All our degrees and certificates are British degrees, awarded by the University of Kent, and conferred at the November Congregation ceremonies in Canterbury Cathedral. These degrees are recognised around the world for their high quality. We are the first educational institution to be dually recognised in both the UK and Belgium (Flanders), and have been since 2009.
Our modules and programmes are subject to the same stringent quality assurance procedures as for all other University of Kent programmes and we are, like other Schools at the University, periodically audited. Our awards, programmes, and student experience are thus assured to be of the highest national and international standards.
Our MA/LLM degrees, like most Chartered institutions in the United Kingdom, are suitable for entry to the PhD programmes in the United Kingdom or the United States (provided the candidate has performed to an appropriate level).
The quality assurance of all academic programmes at BSIS is managed through the University of Kent’s Codes of Practice and Academic Regulations.
Quality Assurance
The quality assurance of all academic programmes at BSIS is managed through the University of Kent's Codes of Practice and Academic Regulations.
Joint Board of Studies
BSIS has established a Joint Board of Studies which acts as a Graduate Studies Sub-committee of the ‘parent’ academic department which holds responsibility for the programmes delivered by BSIS. The Joint Board of Studies includes two student representatives and considers such matters as the approval of new modules, the annual monitoring of existing modules and programmes of study, and student evaluation.
Each programme is evaluated along with each of its modules and a composite report, including feedback elicited from students on both formal written (anonymous) course evaluation forms, as well as that provided by students at the End of Term Review Sessions or in the Staff Student Liaison Committee (see below), is submitted to the relevant Head of Department, and thence to the Dean of Social Sciences.
The Joint Board also reports bi-annually to the University of Kent Brussels Management Group, which is chaired by the Dean for Europe and attended by relevant Heads of School as well as senior members of the University’s administration. This ensures that the concerns and suggestions of the students at the Brussels School are taken very seriously at high levels within the University.
Student Voice Committee
BSIS has also established a Student Voice Committee . Its ambit covers all aspects of BSIS, not just the conduct of academic courses. It meets twice per term and is attended by all academic and administrative staff as well as the Executive Officers of the BSIS Graduate Union, who are elected by the student body at the start of the academic year. These meetings ensure that the School is always responsive to students’ concerns and helps deal with issues expeditiously. The minutes of the meetings are reported direct to the student body,
BSIS has adopted use of these meetings as the most effective way to ensure the quality management of its cross-School portfolio of programmes and make certain that the needs of its diverse student body are met equally. Student feedback is taken very seriously, both for the current year and in our thinking about the future evolution of programmes, because we recognise that the long-term success of our programmes, and the maintenance of our international reputation, depends on satisfying and responding to student needs.
External Examiners
As detailed in the Code of Practice, each programme has an External Examiner, who is a distinguished academic from another University. The role of the external examiner is to guarantee the quality of the degree, its comparability with degrees awarded elsewhere by UK universities, and the fairness of the assessment procedures. Examination and dissertation assessment is always undertaken independently by two members of staff and is reviewed by the external examiner who has the right to see all work produced by candidates. The external examiner produces an annual report on the examination procedures for the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent. Furthermore, every three years an external reviewer formally reviews each programme.