University of Sheffield
New Programme Proposal Form
Please consult the guidance notes on the University’s process for approving new programmes and the Toolkit for
L&T Curriculum Design before completing this form. Names of professional service contacts for your faculty can
also be found in the notes. You are advised to contact your LeTS faculty contact in the first instance who can assist
you with the process.
Part A: Initial Information for Faculty Approval in Principle
Completion of this section of the form will help to assess the viability of the proposed new course. It will also ensure
that the programme can be set up on the University system and included in the online and print prospectus and
UCAS and the processing of applications set up as early as possible. The recruitment/marketing and business
planning sections of the form should be completed in consultation with colleagues from the relevant professional
services colleagues (Recruitment Support, Planning and Governance Services, Faculty Finance, Library). Information
provided on this form will be shared with the relevant professional services.
COURSE INFORMATION
Title of proposed programme
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Please include all final awards you wish to be able to offer and indicate which are to be promoted and which you
intend to recruit directly to (e.g. those which are for exit awards only should state “no” in the final two columns”)
Attainment (BSc,
MEng, MA, etc.)
Mode of
Duration
Promote?
Recruit to?
Attendance (FT, PT)
(months)
(yes or no)
(yes or no)
Please select
FT ☐
PT ☐
Please select
Please select
Please select
Please select
FT ☐
PT ☐
Please select
Please select
Please select
Please select
FT ☐
PT ☐
Please select
Please select
Please select
Owning Department & Faculty
Name of programme proposer
Please select Department.
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Name of programme administrator
Does this include a compulsory year abroad or a
placement year?
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Mode of study: full time or part time (FT =
minimum 24 weeks tuition per calendar year, with
at least 21 hours of study (contact hours plus self –
study) per week)
Mode of delivery: For programmes where students
are not physically located at the University, please
state if the programme is distance learning (does
not involve face to face contact between tutors and
students) or blended learning (including face to face
contact and e-learning)
Please select Faculty.
Yes ☐ [please give details] Click here to enter
text.
No ☐
Please select
Distance Learning
☐
Blended Learning ☐
Please list any other departments & faculties with
whom this programme is shared.
What is the % split of teaching?
Please select
Department
Please select
Faculty
Please select
Department
Please select
Faculty
Please select
Department
Please select
Faculty
Add %
split of
teaching
here.
Add %
split of
teaching
here.
Add %
split of
teaching
here.
Will this be a collaborative programme, ie is
Yes ☐ [please complete Part A (ii) section on
achievement of the learning outcomes dependent
Collaborative Programmes below]
on the input of another institution or organisation??
No ☐
Please select
Expected year of first intake (e.g. 2016)
Location of programme (if not the University of
Sheffield)
Does the programme run during a standard
academic year?
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Programme implementation plan: will the
programme be rolled out one year at a time?
Yes ☐
Yes ☐
No ☐
No ☐
[please give details] Click
here to enter text.
[please give details e.g. can other students transfer
to any level of the new programme?]
JACS code (Please select between one and three
codes – see link below for codes. In most cases one
code should be selected for single honours and two
for duals).
text.
JACS Code 1.
JACS Code 2
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JACS Code 3
https://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/1787/
281/
Anticipated entry requirements (expressed as A
level grades – e.g. ABB) these would normally be similar
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to other courses in your department.
Please include any additional requirements, such as
specific subject requirements (and grades).
For collaborative programmes, please state relevant
entry requirements.
Required level of English language attainment (e.g.
IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each component). See
Admissions Service for guidance on English
Language requirements.
Please select
Or Click here to enter text.
Is there a deadline for applications?
Yes ☐[please give deadline] Click here to enter text.
Name of Admissions Tutor and Admissions
No ☐
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Secretary
Is this programme intended to replace an existing
programme?
Will Professional Accreditation be sought?
Yes ☐[please give course code of replaced course] Click
here to enter text.
No ☐
Yes ☐[please give details]Click here to enter text.
No ☐
Is a Disclosure and Barring Services Check (BDS)
check required?
Yes ☐
No ☐
RECRUITMENT / MARKETING INFORMATION
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What is the rationale for creating
this new programme?
Name of contact in
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Have you discussed your proposal
Yes ☐
Recruitment & Admissions
with Recruitment and Admissions?
No ☐
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Competitor Information:
Which institutions (home or abroad)
are your department’s main
competitors?
Who else offers a programme
similar this programme?
What are the unique selling points
associated with this new
programme? Why Sheffield instead
of……?
Who is the programme aimed at?
Are there different groups of
potential students?
What plans do you have in place to
promote the programme to these
potential students? Is there a
budget for this?
Please indicate the career
opportunities / advantages offered
by this programme.
