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Programme Development process changes

09 Oct 2025

We have been reviewing our programme amendment and programme withdrawal/suspension processes over the last year and these have now been amended. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the working group and those who reviewed and commented on the changes through our committee structure.

All the new forms and guidance documents are available on the TLD website at: https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/tlso/quality/programme-development/ and direct links to the documentation are as follows: programme amendment, programme withdrawal/suspension.

For both of these processes there are new forms. If colleagues have already begun to do work on an old form, these will still be accepted during this academic year.

The main changes to the programme amendment process are:

  • New streamlined form that can easily be completed in Word
  • New guidance document to support the process.
  • New amendment types – minor (no CMA implications), major (impact on the offer stage of CMA) and significant (impact on the research and application stage of CMA). Going forward, significant amendments will need to be approved 18 months prior to implementation (to allow a lead-in time, any significant amendments to be implemented for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years should be submitted by 31 March 2026 for UG and 29 May 2026 for PGT).
  • New combined deadline (which will be implemented from 2026/27)
  • More flexibility for minor amendments - Schools Heads/Directors of Education to set the deadline which must be approved by the relevant Faculty Vice-Dean TLS and be by 31 August

The main changes to the programme withdrawals/suspensions process are:

  • New streamlined form that can easily be completed in Word
  • Overarching reason for withdrawal/suspension with specific supporting detail (rationale) for clearer reporting to Senate
  • Updated guidance document to support the process
  • New deadline to comply with CMA: 30 April
  • Consultation with Legal Affairs only required where the proposed withdrawal or suspension will affect current students where no teach-out plans are in place OR offer holders when withdrawal or suspension is approved late i.e. after 30 June (see Final Programme Withdrawal or Suspension deadlines section of the guidance document for details).

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the quality team at quality@manchester.ac.uk.