University regulations, policies & procedures

This page contains the regulations, policies and procedures, including the Academic Frameworks that underpin the governance and management of all courses offered by the University.

Enrolment on to a University course is conditional upon students agreeing to familiarise themselves and complying with all University regulations and policies as listed below. Policies marked with * form part of the student contract.

Admission and Tuition Fees

2024 Admissions Policies and Procedures

• UCA Admissions Policy (PDF)
• UCA Application Form Declaration (PDF)
• UCA Application Declaration – Data Protection Privacy Notice (PDF)
• UCA Student Transfer Policy (PDF)
• UCA Terms & Conditions – Higher Education (PDF)
• UCA Terms & Conditions – PhD (PDF)

2025 Admissions Policies and Procedures

• UCA Admissions Policy (PDF)
• UCA Application Form Declaration (PDF)
• UCA Data Protection Privacy Notice (PDF)
• UCA Terms & Conditions – Higher Education (PDF)
• UCA Terms & Conditions – PhD (PDF)

Tuition Fees

• Fee, Refund and Debtor Policy
• Full fee schedules and regulations

UCA has recently launched a new and enhanced undergraduate curriculum for Level 3 and Level 4 students that has required us to update our Academic Regulations and Grading Descriptors.  As an organisation we have also responded to changes in the new OfS conditions of registration.  

As part of these changes UCA has adjusted the pass mark for Level 7 postgraduate units.  This change applies to all postgraduate students who enrolled onto a programme with us for the first time in September 2022 (excluding courses within the Business School for the Creative Industries at Epsom). The pass threshold for students on these courses will be adjusted to 50% from the current pass mark of 40%, to align with the wider Higher Education sector. 

To ensure that students are provided with a consistent and transparent academic experience we have set out the Academic Regulations and Grading Descriptors below that relate to each level of study whilst we are in a period of transition during the 2022-23 academic year: 

UCA Degree Algorithm

• UCA Degree Algorithm
  
  Undergraduate Academic Framework (levels 3-7)
• Undergraduate Taught Course Regulations 24/25 (PDF)
  
• Level 3 Grading Descriptor
• Level 4 Grading Descriptor
• Level 5 Grading Descriptor
• Level 6 Grading Descriptor

Postgraduate Academic Framework (level 7)

• Postgraduate Taught Course Regulations (PG TCR) 2024/25
• Level 7 Grading Descriptor

Level 8 (Research)

• UCA Research Degree Regulations (PDF)*
• UAL: University of the Arts London Research Degrees Handbook and Regulations (PDF)*

Institute of Creativity & Innovation (ICI)

• ICI Common Credit Framework 24-25

Collaborative Partners

• UCA Common Credit Framework (CCF)
• Level 3-6 Grading Descriptors for Partners using UCA’s CCF 
• Level 7 Grading Descriptors for Partners using UCA’s CCF
  

• London School of Design and Marketing 

Related Academic Framework Policies 

• Regulations for Conferment of Awards (PDF)*
• Dissertation Policy (PDF)
  - Dissertation Policy Appendix 1: Generic Dissertation Unit Descriptors
• Reading List Policy 
• Examination Regulations (PDF)*
• Policy for the Submission, Retention and Return of Student Work (PDF)*
• Policy on Recording and Reusing Teaching Sessions (PDF)*
• Regulations and Procedures for the Conferment of the Titles of Professor and Reader / Associate Professor (PDF)
• Regulations for Honorary Awards

Student Assessment and Study Policies

• Assessment Policy (PDF)
• Assessment Feedback Policy
  - Assessment Cover Sheet
  - Assessment Feedback Form (old curriculum)
• - Assessment Feedback Form (new curriculum)
• Interruption of Study Policy
• Personal Academic Tutoring Policy
• Engagement & Attendance Policy
  - Withdrawal for Non-Attendance Appeal Form [EAF1]
• Mitigating Circumstances Regulations
  - Mitigating Circumstances Guidance and Form
  - PPY/Placement Learning Agreement
• Procedure for making adjustments to assessment tasks for students with a Disability/Specific Learning Difference
• Students Recording of Teaching Sessions Policy
• Regulations and Procedures for the Conferment of the Titles of Professor and Reader / Associate Professor

