Quality Handbook
AQH-I4 Articulation and Related Processes
Version 4.0 August 2014
VERSION HISTORY
Version
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
Occasion of
Change
Original placed in
Academic Quality
Handbook
Minor changes from
Academic Board
Change
author
S Sutcliffe
Date of
modification
October 2009
Modifications made
B
Ollerenshaw
January 2010
New document
Review summer
2011
Review
S Patience
August 2011
S Sutcliffe
August 2014
Update of names, dates and UoS
structure.
Add cross reference links to
related documents
POLICY ON ARTICULATION AND RELATED PROCESSES
1. Introduction
The 2006 Collaborative Audit report recommended that the University should
consider the advisability of reviewing its arrangements for the approval, monitoring
and review of articulations to ensure that it can safeguard the interests of students
following such programmes.
The following processes apply:
 where entry is being given with advanced standing so that credit is being
given towards a Sunderland award;
 to groups of students from a known source (college, professional
qualification etc).
Where individual students apply from elsewhere for entry with advanced
standing the APL process should be used – this process is for groups of
students.
The processes here allow programme leaders to make arrangements in advance so
that students from these known categories can be ‘fast-tracked’ through the
admissions process. We have defined three ways in which a known qualification can
articulate with one of our programmes:
 as a progression route (eg with an HND or FD from a UK FE College);
 by recognition of award (eg from a professional qualification which is subject
to external scrutiny by a professional body )
 by full articulation under an agreement with an individual college or other
provider.
Document1 v4 August 2014
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2. Definitions
‘Articulation’ is an arrangement whereby a qualification is recognised as providing
the learning outcomes which will allow students routinely to move from that award to
study for a Sunderland award. It is used for qualifications which:
 may not be routinely recognised for entry (in the way in which A levels are, for
example);
 in addition give ‘advanced standing’ – that is, where students enter a
programme beyond the usual entry point, on the basis that they have already
achieved some of the learning for the programme concerned and do not have
to repeat it.
Articulations are therefore usually used for Stage 2 or 3 entry to undergraduate
programmes. They may also be used for entry part-way through Stage 1 (eg to start
from semester 2) or part-way through a Master’s qualification (eg after the Certificate
phase) but this is far less common.
Articulation requires that the University is satisfied as to:
 the generic quality of the award (for example that the assessment is robust);
 the specific requirements of the programme to which students are to be
admitted (for example to ensure that students have covered a particular
theory or acquired a particular set of skills).
Articulation in effect provides for ‘group APL’. This achieves economies of scale
which could not be achieved by considering repeated individual APL applications,
facilitates rapid turn-round of applications from students with such qualifications, and
makes it clear to students at the point of application what level of entry they might
expect. As with all APL, the decision to permit entry depends on mapping the
learning outcomes of the proposed entry qualification with those at the relevant level
at Sunderland (so, Stage 2 outcomes are mapped for Stage 3 entry).
Articulation must not be confused with:
 the APL process whereby individuals are assessed to see whether they have
met the learning outcomes for one or more modules through their previous
experience and therefore can be exempted from studying such modules;
 admission by a non-traditional route: this allows students to enter at the
start of the programme on the basis of (for example) professional experience
rather than A levels, but does not exempt a student from study of any
modules.
The assessment regulations which apply to APL also cover articulations – especially
that the credits awarded as a result of the process are given at a threshold pass and
are not graded, and that they are not taken into account when calculating average
marks for progression and degree classification, distinctions etc.
It is important to stress that eligibility to enter a programme through an articulation
does not guarantee a place on the programme and students must go through the
same application and admissions process as any other applicant for the programme
in question.
The University recognises three types of articulation or progression agreements
which are defined as follows:
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Type 1, Progression Routes
Definition: direct entry from a nationally recognised UK qualification.
Coverage: UK qualifications within the English FHEQ or NQF, or the Welsh, Scottish
and Northern Ireland equivalents, which are monitored by the QAA, Ofsted and/or
QCA or devolved regional equivalents and recognised in the UCAS Tariff scheme.
This includes qualifications such as FDs and HNDs. These are low risk and it is easy
to obtain the kind of qualification descriptors, including learning outcomes, which
facilitate mapping to a given level of a Sunderland award.
Type 2, Recognition of Awards
Definition: direct entry on the basis of an award from a recognised body in the UK or
abroad which exercises external regulation over the providers delivering their
awards. This may be either a national standard award, or an internationally
recognised award, such as a professional qualification.
