Quality Handbook
Guidance for the Customised Award Scheme
(CAS)
Enquiries about the Scheme should be directed to the Scheme Leader, Faculty of
Education and Society, Reg Vardy Building (0191 5153895).
This paper is in two parts:
• An explanation of the Customised Award Scheme (CAS)
• The process staff should go through if they wish to use the scheme
The Customised Award Scheme has been designed as a flexible, high quality
scheme, aimed at a broad spectrum of potential students. The Scheme enables the
University to offer a wider range of study opportunities utilising combinations of
subjects, and themes which are not currently available. It enables programmes of
study to be devised which range from level 3 up to and including masters level, and
which could comprise anything from one module to a full undergraduate or masters
level degree. It operates within the Modular Credit Scheme both in full time and part
time modes. The Faculty of Education and Society has responsibility for administering
the Scheme.
A specific programme of study for an individual (known as a Customised Scheme) can
be designed resulting in the award of University of Sunderland certificates and
diplomas as well as nationally recognised qualifications at undergraduate and
postgraduate level. For those who enter the Scheme, opportunities will be available
to move onto higher level qualifications. Modes such as distance learning and
negotiated learning may be used within individual programmes of study where
available.
Programmes within the Scheme must be devised from the existing University
module catalogue.
Programmes must provide quality provision with academic coherence and rigour. The
quality of such provision will be ensured by following the University's quality
assurance procedures, and through the rigorous approval system for individual
programmes of study.
The Scheme will provide opportunities for the development of study programmes to
meet the training needs of those in work who need to adapt to changes in the market,
those in work who are seeking advancement in their careers, those seeking work, and
those who wish to learn for their own satisfaction.
The Scheme can include provision for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APA),
Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning (APEL), and negotiated learning.
The Customised Award Scheme Awards Structure
The Scheme includes the following:
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•
University of Sunderland Foundation Certificate via Customised Study for those
wishing to study up to and including 120 credits at level 3 or equivalent.
•
University of Sunderland Certificate via Customised Study for those wishing to
study 5 credits up to a maximum of 119 credits at level 4.
•
University of Sunderland Diploma via Customised Study for those wishing to study
up to a maximum of 119 credits with at least 20 credits at level 5
•
University of Sunderland Advanced Diploma via Customised Study for those
wishing to study up to 119 credits with at least 20 credits at level 6
•
University of Sunderland Certificate in Named Subject for those wishing to study
5 credits or more to a maximum of 119 credits at level 4.
•
University of Sunderland Diploma in Named Subject for those wishing to study up
to a maximum of 119 credits with at least twenty of those credits being at level 5.
•
University of Sunderland Advanced Diploma in Named Subject for those wishing
to study up to a maximum of 119 credits with at least twenty of those credits
being at level 6.
•
Certificate in Higher Education for those wishing to study 120 credits at level 4 or
equivalent.
•
Diploma in Higher Education for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and
120 level 5 credits or equivalent.
•
A degree without honours for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and 120
level 5 credits and 60 level 6 credits or equivalent.
•
A degree with honours for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and 120 level
5 credits or equivalent, and 120 level 6 credits.
•
A Post Graduate Certificate for those wishing to study 35 level 7 credits.
•
A Post Graduate Diploma for those wishing to study 70 level 7 credits.
•
A Masters degree for those wishing to study 120 level 7 credits.
Please note that future changes to the University's Regulations may necessitate
amendments to the number of credits required for specific qualifications.
BA/BSc and MA/MSc awards will be available. The designation of the award title will
be determined by the balance of the modules studied.
Applications procedure
All applicants will be required to submit appropriate application forms and satisfy the
required admissions procedure. Part time applicants must use the University Part
Time Application form. Full time degree applicants must apply through UCAS.
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Title Approval
The designation of the award title will be determined by the balance of the modules
studied. Dual, major/minor and triple award titles can be made following QAA
guidelines on the balance of credits per subject.
Full award titles are agreed by the Programme Leader, Subject Leader and the
appropriate subject and programme External Examiner and formally approved at the
CAS PSB within the CAS Framework. A full list of all approved titles is included in the
CAS Annual Monitoring Report and will be sent to QMSC each year.
Approval Procedure
All documentation for the approval of individual Customised Award Programmes must
be submitted in the approved format. Copies can be obtained from the Scheme
Leader.
Approval of Programmes at Subdegree Level
The programme of study will be devised by the student, together with one or more
subject specialists within the proposing faculty (one of whom would become the
Customised Award Scheme Director of Study) with assistance where necessary from
the Customised Award Scheme Leader.
