Changes to Programme: Higher Education

Your Consumer Rights as a Student

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) outlines your consumer rights as a student, focusing on three main areas of consumer law:

Information Provision

Higher Education Providers must provide clear, understandable, unambiguous, and timely information upfront for Higher Education (HE) programmes.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions set by universities must be fair and balanced.

Changes to programmes

Programme modifications may occur for reasons including, but not limited to, regulatory requirements, accreditation body directives, or to enhance and improve the quality of the programme based on student and stakeholder feedback. UCQ commits that any changes will not be made arbitrarily or in a way that materially disadvantages students. Instead, all modifications will aim to maintain or improve the student learning experience and academic standards.

All proposed programme changes require formal approval from UCQ’s Academic Council or designated senior governance committee before being implemented.

When significant programme changes are implemented, affected students will be offered options including transfer to an equivalent programme or the opportunity to complete their original programme through a teach-out arrangement.

Following the formal approval process, UCQ commits to informing all affected students of any significant programme modifications at least 30 calendar days before these take effect. Notifications will be communicated via email, the student portal, and reflected in updated programme handbooks.

Complaint Handling Processes and Practices

Universities must ensure their complaint handling processes are accessible, clear, and fair.

This guidance helps ensure compliance with key consumer legislation:

• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs)
• Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (CCRs)
• Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UTCCRs)

For full details, please visit the link to the Government  Higher Education Guide for Consumer Rights for Students link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-guide-to-consumer-rights-for-students)

Programme Changes

For every programme change, we will publish a summary report outlining the consultation process and any student feedback considered, which will be made available on the UCQ website. We list programme changes by the following categories.  These match categories of course information defined as ‘material information’ in the guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

1. Programme Title
2. Entry Requirements/Criteria
3. Core Modules
4. Composition of the programme
5. Methods of assessment
6. The award obtained upon successful completion of the programme
7. Location of study
8. Length of programme
9. Programme accreditation
10. Total course costs

Click the + on each section below to find out changes.