Awards of the University

A1 Principles

A1.1 The University offers the major awards listed in section A2; other awards may be added as approved by Academic Board, and subject to programme validation.

A1.2 The University offers awards under licence and in partnership with professional bodies such as the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

A1.3 The University has the capacity to offer dual awards in conjunction with other institutions, or programmes leading entirely to awards of other institutions or awarding bodies, under specific validation arrangements.

A1.4 Honorary awards are conferred in recognition of achievement by individuals of significant distinction. These awards are not and should not be compared with academic qualifications.

A2 Major Awards

Undergraduate Awards

Postgraduate Awards

* Integrated Masters Awards currently approved titles:

MArts Master of Creative Expressive Arts and Health Practice, MDes Master of Design, MHist Master of History, MLaw Masters of Law, MLit Master of Literature, MSci Master of Science, MSoc Master of Sociology, MEng Master of Engineering

Higher Doctorate Awards

Professional Doctorate Awards

Doctorate Awards

A2.1 Students receive certification on completion of the full award for which they are registered. Where students terminate their studies or transfer to a different programme before they have completed, certification will be issued for the highest intermediate award for which they qualify. Variations to this may be indicated in programme specifications.

A3 Honorary Awards

A3.1 The following criteria are used in conferring honorary degrees in a specific discipline:

(i) Academic achievements which significantly advance human knowledge in the disciplines represented in the University’s curriculum

(ii) Creative achievements which significantly advance practice in the arts or technology

(iii) Significant achievements in industrial, commercial or professional life

(iv) Educational achievements which exemplify the University’s mission

(v) Social achievements which exemplify the values embedded in the University’s mission or which significantly and positively enhance the context in which the mission is pursued.

A3.2 An Honorary Doctor of the University award without specific discipline is conferred for outstanding achievement in the above criteria, including contributions to the University’s standing. Where the level of distinction is significant but not outstanding, an Honorary Master of the University may be awarded.

A4 Other Awards

Minor Awards

• Certificate of Credit
• Certificate of Continuing Education *
• Certificate of Continuing Professional Development *
• University Foundation Certificate
• University Certificate
• University Diploma
• University Advanced Diploma
• Certificate in Professional Practice
• Diploma in Professional Practice
• Diploma in Policing
• International Foundation Certificate

Under Licence

• Higher National Certificate (HNC)
• Higher National Diploma (HND) (classed as a Major Award)
• BTEC Advanced Professional Award/Certificate/Diploma
• BTEC Professional Award/Certificate/Diploma

In Partnership with Professional Bodies

• Chartered Association of Certified Accountants Certificate (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Certificate (CIMA)
• Diploma in Acoustics and Noise

* In some circumstances these awards may be validated with a professionally recognised title, such as Practice Certificate.

A1 Principles

A1.1 The University offers the major awards listed in section A2; other awards may be added as approved by Academic Board, and subject to programme validation.

A1.2 The University offers awards under licence and in partnership with professional bodies such as the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

A1.3 The University has the capacity to offer dual awards in conjunction with other institutions, or programmes leading entirely to awards of other institutions or awarding bodies, under specific validation arrangements.

A1.4 Honorary awards are conferred in recognition of achievement by individuals of significant distinction. These awards are not and should not be compared with academic qualifications.

A2 Major Awards

Undergraduate Awards

Postgraduate Awards

* Integrated Masters Awards currently approved titles:

MArts Master of Creative Expressive Arts and Health Practice, MDes Master of Design, MHist Master of History, MLaw Masters of Law, MLit Master of Literature, MSci Master of Science, MSoc Master of Sociology, MEng Master of Engineering

Higher Doctorate Awards

Professional Doctorate Awards

Doctorate Awards

A2.1 Students receive certification on completion of the full award for which they are registered. Where students terminate their studies or transfer to a different programme before they have completed, certification will be issued for the highest intermediate award for which they qualify. Variations to this may be indicated in programme specifications.

A3 Honorary Awards

A3.1 The following criteria are used in conferring honorary degrees in a specific discipline:

(i) Academic achievements which significantly advance human knowledge in the disciplines represented in the University’s curriculum

(ii) Creative achievements which significantly advance practice in the arts or technology

(iii) Significant achievements in industrial, commercial or professional life

(iv) Educational achievements which exemplify the University’s mission

(v) Social achievements which exemplify the values embedded in the University’s mission or which significantly and positively enhance the context in which the mission is pursued.

A3.2 An Honorary Doctor of the University award without specific discipline is conferred for outstanding achievement in the above criteria, including contributions to the University’s standing. Where the level of distinction is significant but not outstanding, an Honorary Master of the University may be awarded.

A4 Other Awards

Minor Awards

• Certificate of Credit
• Certificate of Continuing Education *
• Certificate of Continuing Professional Development *
• University Foundation Certificate
• University Certificate
• University Diploma
• University Advanced Diploma
• Certificate in Professional Practice
• Diploma in Professional Practice
• Diploma in Policing
• International Foundation Certificate

Under Licence

• Higher National Certificate (HNC)
• Higher National Diploma (HND) (classed as a Major Award)
• BTEC Advanced Professional Award/Certificate/Diploma
• BTEC Professional Award/Certificate/Diploma

Professional Awards 

• International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS)

The award of iQTS is subject to the demonstration and assessment of professional standards, set by the Department of Education. 

A5 Aegrotat Awards

A5.1 An aegrotat award for incomplete study is an unclassified award that may be conferred in exceptional circumstances for any taught programme validated by the University including:

• Certificate of Higher Education
• Diploma of Higher Education
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Postgraduate Certificate
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Master’s Degree

A5.2 Assessment Boards may use discretion to confer or recommend conferment of an aegrotat award. The decision must be based on evidence of the student’s performance. Where a student is short only 20 or 40 credits, the assessment board may decide to approve a full classified award rather than an aegrotat award, provided there is sufficient evidence of the student’s potential achievement at the level being applied for.

A5.3 Once approved in principle by the Assessment Board, the offer of an aegrotat award will be made to the student. It will be formally awarded on receipt of confirmation from the student that they wish to accept it, and that they understand that they may not return to the same programme at a later date to improve their final award level or classification.

A5.4 Aegrotat awards should be reported to Director of Student and Academic Services, to ensure consistency of practice across the University. Assessment Boards may refer a decision on an aegrotat award to Director of Student and Academic Services.

A6 Posthumous Awards

A6.1 Any award of the University, including an aegrotat award, may be conferred posthumously provided appropriate academic evidence exists for the award (A5.2).

A7 Ratification, Conferment and Presentation of Awards

A7.1 University awards and credit are ratified by the Academic Board through the following two bodies:

(i) Academic Development and Quality Committee (ADQC) considers recommendations made by assessment boards for taught programmes and from the University Research and Research Degrees Committee (URRDC) for research programmes.

(ii) University Honorary Awards Committee (UHAC) considers recommendations in respect of honorary awards.

A.7.2 University titles, e.g. professorships, readerships, are awarded by the University Conferments Committee.

A8 Revoking Awards

A8.1 In the event of alleged academic offence(s) relating to and following the conferment of a University Award, the case will be considered through the University Academic Offence regulations (Part J) and would be subject to the same rights of appeal.

If the case is found, the University reserves the right to revoke the award, with the final approval resting with the Academic Board.

All award documentation including the Award Certificate will become invalid, reference requests to the University and electronic records will be updated to show that no valid award exists. Attempted use of previously issued documentation would amount to deception.