Learning and Teaching Policies

Policies

The University often needs to put in place a range of temporary policies and procedures related to learning, teaching or assessment. This information is provided here on the Policy Bank and is updated annually.

2024/25 Key Information

• 2024/25 Learning and Teaching Planning Assumptions and Key Messages for Teaching Teams

A

• Academic Approvals
• Academic Approval Process Briefing Paper
• Access to Scripts and Feedback on Examination Performance – Policy

Academic Integrity

• Academic Integrity SharePoint: Resources for staff
• Professionalism and Academic Integrity website: Students

Academic Decision-Making: Assessment, Progression and Award

• Academic Decision-Making: Summary of Approach (for Staff)
• Academic Decision-Making: Guidelines for Boards of Examiners on Maintaining Academic Standards (for Staff)
• Academic Decision-Making: Guide for Students on Three-Stage Approach
• Academic Decision-Making: Guide for Students on What happens after Exams?
• Policy on Mitigating the Impact of Industrial Action on Assessment, Progression and Award

Additional Entry Points in the Academic Year

• Key Principles (Academic and Business) for Campus-Based Programmes
• Key Principles Briefing Paper

• Additional Fees and Charges
• Admission of a Child Procedure
• Annual Monitoring and Review (AMR) (School; Partner)
• Annual Monitoring and Review - Briefing Paper  (new paper to follow)
• Anonymous Marking Guidance
• Approved Learning Partners
• Approved Teachers, Approved Tutors and Approved Markers
• Artificial Intelligence: Implications for HW Learning & Teaching

Key Assessment Policy Information

1. Summary of Key Assessment Policy Information 2024/25
2. Making Changes to Assessment
3. Types of Assessment: Policy and Administrative Definitions
4. Coursework: Scheduling and Submission of Coursework
5. Feedback on Coursework
6. Feedback on Exams (and Access to Exam Scripts)
7. Review of Assessment Tasks (Coursework and Exams) by External Examiners
8. Assessment: School Roles and Responsibilities
9. Assessment Policy, Practice and Support: Briefing Session, September 2023

Assessment and Progression System (HAPS)

• HAPS Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• HAPS Policy
• Information for Postgraduate students
• Information for Undergraduate students

• Attendance Policy
• Attendance Policy Compulsory Withdrawal Procedures

B

• Block Teaching Policy
• Block Teaching Briefing Paper

C

• Change of Course, Programme or Campus 
• Charter and Statutes (Current)
• Chief External Examiners Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• Complaints Procedures
• Consolidation Week – Guidance and Support

D

• Discretionary Award of Credits - Policy
• Dual Awards (University Position on Dual Awards in relation to Academic Partnerships)

E

• Email and Messaging Policy; Approved Tools for Communicating with Students
• English Language Requirements - Dubai
• English Language Requirements - Malaysia 
• English Language Requirements: Scotland, Online Programmes, Academic Partnerships

Examinations in Different Time-Zones

• Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones: Policy
• Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones: Procedures
• Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones - Briefing Paper

• Examination Board Guidelines and Assessment Procedures (UG and PG)
• Examinations - Approved Calculator Policy
• Examinations - Dictionary Policy
• Examinations Instructions for Candidates
• Examinations – Invigilator’s Handbooks
• Exchange Agreements
• External Examiners
• External Reviews

F

• Fair Access Policy

Feedback

• Feedback Resources
• Feedback on Examination Performance and Access to Scripts - Policy
• Feedback on Coursework - Policy
• Feedback on Coursework and Examinations Policy - Briefing Paper

G

• Global Academic Management Structures for Schools and School Leadership Roles
• Global Academic Management Structures Annex: Policy on the Management of Combined Studies (under review)
• Global Code of Practice for the Management, Assurance and Enhancement of Taught Programmes
• Graduate Apprenticeships
• Graduate Attributes - Exploring the Heriot-Watt Graduate Attributes
• Guidance for meeting the Engineering Council’s Condonement & Compensation Policy

H

• Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Changes to Programme/Course (new BP to follow)
• HESA Student Data Collection Notice

K

L

• Learning and Teaching Key Principles - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)

M

• Management of Examinations Scripts (On and Off Campus)
• Management of Transcripts and Certifications
• Managing Online Assessment due to VLE Access Holds and IT Services Access Holds
• Mitigating Circumstances

Moderation of Assessment

• Moderation of Assessment Policy
• Moderation of Assessment: School Implementation Procedures
• Moderation of Assessment Briefing Paper  (new paper to follow)

• Monitoring and Review Process - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• MQA Full Accreditation - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)

O

• Ordinances

P

• Partnership Agreements
• Partnership Framework Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• Peer Observation of Teaching Scheme

Periodic Review

• Academic Audit
• Academic Audit Briefing Paper
• Academic Review
• Academic Review Briefing Paper  (new paper to follow)
• Enhancement Workshop - Briefing Paper  (new paper to follow)
• Professional Services Review

Personal Tutoring

• Personal Tutoring Briefing Paper
• Personal Tutoring - Key elements for 2024 - 2025
• Personal Tutoring Policy and Guidelines
• Personal Tutoring SharePoint Site

• Plagiarism: Student Guide
• Posthumous Award Policy
• Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs)
• Programme Handbook Template

Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses (Multi-Location/Mode Programmes)

• Implementing the Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses Briefing Paper
• Implementing the Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses - Local Modifications Briefing Paper
• Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses
• Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses Briefing Paper

• Programme Transfer Policy (amended for 2020/21)

R

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

• RPL Policy
• Procedures
• RPL Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)

• Regulations

Recordings for Teaching and Learning Purposes

• Use of Recordings for Teaching and Learning: Policy
• Use of Recordings for Teaching and Learning: Procedures

Research Students

• External Examiners Handbook (PGR)
• Postgraduate Research Degree Candidate Code of Practice
• Viva Examinations (PGR) - Role of the Internal Examiner
• Research Engagement
• Thesis Submission Procedures and Guidelines

S

• Scheduling and Submission of Coursework Policy

Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

• SCQF and European Credit and Transfer System - Information for Undergraduate Students
• SCQF and European Credit and Transfer System - Information for Postgraduate Students
• SCQF Chart
• SCQF Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)

• Staff Scholarships and Remission of Fees Policy
• Student Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures


•  

Student Partnership Agreement

• Student Partnership Agreement

• Student Records Procedure (Information Governance)
• Student Surveys

Student Voice

• Class Rep Election Process
• Closing the Feedback Loop Policy
• Global Academic Representation
• Standardisation of SSLC practices policy
• Student Voice Policy

• Support to Student Policy
• Supporting Student Athletes Policy – Academic Flexibility
• Supporting Student Carers Policy

T

• Teaching Models: Definitions of Standard Models
• Timetabled Classes: Start and End Times across all Campuses

Temporary Suspension of Studies (TSS)

• Temporary Suspension of Studies
• Temporary Suspension of Studies Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• TSS: Support to Study Policy

Transfer between Campuses

• Transfer between Campuses Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
• Transfer between Campuses Policy

U

• Use of Student Data

V

• Visiting Scholar Guidelines
• Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Baseline