Introduction
1. The following paragraphs provide the framework within which all Foundation Degrees and their Incorporated Certificates of Higher Education at University Campus Suffolk operate.
2. The framework incorporates the awards of Certificate of Higher Education (120 Credits) and Foundation Degree (240 Credits). Certificates of Higher Education and Foundation Degrees are joint awards of the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex and are validated and quality assured under the terms of the Governance of Academic Standards at University Campus Suffolk
3. The purpose of credit based higher education at University Campus Suffolk is to provide a framework within which wide ranging higher education can be offered so as to maximise flexibility of admission, choice, study opportunity and awards, whilst ensuring that the student's programme of study is developed within an appropriate intellectual framework.
Structure
4. For Foundation Degree courses, normally the academic session will be divided into two semesters each of 15 weeks. Except where placements, field study and/or bridging and/or access modules are provided, all teaching and assessment will be carried out within the designated academic session. Normally teaching will be carried out in the first 12 weeks of the semester, the remaining 3 weeks being used for assessment during which Assessment Boards will normally be held.
5. Foundation Degree Courses are managed by Course Committees constituted within the terms of reference of the Management of Courses Regulations. Roles and responsibilities of Course Leaders are also defined within this paper.
6. All Foundation Degrees should be able to demonstrate partnership activities with employers in the form of steering group meetings, seminars or other activities, normally at least twice per year with a minimum of two employers
7. All Foundation Degrees, at the point of validation, should specify honours degree progression opportunities available to successful graduates.
8. All Foundation Degrees should comply with the QAA Foundation Degree Qualification Benchmark (FDQB) and the framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ).
Modules
9. Academic and professional study will be organised into modules, based on a standard unit of 1/12th of the work required for a Foundation Degree Award.
10. A standard module of 20 credits normally involves not less than 150 hours of student learning time.
Levels of Study
11. Modules within Foundation Degree programmes of study are normally offered at two
Levels:
a. Level 4 modules, certificate level, normally counting towards a Certificate of Higher Education (when offered) and towards a Foundation Degree.
b. Level 5 modules, intermediate level, normally counting towards the Foundation Degree.
Credit Weighting
12. Modules are valued in terms of credits. One year of full-time undergraduate study is equivalent to 120 credits normally achieved through the satisfactory completion of 6 modules.
13. A standard module is valued at 20 credits, except:
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a work- related learning module at Levels 4 and for 5 may be valued at 40 or 60 credits
and;
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a module at Levels 4 and or 5 integrating academic learning with practice learning may also be valued at 40 or 60 credits.
14. Further and exceptionally, courses which have modules that represent periods of professional practice, may attract a value of 10, or multiples of 20 credit modules where appropriate and where the coherence of the curriculum necessitates it.
Modular Framework
15. There are three types of modules:
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Core Modules: such modules are compulsory to all Foundation Degrees validated within the University Campus Suffolk Foundation Degree Framework. This will include Personal Development at Level 1 and Research Skills at Level 5. These modules will be based on centrally produced models.
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Mandatory Modules: work-related learning modules as validated by individual Foundation Degree programmes. It is expected that there will be a minimum of 40 credits work-related learning across Levels 4 and 5 (ideally 20 credits per level).
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Specialist Modules: subject-based modules validated by the individual Foundation Degree programme and may be designated as optional or mandatory for that programme.
Mode of Study
16. Where validated, courses will normally provide opportunities for study by part-time, full-time or a combination of these modes.
17. Except where specified by Professional Bodies the normal study load for a student studying fulltime will be modules to the value of 120 credits, (subject to a maximum of 80 credits in any one semester) in one academic session.
18. A student studying part-time will normally be permitted to study up to 80 credits in one academic session, subject to a maximum of 40 credits in any one semester.
Awards
19. The Foundation Degree Framework normally makes provision for the following awards:
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Certificate of Higher Education (120 Credits)
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Foundation Degree (240 Credits)
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The Foundation Degree may be awarded with Distinction or Merit
20. Named awards for which students are eligible are those which are identified at the point of validation. The title of Foundation Degree Arts (FdA), Foundation Degree Science (FdSc) or Foundation Degree Engineering (FdEng) will also be determined at the point of validation.
Admissions, Exemptions and Credit Transfer
Admissions
21. The admissions procedure is designed to provide opportunities for study to as many students as possible provided they have the ability to benefit there from and a reasonable expectation of achieving the award for which they wish to register. In some circumstances, numbers of students may be restricted by
contractual arrangements.
22. All applicants must demonstrate to course leaders that they are capable of studying at undergraduate level and offer evidence of academic ability, motivation and potential. This may include formal qualifications, relevant work experience, or prior completion of a suitable course. Where appropriate, candidates must meet the minimum admissions requirements as specified by awarding, statutory and/or professional bodies.
Credit Transfer and Exemption
23. In line with the Accreditation of Prior Learning Regulations and subject to the approval of the Assessment Board and where specified at validation, students may be awarded credit for prior certificated learning (APL) and/or prior experiential learning (APEL) at Levels 4 or 5 unless professional statutory bodies deem otherwise.
24. In all cases the prior learning for which credit is awarded must constitute a coherent and validated programme of study when considered together with the credits gained for modules studied within the programme of study.
25. Credit for prior learning, unless constrained by particular requirements of an award recognised by a professional body, must relate to learning outcomes for specific modules or clusters of modules. Where credit is awarded for learning which matches closely with the objectives and learning outcomes of a particular module, the student may, in addition to claiming credit, be exempt from that module. Exemption signifies that the student is considered to have completed the module for the purposes of pre- and/or co-requisite requirements.
Assessment Regulations
26. Separate assessment regulations exist for Foundation Degrees. These can be found in the Foundation Degree Scheme Handbook or on the VLE.
27. All assessment regulations will include course specific regulations and requirements as specified by Academic Board.