University of Plymouth

UKPRN: 10007801

Legal Address: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA

Contact point for enquiries: Anna Sendall, Academic Registrar, [email protected]

Student Protection Plan (“Plan”)

The University of Plymouth is committed to helping you achieve successful outcomes from
your studies. However, there may be unforeseen circumstances, often outside the
University’s control, which result in changes having to be made to your modules or
programmes. This Student Protection Plan will be considered annually by University Senate
(which includes student representation via the University of Plymouth Students Union). The
Student Protection Plan will be made available to all students and prospective students via
the University website. The University’s Academic Registry will be responsible for ensuring
staff are aware of and implement the Student Protection Plan.

In particular:

 Applicants will be made aware of this plan when an offer to study a course is made
 Current students will be updated on the plan as part of induction exercise in each re-
enrolment, and information regarding the plan’s location on the website will be
routinely provided in student handbooks
 The plan will be published on the staff intranet, and specific staff training activities
will be undertaken
 The student protection plan will be referred to in the UoP Academic Regulations for
course change and course closure procedures
 The annual review of the Student Protection Plan by the University Executive will
take place after it has received comments from the Student Life Committee of the
University (where there is Student Union and student representation including the
interests of students studying at partner institutions

The Student Contract details the relationship between you and the University, and explains
the University’s responsibilities and how programme changes beyond the University’s
control are managed. In the event of any conflict between this Plan and the Student
Contract then the Student Contract shall take priority.

The University is committed to communicating any changes to you as early as possible,

setting out clear information and options. We will take all reasonable steps to minimise
disruption and to enable you to complete your studies as intended. However, where this is
ultimately not possible you may, for example:

 be offered the opportunity to move to another programme;

1
  be offered a modified version of the same programme;
 be provided with assistance to switch to a different provider;
 move to a different campus;
 be offered a financial refund and/or compensation (for cases where it is not possible
to preserve the continuation of study or where study is disrupted) in accordance
with our Refund and Compensation Policy (see below). In the event of any conflict
between this Plan and our Refund and Compensation Policy then this Plan will apply.

Where you are required to transfer programme, or move to another campus, there may be
implications for your student finance arrangements. If you are affected, the University’s
Student Funding Service will contact you and provide detailed information, advice and
guidance based on this Plan, the Student Contract, the Refund and Compensation Policy
taking account of your individual circumstances.

The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 requires the University to have a Student
Protection Plan, like this Plan, to protect your interests and detail the steps we would take
where significant material changes had to take place affecting the quality and/or
continuation of your study, such as (but not limited to):

 disruption of University programme delivery;

 industrial action;
 the unanticipated departure of key members of University staff;
 the cessation of programme delivery, likely cessation, or change of delivery mode;
 major changes in year to programme content;
 suspension and/or revocation of the University’s Tier 4 Sponsor Licence;
 changes to regulatory framework affecting a specific programme and loss of
accreditation from professional, statutory or regulatory bodies;
 a decision to close the University or a campus or site for delivery of University
programmes having been taken;
 loss or restriction of degree awarding powers.

This Plan applies to both students studying at a University of Plymouth campus and to
students studying at one of our partner institutions. Part A below relates to students
studying at our own campuses and Part B to students studying at our partner institutions. If
you are uncertain which part of the plan applies to you please refer to your
course/programme leader or make contact using the details at the end of this plan.

We will review this Plan at least annually and update and amend as required. We also
reserve the right to amend this Plan from time to time based on legal or regulatory change
affecting you or us or best practice in the higher education sector.

The University does not accept any liability for any consequential or other economic loss
(including loss of profits, loss of goodwill or loss of opportunity) resulting from any of the
matters covered by this Plan. Only foreseeable loss will be covered by the University.

2
Part A – For students studying at University of Plymouth campuses

It is important to note that whilst the University will plan for a wide range of scenarios many
of these are very unlikely to happen. The University undertakes risk assessments in each
Faculty and directorate and regularly reviews them. There are processes to escalate risks
through the University’s governance structures to ensure that interventions to mitigate
them takes place. The University assesses the risk of the occurrence of the material changes
listed above to be low because of a mix of its financial stability and business planning. The
following section details the likely steps that would be taken in the unlikely event that any
of these significant material changes occurs.

Working with you – advice and guidance

Where we anticipate changes, which will affect your studies we are committed to:

 Letting you know as soon as possible

 Where appropriate working with the University of Plymouth Student Union and with
student representatives to discuss the changes
 Providing you with advice and guidance on the proposed changes and the options
that you have
 Applying where relevant our Refund and Compensation Policy

Significant Material Change:

1. If there is disruption to University activity:

Where there is disruption to programme delivery, we will normally consider whether it is

practicable to make changes to delivery, rather than closing or suspending the affected
programme. The actions we will take to minimise disruption may include:

 temporary short-term suspension of programme delivery (e.g. where there is a

change in the programme delivery location or staffing, with appropriate actions to
mitigate the impact on you);
 changes to the delivery location or method, which may include distance learning;
 changes to the staffing of a programme, including the recruitment of alternative staff,
where appropriate (see 2 below);
 offering you the opportunity to transfer to an alternative programme;
 providing reasonable support to you to access a programme run by another provider,
including making arrangements for the transfer of your credits and information about
your academic progress.

The University’s Business Continuity Plan covers other mitigating actions affecting business
continuity, such as acts of terrorism, damage to buildings or equipment.

3
 2. If key academic staff involved in delivering a programme are unavailable:

This may happen as a result of long term sickness, retirement, death or leaving the
University. Where possible we will:

 seek to fill gaps as quickly as possible, by assigning responsibility to other current

members of staff with appropriate skills and experience or recruiting externally, to
avoid disruption;
 where this affects a PhD student we will discuss with you the best options for your
future supervision which may include allocating alternative supervisors from the
University or occasionally moving your studies to another University (e.g. your
supervisor’s new institution)
 where the University cannot avoid closing a module or programme, the policy as
outlined in 4 or 5 below will apply.

3. If industrial action affects your studies:

We have established frameworks for consultation and negotiation with the recognised trade
unions. We are highly committed to maintaining an effective employee relations culture and
working with trade union colleagues to achieve reasonable solutions to matters that may
arise from time to time. Where industrial action does occur, we will seek to:

 ensure that normal operations and services are maintained as far as possible;
 take all reasonable steps to fulfil its responsibilities to you in ensuring that any
disruption is minimised and that you are not, as far as is possible to determine,
disadvantaged by the action.

4. If we need to make major in-year changes in to the content of your programme:

We will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your programme in accordance with its
description in our prospectus for the academic year in which you began your programme.
However, in the event of major in-year changes to programme content we will ensure that:

 we restrict changes to the minimum necessary to achieve the required quality of

experience, and you are notified and consulted with as appropriate;
 we work with you to ensure the offer is still acceptable;
 where necessary, you have the opportunity to withdraw from the programme;
 where required, you are offered reasonable support to transfer to another
programme at the University, or to another provider.

5. If we cease delivering a programme (or if this were to become likely) or change its
delivery mode:

We have established and tested procedures in place in the event of the suspension / closure
or change of delivery mode of a programme of study. Where there is a material impact on
you, we will mitigate the effect by communicating with you to provide assurance that you

4
will not be adversely affected by the decision and that you will be able to complete your
studies.

Wherever possible we will enable you to complete your programme of study (what we call
‘teaching out’). In doing this we will carefully manage our approach to staffing and other
resources to ensure your studies are affected as little as possible.

Where it is not possible to teach out then we will consider whether there are options for
you to change programmes at the University or to transfer to complete your programme at
another institution

We will undertake equality impact assessments to assess the effect on students with
different needs, characteristics and circumstances.

If you have applied for a University programme, but have not yet enrolled, you will be
notified (in accordance with UCAS deadlines where appropriate) in time for you to source an
alternative suitable programme, where relevant, at the University. We will provide you with
support and advice in these circumstances.

6. If the programme you are enrolled on loses its accreditation:

If your programme loses its accreditation from a professional, statutory or regulatory body,
we will consider measures to protect your student experience, such as:

 offering you the chance to move to another programme;

 delivering a modified version of the same programme;
 providing assistance to you to switch to a different provider who has the relevant
accreditation.

7. If our Tier 4 Sponsor Licence is suspended or revoked:

If our Tier 4 Sponsor status is suspended, we will take all reasonable steps to minimise
disruption to you by, for example:

 working with UKVI to allow you to complete your year of study or programme;
 allowing you to enrol and commence your studies, if you are already in receipt of a
visa based upon an allocated CAS from the University;
 offering you the opportunity to postpone your application pending the resolution of
the suspension (if you have not already commenced your travel to the University).

If our Tier 4 Sponsor status is revoked, we will take all reasonable steps to minimise
disruption to you by, for example, assisting you to switch to an alternative sponsor.

8. If the University loses its degree awarding powers, or they are restricted:

If the Office for Students (OfS) restricts or revokes our degree awarding power and/or
University status, we will work with the OfS to:

5
  ensure all reasonable steps are taken to minimise the resultant disruption to you;
 ensure that, as far as possible, changes are made in a transitional manner.

If our programmes are de-designated for ‘Student Support’ purposes (so you were unable to
access statutory student finance), we will take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to
you by, for example:

 working with relevant funding bodies to allow you to complete your year of
study/programme;
 where the above is not possible, supporting you to transfer to an appropriate
programme at another provider and, where appropriate, financially compensating
you where you suffer demonstrable, material financial loss because of disruption to
your studies;
 assisting you by providing evidence/letters/statements in support of continuation of
your studies;
 merging with another institution to maintain all or part of the University’s current
provision.

9. If part or all of the campus (or other University study location) closes:

Where we have to close part or all of the campus (or other University study location), or if it
becomes unusable for student activity, we will typically consider remedies such as:

 relocating provision to an alternative suitable location. This may include hiring

spaces for programme delivery (where possible) and/or installing temporary
buildings on the University’s campus or other locations;
 revising the timetable to allow all of the scheduled teaching to take part in the
available facilities. This may include student contact sessions delivered outside of
normal office hours. Where we take this approach, we will consult with you and
undertake equality impact assessments to assess the effect on students with
different needs, characteristics and circumstances.
 delivering programmes or parts of programmes via different delivery modes, such as
Distance Learning. Where such an approach is taken, we will consider carefully
whether this it is appropriate for the enrolled students who would be affected.

10. If the University ceases operating (institutional failure):

Institutional failure would be monitored in accordance with all higher education

regulatory body requirements and any likelihood of this identified and carefully
managed through the University’s risk management procedures. Where we have no
option other than to cease operating, we would consider measures to protect your
student experience, such as those below:

 where possible, closing in a gradual way, over a period that would allow you to
complete your studies at the University;
 where the above is not possible, in supporting you to transfer to an appropriate
programme at another provider and, where appropriate, by compensating you

6
 where, because of disruption to your studies, you suffer demonstrable, material
financial loss;
 merging with another institution to maintain all or part of the University’s current
provision.

In the event that under any of the above scenarios under Part A, or where you are a student
studying directly at the University and for any other reason caused by our omission or
default, you are unable reasonably to continue your studies then our Refund and
Compensation Policy will apply. For the avoidance of doubt, you are not able to obtain
redress under both this Plan and our Refund and Compensation Policy (“Policy”); in some
instances you might be given a choice between accepting redress under either this Plan or
the Refund and Compensation Policy in which case you will be able to opt to accept redress
under only one of this Plan or the Policy but not both.

The likelihood of any of these events happening is constantly monitored by the University as
part of its approach to risk management. The table set out below indicates our assessment
of the likelihood of any of the significant changes listed above happening in the forthcoming
academic year based on the information available in July 2018.

