Course page guidance

This guide will help you write a great course page for our website – one that is persuasive, informative and on-brand. Please use this in conjunction with the Style guide for writing.

Course hero image

Course hero images are sourced by the Design Team to ensure consistency and they are licenced, you can request course hero images by emailing design@derby.ac.uk, including suggestions in your request. Course hero image guidance

The image has a dark overlay to make the white text stand out. If no image is available, the fallback is a grey background.

Any accreditation for the course is shown in the hero below the course title.

If the course is subject to validation, a link with a popup card will show in the hero.

The hero has a link to View Key Course Details, which opens a slider. The slide background is a darkened and slightly blurred mirror of the hero image.

Course details

Course details are pulled through from both the Course entry and Section config.

Study options

This displays whether a course is available full-time and/or part-time, as well as the course length. If course varies/has several options or will not fit in the field, put "varies" or the extreme variables, e.g the shortest and longest course length, 2-6 years.

Any additional Study options information will then be displayed towards the bottom of the course page in the "† Additional information about your studies" section and "†" will be appended to the text in the Course details.

Numbers should be written in numerical format, eg 1 year.

UK fee

If the course is available to UK students, the course fee will show here. If amends need to be made to course fees, notify the Digital Team with confirmation from the Student Records and Fees Team.

International fee (including EU)

If the course is available to International students (outside the UK), the "Available to International students" field must be checked in the Course entry and the International course fee will show here. If amends need to be made to course fees, notify the Digital Team with confirmation from the Student Records and Fees Team.

UCAS points

If the course is an undergraduate course, the UCAS points will show here relating to the next upcoming intake (entry point), eg September 2023. If amends need to be made to entry requirements, notify the Digital Team with confirmation from the Admissions Team.

UCAS code

The UCAS code which has been added in the Course entry displays here. You should check that the UCAS code is exactly the same as listed on UCAS. Please note that the internal programme/course code is often different to the UCAS code.

Course level

Course level can be selected from the following options: Access, Apprenticeship, Postgraduate, Professional, Short Course and Undergraduate. Please note that a course can only have one course level set and this used in conjunction with the Subject area selected will determine on which course listings the course displays.

The course level is included in the hero, and is no longer repeated in the key course details block.

Qualification

The qualification selected in the Course entry will be included in the hero, and is no longer repeated in the key course details block. If the qualification required is not listed, please notify the Digital Team, so the qualification can be added.

Start date

Entry months available to start the course that have been selected in the Course entry will display here - custom text can be added, this should be added in the Entry month additional text field in the Course entry and will show in the † Additional information about your studies section.

Location

Locations selected in the Section config will display here. Multiple locations/sites can be selected. For course pages, please ignore the Custom location text field on the Section config - this is used for event pages only.

The location selected will also pull through the appropriate Campus promo block where relevant.

Additional information

If the course has a foundation year option selected in the Course entry, this will also be displayed in the Course details slider.

Course description

The content within this section needs to deliver the main impact to the user. It needs to convey the strengths of the course and its key features. We are saying to the user: “This is why you need to do this course.”

There should be a good balance of written and visual content. The ideas introduced here can be explained in more detail in the What you will study, How you will learn and Careers sections that appear further down the page.

The first item in this section is the course highlights or "the best bits". These are added in separate text boxes at the bottom of the course entry page.

Within this text block, you will have a H2 heading in the format "Why study [course name] at Derby?".

This will be followed by a series of bullet points. These need to be a single sentence to get across the idea to the reader in the simplest terms in a conversational style. Talk directly to the potential student ie using “we” and “you”.

We want at least three bullet points and no more than seven. 5-6 is the optimum. Whenever you come up with a new highlight, do not simply add it to the list - consider whether one of the others can be removed.

The best bits/course highlights (style examples)

• We do this amazing thing that will impress you
• You will be very pleased with this thing
• You will also get the chance to do this other thing and we have more detail about it but we can still express it in a single sentence
• We would like you to reference one or two of the University's four marketing pillars: employability, facilities, city and expert teaching
• You are so utterly impressed that you are about to sign up for the course right now

Key stats

Directly below this is where you should put any key stats relating to the course eg above average Unistats percentages, good NSS scores or awards. Stats are more noticeable when they are presented graphically. It also adds visual interest to the page. Note that not every course will have a key stat worth shouting about.

