Academic Quality, Regulations & Procedures
This is where to find Royal Veterinary College academic policies, procedures, and regulations, including those used for assuring the quality and enhancement of the student learning experience. In this area Students and Staff can access all pertinent information relating to the student journey.
Academic Quality Assurance & Enhancement Procedures
Collaborative programmes
- Collaborative Provision [Please note the procedures in this document are under review - contact the Assistant Registrar Partnerships, Richard Sherry for further information]
Course design, review and closure
- Annual Quality Improvement Reporting Process (Managed by the Accreditation and Validation Management team in Academic Registry, led by Cheryl Jackson)
- Assessment and Award Regulations - Updates and Approval (Managed by the Examinations and Assessments team in Academic Registry, led by Laura Aguirre De Carcer)
- Closure of Taught Courses [Please note the procedures in this document are under review - contact the Registrar or Director of Learning and Wellbeing for further information]
- Design and Approval of Courses [Please note the procedures in this document are under review - contact the Registrar or Director of Learning and Wellbeing for further information]
- Module Development and Approval [Please note the procedures in this document are under review - contact the Registrar or Director of Learning and Wellbeing for further information]
- Overview of the Annual and Cyclical Monitoring and Review of Courses, and Approval of Changes to Courses (Managed by the Accreditation and Validation Management team in Academic Registry, led by Cheryl Jackson)
- Periodic Review of Courses (Managed by the Accreditation and Validation Management Team, led by Cheryl Jackson)
- Programme Specifications - Updates and Approval (Managed by Programme Management in Academic Registry, led by Adam Hall)
- Reviews - including the review of Modules, Strands, Intramural Rotations (IMR) and Research Project 2 (Managed by Programme Management in Academic Registry, led by Adam Hall)
Curriculum managers and exam board members
- Curriculum Managers - Procedure and Criteria for Appointment, Roles and Responsibilities, Module/Strand Leader Handbooks etc.(Managed by Programme Management in Academic Registry, led by Adam Hall)
- External Examiners (Managed by the Examinations and Assessments team in Academic Registry, led by Laura Aguirre De Carcer)
- Appointing members of Boards of Examiners (Managed by the Examinations and Assessments team in Academic Registry, led by Laura Aguirre De Carcer)
Student engagement
- Student Engagement (Managed by Student Resolution and Compliance in Academic Registry, led by Siobhan Baker)
- Student, Graduate and Employer Evaluation Surveys (Managed by Student Resolution and Compliance in Academic Registry, led by Siobhan Baker)
- Academic Committees (Managed by the Accreditation and Validation Management team in Academic Registry, led by Cheryl Jackson)
If you are having difficulties viewing the above mind-map, please click here to download a PDF version.
The RVC maps its Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement Procedures against the UK Quality Code for Higher Education and the Office for Students ongoing conditions of registration. The College also takes into consideration the requirements of relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs).
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.
Programme Management
Timetabling policy and procedures
Procedure for students wanting to transfer between RVC undergraduate courses
Studying abroad
Student Attendance Policy 2024/25
Attendance monitoring policy for students on a study route visa or in receipt of a US loan
Religion and belief observances in relation to teaching and assessment
Student Performance and Development System (including Fitness to Study policy and guidance)
Student Contract
General Regulations for Study and Awards (replaced the General Regulations for Internal Students of the Royal Veterinary College)
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
- MRes Examiners - Preliminary Report Form
- MRes Examiners - Joint Report Form
- MRes Oral Examination Form
- External PhD Examiner Fee and Expenses Claim Form
- PhD Examiners - Preliminary Report Form
- PhD Examiners - Joint Report Form
Examination Regulations/Guidelines:
- Research Degree Regulations (January 2023)
- Guidelines for examiners of PhD, MPhil & DProf degrees (January 2023)
- General Regulations for Study and Award
Projects
Examinations & 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 (2024/25)
- Course Assessment and Award Regulations (2023/24)
- Course Assessment and Award Regulations (2022/23 & Previous Years)
- Alternative Routes to Progression and Graduation for Students with Complex Disability Related Needs (pdf)
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 |
Procedure to ensure the Security of Examinations and Assessment |
Procedure covering the security of exam and assessment material, conduct in exams, document retention etc. | Procedure |
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 [under review] |
The chair’s responsibilities in relation to examinations | Guidance |
The Academic Director(s) of Assessment's role and responsibilities | Guidance | |
How a student can seek adjustment to their exams and how it is considered and approved | Procedure | |
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism |
For further information please refer to Student Appeals, Complaints or Conduct | Procedure |
Exams Calendar for MSc Degrees (first and second attempts, deferrals, progression) |
Cycle of activity in MSc degree examinations | Procedure |
Feedback to Taught Students at the RVC – Policy & Guidance |
Who, when and how feedback should be given to taught students Policy on Formative Assessment |
Policy & Guidance |
Using Skype and video conferencing | 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 |
A workflow for suspension of regulation. |
Procedure |
Further Student Policies and Procedures
Admissions:
- Admissions Policy and Procedures
- Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) and Admission with Advanced Standing
Student Protection Plan 2024/25
Student Fees Policy and Fees and Funding information
RVC Response to Student Death Policy and Procedure
RVC Missing Student Policy and Procedure
Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure
Student Resolution and Compliance
Appeals:
- A001 - RVC Student Appeals Procedure
- A002 - RVC Student Appeals Request Form
- RVC Student Appeals Procedure Bitesize Video
Complaints:
Academic Misconduct:
- AM01 - RVC Student Academic Misconduct Procedure
- RVC Academic Misconduct Procedures Workflow
- RVC Academic Misconduct Penalty System
Misconduct
- M001 - The RVC Student Misconduct Procedure
- M002 - RVC Student Misconduct Reporting Form
- M003 - RVC Misconduct Procedures Workflow
- M004 - RVC Misconduct Types, Examples and Sanctions Table
Professional Requirements, Fitness to Study
- Professional Requirements (including Fitness to Study)
- 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 Nurse
Final Formal Review
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.