Quality Assurance

Heriot-Watt’s quality assurance system is designed to uphold the academic standards of its awards and ensure a high-quality student learning experience across all campuses. This is achieved through a set of core processes:

• Approvals – the process for approving new academic programmes, significant changes to existing provision, and the establishment of new academic partnerships
• Monitoring and Review – includes Annual Monitoring, Periodic Review, and External Review activities that evaluate the effectiveness and quality of learning and teaching over time.

These processes are overseen by the Senate, which holds ultimate responsibility for academic quality and standards. Operational oversight is delegated to the University Committee for Quality and Standards (UCQS), with Studies Committee managing academic approval.

Working closely with the Deputy Principal (Education and Student Life), Registry and Academic Support, leads on policy development and operational matters related to academic quality, standards, and the student experience. UCQS approves proposed policies on behalf of Senate.

At the national level, Heriot-Watt’s quality assurance and enhancement processes are reviewed by:

• The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), delegated to QAA Scotland
• The Scottish Funding Council (SFC)

These bodies define and monitor key concepts:

• Threshold academic standards – the minimum level of achievement required for academic credit or qualifications
• Academic standards – the standards set and maintained by degree-awarding bodies, which may exceed threshold levels
• Academic quality – how effectively a provider supports students to achieve their awards
• Quality assurance – the process of checking that academic standards and quality meet agreed expectations

The UK Quality Code for Higher Education, published by QAA, sets out expectations for academic standards, learning opportunities, enhancement, and information. Heriot-Watt has mapped its regulations, policies, and procedures to the Quality Code, which is used by QAA reviewers to assess institutional performance.