Impact quote

Now is a good spot for an impact quote. This is another opportunity to show that what we are saying about our course in the highlights is backed up by evidence. The preference would be a “this course changed my life” quote but anything relevant that supports the course will work.

This opening section needs to communicate the very essence of the course in an engaging and inspiring way and should usually be no more than one or two sentences.

It will usually mention the field/career the course prepares students for and should always include a benefit and/or a key selling point.

Similar introductory sentences have been written for the Undergraduate Prospectus and your UCAS profiles, so borrow from these if appropriate.

Summary info can be added in the Abstract section of the Section config.

The rest of the course description text will be anything you want to say that would not fit into the What you will study, How you will learn and Careers sections. This should include at least one other H3 subhead.

Content could include more detail to back up the key stats and the text blocks should be balanced by visual content, such as image embeds, full-width letterbox images or video. Ending the section with a full-width letterbox image is particularly effective.

We suggest you could use any of the following subheaded sections:

Accreditation

This should feature the logo(s) of the accrediting body(ies) but would also need a text description of the organisation with its full name and any other information such as dual awards.

Hands-on learning

This would include any information about real-world learning, such as projects for employers/live briefs, work placements and internships, practical activities, fieldtrips, site visits and so on.

Extra qualifications

Your course might not be accredited by a professional body but it might offer students the option of taking extra qualifications alongside their main degree. If so, use this sub-heading to explain this.

Expert teaching

If the teaching team is particularly well-regarded, shout about it with this sub-heading. For example, they may:

• Have won awards or other external recognition
• Have a very high percentage of tutors with industry experience
• Be extremely well-connected

This section should also include any high-profile guest speakers.

Equipment and resources

For copy about any above-average or new facilities (related to the course or subject) such as the study environment, technology, software, special libraries etc. 

Working with others

If your course includes a lot of collaboration, particularly projects with students from other courses, explain this here. 

Global thinking

If your course really focuses on helping students to think globally – through international projects, fieldtrips or exchanges, or by having a very diverse student population – include information about this here.

Study overseas

If your course has specific exchange partnerships, include brief details here. Ideally, include some examples of countries to which students could choose to go.

See our sample course for examples, including how you can break up the content with images/video.

Adding images

Images should be used to break up the text based content on the course page - full width letterbox images can work well for this. Full width images should only be added in letterbox format.

Image groups and image embeds can also be added, but the image overlaps and how well each image complements the images next to them should be carefully considered.

Adding videos

Videos can be added as a Media embed in the Course description, What you will study or How you will learn sections as appropriate.

All videos should include a transcript. Our How to create an SRT file for video captions guide has more information on creating transcripts that can be added to the Media embed.

Promo block

A promo block is a great way to show our visitors extra content that may interest them. The promo block can link to a case study, a subject area, a research centre or an event such as an open day. They are doing the dual job of backing up all we are saying about how great our course/University/city is while also creating a visual break within the page.

What you will study

This section is fairly functional and will include a bullet point list of module titles for each stage. This may take the form of accordions for each stage, or a dedicated Modules block.

Since modules are subject to change, the lists for each stage should always be introduced with the line: ‘You will study modules such as’. A disclaimer will automatically be included.

You may also like to include a few sentences at the beginning of this section, which explain the key themes or how teaching and learning changes during each stage of the course. Each course listing in the Undergraduate Prospectus includes similar information, so borrow from this if appropriate.

How you will learn

We suggest you begin this section with a bullet point list of all the key teaching and learning methods as this is much easier to skim read than a long paragraph of text.

If required, you can then elaborate on some of the more interesting activities with an image group/embed or video and/or further text blocks, with sub-headings such as:

Examples of projects

You may want to include one or more examples of particularly interesting projects such as live briefs or consultancy work.

Showcasing your work/skills

If the course includes events which enable you to showcase your work or skills – such as the Art and Design Degree Show, Computer Games Expo, the Public History Conference, or external competitions/awards – briefly highlight these here.

Assessments/How you are assessed

This sub-heading should always be included. We suggest keeping this information brief and easy to skim read by using a bullet point list.

Who you'll meet

Additional information can be included here about the teaching team, but avoid duplication if there is information about the Programme leader and teaching team in the 'Who will teach you' block.

How you will learn

You will learn through:

• studio workshops
• group and individual tutorials
• seminars and lectures
• a diverse programme of visiting artists
• trips: to Europe or the USA, as well as national galleries and museums
• site-specific projects, including residentials

Examples of projects

We run a series of projects which take you out of the studio environment to respond to sites and situations you might not otherwise encounter. Recently, we’ve worked on site-specific art such as:

• sculptures for the National Trust at Ilam Park
• art interventions inspired by the collections at Derby Museum and Art Gallery
• installation art at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
• large-scale sculptural work for Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust

How you are assessed

Assessment is mainly through coursework which can take forms such as traditional essays and reports, group project work, presentations, posters, design of digital materials, and the development of a research proposal to support your independent study.

There are also in-class tests and computer-based assessments. At the final stage of the programme your research study will be assessed by a dissertation.

Programme leader and teaching team

Within the Course entry content item, which will sit in the top level of the section, you will have the opportunity to add a programme leader and up to six members of the teaching team. You do this using the +Add section link button in the Programme leader / Teaching team field and link to the staff profile of the course leader / teaching team member within the Organisation/Our staff area in T4.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every staff member who contributes to the course, but rather an indication of the key members of staff that students will meet.

The content type generates a staff 'card' with name, job title and photo, and rotates on hover (or keyboard tab) to show an abstract summary. If the text is too long for the card, it will be truncated. A link is also displayed to click through to the full staff profile if desired. If the staff member has no photo on their profile, a placeholder images is shown.

The image below shows three cards with the last one rotated to show the other side.

Careers

This section should tell the reader what sort of career they could expect to go into afterwards. This may include information about popular career pathways for graduates from this course. If the employability rates from Unistats are above average, display these in a key stats component.

You may also want to include examples of what previous graduates have achieved.

If there is a progression path at the University with a relevant qualification, eg on the BA (Hons) Fine Art course,  the MA Fine Art should be promoted here. A heading such as  "Further study" would break this section up well.

Promo blocks or impact quotes can be used here to validate the information in this section.

For undergraduate course pages, a "Getting you career ready" block is added to the end of the Careers section, and includes a popup card link with further information.

Careers

Your qualifications will equip you for a rewarding leadership career in any area of business and management, from sales and marketing to HR and operations. They will also mark you out as having the potential for rapid promotion to senior positions, someone who can work competently and ethically in global and cross-cultural environments.

You could progress to roles such as operations manager, business analyst, business development manager, sales executive, marketing officer, HR advisor – the list is endless.

Further study

Our Business graduates often choose to advance their knowledge on masters programmes, such as our MSc International Business.

How to check if a course is live in PeopleSoft

Once your course page has been built, before submitting a form to Digital Support for approval, you should check whether the course has been set live in the Admissions platform (if applicable.) This is to ensure that direct applicants can apply to the University and that applications can be processed correctly.

You will need a 'programme code' in order to do this. If your course type should usually have one and you have not yet received one, please check with the Admissions team.

This can be checked by carrying out the following steps:

• Visit a live course page that has an active 'Apply directly to the University' button. This can be found in the 'How to Apply' section.
• Click the 'Apply directly to the University' button and scroll down to the form on the Apply Online page.
• Click the blue 'Start application' button on the form. A page with 'myDerby' written in the top left should open.
• Remove the last part of the URL after '=' and replace it with the programme code provided by Admissions.
• If a course appears, check through the form options to ensure that everything looks to be set up correctly for the new course e.g. is the application year correct, is the course pathway as expected e.g. Bachelor of Arts? Is the Campus correct?
• If a course does not appear and you see a red box saying to contact an Administrator, please go back to Admissions and advise that the course is not live yet.

Once it can be confirmed that the course is live in the Admissions platform, please indicate that the programme is live on the course approval form.

Sample course page

• Course page example - Computer Science