Skip to main content

Suspension of College Degree regulations

1. Approval of Regulations

1.1 Additions and other amendments to the Regulations for Taught Programmes of Study and Regulations for Research Degrees at Birkbeck, University of London (hereafter abbreviated to the College), shall be subject to approval by the Academic Board. The Academic Board shall consider and determine the date from which such regulations shall take effect and the categories of students to whom they shall apply. All such amendments shall normally be considered on the recommendation of either the Education and Student Experience Committee or the Research Committee. The Academic Board’s powers of approval may, when circumstances require, be exercised by its chair, subject only to the requirement that any such action by the chair be reported to the members of the board, either at its next meeting or otherwise.

1.2 As appropriate, the College’s regulations will be in line with those set out by the University of London. If the College wishes to put in place a regulation which is not permitted under the University of London regulations, the College will follow the process for requesting an amendment to the University of London regulations and will abide by the decision made by the University.

1.3 Regulations approved by the Academic Board may allow for variations by schools for collaborative provision or for disciplines subject to external regulation. These should be made clear in the approval processes for individual programmes and flagged to the Academic Board. Any such deviation from the College regulations must be made clear to applicants and students affected. Where necessary, bespoke regulations may need to be produced and these are subject to the same approval process as the College regulations.

1.4 Regulatory changes will be communicated to staff, students and applicants, with particular consideration given to the dissemination of information about substantive changes, which will affect students already registered at the College or applicants holding offers.

1.5 Exceptionally, programmes may have their own regulations in addition to those set out in the degree regulations. These need to be articulated as part of the programme development process, included in the Programme Specification and approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation. Any changes to programme regulations need to be approved via the programme amendment process and endorsed by the relevant Deputy-Vice Chancellor.

2. Suspension of Regulations

2.1 Requests for the Academic Board’s consideration of suspension of regulations must be submitted via the Microsoft Form on the ASQ Connect suspension of regulations SharePoint site, by the following staff (for students registered on taught programmes):

  • the Chair of the Sub-Board of Examiners,
  • the Head of School, or
  • the Programme Director of the relevant taught programme.

Or by the following staff (for research students):

  • the supervisor,
  • the Head of School, or
  • the PGR Director.

Requests must state which regulation is to be suspended, the reason for the request, the case in support of the suspension and the details of the student(s) affected.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances, other academic or professional services staff in the affected student’s School may also submit requests, providing there has been consultation with at least one of the named staff above.

2.3 Any requests for the Academic Board’s consideration of suspension of regulations must additionally be signed off by one of the following staff (for students registered on taught programmes):

  • the Head of School, or
  • the Head of Education and Student Experience.

Or by the following staff (for research students):

  • the Head of School, or
  • the Head of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange.

The person signing off on a request for suspension of regulations must be different from the person requesting a suspension of regulations. In exceptional circumstances, the relevant Executive Dean may also sign off requests relating to either students registered on taught programmes or research students.

2.4 Suspension of regulations will be considered only in exceptional cases. Collated data on suspensions of regulations will be reviewed periodically and considered as part of the process for updating regulations, to ensure the regulations are fit for purpose.

2.5 All requests for suspension of regulations and the decisions by or on behalf of the Academic Board shall be recorded by ASQ. All approved suspensions will be reported to each meeting of Academic Board.

2.6 Suspension of regulations for taught degrees will be determined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience (or their nominee) on behalf of Academic Board. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor may wish to seek the opinions of the Education Committee and any of its sub-committees when making a decision.

2.7 Suspension of regulations for research degrees will be determined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (or their nominee) on behalf of Academic Board. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor may wish to seek the opinions of the Research Committee and any of its sub-committees when making a decision.

2.8 Where it is not possible to reach a decision on whether to suspend a regulation, the Chair of the Academic Board will be the final arbiter on behalf of the Board.

Policy review

  • Created: June 2008
  • Latest update: July 2025
  • Date of next review: 2029-30 academic year
  • Owner: Quality and Regulations Manager
  • SLT owner: DVC Education and Student Experience
  • Committee oversight: Education and Student Experience Committee for Academic Board