Regulations for Professional Learners

1.1 

These regulations are relevant to those pursuing taught undergraduate or postgraduate modules but who are not enrolled as students pursuing a programme leading to an award. Professional Learners shall not be eligible to be considered for any award from Swansea University but will be awarded credit for any modules which have been successfully completed. This includes 0-credit courses that offer CPD whereby the learner will receive a transcript identifying the course title upon successful completion.

1.2 

A professional learner is not pursuing a named programme of study but is studying a single module or a limited number of modules, either as a career development opportunity, a taster for further study, or for interest. Any modules studied outside of a programme of study but which offer university credit may be called Microcredentials.

1.3 

All professional learners must enrol with the University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University.

Full-time professional learners enrolled on an undergraduate initial degree or postgraduate taught programme may concurrently be enrolled as professional learner with the express permission of the relevant Faculty/School(s). Such candidates should note that module(s) pursued as a professional learner may not be used as substitute module(s) to replace modules from the degree programme.

2.1 

Professional Learners shall be classified as:

• Undergraduate Professional Learners (Levels 4, 5, 6); or
• Postgraduate Professional Learners (Level 7).

2.2 

Enrolled professional learners are subject to and must comply with the University’s academic and general regulations.

2.3 

Professional learners may be required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum entry and admission and matriculation requirements for the undergraduate or postgraduate programme to which the module(s) they wish to pursue are related. Professional learners must be able to demonstrate to the relevant Faculty/School, an appropriate level of knowledge and/or experience prior to being permitted to pursue the module(s) in question. This will be evidenced through the application process.

2.4 

All provision will be delivered in English (or Welsh). Learners should ensure they have the required language proficiency to complete their studies. Prior to enrolment, Faculties/Schools must ensure that a professional learner can communicate effectively in English, in both speech and writing and meet the IELTS score (or equivalent) for the programme of study. This will be evidenced through the application process.

3.1 

The University expects all professional learners to enrol in order to be recognised as a student of the University. All professional learners shall enrol in accordance with the enrolment instructions for the particular module or programme of study and within the prescribed enrolment period.

4.1 

Details of the content, learning outcomes and assessment requirements of modules shall be made available to professional learners by the appropriate Faculty/School. This may be provided via a handbook or online.

5.1

Once learners have completed 20% or more of the teaching or assessment of a module they are not permitted to transfer modules or to a refund of their fee.

6.1 

The University expects learners to adhere to the engagement requirements as outlined in the University’s Statement on Engagement.

7.1 

The engagement of learners shall be monitored in accordance with the University’s Engagement Monitoring Policies - Engagement Monitoring Policy for Taught Students; Engagement Monitoring Policy for Student Route (previously Tier 4) Students.

7.2

Progress shall be monitored through personal tutoring arrangements (if applicable), regular discussion and feedback from course coordinators and through Examination and Progression Boards.

8.1 

It shall be the learner’s responsibility to inform the relevant Faculty(ies)/School(s) of any disability or of any special circumstances which might require special provision. Learner’s shall be required to produce appropriate documentation in support. All requests, whether resulting from long-term disability or short-term circumstances, shall be set out on the appropriate form and supported, where possible, by written evidence. Any request must be submitted to the Faculty/School as soon as practically possible and certainly before the examination or assessment in question.

8.2 

Further details and guidelines on examination arrangements for learners with Additional Learner Needs shall be found in the Policy on Extenuating Circumstances.

9.1  

All learners must comply with the assessment requirements, which shall include submitting coursework by the deadlines set by the module leader, sitting examinations at the time and date stipulated by the University, and any other requirements as outlined in module description or handbook.

9.2 

The pass mark for modules shall normally be 40% for undergraduate modules at level 4-6 and 50% for modules at level 7. Credits will be awarded on the successful completion of a module.

9.3 

Should a Professional Learner fail a module, they shall normally be given one opportunity only and, normally, within the same academic year, to redeem the failure at the next appropriate assessment point. In accordance with the University’s practice, any attempt at redeeming the module shall be subject to the capping rules at all levels except Levels 4.

9.4 

The following University and Faculty/School regulations, rules and procedures governing assessment, shall apply to professional learners:

• Late submission of work;
• Academic misconduct;
• Accuracy of published marks;
• Special provision for assessment;
• Examination regulations, including absence and conduct.

9.5 

The results of professional learners shall be confirmed and verified by the Faculty/School’s Examination Board and the University Progression and Awards Board.

10.1   

Professional learners shall normally be expected to complete the module(s) on which they have enrolled within the timelines set by the university for the module.

11.1   

Suspension are only permitted with agreement from the Faculty. In all other cases, professional learners shall be expected to comply with the University’s withdrawal procedures.

12.1   

Learner’s shall be permitted to remain enrolled as Professional Learners up to the point of achieving the minimum exit qualification (as stated below)

• Certificate of Higher Education – 120 credits at undergraduate level;
• Postgraduate Certificate of Higher Education – 60 credit at postgraduate taught level.

Thereafter, students have the following choices:

• Providing that they satisfy the requirements of the programme, and subject to the conditions of funding, learners may transfer to an existing programme of study and exit with an award e.g. postgraduate certificate;
• Providing that they satisfy the requirements of the programme, and subject to the conditions of funding, learners may transfer to an existing programme of study which leads to an award e.g. an undergraduate or postgraduate degree;
• Continue as a Professional Learner. Learners who choose to remain as professional learners shall not be eligible for any further award.

12.2   

Learners who decide to transfer to a recognised programme of study leading to an award shall be required to apply to the relevant Faculty/School in accordance with the University’s transfer of programme regulations.

12.3   

In the case of International learners sponsored by the University, a transfer of programme is conditional upon holding a valid Student Route (previously Tier 4) visa. At the point of transfer, an assessment will be made as to whether the transfer meets current Student Route (previously Tier 4) legislation before it is approved. The assessment will include reference to the level of the new programme, the learner’s current period of leave, the current time limits governing Student Route (previously Tier 4) study, whether the new programme meets a learner’s “genuine career aspirations” and any other requirements specified by the UK Visa and Immigration Service (UKVI). Where the new programme cannot be completed within the period of existing Student Route (previously Tier 4) leave, the learner will be required to leave the UK to make an application for further leave to complete the programme. For programmes requiring ATAS Clearance, International learners must obtain clearance and provide a copy of the ATAS certificate to the University, before a transfer can be approved.

13.1   

All examinations shall be conducted under the jurisdiction of the University's Regulations and Procedures for the Operation of Examinations. The operation of Examination Boards shall be conducted in accordance with the appropriate assessment regulations.

13.2   

External Examiners shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the procedures detailed in the Swansea University Code of Practice for External Examiners.

14.1   

Professional learners who wish to query the accuracy of a mark awarded shall be permitted to do so under the University’s Accuracy of Published Marks procedures.

14.2   

Appeals which question academic judgement will not be considered. Further information can be found in the Academic Appeals procedure.

15.1   

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the University’s Academic Misconduct procedure.

16.1   

Allegations of fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations.

17.1   

Following the relevant University Progression and Award Board a Professional Learner shall be notified of their module(s) results via the student portal.

17.2   

Upon successful completion of a module a professional learner will receive an academic transcript appropriate to their completed studies.

18.1   

The regulations governing Posthumous and Aegrotat awards shall not apply to Professional Learners.