2.8 Suspension and Withdrawal of Study Schemes and Changes to Scheme Titles (SDF5 / SDF6)

Suspend a study scheme

1. Proposals submitted by departments to suspend schemes will only be considered after full consultation within the relevant faculty, or across faculties where necessary. Departments should also ensure that Welsh-medium provision at scheme and module level is considered during this process. The normal expectation is that schemes will be suspended for one year only, after which point they will automatically be made available again for applications and visible on course search pages. Proposals to suspend schemes will be considered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience), and departments should submit a committee coversheet and a Scheme Development Form 5 (SDF5) for consideration by the PVC (ESE). No further scrutiny will be necessary, and the decision will be recorded at the Quality & Standards Committee.

Withdraw a study scheme

2. Proposals submitted by departments to withdraw schemes will only be considered after full consultation within the relevant faculty, or across faculties where necessary. Departments should also ensure that Welsh-medium provision at scheme and module level is considered during this process. The normal expectation is that schemes will be phased out over a period to allow the University to meet commitments to registered students. Exceptionally, where urgent restructuring is necessary, the University will make every effort to secure places elsewhere for students already in the University who wish to complete the scheme of study they were admitted to. Where an undergraduate scheme is withdrawn part way through an admissions cycle the normal UCAS conventions will operate for those who have applied for entry to the scheme. Proposals to withdraw study schemes will be considered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience), and departments should submit a committee coversheet and a Scheme Development Form 5 (SDF5) for consideration by the PVC (ESE). No further scrutiny will be necessary, and the decision will be recorded at the Quality & Standards Committee.

3. Section 2 is not onlyfor Welsh Medium schemes as withdrawal of schemes may also have an impact on module-level Welsh-medium provision; it should be completed for allschemes. Departments should complete Section 2 in consultation with the Associate FPVC of Welsh Language, who will be responsible for liaising with relevant colleagues before the proposal is submitted to the PVC (ESE).

4. Departments should bear in mind that the PVC (ESE) will scrutinise proposals to withdraw or suspend schemes and the implications of these decisions in light of CMA guidance on Consumer Law.

5. The PVC (ESE) and Head of Planning may propose the suspension or withdrawal of schemes on an annual basis based on recruitment trend data and market intelligence. The PVC (ESE) will invite departments to take action on the basis of this report to withdraw or suspend schemes as appropriate. Faculties will be invited to provide a robust rationale to the PVC (ESE) for retaining any schemes identified in the report. Faculties should consider compliance with the Welsh Language Standards, in consultation with the Associate FPVC of Welsh Language who will be responsible for liaising with relevant colleagues and confirm any impact on provision. The PVC (ESE) will have the authority to make final decisions taking account of this feedback. No further approval documentation would be required, and the decision will be recorded at the Quality & Standards Committee.

Changes to scheme titles

6. Changes to scheme titles will be considered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience). The Department should complete the following for consideration by the PVC (ESE):

(i) Committee coversheet

(ii) Scheme Development Form 6 (SDF6).

No further scrutiny will be necessary, and the decision will be recorded at the Quality & Standards Committee.