(page last reviewed 7 Oct 2022)

In all cases, Faculties and Departments should discuss new courses with their EQPO liaison officer at the earliest possible point.

For new postgraduate research courses, please contact the Postgraduate Research Team in the first instance for advice, a new course form and information about the approval process.

All new taught courses which will lead to a qualification or award of the University (including sub-degree awards) and will be included in Statutes and Ordinances, must be formally approved by the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee before they can be advertised. Some courses will require approval by General Board’s Education Committee or General Board: your EQPO liaison officer will advise.

Faculties and Departments must provide evidence of consultation with academic experts who are external to the University (such as External Examiners), with their students and (for matriculated undergraduate courses) with Colleges (for a new course in a cognate subject area, this may be with existing Directors of Studies; for entirely new subjects, this may be with the Senior Tutors’ Education Committee in the first instance: EQPO will advise).

Development

Faculties and Departments are also strongly advised to discuss course development plans at an early stage with:

• The Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning
• Academic and Financial Planning and Analysis (financial sustainability and fees)
• The relevant School(s) and/or the Institute of Continuing Education for approval of the business case and student numbers
• Planning and Resources Committee for approval of additional resources
• The Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) Service for designing a blended curriculum and making most effective use of digital tools for teaching and learning.
• The International Student Office for possible implications on international students
• The University Libraries (embedded link)
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team and the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre for ensuring that courses are designed and delivered in an inclusive way. The Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning also offers a variety of resources to support inclusive teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Cambridge Admissions Office, Postgraduate Admissions, or ICE Admissions (prospectus deadlines and widening participation)
• Faculty or departmental student representatives

Faculties and Departments developing new courses are expected to take due regard of the following regulatory, advice and guidance documents:

• UK Quality Code for Higher Education
• The Office for Students Sector Recognised Standards 
• Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statements, where relevant 
• Quality Assurance Agency Degree Characteristics Statements
• Competition and Markets Authority compliance guidance 
• Postgraduate Course Length Policy
• For non-matriculated courses, the Interim Framework for Administering Bodies

Further guidance is available for the following areas:

• Key principles and definitions when developing course educational aims and learning outcomes
• Guidance on working with educational partners, or organisations outside the University who may be involved in delivering the course
• Assessment practices, expectations and types of assessment.

Contact your EQPO Liaison Officer to discuss any of the above.

Process

Faculties and Departments should complete the New Course Approval form. Courses involving a collaborative element with a partner institution should complete both the New Course Approval Form and the Collaborative Education Form.  Postgraduate courses with collaborative elements should also review our Framework for Collaborative Provision of Postgraduate Education.  

The indicative process is set out below for postgraduate taught courses. New undergraduate non-matriculated courses follow a similar path. New Triposes, or other matriculated undergraduate courses will require review and endorsement from the Senior Tutors’ Committee and therefore the approval process is more complex and the publication of the undergraduate prospectus is further in advance than the postgraduate prospectus. Faculties and Departments intending to introduce a new Tripos should discuss with EQPO as soon as possible.

It is good practice to submit a draft version of the paperwork for feedback from the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee prior to approval being sought.

Deadlines

All new undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses
The final meeting of Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee where approval may be sought for new courses during 2022/23 is 26 April 2023.  The start date of these courses will vary depending on type, but may be no earlier than the 2024 academic year.

Paperwork must be submitted to your EQPO liaison officer no later than 5 April 2023.