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The University of Essex has a risk-management approach to the approval of new degree courses and awards. The intensity of scrutiny which a new award is subjected to is determined largely by the volume of the curriculum that is new and whether there are any aspects of the course which are new to the department or University, and the academic risk it therefore represents.
Courses are grouped into three categories which indicate the approval route required. Depending on the approval route, courses may be considered by the Faculty Executive Dean, Faculty Education Committee, or a Validation Panel. Recommendations are made to Academic Quality and Standards Committee for final approval, unless the authority has been delegated either to the Executive Dean.
All new courses are subject to a two-part approval process, which can be completed together or separately, except in the case of a course subject to a validation event, where Part 1 should be completed before the validation event. All new courses require input from an external expert in the subject area. Departments are also encouraged to request a market research report from the Communications and External Relations Office (CER), particularly where a course represents substantively new material.
If you have any questions about the approval of new courses, or new modules, please contact the Academic Standards and Partnerships Office or your Faculty Education Manager.
Partner Colleges should refer to the Partner Institutions webpages for further information about the approval of new courses or modules
Page last updated: 11 September 2013