 

FE Policies

• GCSE Policy (PDF)*
  - Student Online Learning Request - Maths and English

Access to HE courses

• Access to HE – Complaints and Appeals for Students on Access Courses
• LASER – Access to Fair Assessment Policy and Procedure
• LASER – Centre Handbook
• LASER – Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and Procedure
• LASER – Complaints Policy and Procedures

Pearson Courses

• Policies for centres, learners and employees

Governance and Legal

Governance and legal documentation

• Data Protection Policy (PDF)*
• Student Data Privacy Policy and Collection Notice (PDF)
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (PDF)*
• Freedom of Information Policy (PDF)*
• Freedom of Speech and Expression Code Of Practice (PDF)
• External Speaker Policy (PDF)*
• Whistleblowing (Public Interest Disclosure) Policy (PDF)
• UCA Records Retention Policy (PDF)
• Education Act 1994 Section 22 Code of Practice (PDF)
• Student Emergency Contact Policy
• UCA Student Protection Plan
  
• Student Route Sponsorship Policy

 

IT Policies*

• Information Security Policy (PDF)*
• IT Use Policy (Student) (PDF)*
• UCA Email Usage Policy (PDF)*

Health, Safety and Support

Health and Safety

• Student Health and Safety Induction (PDF)*
  
• Student Work Risk Assessment (Installation)
• Student Work Risk Assessment (Production)

• Student Pregnancy & Maternity Parental Leave Policy and Guidance (PDF)
• Student Pregnancy & Maternity Parental Leave Policy Appendix B: Pregnancy Risk Assessment (PDF)
  
  
• Bullying & Harassment Policy (PDF)*
• Safeguarding Policy (PDF)
• Staff and Student ID Card Policy (PDF)*
• Smoking Policy (PDF)*
  
  
• Sexual Misconduct Policy*
• Sexual Misconduct Procedure
• Sexual Misconduct Procedure Appendix B

Support

• Support to Study Procedure (PDF)*
• Support To Study Procedure – Quick Guide (PDF)

  

Student Complaints, Appeals and Conduct

Complaints

• Student Complaint Policy and Procedure
  • Stage 1 Complaint Request Form (SCF1a) [Local Consideration]
  • Stage 2 Complaint Request Form (SCF2) [University Consideration]
  • Stage 3 Complaint Request Form (SCF3) [Appeal Review]

Academic Appeals

• Academic Appeal Regulations and Procedure
  • Stage 1 Academic Appeal Request Form (AAF1a) [Local Consideration]
  • Stage 2 Academic Appeal Request Form (AAF2) [University Consideration]
  • Stage 3 Academic Appeal Request Form (AAF3) [Appeal Review]

Academic Misconduct

• Academic Misconduct Regulations and Procedure
  • Appendix A: Penalty and Sanction Tariff
  • Appendix C: Procedural Flowchart Overview
  • Appendix E: Types of Misconduct Explained
  • Appendix F: Academic Integrity Glossary
  • Appendix G: Academic Integrity and Technology

• Academic Misconduct Guidance for Students
  
  
• Review and Appeal Request Forms
  • Stage 2 Academic Misconduct Request Form (AMF2) [Case Review]
  • Stage 3 Academic Misconduct Request Form (AMF4) [Appeal Review]

Student Conduct

• Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure (PDF)*
• Reporting of Student Misconduct – Briefing information to give to Students (PDF)
• On-course Criminal Convictions Policy (PDF)

ACE Review and Appeal Boards

• Academic, Conduct and Experience Review Board 2024-2025
• Academic, Conduct and Experience Appeal Board 2024-2025