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Changes to policy and curriculum

Show all changes for 2022/23

Conditions of Registration 2022/23 (Short Courses)

January 2023

In January 2023, The Open University needed to make a change to the Conditions of Registration (Short Courses) 2022/23 .

The changes made:

There have been several significant changes to this policy:

  1. Amendment of Clause B2.2 removing statement that Short Course students will have access to The Open University’s Library.
  2. Amendment of Clause B3.2 b) removing mention of availability of The Open University’s Library to Short Course students.
  3. Removal of Section J – “Using Library facilities”, and subsequent renumbering of Sections J and K.
  4. Amendment of clause K6 to amend references to Section K.

March 2022

In March 2022, The Open University published the Conditions of Registration (Short Courses) 2022/23 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 a non-credit bearing module that does not count towards any qualification, as set out in the short course sections of The Open University’s online prospectus.

The changes made:

There have been several significant changes to this policy:

  1. Professional Development (PD) courses added to the ‘out of scope’ section.
  2. Related documentation list updated to incorporate the Academic Conduct Policy, and Safeguarding Policy, and move Fitness to Study as a document that governs your study.
  3. New Sections added entitled “Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Open University” and “Safe Space Reporting”.
  4. In, ‘Summary of the main terms of the contract between us’, rewording of clause 1b for clarity.
  5. In, ‘Summary of the main terms of the contract between us’, new clause 3 has been added to include the possibility of additional costs of study such as postage charges for receipt of physical module materials sent to addresses outside of the UK. Subsequent renumbering of the clauses within this section.
  6. In, ‘Summary of the main terms of the contract between us’, clause 10 has been amended to include a voluntary or imposed study break in accordance with the Fitness to Study Policy; breaking of any conditions set out in this or any supplementary document; and failure to disclose any unspent legal restrictions or conditions that are specified within the Conditions of Registration in line with the Code of Practice for Student Discipline.
  7. Section A2 “Additional condition for disclosure of legal restrictions and conditions” has been amended to the latest advice regarding the requirement to disclose unspent criminal convictions at the point of registering to study at The Open University (A2.1); students who are currently, or become subject to a Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS, or other criminal justice agency) licence, Court Imposed Order or similar relevant condition/restriction imposed by a court or by an authorised body (A2.2); and consequences of non-disclosure (A2.3).
  8. New Clause B2.4 to describe in-eligibility for deferral, resit, resubmission or assessment unless Clause B4.1 applies. 
  9. Amendment to Clause B4.1.1, to insert a new reference to TG089 course eligibility for one resit or resubmission opportunity. 
  10. Amendment to clause C2.2 a) and b) for greater clarity on the implications of accessing materials and resources in relation to right to cancel. 
  11. Amendments to clause C2.3 e) for clarity.
  12. Addition of new sub-clause C3.1 f) regarding failure to disclose legal restrictions under Section A2. Addition of reference to carrying out a fraudulent action.
  13. Removal of sub-clause C4.2 ai) which referenced the suspension or cancellation of registrations and enrolments where either too few or too many Students have registered or enrolled for the course to enable The Open University to provide an appropriate learning experience and/or assessment opportunity in order to meet the learning outcomes of the short course. Subsequent renumbering of section.
  14. Inclusion of reference to the Republic of Ireland in clause D1.4.
  15. Clauses E1 and I3 amended to include references to being a registered and current Open University Student.
  16. Addition of clause F2 to describe the complaints procedure for Welsh Language Standards.
  17. Amendments to Section G “Student Discipline” to reference Academic Conduct.
  18. Addition of new Section H4 “The Computing Policy and Social Media Policy”
  19. Addition of new Section L “Affiliation with Third Party Organisations”. 
  20. Glossary updated: Reference to ‘Case Conference Panel’, ‘Non-compulsory Residential School experience’ and ‘Short Course’.
  21. Amendments to ‘Further clarification’ section.
  22. Amendment to Appendix Ap 1.1 to describe the process of disclosure of an unspent conviction and to include two new offences.

For more help or information

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.