4. Unit types

4.1. The definitive record of the content of a unit, its intended learning outcomes, how it will be assessed and the criteria for the award of credit is provided in the unit specification. 

4.2. Subject to the approval by the Faculty on i-iii, schools shall determine: (i) the content and duration of each unit, (ii) the criteria for its satisfactory completion; (iii) the value in terms of credit points and level to be assigned to each unit; and (iv) the pre-requisites and co-requisites associated with each unit. 

4.3. Faculties and schools must ensure that programmes and units conform to the structure of the academic year as laid out by Senate (see Guide to the Structure of the Academic Year [internal only]).  

4.4. Units should not span more than one academic year. A unit may only be scheduled to run outside of the agreed structure where there are good pedagogic reasons so to do when approved by the University Education Committee. 

Unit sizes 

4.5. In undergraduate programmes, the University's standard unit sizes are 20, 40 and 60 credit points are permitted. A single 120 credit point undergraduate unit which encompasses a full academic year where the student is studying abroad or in industry is also permitted.  

4.6. In postgraduate taught programmes, units of 20, 30, 40 and 60 credit points are permitted. 

4.7. Any exceptions to the standard credit sizes must be approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Students or delegate. 

Unit types 

4.8. A unit may be ‘mandatory’ or ‘optional’ within a programme structure (see the glossary for definitions), as set out in the transition policy for programme simplification. 

Levels of study 

4.9. The following levels of credit are used by the University, in accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree Awarding Bodies: 

• level 4 units that are normally taken as part of the first year of an undergraduate programme 

• level 5 units that are normally taken as part of the second, third or final year of an undergraduate programme. 

• level 6 units that are normally taken as part of the third or final year of an undergraduate programme. 

• level 7 units that are normally taken as part of the final year of a masters or integrated masters programme or the year abroad.  

Units may be provided that are equivalent to level 3, as established in the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), where they feature in preliminary year or foundation year programmes.  

Shared teaching between undergraduates and postgraduates 

4.10. Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students may be taught together. If undergraduate and taught postgraduate students undertake the same unit, with the same learning outcomes and assessment, the credit awarded will be at the pre-defined level of the unit. If the learning outcomes and assessment differ for the undergraduate and postgraduate students, then they are deemed to be undertaking different units; such units must have been previously approved at the different levels.