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Changes to policy and curriculum

Show all changes for 2020/21

Conditions of Registration 2020/21 (Short Courses)

In March 2020, The Open University published its new Conditions of Registration 2020/21 (Short Courses) for the first time.

The Conditions of Registration (Short Courses) set out the terms and conditions (“Conditions”) that apply to registration for an Open University Short Course. A ‘Short Course’ is any non-credit bearing module that does not count towards any qualification, as set out in the short courses sections of The Open University’s online prospectus. Significant changes were made since the 2019/20 version of this document

The changes made

  1. Microcredential courses added as out of scope to this document.
  2. Addition of “Summary of the main terms of the contract between us” within Introduction.
  3. Amendments to wording to bring document in line with the terminology used in the main Conditions of Registration (A3, Section C “Changing or cancelling your course”, Section E “Your Personal Information”, Section G “Student Discipline”, Section H “Computing” and Section I “How we will communicate with you”).
  4. Information added to paragraph A1.2 to inform students that the inconsistencies must be formally agreed in writing by The Open University.
  5. Additional clarification within paragraph A1.3 that all disputes arising from these Conditions and associated policies, procedures or Registration shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
  6. Rewording of Section A2 in line with changing practice in sector and to assist in removing barriers for students with legal restrictions and conditions, as well as upholding our safeguarding responsibilities. Corresponding addition of new sentence B1.2(b) referring students to disclose any legal restrictions or conditions as appropriate.
  7. Addition of paragraph A3.3 and paragraph I6 ‘Safeguarding Duty’ to clarify The Open University’s statutory obligation to disclose particular information as relevant to the internal Safeguarding team or external parties.
  8. Addition of paragraph A3.4 and paragraph I7 ‘Prevent Duty’ to clarify The Open University’s statutory obligation to disclose particular information as relevant to The Open University Prevent team.
  9. Rewording of original paragraph B1.1 in new clause B1.3 to clarify that The Open University is only able to sponsor a student visa for research degree students.
  10. Amendment to title of Section B3 and inclusion of new section B4 to describe differences for module TG089 ‘Digital Photography’.
  11. Amendment to Section C to remove reference to ‘Changing Your Study Plans’ policy and include additional detail for how to cancel.
  12. Additional information added to paragraph C2.1 and Section E3 to note that The Open University may cancel registration if personal information is not kept up to date.
  13. Amendment to paragraph C1.4.2 (b) (was C2.2) to remove the term “at that time”.
  14. Addition of recommendation to contact your Student Support Team for further information about additional charges payable in paragraph D1.1.
  15. Amendments to Section D4 to clearly present how The Open University deals with different types of student debt in line with the Student Debt Policy and to reflect coordinated changes made to the main Conditions of Registration. The related paragraph C2.1(b) has been reincluded here for clarity.
  16. Inclusion of information to specify that students living in Wales can receive correspondence in Welsh (Section I1, and Further Clarification)
  17. Sentence added into Section I2.2 to inform students that The Open University will not be responsible for failure to receive emails if Section I2 of the Conditions is not adhered to.
  18. Updating of the Appendix in line with Section A2 to positively encourage students to disclose to The Open University any conditions, restrictions or arrangements relating to specific criminal convictions. It makes them aware that, in accepting the Conditions of Registration, students are agreeing to make us aware immediately of any conditions, restrictions or arrangements that may stop them from fully engaging with their chosen module and the wider University community. It also explains the action that we may take if they fail to disclose.

Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU.