Where a new course proposal falls into approval category 1 or 2, the department should identify and approach an external expert who should be asked to scrutinise the proposal and provide a brief written report.
A template external expert report (word doc) is provided as a guide to the questions the external should be asked to comment on. These include:-
The external expert is entitled to a fee of £150 on completion of their written report. The fee is paid by the Academic Standards and Partnerships Office. The department should pay the external expert's fee and claim it back from the Academic Standards and Partnerships Office.
Either wholly constructed from existing modules or including a maximum of two new modules, up to a maximum of 60 credits, that contribute to degree classification (UG), or no more than two new core modules, up to a maximum of 40 credits (PGT).
The external expert report can be provided by an existing or recent external examiner.
Courses which include more than two new modules, or more than 60 credits, that contribute to degree classification (UG) or more than two new core modules, or more than 40 credits (PGT).
The external expert should not be a current or recent external examiner (within the last 3 years). Use of an external expert for approval purposes does not affect the subsequent eligibility of that individual for nomination as an external examiner.
Where a course is considered at a validation event, the validation panel will include an external expert.
Page last updated: 11 September 2013