COURSE PLANNING AND APPROVAL
OUTLINE PLAN TEMPLATE
School
Department
Course title
Location of delivery
Mode of delivery
Eg full-time/part-time/distance- learning/low-residency
Proposer
Outline plans should be accompanied by the financial spreadsheet, which can be found on the
Course Planning & Approval web page. See Section 1 of Course Planning and Approval handbook for
guidance.
1
Rationale, which should include reference to ‘distinctiveness’ and the relationship of the
provision to the Institution/School strategic plan. Specific reference should be made as to how
the proposed course will enhance employability:
2
Benefits for BSU of implementing the proposed provision:
3
Brief outline of main areas of course and content (eg for Modular Scheme courses this might be
a list of modules):
4
Statement of effects of proposal on existing provision, both inside and outside the home
School:
5
Market analysis – comprehensive analysis and evidence to demonstrate home and international
demand for the proposed programme:
6
Time-scale which should include, as a minimum, projected dates for:
 Outline plan approval
 Detailed planning submission to Programme Approval and Review Sub-committee or
approval event for collaborative provision
 Appointment of new staff (where applicable)

Academic year for first student cohort
7
Risks associated with the proposal (see annex 2 for guidelines on risk analysis) and plans should
milestones not be achieved (eg what if projected student recruitment is not met?):
8
Number and nature of student intake (categorised by fee-type, whether full-cost overseas
students are envisaged, whether part-time students are planned) and typical admissions
qualifications:
9
Staff:Student ratios – School target, School current and planned for new provision:
10 Staffing requirements – in particular please identify where new staff are needed:
11 Balance of full-time/part-time envisioned:
12 Support needs:
13 Statement on any requirement for materials, equipment or accommodation:
14 Statement of any necessary start-up costs:
15 Statement on impact regarding resources:
16 Level of fee, where this is not determined in advance and any funding anticipated, additional to
fee income:
17 For collaborative partners, please indicate whether the provision will be:
a) indirectly funded or directly funded
b) validated or franchised
18 For distance-learning or low-residency courses, a brief mapping exercise against UKQC for HE,
Chapter B3: Learning and Teaching:
19 For Foundation Degrees, please identify articulation onto the 3rd year of an award: