Policies and procedures

Browse our policies, regulations and procedures for more information on our approach to academic matters, student affairs and life on campus.

These regulatory documents support and clarify the ways we ensure that you, the student, are fairly treated: from accepting an offer to study here; through assessments; to your final award as a graduate.

Academic Attendance and Engagement

Assessment and Examination Procedure

Changing Courses Procedure

Degree Outcome Statement

The degree outcomes statement sets the University’s degree classification profile for the past five years. It considers how academic governance assures the standard of degrees; describes the classification algorithm; and how learning and teaching enhancements support attainment.

Fitness to Practise Procedure

The Fitness to Practise Procedure covers all students in the School of Health and Social Care who are undertaking a programme of study which involves patient or service user contact and/or allows for registration to practice as a professional.

Institute of Health and Social Care 

Fitness to Practise Procedure (PDF File 491 KB)

Fitness to Practise Referral Form (PDF File 84 KB)

Directional Statement form (PDF File 354 KB)

School of Applied Sciences 

Fitness to Practise Procedure (MSc APAC) (PDF File 581 KB)

Directional Statement form (APAC) (PDF File 129 KB)

Support and Fitness to Study Procedure

The Support and Fitness to Study Procedure is intended as a supportive procedure which can be used by staff when a student’s health, wellbeing and/or behaviour is having a detrimental impact on their ability to progress academically and function at university.

Support and Fitness to Study Procedure (PDF File 393 KB)

Immigration Regulations

The University holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence which allows it to sponsor students under Tier 4 General of the points-based system. The University takes its licence very seriously and the regulations, policies and guidance listed here concern both applicants who require sponsorship under Tier 4 and current students who hold a Tier 4 visa.

Interruption and Withdrawal Procedure

Late Submission and Extenuating Circumstances Notification Procedure

Research Degrees Code of Practice

The University's Research Degrees Code of Practice covers: academic awards, the application process, registration period, research and professional development, supervision, progression, examination, PhD by published work, higher doctorates, appeals on examination result and graduation.

This Code of Practice applies to the following awards: Masters by Research (MA/MSc), MPhil, PhD, PhD by Published Work, Professional Doctorates and Higher Doctorates.Research Degrees Code of Practice (PDF File 1,581 KB)

Student Academic Appeals Procedure

The Student Appeals Procedure describes the processes for students to appeal against academic decisions by the University; in other words decisions relating to the administration of the marking process, progression and the awarding of qualifications.

Student Complaints Procedure

This procedure describes what a student needs to do if they wish to complain about any aspect of the delivery of their programme, which they believe has affected their ability to engage effectively with their studies.

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction by one or more students about the University’s action, inaction or standards of service, on or off the campus, which the student(s) have not been able to resolve through informal processes.

Student Academic Misconduct Procedure

The Academic Misconduct Procedure applies to every student enrolled and registered with the University, including students on programmes delivered in partnership with other providers, unless otherwise stated in the student handbook.

Where more than one student is involved in a case of suspected academic misconduct, the University may choose whether to take joint or separate action against them under this procedure.Student Academic Misconduct Procedure (PDF File 434 KB)

Student Compensation and Refund Policy

Student Disciplinary Procedure

This procedure applies to unacceptable conduct of any enrolled student of the University, with the exception of (a) academic misconduct which will be dealt with in accordance with the University’s Code of Practice 6 Academic Misconduct, (b) conduct which causes no damage of any kind to the University or any person or body connected to it, and (c) conduct which will be dealt with under the School of Health and Social Care’s Fitness to Practise procedure (PDF File 491 KB).

Student Placements Procedure

  • We offer every undergraduate student the opportunity for a placement, internship or a professional experience during their time at LSBU. Student placements are an essential part of many undergraduate programmes and postgraduate research projects, providing students with valuable work experience and networks of contacts in their chosen disciplines.

  • The placements procedure is currently being revised.

Student Pregnancy, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Policy

Student Protection Plan

General policies and resources

Our general policies govern our approach to student affairs and life on campus, for both students and staff:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We're committed to the provision of equality for all, valuing diversity across all the dimensions of difference. This is set out in our Equality and Diversity Policy Statement.

We've also developed the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy to ensure everyone who studies and works here does so free of discrimination.

As part of the admissions cycle in each academic year, LSBU's Strategy, Planning and Performance (SPP) Team work closely with the Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions Team, providing summaries of student applications in our ‘Reconciliation And Detailed Admissions Report’ (RADAR) report, which includes gender and other student characteristics. A sample 2020/21 RADAR report can be found here (XLSX File 3,615 KB), with commercially sensitive data redacted.  Such reports enable the University to monitor its admissions process and course marketing strategy.

Data Protection

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Policy sets out the vision and high performing aspiration of the University in its approach to health and safety. The policy enables staff, students and visitors to go about their business or studies safely, and the University to provide an excellent environment for all its stakeholders.

Freedom of Information

We're required to adopt a Publication Scheme in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Scheme is a guide to information routinely held and made available to the public.

Read more about our Publication Scheme in our Freedom of Information Policy.

Intellectual Property

Lecture Capture Policy

The University promotes the use of Lecture Capture to extend the learning opportunities available for students to engage with lectures, and to provide a more ‘inclusive teaching’ environment by making a wider range of teaching resources more accessible and available to all students.

Lecture Capture Policy (PDF File 365 KB)

Modern Slavery Act

Speak Up Policy

This policy is in place to allow students, staff and others associated with the University by an employment or business contract to raise concerns and disclose information about perceived malpractice.

Speak Up Policy (PDF File 88 KB)

Key human resource policies

Our HR policies outline our approach to employment issues for staff:

Library, IT and facilities

Library Rules and Regulations

Full information on library services and guidelines can be found on the Library website.
Library website

Internet Procedures and Guidelines

References: student and alumni

Guidance on requesting references

The University can provide a reference to potential employers, other colleges or universities, a professional body or to a public body. References will provide standard information about the student as detailed below. Academic comments, including details about academic ability, will be provided at the academic's discretion only. The University will endeavour to provide a reference wherever possible, however it is not obligated to do so. A transcript of an award, or successfully completed modules, can also be provided. These can be ordered on our Buy and Book Online website.

Types of references

  • Standard – confirmation of student name, course studied, qualification obtained, start date and completion date.
  • Academic – confirmation of standard information above and academic comments that may contain information about the student’s academic abilities. Academic comments may be made only at the discretion of a relevant academic member of staff and are typically provided for up to two years following a student's last attendance at the University. The two-year period may be extended if a reference is required for further education and the relevant academic is still a member of staff at the University.

The University does not provide personal/character references. Any such requests may be addressed to the relevant academic member of staff who may provide it solely at their own discretion and independently of the University.

Requesting a reference

  • References that require comment from an academic should be sent directly to the selected academic referee at their University email address. Students are advised to confirm that an academic is able to provide them with a reference before providing their details for a reference to be obtained.
  • If a reference for employment or higher education requires only standard confirmation of dates of study, course and award, these requests should be sent to formerstudents@lsbu.ac.uk for students who completed more than two years ago.  Requests for current students and those who completed within two years should be sent to references@lsbu.ac.uk.
  • Teacher Education student reference requests should be sent to AHSSchoolspartnerships@lsbu.ac.uk (please note, this is only for LSBU students in the Education Division).
  • Current students can obtain confirmation of student status letters (confirms dates of study and course) from the Student Life Centre at studentlife@lsbu.ac.uk
  • All requests from third parties should be accompanied by the student’s written agreement. This can be in the form of a letter from the student or email from the student’s University email account or personal email address as held on our student record system to enable the University to process the reference.

For any other reference queries not covered above please email references@lsbu.ac.uk.