The School is committed to offering flexible educational pathways through short courses. Credit-bearing courses are validated, structured, and assessed to meet Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) standards. Credits may contribute towards FHEQ awards upon approval under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Experience (RPE) Regulations, supporting lifelong learning and adaptability.
This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following:
The School offers short courses that complement its academic programmes under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).
These short courses are categorised as follows:
Dimension 1. Entry Level:
Executive
For senior leaders and managers with relevant experience or qualifications.
Professional (CPD)
For professionals in specific sectors.
Open Interest
Open entry criteria
Dimension 2. Mode of Delivery
Flexible Online
Entirely online with no live component.
In-Person
Delivered with live elements, either on-site and/or remotely.
Blended
Combines online content with in-person sessions.
Dimension 3. Credit Status:
Credit-Bearing
Validated under the New Programme and Module Approval and Modification Regulations, leading to CATS credits at Levels 4-7 of the FHEQ.
Non-Credit bearing
Does not lead to credits.
These categories ensure clarity in course offerings and enable students to select courses that meet their needs and academic goals. Detailed specifications on type, mode, and credit status are provided on the School’s website.
The School provides modules as part of its accredited programmes, aligned with FHEQ and OfS Sector-recognised standards. A module is a distinct learning unit at a specific level, defined by its subject matter, credit value, learning outcomes, and summative assessments. Modules help students earn the necessary credits for qualifications and progression.
Modules ensure that learning is structured and measurable, allowing students to accumulate credits required for their qualifications and advancement within their programmes.
To be validated for CATS credits, a module must be approved under the New Programme and Module Approval and Modification Regulations. It must be part of a programme (Programme Approval Rules) or stand alone (Module Approval Rules) and meet the following criteria:
The approved module specification must be uploaded to the School’s Automated Governance System (AGS) as validated.
These criteria ensure that modules are rigorously assessed for quality and alignment with educational standards, guaranteeing that they provide meaningful and relevant learning experiences while contributing to the attainment of CATS credits.
Validated modules, recognised by the Academic Board, may also be offered as stand-alone credit-bearing short courses. Faculty must submit documentation for strategic, operational, and academic approval, following the same process as for programme approval, though it may be less extensive. Once approved, these short courses can be marketed and delivered.
This process ensures that credit-bearing short courses meet the same rigorous standards as full programmes, providing quality and consistency. Courses will:
Short courses are revalidated every 3 years to maintain quality.
The School will also offer a variety of non-credit bearing short courses to support its mission to develop leaders in AI. These courses must follow the same approval rules as credit-bearing courses.
This ensures that all short courses, whether credit-bearing or non-credit bearing, adhere to consistent standards of quality and relevance, maintaining the School's commitment to educational excellence.
The entry criteria for a short course will be based on its entry-level:
For senior leaders and managers with significant experience or qualifications.
For individuals working in specific sectors.
For those with no specific entry requirements.
Specifying entry criteria ensures that participants meet the necessary qualifications or experience for each course, aligning with its intended level and focus.
Applicants to credit-bearing short courses must also meet the entry criteria for the associated programme. These criteria, including prerequisites, experience, and language proficiency, will be detailed on the short course specification.
This ensures that applicants have the necessary qualifications and background to succeed in the credit-bearing short course, maintaining the integrity and standards of the programme.
Credit-bearing short courses must adhere to the Academic Regulations, including:
Students must familiarise themselves with these regulations, available on the School’s website and AGS, as they form part of the contract for undertaking credit-bearing short courses. These regulations cover assessment, extenuating circumstances, academic integrity, and Examination Board processes. Students will be introduced to these regulations during welcome week.
This ensures that all credit-bearing short courses meet the School’s standards for assessment, fairness, and academic integrity, and that students are aware of and adhere to the relevant regulations throughout their studies.
Students can find details on summative assessments for credit-bearing short courses in the online course specification. Additional information will be provided by the course leader, and formative feedback will be given throughout the course to aid preparation for summative assessments. Each summative assessment will include an assessment brief with:
This information is available online and will be reviewed during welcome week.
This ensures students have clear, accessible information about their assessments and academic requirements, supporting their preparation and understanding of course expectations.
Students may arrange meetings with course leaders during their office hours for additional assistance, including on regulations.
This provides students with the opportunity to seek further help and clarification on course content and assessments.
Students on credit-bearing short courses can provide feedback through the virtual learning environment (VLE) and by contacting their course leaders.
The School values feedback for ongoing enhancement of its courses and uses these mechanisms to gather input for continuous improvement.
At the end of all short courses, students receive automatic surveys to provide feedback.
This feedback helps the School to continually improve its courses.
All participants who successfully complete short courses will receive a certificate of participation. Those who complete credit-bearing short courses will receive transcripts and certificates in accordance with the Academic Regulations.
Certificates provide recognition for participation, while transcripts and certificates for credit-bearing courses offer formal documentation of academic achievement, aligning with the School's commitment to educational standards and transparency.
The short course specification on the website will indicate if a course is accredited by an external body.
Clearly stating external accreditation ensures transparency and provides participants with relevant information about the course's credibility and recognition.
The School’s Contract Terms and Conditions for Short Courses are available on the website. By booking a short course, applicants agree to these terms.
The contract outlines rules on cancellation rights, refunds, liability, obligations, and other key terms.
All School academic regulations apply to credit-bearing short courses. Students may register for these courses and later enrol in an award programme using the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Experience (RPE) process. However, future availability of the award or its module requirements cannot be guaranteed.
Students need to be aware that enrolling in credit-bearing short courses does not ensure that the award will be available in the future or that its requirements will remain the same. The maximum number of credits allowed under RPL and RPE, along with the minimum credits required to be achieved at the School, are outlined for each award type. For further details, the School’s admission team can provide guidance.
Awards and Credit Requirements:
Award
Level
Required number of credits
Taught masters’ degrees e.g. MSc
7
180 (150 at Level 7)
Postgraduate diplomas
120 (90 at Level 7)
Postgraduate certificates
60 (40 at Level 7)
Bachelors’ degrees with honours e.g. BSc Hons
6
360 (90 at Level 6)
Bachelors’ degrees
300 (60 at Level 6)
Graduate diplomas
80 (80 at Level 6)
Graduate certificates
40 (40 at Level 6)
Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHE)
5
240 (90 at Level 5)
Certificates of Higher Education (CertHE)
4
120 (90 at Level 4)
Maximum Credits Permitted by RPL and RPE:
Maximum Number of Credits Permitted by Way of RPL and RPE
Minimum Number of Credits that Must be Successfully Achieved at School
90
90 credits at Level 7
60
60 credits at Level 7
30
30 credits at Level 7
240
120 credits (60 at Level 5 and 60 at Level 6)
200
100 credits (40 at Level 5 and 60 at Level 6)
40
40 credits (40 at Level 6)
20
20 credits (20 at Level 6)
160
80 credits (20 at level 4 and 60 at Level 5)
60 credits (60 at Level 4)
The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations.