Modifications to existing courses and programmes

DTCs oversee significant course and programme modifications that substantially impact students and may constitute "material information" under CMA guidelines. These changes should first be reviewed by the course convenor, programme director or team before seeking DTC approval or delegated authority decisions.

Refer to Section 16 of the Quality Assurance Handbook  for details on major modifications.

A list of required DTC decisions is provided below: 

• Change compulsory course availability to optional (or vice versa)

• Change optional course availability to core (or vice versa)

• Adding/removing a compulsory or core course from a programme

• Change to course level (compulsory or core courses)

• Change to course unit value (compulsory or core courses)

• Splitting a full unit course into two half units (compulsory or core courses)

• Change to course title (compulsory or core courses)

• Change to course code (all courses)

• Change to summative assessment (see LSE's Principles of Assessment)

• Programme duration

• Programme mode of attendance

• Programme structure (within established norms)

• Programme title

• Programme unit value (within established norms)

• Suspension or withdrawal of a compulsory or core course

• Suspension of a programme

• Withdrawal of a programme (requires APRC approval via Annual Monitoring)

• Addition of overseas exchange option, overseas travel or visiting students option

DTCs have oversight of the following major decisions, with further consideration required by the chair of the relevant Education Committee Sub-Committee for final approval:

• Suspension of regulations
• Shared UG/PGT teaching
• Marking practice
• GTA appointment for PGT course
• Class/seminar size exemption
• Forth consecutive course suspension (all courses)
• Changes to research programmes affecting ESRC accreditation
• Changes to research programmes affecting progression/upgrade

All new provision must be considered by the relevant Education Committee Sub-Committee.

Proposals for new courses, programmes and streams/specialisms require initial endorsement by the DTC and consultation with Staff Student Liaison Committee (SSLC), prior to being submitted for Sub-Committee consideration.

Sub-Committees consider the following types of proposal:

• New course proposals
• New programme proposals
• New programme stream
• New programme specialism
• New collaborative / exchange provision
• External Examiner nomination

'Minor modifications can be approved locally by the course convenor, programme director, or team without DTC approval, unless specified by local practice. These changes should be updated in course guides, programme regulations, or Moodle/departmental handbooks, typically during the annual review process.

Some minor changes, such as adjusting prerequisites or modifying courses listed in other departments' programmes, require consultation with relevant departments. Refer to Section 16 of the Quality Assurance Handbook for details.

A list of minor modifications is provided below: 

• Adding/removing an optional course from a programme
• General Course availability
• Outside option availability
• Mutually exclusive courses
• Course content
• Course level/title/unit value (optional courses)
• Exam format
• Formative coursework
• Prerequisites
• Reading lists
• Teacher responsible
• Teaching arrangements
• Splitting a full unit course into two half units (optional courses)
• Suspension of an optional course
• Withdrawal of an optional course

The following changes are processed by the Student Services Centre (SSC) and should be submitted by their published deadlines:

• Defer more than one but less than all courses (UG)*
• Intercollegiate course
• Late course change
• Programme transfer
• Second (or more) consecutive deferral (PGT)
• Timetable clash (UG)

* Assessment policies for deferral, exceptional circumstances and extensions are under review and subject to change.

For example:

Programmes: modifications to structure, programme title, duration, suspensions and withdrawals, mode of attendance (full-time, part-time), entry requirements.

Compulsory and Core courses: title, level, unit value, availability, suspensions and withdrawals.

Timing of implementation:

To coincide with the next prospectus publication. For example, UG changes confirmed in December 2024, or PGT and PGR changes confirmed in May 2025, will be implemented in the 2026/27 academic session.

Deadline for DTC decision: 

Undergraduate: 13 December 2024 (end of Autumn term)

Taught master’s: 6 May 2025 (annual course guide review deadline)

Research: 6 May 2025 (annual course guide review deadline)

We strongly recommend that DTC consideration of major changes is scheduled well in advance of the above deadlines to ensure that communication to TQARO can take place via the timely submission of DTC minutes, or when required via email to tqaro@lse.ac.uk.

For example, the consideration of PGT and PGR major changes affecting published information in the prospectus should be managed via Winter term DTC meetings in order to meet the May deadline. Many Spring Term DTC meetings will take place too close the final deadline to enable timely submission to TQARO.

The scheduling of Spring Term DTC meetings after this deadline will not be considered a valid reason for late submission of major changes.

Major changes communicated to TQARO after the above deadlines will not be processed and may be deferred to a later date for implementation.

For example:

Summative assessment and course codes.

Deadline for DTC decision:

End of annual course guide review (06 May 2025).

Timing of implementation:

The next academic session.

For example:

Suspension of regulations, shared teaching, marking practice, GTA appointment for PGT course and class/ seminar size exemption.

Deadline for DTC decision:

See the table of modifications and devolved responsibilities for specific deadlines.

Timing of implementation:

The next or current academic session, depending on timing of request.

For example:

Optional courses: title, level, unit value and availability.

All courses: course content, formative coursework, pre-requisites, reading list, teacher responsible and teaching arrangements (changes to teaching arrangements should match exactly with information already submitted in timetabling returns).

Deadline for DTC decision:

End of annual course guide review (06 May 2025).

Timing of implementation:

The next academic session.

For example:

Any suspension or withdrawal of an optional course.

Deadline for DTC decision:

End of Winter Term.

Timing of implementation:

The next academic session.

For example:

External examiner nomination, intercollegiate course, late course change, programme transfer, deferrals and timetable clash (UG).

Deadline for DTC decision:

See the table of modifications and devolved responsibilities for specific deadlines.

Timing of implementation:

The next or current academic session, depending on timing of request.

In exceptional circumstances, DTCs may review proposals for major changes during the marketing, recruitment, and admissions cycle ("in-cycle"). This period begins after the publication of student information or the opening of applications and ends before the academic year starts and students register.

Departments must consult with TQARO before seeking DTC approval. If approved, all offer-holders must be notified of the changes. Early consultation with TQARO is strongly advised due to the complexities of in-cycle modifications.

For example:

Any major changes affecting published information in the Prospectus as per point 1 above.

Deadline for DTC decision:

Before offers are communicated to prospective students.

Timing of implementation:

The next academic session.