Our policies and practices
Quality Assurance
One of the key functions of the Corporate Performance and Quality Directorate is to work with academic and administrative staff involved across the University as its Colleges to:
- maintain the academic standards of the qualifications granted to University of London International Programme students, the 'University of London award';
- assure and enhance the quality of the educational and learning experience of University of London International Programme students.
Our pivotal document is the Quality Framework. First published in 2001, the Quality Framework outlines the key principles on which the quality assurance partnership between the central University and Lead Colleges/Consortia is based. The Framework is an essential point of reference for the development, delivery, management, monitoring and ongoing review and enhancement of all University of London International Programmes.
Detailed information on the implementation of our quality assurance policies are provided in the Quality Assurance Schedules and the Guidelines for Examinations [pdf: 51pgs, 1.09MB]. From this page you will also be able to access the Programme Specifications and Regulations for all University of London International Programmes.
External links are also given to the Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA) website [external website, as the national body established by the government to assure the standards of Higher Education in the United Kingdom. The University of London International Programmes was subject to an Institutional Audit by the QAA in November 2005, for which we received the judgement of 'broad confidence', the highest judgement awarded. There are five recommendations for action resulting from the audit report. In response to these and the other short and long term priorities identified an interim report was submitted to QAA in June 2008, being mid-point between the 2005 audit and the scheduled date of the next audit in 2011. QAA identify the Mid-Cycle Follow-Up [pdf: 14pgs, 74KB] as a 'short health check for the institution...'. The full Institutional Audit report [external link] and the University's response to the findings of the Review Team can be accessed on the QAA website.
Each qualification or award granted by the University is located at a specific level. The level of the qualification or award of University of London International Programmes will, from 2008-09, follow the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/fheq/EWNI/default.asp), which has operated in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 2001. The purpose of the FHEQ is to describe the different 'levels' and summarise the types of skills and competences a person who has attained a qualification is expected to demonstrate. The level of all current qualifications or awards can be found in the Regulations.