Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Academic Regulations 25/26

The University is committed to providing all students with the opportunity to succeed on their chosen programmes of study. That academic success is framed by the regulations, policies and procedures set out in the following pages. 

These regulations capture your rights and responsibilities to protect your individual experience and preserve the quality of our awards for all students. Our regulations, policies and procedures have been created in consultation with our students, and we continue to work with students to ensure they remain fit to purpose.

By necessity, the regulations, policies and procedures can appear to be long and sometimes technical in nature; however, we have sought to present them in an accessible manner. I encourage you to familiarise yourself with these and, if necessary, to seek support in how to navigate the material. This will help you to get the most out of your programme.

These regulations apply to all of the taught programmes leading to an award of the University. Programmes that lead to an award from an external body may be subject to different regulations; where this is the case, your programme will direct you to the relevant information.

As a learning organisation, we keep the nature and effectiveness of our regulations, policies and procedures under review and engage with students to inform any changes we may from time to time have to make. If changes are made, we will ensure that you are informed and that such changes do not have a detrimental impact upon you.

Please take the time to become familiar with the details contained in the following sections to help you achieve the best from your time with the University of Derby.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL
Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive 

They apply to all taught programmes and to all students registered for modules on those programmes for the academic year 2025/2026 and until further notice. This includes students studying at partner universities/locations and apprentice students.

Separate assessment regulations exist for research degrees.

Any variations to a university regulation must be approved by the Academic Board. Occasionally, a programme may require a variation from a university regulation, to meet the requirements of a professional body. In such a case, the required variation will be recorded in the Programme Specification.

Any changes to or variations of regulations normally occur at the start of an academic year. Exceptionally, however, it may be necessary to introduce a change during the year. If this happens, students affected by the proposed change will be consulted, and the Academic Board will satisfy itself that students will not be disadvantaged by the change. In the event of a change of regulations during the academic year, the University website will be updated, and the date of the change will be noted.

In respect of interpreting these Academic Regulations and of seeking to apply the intention of the Academic Regulations, the Director of Student and Academic Services has the authority to make and approve decisions outside of the regulations and policy, balancing an appropriate outcome for students while mitigating the risk to ensure the integrity and value of the University’s awards. The Director of Student and Academic Services shall report to the next Academic Board any decisions made for which there was not explicit provision in these regulations.

Students and staff should always check the website for the latest version of the Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.

Note: Where the regulations refer to specific roles, it is acceptable for there to be suitable alternatives within the University and college structures as deemed appropriate. For example:

• Programme Leader could also include: Course Director, Academic Lead or Workforce Development Fellow
• Deputy Head of Department could also include: Discipline Lead, Head of School, Joint Honours Lead, Online Academic Lead or another more senior nominee
• Dean or Director could also include: Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean, Deputy Dean, Course Director or another senior nominee as appropriate

The key committees named in the regulations include but are not limited to: the Academic Board, the Academic Development Quality Committee (ADQC), the Regulatory Framework Committee (RFC) and the University Innovation and Research Committee (UIRC).

• Date approved: January 2025
• Owning department: The Registry
• Date applies from: 01/09/2025

Hello and welcome from the Union of Students, University of Derby

These documents contain the academic policies, procedures and regulations about your rights and responsibilities as a student at the University of Derby. The information is critically important, governing everything from the way in which your assessments are marked, what happens if you miss a deadline, and even how long the semesters should be.

Most importantly, these documents outline the procedures for addressing issues if something goes wrong. If you are accused of a “suspected academic misconduct” or if something goes wrong in your studies, this document outlines the steps and measures that University staff will follow. If you ever find yourself in that situation or have any queries about anything in these documents in general, the Union of Students is here to help.

The Union of Students Advice Service is independent of the University, and exists to represent you and help you if there are any problems academic or otherwise. We can attend meetings alongside you, provide guidance, and will support you through any of the procedures outlined in this document. If you are a distance or online learner, we can provide appointments by telephone or Skype. Advice is staffed by professional advisors, and all their help is free and confidential.

To contact them please either visit the Union of Students information point, email directly at advice@derbyunion.co.uk, or ring them on:

• 01332 591507 - Kedleston Road Campus, Derby
• 01332 594553 - Devonshire Campus, Buxton

You can also visit the Union of Students website.

Please remember that you do not have to go through any experience at University alone. As a Union of Students we always strive to ensure that our members are looked after and represented properly.

Remember – this is your Union of Students and we are always here to help you.

Vice President Education

The Union of Students is an autonomous organisation run by the students for the students, under the constitution approved by the University’s governing body. The governing body is also bound by a code of practice on freedom of speech (pursuant to clause 43 of the Education no 2 Act 1986).

We actively encourage student feedback and are continually working towards a proactive student body. The University wants your feedback too and has established procedures by which to gather it; please provide this feedback as constructively as possible when it is requested.