Academic Quality, Regulations & Procedures
This is where to find The Royal Veterinary College's academic policies, procedures, and regulations, including those used for assuring the quality and enhancement of the student learning experience. In this area Students & Staff can access all pertinent information relating to the student journey.
Academic Quality Assurance & Enhancement Procedures
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QAA Higher Education Review (2015) Action Plan - updates in 2015, 2016 and 2019 . Merged responses to Action Plan available here.
If you are having difficulties viewing the above mind-map, please click here to download a PDF version.
UK Quality Code for Higher Education: The RVC maps its Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement Procedures against the sound practice within the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The College also takes into consideration the requirements of relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs).
Quality Assurance Agency - Higher Education Review: The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) confirmed the quality and standards of provision at the Royal Veterinary College following its review visit in February 2015. A team of QAA reviewers visited the Royal Veterinary College and judged that its academic standards, the quality of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations. The enhancement of its student learning opportunities is commended. For further details regarding the review visit and the actions the College took in response to the findings of the review, please read more here.
Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement Procedures
- Student Engagement
- Collaborative Provision
- Design and Approval of Courses
- Assessment and Award Regulations - Updates and Approval
- Programme Specifications - Updates and Approval
- Closure of Taught Courses
- Module Development and Approval
- Overview of the Annual and Cyclical Monitoring and Review of Courses, and Approval of Changes to Courses
- External Examiners
- Student, Graduate and Employer Evaluation Surveys
- Reviews - including the review of Modules, Strands, Intramural Rotations (IMR) and Research Project 2
- Annual Quality Improvement Reporting Process
- Periodic Review of Courses
- Curriculum Managers - Procedure and Criteria for Appointment, Roles and Responsibilities, Module/Strand Leader Handbooks etc.
- Internal Examiners – appointments
- Responding to reports from Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs)
- Strategy for Enhancement and Assurance of the Quality of Learning, Teaching and Assessment, 2013-21
- Implementation Plan - Strategy for Enhancement and Assurance of the Quality of Learning, Teaching and Assessment, 2013-21
- Teaching Quality Committee - Membership and Terms of Reference
- Abbreviations
- Glossary
For further details and/or help, please contact a member of the Academic Quality Team.
Course Support & Student Administration
- Study Abroad Opportunity
- Timetabling Protocols
- Timetabling Calendar
- Timetabling Policy
- Transfer between courses
Attendance Policy for Students
General Regulations for Study and Awards (replaced the General Regulations for Internal Students of the Royal Veterinary College)
Student Performance and Development System:
Doctoral Programmes & Research Degrees
Appraisal:
Code of Practice:
Examiner Nominations:
- Guidelines for Nomination of Examiners for MRes
- Guidelines for Nomination of Examiners for Research Degrees (MPhil, PhD and DVetMed Degrees)
Examiner Forms:
- External MRes Examiner Fee and Expenses Claim Form and Notes
- MRes Preliminary Report Form
- MRes Examiners Form - Joint Report Form
- MRes Oral Examination Form
- External PhD Examiner Fee and Expenses Claim Form and Notes
- PhD Preliminary Report Form
- PhD Joint Examiner Report
Examination Regulations/Guidelines:
General Regulations for Study and Award (replaced the General Regulations for Internal Students of the Royal Veterinary College)
Projects
Exams & Assessment
This is where you will find policies, regulations, guidance and procedural information regarding exams and assessment.
You might also be interested in the following links:
- General Regulations for Study and Award
- Research Degree Examinations - please refer to the 'Doctoral Programmes & Research Degrees' section above
- Internal Examiners and Assessors
- External Examiners
- Exam Timetables
- Course Assessment and Award Regulations (current)
- Course Assessment and Award Regulations (previous)
A Guide to the Documentation available for Examiners and Examining in Taught Courses at the RVC
There are four types of document:
1. Policy: Statements about particular expectations in the design of regulations and operation of procedures
2. Regulatory: Formal requirements that all Courses, Examiners and Boards of Examiners must meet
3. Procedures: Set instructions that Examiners and Course Directors must follow
4. Guidance: Reference documents to enable Examiners and Course Directors to undertake their roles.
All courses are governed by the following:
Title | Contents | Type of document |
Describes the makeup and duties of members of the Board | Regulatory | |
Procedure for appointing a new Chair or Deputy Chair of Exam Board, including a nomination form with criteria of appointment | Procedure | |
Code of Practice for Pre Meetings to Boards of Examiners | Business to be dealt with prior to formal meetings of Boards of Examiners | Procedure |
Regulations covering conduct in exam rooms, late submission of work, document retention, aegrotat | Regulatory | |
Setting Examination Papers | How written examination papers have to be set | Procedure |
How Exams are Marked | How exams should be marked eg Sample and Double marking requirements etc. | Procedure |
How to ensure that the load of assessment on students is equivalent between different modules etc. |
Guidance | |
Marking Schemes: |
How to mark/grade assessments | Policy |
Extensions to submission dates and authorised absences: Guidance to Students on meeting submission deadlines Allowable reasons for granting of extensions to submission deadlines |
How a student can gain extensions | Procedure |
Guidance for Boards of Examiners concerning major project resubmission |
What and how to decide when a student has failed a project | Guidance |
Responsibilities and Guidance on annual activity for Course Directors or BVetMed Year Leaders |
The course director’s responsibilities in relation to examinations | Guidance |
Responsibilities and Guidance on annual activity for Chairs of Boards of Examiners |
The chair’s responsibilities in relation to examinations | Guidance |
How a student can seek adjustment to their exams and how it is considered and approved | Procedure | |
Academic Standards, Adjustments and inclusive practice: |
What is allowed in terms of making adjustments | Policy |
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism Plagiarism - supporting RVC staff and students in avoiding plagiarism |
What happens where plagiarism or other cheating is suspected | Procedure |
Exams Calendar for MSc Degrees (first and second attempts, deferrals, progression) |
Cycle of activity in MSc degree examinations | Procedure |
Who, when and how feedback should be given to taught students Policy on Formative Assessment |
Policy & Guidance | |
Using Skype and video conferencing | Procedure | |
Arranging examinations at premises other than the RVC | Procedure | |
Guidance on the planning, set-up and delivery of remote online assessments | Guidance | |
Systems Failure in Relation to Online Submission of Assessments |
Outline of the RVC procedure when there is a system failure that impacts on submission of online assessments, for example via Online Coursework Management (OCM) or TurnItIn, as well as any other appropriate submission portal. | Procedure |
Further Student Policies and Procedures
Admissions:
- Admissions Policy and Procedures
- Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) and Admission with Advanced Standing
- Supporting Students wishing to transfer to another Higher Education Provider
Student Protection Plan 2022/23
Student Fees Policy and Fees and Fund Information
Student Appeals, Complaints and Conduct
Appeals:
- Preparing for Appeal
- Appeals Procedure
- Appeals and Representation
- Appeals and Representation - Additional Guidance in light of COVID-19 Policies and Regulatory Changes
Complaints:
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism:
- Academic Misconduct
- AMBeR document
- Academic Misconduct Process
- Preparing for your Meeting
- Plagiarism - supporting RVC staff and students in avoiding plagiarism
- Research Projects with Integrity - Guidance for Students
Professional Requirements, fitness to study and practise
- Professional Requirements (including Fitness to Study)
- Professional Requirements Procedure
- Preparing for your Meeting
- Misconduct Procedure
- RCVS Fitness to Practise Guidance - A Guide for UK Veterinary Schools and Veterinary Students
- RCVS Fitness to Practise Guidance - A Guide for UK providers of Veterinary Nursing Education and Student Veterinary Nurses
Teaching & Learning
You might also be interested in other College regulations and procedures:
- Human Resources A - Z Forms and Policies for documentation relating to standards of conduct for staff and students
- Policies and Regulations (on Intranet) for documentation related to the use of RVC computers, internet, telephones, printers. etc by RVC staff and students
- Policy and Legal for documentation relating to Governance, Publication Scheme, Finance, Information Compliance, Health and Safety, Risk Management, Public Interest Disclosure, etc.