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BUSINESS PLANNING INFORMATION
Is there a case for charging higher
Yes ☐[please give details] Click here to enter text.
than standard fees?
No ☐
Will the department receive any
Yes ☐[please give details] Click here to enter text.
public body funding for this
No ☐
programme other than the HEFCE
block teaching grant (e.g. NHS,
TDA)?
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What is the potential intake to the
programme?
Is there a limit to the number of
places? For home students? For
overseas students?
What additional costs are there
likely to be
 development of new
modules?
 recruitment of additional
staff?
 additional space / IT
requirements?
 additional library resources?
 any additional costs
associated with collaborative
programmes?
What are the key risks to putting on
this programme and how will they
be managed?
Please include information about
any scholarships available (e.g.
amount and who they are available
for).
What implications will there be for
existing programmes e.g.
programme closure, opportunities
for sharing modules, progression
routes?
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PLEASE DELETE THIS SECTION FOR SHEFFIELD-ONLY PROGRAMMES
Part A (ii) COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES
Please complete this additional section for approval by the Committee for Collaborative Provision, which
has responsibility for approval of the partnership and model of collaboration.
PARTNER ORGANISATION(S)
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Name of proposed partner
organisation(s)
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Registered address and location of
proposed partner organisation(s)
Name, job title and email address of Click here to enter text.
contact person at proposed partner
organisation(s)
Status of proposed partner
Select from:
organisation(s)
Public ☐
Private ☐
Other (please add) ☐
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Please provide information on the
rationale for selection of the partner
organisation including details of
university ranking
Does the partner organisation
Yes ☐
currently have any other
No ☐
collaborative taught programmes
Details
with the University of Sheffield or
other UK universities?
MODEL OF COLLABORATION AND PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Awarding body/bodies for the
Award by University of Sheffield only ☐
programme
Award by partner institution(s) only ☐
Separate awards by the University of Sheffield and the partner
institution(s) ☐
Joint award by the University of Sheffield and the partner institution
☐
Select from:
Delivery of programme
Programme delivered wholly by University of Sheffield staff ☐
Programme jointly delivered with partner organisation(s) ☐
Articulation programme delivered by partner allowing guaranteed
direct entry to UG year 2 ☐
Progression programme delivered by partner allowing nonguaranteed entry to UG year 2 ☐
Other (please add) ☐
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Location of teaching
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Language of teaching and
assessment
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Please summarise the structure of
the proposed programme
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Please indicate any special or
unusual features of the proposed
programme
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what the contribution of the partner
organisation(s) will be to teaching
delivery and assessment.
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Number of credits to be delivered
by partner organisation(s)
ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION
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Which institution(s) will be
responsible for admitting students?
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Which institution(s) will register
students and collecting tuition fees?
Which institution will be responsible Click here to enter text.
for dealing with student appeals and
complaints?
STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS
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What staffing arrangements will be
put in place to support the new
programme at the University and at
the partner organisation(s)?
STUDENT SUPPORT, REPRESENTATION AND FEEDBACK
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What arrangements will be put in
place for student support?
Which institution will be responsible Click here to enter text.
for arranging student
representation?
What arrangements will be put into Click here to enter text.
place for collecting and evaluating
student feedback?
ASSESSMENT AND GRADUATION
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How will assessment and
examination boards be managed?
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Will the University of Sheffield
appoint external examiners to
examine all parts of the
programme?
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What arrangements will be put in
place in relation to awards,
transcripts and graduation
ceremonies?
SERVICES/SUPPORT
Facilities/services to be provided by Select from:
Teaching premises ☐
partner organisation(s)
Pastoral support ☐
Programme administration ☐
Library ☐
Careers ☐
Other ☐
Details
Please indicate how these have been verified as being appropriate
and attach copy of visit report/further details as appropriate.
NB The Collaborative Provision Committee may require a visit to be
undertaken to the proposed partner institution to ensure that the
facilities are appropriate and undertake any further due diligence
enquiries.
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
Name of Academic Lead within the
department for the proposed
programme (see responsibilities of
Academic Lead in the Framework
for Collaborative Provision)
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
Please add any further details that you would like to bring to the attention of the Committee for
Collaborative Provision
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The following will also be required for Collaborative Programmes:



Business Plan
Risk assessment
Due diligence information
The Committee for Collaborative Provision may also require a visit to be undertaken to the proposed
partner organisation to undertake due diligence enquiries and review the facilities and services for
students.
Part B Full Academic Approval
This section of the form sets out the criteria which the University of Sheffield uses to give full academic
approval for a new programme. This should be used by departments and faculties when approving a new
programme. Evidence that the programme meets the criteria will, to a large extent, be provided within the
Programme Specification and the Programme Regulations which should accompany this form. In addition,
programme proposers should complete the additional information required at the top of the form.
Please provide the following information.
1.
Programme Description (for HEAR)(UG ONLY)
Please draft a brief description (max. 300 words) of your academic programme for inclusion in
Section 4.2 of the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). Please write your description in
language suitable for an external audience. Guidance notes and example descriptions can be found
on the LeTS webpages.
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2.
a
Academic Standards and Content
Please give details of how the aims and requirements of Achieve More have been integrated into the
programme (UG) only. (See the Programme approval guidance for details.) For programmes/student
which are based off-campus, what alternative arrangements have been made?
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b
Please give details of how students will be supported in developing employability skills and career
planning. Does the programme provide opportunities for placements and/or study abroad? If so,
please give details.
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c
Please give details of the arrangements for External Examiners. Are any new appointments required?
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3.
Student Support
Please give details for particular arrangements for this programme for student support e.g.
 What arrangements are in place if the programme is based in more than one department?
 What arrangements are in place for students on placements or Study Abroad / ERASMUS?
 Does the programme include innovative approaches to induction, transitions, integration of
students, personal tutorials?
 If the programme is delivered by distance learning or delivered off campus, please give full
details of how students will be supported throughout their programme.
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4.
External Consultation
Please provide details of who (beyond staff in the department) has been consulted and what their
input into the development of the programme has been. See details below.
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Programme Approval Criteria
Departments and faculties should use this as a checklist when giving full academic approval for a programme.
1.
Academic Standards and Content
Dept
Approval
Fac
Approval
a
The programme aims, learning outcomes, learning and teaching methods and
assessment are all aligned:
 learning outcomes allow students to achieve the programme aims
 learning and teaching methods allow the students to achieve the
learning outcomes
 assessment methods allow students to demonstrate their achievement
of the learning outcomes
The learning outcomes are aligned with the relevant qualification descriptors in the
FHEQ.
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b
c
QAA Subject Benchmark statements and Professional Body requirements (where
applicable) have been considered in the development of the programme.
d
There is a coherent plan for assessment and feedback across the programme with an
appropriate balance of summative and formative assessment and adequate
opportunities for feedback.
e
The programme forms a coherent course of study with an appropriate balance of
content for the level and the nature of the programme: academic v practical content,
subject knowledge v skills development. The subject content is current and the breadth
and depth is appropriate.
There is evidence of progression through the programme and increasing intellectual
demand.
f
There is a balance of learning methods e.g. lectures, smaller group learning, lab work,
online learning and directed v independent learning.
g
The programme regulations fit with the University’s General Regulations.
h
The degree title reflects the content of the programme and is consistent with QAA
guidelines for naming of awards (p17).
i
The aims and requirements of Achieve More are fully integrated into the programme
(UG only). See guidance for list of these.
j.
Students have opportunities and are supported in developing employability skills and in
career planning. Opportunities for placements, study abroad and/or employer
engagement have been considered.
k.
Arrangements for External Examiners are in place.
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Notes
2.
Student Support
Dept
approval
Fac
approval
a
Arrangements are in place for the pastoral support of students. This includes induction
and transition activities, personal tutorial arrangements, specific arrangements for
students on programmes based in more than one department and for students while
away from the University e.g. Study Abroad, placements.
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b
Information for students is in place: programme specifications, programme regulations,
Key Information Set (KIS), programme handbook.
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Notes
3.
Equality
Dept
Fac
approval approval
The programme does not disadvantage certain groups of students, particularly
 Mature students
 Disabled students
 Students from ethnic minorities
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External Consultation
Dept
approval
Fac
approval
External consultation has taken place during the development of the programme. This
has involved some /all of the following people/groups of people
 Employers
 Professional Accrediting bodies (where relevant)
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Notes
4.

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



Current/former students
Schools
Professional Services staff
External Examiners
Staff from other HEIs or HE networks such as HEA
Views of other departments who might be affect by the introduction of the
programme
Notes
5.
Collaborative Programmes Only
Dept
Fac
approval approval
a
The academic standard of the award is equivalent to that of Sheffield-based programmes.
b
Any modules of the programme, not delivered by the University of Sheffield will be
subject to comparable approval by the Department/Faculty to the University module
approval process.
c
The quality of learning opportunities offered through an arrangement with a delivery
organisation, support provider or partners is adequate to enable students to achieve the
academic standard required for their award.
d
The student experience will be comparable to the experience of students based entirely
at the University of Sheffield campus.
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Details of the criteria for approval of Part A(ii) Partnership and Model of Collaboration by the Committee for
Collaborative Provision can be found here.
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