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Section 5: Module Amendment

Published for 2023-24


5. Module Amendment5.2 Module Amendment Classification
5.1 Amendments to Compulsory Modules 

5. Module Amendment

1.The principle regarding amendments to any part of a module is that changes will apply to the next delivery of the module after the change has been approved. 
2.Formal processes for module amendment are required to ensure that proposed changes are subject to scrutiny, and that where changes to modules have a significant impact upon the programmes to which they contribute, the appropriate programme amendment process is triggered.
3.If it is proposed to amend a module delivered in conjunction with a UCL Academic Partner, UCL’s Senior Policy Advisor (Academic Partnerships) should be consulted in the first instance.  

5.1 Amendments to Compulsory Modules

1.If the module is, or is intended to become, a compulsory part of one or more programmes, then that could trigger programme amendment and require a Programme Amendment Form (Annex 7.4.1). In this case, consideration must be given to whether the change of one or more modules represents a major, moderate or minor programme-level amendment as defined in Section 4.2, and the associated action taken.
2.Additionally, changes to some aspects of modules, particularly compulsory modules, may result in the need to inform applicants and consult with offer holders and/or current students, in line with UCL’s obligations under consumer protection legislation. For further information see Section 4.1: Principles of Programme Amendment.

5.2 Module Amendment Classification

1.UCL’s module amendment process is differentiated so that changes deemed major are subject to additional external scrutiny: this system is in place to safeguard the academic standards of qualifications and to ensure that modules cannot drift incrementally from their original approved state without appropriate external validation.
2.Consideration should also be given to ensuring that any conditions of relevant Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies are satisfied upon amendment.
3.Amendments cannot be made to module codes assigned by Student Operations.
 Major Amendments
4.Major amendments require the completion of a Module Amendment Form (Annex 7.5.1). They must also have external scrutiny and Department and Faculty approval. The following changes are classified as Major:
 a) Changes to the credit value of the module;
 b) Changes which affect one third or more of the intended learning outcomes;
 c) Every third minor amendment following the last major amendment;
 d)Any amendment that triggers a programme amendment.
 Minor Amendments
5.

Minor amendments* require the completion of a Module Amendment Form (Annex 7.5.1) and Department and Faculty approval. They do not require external scrutiny. The following changes are classified as Minor:

*Except for a) Changes to the weighting of assessment and b) Changes of assessment methods/criteria, which do not require a Module Amendment Form as they received and processed via the Programme and Module Hub on the Student Records and Faculty MS Teams site.

 a) Changes to the weighting of assessment;
 b) Changes of assessment methods/criteria;
 c) Changes which affect under one third of the intended learning outcomes;
 d)Balance of learning activities;
 e)Change of module title;
 f)Change of teaching department;
 g)Introduction of an alternative mode of delivery, e.g. different FHEQ level or different assessment pattern for affiliate students;
 h)Other changes at the discretion of the Faculty Tutor
6.All module amendments for the forthcoming academic year (2024-25) must be submitted to the Student Lifecycle Team (via the Programme and Module Hub on the Student Records and Faculty MS Team) by 30th November 2023.