Event requiring Likelihood of event Outline of reasons for risk assessment

student protection happening in
academic year
2018-19

(Minimal; Very
Low; Low;
Medium; Likely;
Very Likely)
Disruption of Likely Disruption can take place for a number of
University reasons such as industrial action (see below),
programme delivery staffing changes (see below), and loss of the
use of particular facilities or location. We
regard some disruption through industrial
action or staffing changes as likely or very
likely. In respect of other causes of
disruption there is a very low risk of these
taking place.
Industrial action Likely There is no nationally agreed pay settlement
for academic staff.
The unanticipated Very likely Given the size and scale of the University it is
departure of key likely that there will be staff changes as a
members of result of retirement, resignation or voluntary
University staff severance. The University always plans to
minimise the impact of such changes on
students (see below)

7
The cessation of Medium (Very Low With over 300 programmes of study each
programme delivery, risk of programme year the University will take decisions to
likely cessation, or closure directly close or suspend programmes particularly if
change of delivery impacting current the student numbers are low. However as
mode students on the noted the likelihood of this being managed
programme) in a way which impacts current students or
prevents them from completing their
expected degree is very low.
Major changes in Medium Changing programme content to ensure it is
year to programme appropriate and up to date is a regular and
content normal University activity. The University is
seeking to rationalise the large number of
undergraduate optional modules which will
lead to some programme changes – most of
which will be minor or phased in over time.
Suspension and/or Minimal The University meets compliance criteria for
revocation of the Tier 4 and has robust mechanisms to
University’s Tier 4 continue to do so.
Sponsor Licence
Changes to Very low The University has a large number of
regulatory professionally accredited programmes (e.g.
framework affecting medicine, law, engineering, architecture).
a specific Professional, statutory and regulatory bodies
programme and loss undertake regular reviews/renewals of
of accreditation accreditation. The University has a very
from professional, strong track record of maintaining course
statutory or accreditation.
regulatory bodies
A decision to close Minimal The University has a robust financial position
the University and plan and strong arrangements for
(institutional failure) accountability and governance. Its finances
or a campus or site and governance is subject to regular
for delivery of oversight by the Office for Students
University (formerly HEFCE). There are no plans to close
programmes being any of the University’s campuses or sites of
taken delivery.
Loss or restriction of Minimal The University is a well-established higher
degree awarding education institution and is subject to annual
powers quality assurance by the Office for Students
(formerly HEFCE). In its last Annual Provider
Review (2017), the University achieved the
maximum rating of “Meets requirements”.

8
Part B If you are studying on a University programme at one of our partner institutions in
the UK

It is important to note that whilst the University will plan for a wide range of scenarios many
of these are unlikely to happen in respect of University programmes at our partner
institutions. The University undertakes risk assessments on each of its partners and regularly
reviews them. There are processes to escalate risks through the University’s governance
structures to ensure that interventions to mitigate them takes place. The University assesses
the risk of the occurrence of the material changes listed above to be low to medium
because of a mix of its financial stability and business planning. The University assesses the
risk to students of partner institutions is slightly higher than for its own directly taught
students because of the inherent risks in a student being taught by a partner over which the
University only has limited control. The following section details the likely steps that would
be taken in the unlikely event that any of these significant material changes occurs

UK Partner institution

Where the University is the awarding institution and the delivery of a programme of study is
undertaken by a UK Partner institution the processes as detailed in the sections below will
apply.

Where the University works in collaboration with a partner institution to deliver University
programmes, the responsibilities of the partner institution and the University are covered
by a legally binding Academic Cooperation Agreement. This agreement reflects what needs
to happen to preserve the experience of current students and those in receipt of an offer if
the partnership is terminated or the partner ceases to operate in whole or in part for any
reason.

The University’s Academic Partnerships directorate monitors the academic standards and
quality of student experience of its collaborative provision and regularly reviews its Partner
Risk Register.

Partner Institutions which are registered with the Office for Students

From 2018 where a partner institution is registered with the Office for Students (“OfS”), it
will have its own student protection plan that:

 informs students of what their options to complete their programme of study will be
in the event of programme closure, suspension or significant material change. The
University will assist partner institutions to provide all necessary information, advice,
guidance and support to facilitate students in deciding which option to follow.
 describes how academic standards and quality of the student experience must, as far
as is reasonably practicable, will be maintained (and in particular, the completion of
stated learning outcomes in the relevant Programme Specification will be achievable
by students who are being ‘taught out’).

9
Validation and Franchise Programmes
The University delivers different types of programmes in partnerships with institutions.
These included ‘validated’ programmes, which are designed and delivered by the partner
institution after approval as a University of Plymouth award. In addition, University of
Plymouth awards maybe ‘contracted out’ or ‘franchise’ programmes - designed by the
University and delivered to the University’s exact specification by the partner institution on
behalf of the University. The course of action taken may vary between those programmes
that we validate compared to those that are franchised. Your programme leader at the
partner institution will confirm the status of your programme of study.
If your Programme is ‘Validated’ by the University of Plymouth and your Partner Institution is
registered with OfS
In these cases your partner institution will have its own Student Protection Plan and Refund
and Compensation Policy.

Where a partner has its own student protection plan that that plan will take priority over
this Plan and a student’s recourse should be via the partner’s student protection plan in the
first instance.

In addition where a partner has its own refund and compensation policy that that policy will
take priority over our Refund and Compensation Policy so that a student’s recourse should
be via the partner’s refund and compensation policy in the first instance.

If your Programme is a Franchise or Contracted-Out Programme or if your Partner Institution

is not registered with OfS

Where a partner institution is not registered with the OfS as a provider of higher education,
or the programme is delivered on a franchise or contracted out basis in the UK, the
principles of the University’s Student Protection Plan above will apply. In these cases we will
work with the partner institution and students affected to develop the most effective
solution. Normally in the case of franchise or contracted out provision this will include an
option to relocate your study to the University of Plymouth to complete your studies.
Where this is the only or preferred solution we will not normally pay compensation (e.g. for
travelling or other disruption expenses) or refund fees in respect of the period of study at
the University but we will honour the fees agreed for the period of your study.

If you are studying on a University programme at one of our partner institutions outside the
UK

Students studying for University of Plymouth awards outside of the United Kingdom are
covered by the provisions of the Academic Cooperation Agreement made between the
University and the Partner Institution. The University will apply the principles set out in this
section where significant changes to your programme, course closure or closure of the
partnership or partner institution takes place. In the event of closure of the partnership the
University would offer an opportunity to study at the University of Plymouth main campus
as the principle means of student protection. In these circumstances, the University would
honour the student fee applicable but cannot normally assist with travel or living expenses –

10
although we will apply the principles in the Refund and Compensation Policy on a case by
case basis – particularly taking into account the alternative in country provision (see below).
The University is unable to guarantee that any student wishing to study in the UK as a result
of the closure of an overseas partnership or partner institution will be able to obtain a
student visa for entry to the UK. We will assist you in seeking a visa.

However, in the event of the closure of an overseas based course, partnership or partner
institution the University will also seek to arrange alternative provision in the country of
delivery by cooperation with other colleges or universities which may lead to a final award
by another institution. If this becomes an option you will not be obliged to take this up – we
will seek your consent before making any arrangements.

Refund and Compensation Policy

In the event that under any of the above scenarios under Part B above, or for any other
reason caused by our (or our partner’s) omission or default you are unable reasonably to
continue your studies in accordance with our partner’s student protection plan or this Plan
then (subject to any partner refund and compensation policy) our Refund and
Compensation Policy will apply.

Advice and Guidance

We appreciate the information in the Student Protection Plan is quite complex and detailed.
If you have any questions about this Plan and how it may affect you please contact the
University’s Academic Registrar – [email protected]

11