Coventry University College
Appendix 7 Standards for Academic Awards
Contents
1 Standards and titles of particular awards (see also Academic Regulation 2.4) ................................................... 3
2 First degrees ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Bachelor of Arts (BA) ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.3 Bachelor of Science (BSc).................................................................................................................................. 3
3 Certificates, Diplomas and Foundation Degrees ................................................................................................. 3
1 Standards and titles of particular awards (see also Academic
Regulation 2.4)
1.1 All programmes of study shall normally lead to a named award which gives a specific
indication of the subject area(s) studied.
1.2 Academic standards must reflect the requirements of the “Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland” and any relevant subject
benchmark statements.
2 First degrees
2.1 Bachelor's degree with honours (Level 6 of the FHEQ (formerly level H))
The standard of the University's Bachelor's degree with honours is that expected of a
student who has fulfilled the minimum entry requirements specified in Academic Regulation
4.3, and who has successfully completed an approved programme of study which fully meets
the requirements of the level 6 qualification descriptor of the Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and who has demonstrated the capacity for sustained
independent study and high quality work (eg in a project); the normal length of such a
course shall be three academic years of full-time study or equivalent.
2.2 Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The title of the award of Bachelor of Arts shall be used for Coventry University’s first degrees
in art and design, the arts and humanities, combined studies in the arts and in social studies,
and in the areas of social and business studies, including all appropriate programmes of
study in those areas. This title may also be used for appropriate combinations of such
subjects with other areas.
2.3 Bachelor of Science (BSc)
The title of the award of Bachelor of Science shall be used for the University's first degrees in
the sciences and mathematics and their applications, including all appropriate programmes
in those areas. This title may also be used for appropriate combinations of such subjects
with other areas.
3 Certificates, Diplomas and Foundation Degrees
3.1 Higher National Diplomas and Certificates (also with Merit or Distinction) (Level 5 and
level 4 of the FHEQ respectively (formerly level I and C))
The University is licensed by Edexcel to offer and certificate its Higher National Diploma
(HND) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) programmes within a national framework. The
standard of the awards is that expected of a student with prior knowledge and skills
equivalent to one subject at GCE 'A' level who has successfully completed an approved
programme of study which satisfies the requirement of level 5 (for HNDs) or level 4 (for
HNCs) of the FHEQ. The learning support time for an HND approximates to 1300 hours,
normally equivalent to two years full-time study, and for an HNC it approximates to 1000
hours, normally equivalent to two years part-time study.
3.2 Foundation Certificate (FCert)
The title of the award of Foundation Certificate shall be used for any programme of study
successfully completed consisting of at least 30 credits at pre-degree level (module level Z).