Section 5: Module Amendment

Contents

• 5.1 Amendments to Compulsory Modules
• 5.2 Module Amendment Classification

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 courses to which they contribute, the appropriate course amendment process is triggered.
3. If it is proposed to amend a module delivered in conjunction with a UCL Academic Partner, UCL’s Academic Policy, Quality and Standards team should be consulted in the first instance.
4. Prior to module information being held in CourseLoop, any changes to modules will continue to be made via Module Amendment Forms as described below. Once CourseLoop is fully operational all amendments will need to be made within the system.

5.1 Amendments to Core Modules

1. If the module is, or is intended to become, a core part of one or more courses, then that could trigger the need to follow the course amendment process. In this case, consideration must be given to whether the change represents a major, moderate or minor course-level amendment as defined in Section 4.2, and the associated revision type chosen within CourseLoop.
2. Additionally, changes to some aspects of modules, particularly core 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 Course 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.

5.2.1 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:
   1. Changes to the credit value of the module;
   2. Changes which affect one third or more of the intended learning outcomes;
   3. Every third minor amendment following the last major amendment;
   4. Any amendment that triggers a course amendment.

5.2.2 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 exceptions are: a) Changes to the weighting of assessment; b) Changes of assessment methods/criteria. These 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.

   The following changes are classified as Minor:

   1. Changes to the weighting of assessment;
   2. Changes of assessment methods/criteria;
   3. Changes which affect under one third of the intended learning outcomes;
   4. Balance of learning activities;
   5. Change of module title;
   6. Change of teaching department;
   7. Introduction of an alternative mode of delivery, e.g. different FHEQ level or different assessment pattern for affiliate students;
   8. Other changes at the discretion of the Director of Education and Student Experience or equivalent
6. All module amendments for the forthcoming academic year must be submitted to the Curriculum Information Management Services team (via the Programme and Module Hub on the Student Records and Faculty MS Team) by the last working day in November in the preceding year.