Coverage: awards from a recognised professional body or equivalent in the UK or
abroad. These awards are regulated, the awarding bodies can be identified, their
international standing can be assessed and information can be obtained about the
requirements for entry. Information about learning outcomes, content, assessment
methods and arrangements for the security of assessment processes is fully
accessible. There is a well-defined body of ‘clients’ (students, employers and delivery
partners) which gives indications of the reputation of the qualification. The award is
not specific to a particular provider (eg college or employer).
Type 3, Articulation
Definition: direct entry from an unregulated qualification awarded by a college or
university overseas.
Coverage: unregulated awards from colleges and universities overseas; awards
which might fall into Type 2 above but for which adequate documentation cannot be
obtained regarding learning outcomes, quality management, assessment processes
etc, or where there are concerns regarding the recognition of the qualification. These
are potentially high-risk and the qualification may have only local currency. It is often
harder to obtain evidence about the standing of the award than with qualifications in
Type 2 above.
3. Management of recognition and articulation agreements
The level of risk involved varies considerably between these types of arrangements,
and the University therefore manages the recognition of the different types of
qualification in different ways.
a) Type 1, Progression Routes
UK qualifications in Type 1 above are listed in the UCAS Tariff scheme and
automatically recognised by the University. Within this framework individual
programme teams may propose progression routes from a specific qualification into a
designated programme beyond the normal entry point (eg into Stage 2
undergraduate). This will require a mapping of the learning outcomes of the
qualification against the outcomes of the relevant level of the Sunderland programme
(eg Stage 2 outcomes for Stage 3 entry).
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Appendix 2 gives the template to be used for the mapping;
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5609/
Appendix 3 should be used for Faculty approval of the mapping and for verification
of the process by Academic Services.
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5610
As a result of the mapping the programme team may specify particular subjects or
units which must be taken and/or particular grades which must be achieved. Where
such a mapping has not been undertaken, each applicant requesting entry with
advanced standing will be treated on his/her merits by APL.
b) Type 2, Recognition of Awards
The awards of other recognised awarding bodies which are not listed in the UCAS
Tariff may be accepted by the University for admission with advanced standing on
the basis of:
 verification of the standards of the qualification;
 review by the University of the status and quality assurance processes of the
awarding body concerned.
This is a two-stage process.
i. First the University has to give Recognition of Award status to the award in
question to verify that the award itself is robust. For details see Appendix 1.
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5608
Once an award has been recognised in this way*, programme teams may
then decide whether the qualification may be accepted for entry to particular
programme(s), what level of entry can be offered and what grades of
achievement or specific subjects will be required of applicants. This will
require a mapping of the learning outcomes of the entry qualification against
the outcomes of the relevant level of the Sunderland programme (eg Stage 2
outcomes for Stage 3 entry). This mapping must be approved by Faculty
QMSC. Appendix 2 gives the template to be used for the mapping;
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5609
Appendix 3 should be used for Faculty approval of the mapping
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5610
* Note: programme teams may wish to work on the mapping while the
recognition of award is being processed
Recognition of Award status lasts for a maximum of 6 years after which this process
is repeated to reconsider the recognition. Reconsideration is initiated by MAR.
MAR will maintain a database of agreed entry routes. MAR will also liaise with the
SITS team to provide a SITS code for the entry qualification so that students can be
identified for reporting purposes.
No Memorandum of Agreement is involved because Recognition is not peculiar to a
specific provider. If required MAR will issue letters to providers confirming that the
award is acceptable for entry. This does not guarantee the offer of a place.
If an awarding body is felt to be too high-risk for this level of recognition it may be
approved under the process for type 3 below.
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c) Type 3, Articulation
Type 3 represents the highest risk. A collaborative approval process must be used to
agree an articulation and a Memorandum of Agreement for Articulation must be
issued before the articulation can be invoked. (Where the partner is subject to a
standard Memorandum of Agreement the articulation can be subsumed within this,
making the necessary changes to the relevant annexes.) The approval process will
consider in particular:
 the legal and reputational status of the awarding body and the educational
provider (if different);
 the quality and standards of the award concerned, including programme
content, learning outcomes, the security of the assessment process, the
pedagogical approach adopted, and students’ entry qualifications and postaward destinations;
 defined entry to specific Sunderland programme(s) based on a mapping of the
learning outcomes of the award to the proposed entry level (use Appendix 2).
Any specific requirements such as subjects to be taken or grades achieved
within the articulating award must be defined;
 how the partner will ensure that the University is informed of any changes in the
relevant programme(s) and how university staff will monitor the assessment
process, for example by moderating assessed work and attending an
assessment board.