A detailed proposal will be required. This will include the aim(s), rationale, learning
outcomes and study plan for each level of the programme.
Minor changes to a Programme of Study
Any minor changes to an individual's programme would require the approval of the
Customised Award Scheme Leader. A minor change would be defined as the
amendment of up to one sixth (20 credits) of study at each level. This would facilitate
common changes in modules from year to year e.g. where module titles change or
where modules become obsolete.
Any other change would need to be approved by the Approvals Subgroup of the
Board of Study, e.g. amendments which could affect the title of the programme.
Details of any amendments would be attached to the original programme submission
document. Details of any amendments to programmes would also be noted in the
Scheme Annual Report.
Approval for progression to a higher award.
In these circumstances approval would be required from the Approvals Subgroup of
the Customised Award Scheme Board of Studies.
A new submission document would be required giving details of the current
programme of study and the proposed new programme. This would follow the same
format as the original.
Approval of Programmes at Undergraduate degree level or Postgraduate degree
level.
The programme of study would be devised by the student, together with one or more
subject specialists within the proposing school (Customised Award Scheme Director
of Study) with assistance, where necessary, from the Customised Award Scheme
Leader.
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A detailed proposal will be required. This would include the aim(s), rationale, learning
outcomes and study plan for each level of the programme. A copy of each module
specification would be appended.
Where students wish to follow a programme of study resulting in the award of a
Certificate in Higher Education, Diploma in Higher Education, Degree, Degree
with Honours, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters,
approval would be made by the Approvals Subgroup of the Customised Award
Scheme Board of Studies.
Approval for progression to a higher level undergraduate or higher level postgraduate
programme at a later date would be made by the Approvals Subgroup. Details of how
progression could be achieved from a degree without honours to degree with honours
should be included in the original documentation. Where a proposal is for
postgraduate study at Certificate or Diploma level, details of how the student could
progress to Diploma or Masters should be included within the submission
documentation.
Once approval was granted by the Approvals Subgroup, the master copy of the
submission document would be retained by the Centre for Independent and
Combined Programmes. A copy of the submission document and a letter confirming
the approval of the programme would be sent to the student and to the Customised
Award Scheme Director of Study together with a Customised Award Scheme
handbook. Notification of the approval by the Subgroup would then be made to the
Customised Award Scheme Board of Study for ratification.
Minor changes to a Programme of Study at Undergraduate degree or
Postgraduate degree level.
Any minor changes to the programme would require the approval of the Customised
Award Scheme Leader. A minor change would be defined as the amendment of up to
one sixth (20 credits) of study at each level. This would facilitate common changes in
modules from year to year e.g. where module titles change or where modules become
obsolete.
Any other change would need to be approved by the Approvals Subgroup of the
Board of Study, e.g. amendments which could affect the title of the programme.
Details of any amendments would be attached to the original programme submission
document. Details of any amendments to programmes would be noted in the Scheme
Annual Report.
The Joint Honours/Customised Award Programme Assessment Board is responsible
for the assessment of all Customised Modular Scheme students.
A brief progress report on each Customised Award student will be made annually by
the Scheme Leader, with the assistance of the relevant Director(s) of Study. This
report will then be forwarded to the University Quality Management Sub-Committee.
Staff wishing to bring new programmes in CAS should:
Preliminary
• Discuss ideas with the CAS leader or the CAS deputy leader.
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Early Planning
• Discuss funding implications with Academic Dean of Faculty of Education and
Society and appropriate person in their own faculty.
•
Identify director of study/programme. Director of study will act as a point of contact
and support in addition to the CAS leader and becomes an ex officio member of
the CAS studies board for the duration of the programme.
Detailed Planning
• Complete CAS programme submission proforma (available from CAS leader or
from Quality Support – see university web pages).
•
For programmes which include more than 20 credits higher than level 4, seek
approval from appropriate external examiner.
•
Ensure that any existing modules to be used are in approval.
•
If new modules are required for the programme, seek approval from the
appropriate subject studies and quality boards.
•
Present new programme at CAS studies board for approval. (Studies board meets
twice a year – usually November and May)
•
Liaise with CAS administrative staff to ensure students are registered in a timely
and appropriate manner and that students receive the CAS programme guide
which details the full range of support offered to them as students of the scheme.
Assessment and Quality Assurance
• Ensure that module marks are submitted to the relevant module board.
•
Attend CAS programme assessment board to ratify marks and awards.
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