library)
  • Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (including Student Learning and Advisory Service)
  • The English Language Unit
  • Equality and Diversity Manager
  • Faculty Offices
  • The Medical Centre
  • Registry offices such as the European Office, the International Office, the Financial Aid Office and the Student Records' Office
  • Student Union Advice Centre
  • Student Services which includes the co-ordination of the guidance and welfare functions of a number of departments and the direct management of:
    * The Careers Advisory Service
    * The Counselling Service
    * Disability and Dyslexia Support Service
  • Admissions and Partnership Services
  • The Graduate School

[top of page]