These agreements will form part of the collaborative provision register and be subject
to 6-yearly review. Full details are given in Appendix 5.
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5612
d) Summary
Remember that this process is to be used to provide for groups of students from a
known source to be given entry with advance standing. Individual applicants who
are not catered for by this ‘group’ approach need to use the APL process.
University approval of
award
Progression
route (Type 1)
Not required –
qualifications in UCAS
Tariff and automatically
recognised.
Recognition of
Award (Type
2)
University approval of
award required.
Recognition of award is
given for up to 6 years.
Articulation
(type 3)
University approval of
award and provider
required; collaborative
process (App 5);
Memorandum of
Agreement required.
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Approval of programme
to take entrants with
advanced standing
Requires mapping of
learning outcomes of entry
qualification to relevant
stage of Sunderland
programme (eg Stage 2
outcomes for entry to
Stage 3)
Requires mapping of
learning outcomes of entry
qualification to relevant
stage of Sunderland
programme eg Stage 2
outcomes for entry to
Stage 3)
Requires mapping of
learning outcomes of entry
qualification to relevant
stage of Sunderland
programme as part of
collaborative approval
process
Action and
documentation
Mapping by programme
team (App 2)
Approval by faculty QMSC
(App 3)
Approval of award
requested (App 1)
Mapping by programme
team (App 2)
Approval by faculty QMSC
(App 3)
Collaborative partnership
documentation for due
diligence and quality
assurance based on
collaborative processes
(App 5).
Mapping by programme
team (App 2) considered
as part of approval
process
See also the flowchart (appendix 4).
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5611
4. Monitoring
MAR will liaise with the SITS team to provide a code for each entry qualification
approved for Recognition of Award or Articulation. (UK qualifications in the UCAS
Tariff scheme are pre-loaded on SITS). This will make it possible to flag the
qualifications on SITS and so to identify relevant students, so that a report can be run
for a given entry qualification across the university, or by faculty or by programme of
study. This applies to all types of agreement and recognition. The Admissions team
needs to ensure that the qualification relevant to entry is correctly recorded for each
student.
It is the responsibility of the Programme Leader with the Programme Studies Board
to ensure that the progress of students given advanced standing on the basis of any
qualifications managed under Types 1, 2 or 3 is monitored annually and issues
addressed as described below.
Progression Route (Type 1): the Programme Leader must ensure that as part of
the annual monitoring and review process the intake, progression and achievement
of students from each progression route are considered and compared with those of
students with other entry qualifications. Changes in the requirements of the
Sunderland programme and/or the outcomes of the feeder qualification must be
identified so that revisions to the entry requirements can be made if appropriate (see
5 below).
Recognition of Award (Type 2): the Programme Leader must ensure that as part of
the annual monitoring and review process the intake, progression and achievement
of students from each progression route are considered and compared with those of
students with other entry qualifications. Changes in the requirements of the
Sunderland programme and/or the outcomes of the feeder qualification must be
identified so that revisions to the entry requirements can be made if appropriate (see
5 below).
Articulation (Type 3): monitored as described in Appendix 5.
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5612
The programme leader submits a form (see Appendix 5, Annex 2 for the template) as
part of the annual monitoring process.
5. Amendments to requirements
a)
Changes to entry requirements
If the Programme Studies Board decides that it is necessary to change the entry
requirements – eg by raising the grades or adding to the subject areas required - this
requires approval as follows:
 for Types 1 and 2 changes to the entry requirements must be approved by
Faculty QMSC and passed to Academic Services using appendix 3. If the
changes are substantial Faculty QMSC may require a full revised mapping
document (appendix 2);
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 for Type 3 changes to the entry requirements will require University QMSC
approval and may require changes to the Memorandum of Agreement. Consult
the Academic Services Collaborative Provision Manager for advice.
b)
Suspension or termination of advanced standing
Progression Route (Type 1): the decision to cease recognising an award for
advanced standing is taken at faculty level and must be approved by Faculty QMSC.
Due account should be taken of the timescale for withdrawal to ensure that
applicants with a legitimate expectation of being given advanced standing either have
that expectation honoured or are informed clearly of the change in the situation. MAR
must be informed so that the register can be updated.
Recognition of Award (Type 2): the process is as for Type 1 above. MAR must be
informed so that the register can be updated and the SITS code for the entry route
removed.
Articulation (Type 3): as for collaborative partnerships
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