Academic Development

This page provides information for staff on the annual deadlines and processes for module and programme development.

Deadlines in 2024/25

Below are the deadlines for key academic development tasks in 2024/25:

The above deadlines have been set to allow sufficient time for oversight, updating module and programme records, communication to students/applicants/stakeholders if required, and for all downstream administrative processes to take place. Schools/Institutes are strongly encouraged to submit documentation before these deadlines where consideration and approval has been obtained.

The Directorate of Governance and Legal Services (DGLS) cannot guarantee that anything submitted after the above deadlines will be processed.

All academic developments must be reviewed by the relevant Education Committee prior to being submitted to DGLS. The signing of the forms by the Head of School / Institute and/or Director of Education confirms that the form has been approved by the Education Committee. All Programme Specifications should state the date they were approved or amended by the School/Institute Education Committee.

All forms must be completed in full and signed by either the Head of School/Institute and/or the Director of Education (where the Head of School / Institute has delegated their authority). Any unsigned or incomplete forms will be returned to the School / Institute and DGLS cannot guarantee that they will be processed if completed versions are then submitted after the deadline.

Staff completing forms in Schools / Institutes are asked to note the points below:

• When submitting multiple forms for the above deadlines, please also supply a table or spreadsheet of files submitted (listing the names and codes of the programmes and/or modules, and the type of form). This aids in processing the forms and ensures that everything has been received.
• Schools/Institutes must ensure that Part 1 Programme Proposal forms have been endorsed, and have the approval of Faculty prior to submission to the TPB Part 1 sub-board. Work should not begin on the Part 2 paperwork submission until approval has been received and the Part 1 sub-board has provided endorsement.
• Part 2 Proposal Forms submitted by 30 October 2024 will be considered at the 27 November 2024  or 15 January 2025 meetings of Taught Programmes Board. The deadline for both of these meetings is 30 October 2024. DGLS and the Chair of TPB will determine which proposals will go to which meeting.
• DGLS requires a full set of programme specifications for all 2025/26 provision. An updated Programme Specification must accompany all Programme Amendment Forms. Checked and confirmed Programme Specifications must accompany the Module Preselection Spreadsheets (MAV return) for programmes not requiring any amendment.

Guidance and contacts

The Directorate of Governance and Legal Services (DGLS) supports Schools / Institutes in the development of programmes and modules and coordinates the work of Taught Programmes Board. For advice on taught programme development, including preparing and submitting proposals to TPB, then please contact qualityandstandards@qmul.ac.uk:

• Faculty of Humanities and Social Science: Laura Bonsall
• Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (UG): 
• Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (PG): Alice de Havillan 

Guidance on major and minor amendments to programmes and modules, the approval route for academic developments, and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) implications for academic developments can be found on the following document:

Amendments to Programmes and Modules - July 2024 [PDF 237KB]

Queries concerning programme/module set up in SITS, should be raised with the Academic Model Team via the mySIS helpdesk.