1.1 Purpose and introduction
1.1.1 These regulations have been approved by the Academic Board of the ifs School of Finance and relate to those parts of its higher education provision listed in 1.2.
1.1.2 As a condition of registration, all students are expected to familiarise themselves with these general and academic regulations and comply with them, as they shall govern their dealings with the ifs School of Finance at all times.
1.1.3 These regulations may be varied with the agreement of the Academic Board to meet exceptional circumstances.
1.1.4 The current version of these regulations shall be maintained on the ifs School of Finance website at www.ifslearning.ac.uk. These regulations should not be read in isolation; they establish the overarching framework from which programme specifications are derived (eg concerning matters of progression).
1.1.5 Students will be sent an e-mail link to these regulations on first registration for a relevant award. It is incumbent upon them to remain alert to the possibility of changes as these may impact on their award.
1.1.6 The ifs School of Finance Code of Practice for Quality Assurance sets down the mechanisms that exist to ensure the maintenance of academic standards and enhancement of the quality of the student learning experience. The ifs Student Charter sets out the mutual rights and responsibilities of students and the ifs to each other and articulates the expectations that can be placed on both parties. In registering for ifs courses, students are obliged to meet these responsibilities to ensure their learning experience is appropriate for their programme of study.
1.1.7 Programme and module specifications set out the intended learning outcomes of a programme/module and the means by which they will be achieved.
1.1.8 A programme validated by a strategic partner may have regulations that differ from those of the ifs. Any overriding regulations by the strategic partner will be set down in the relevant programme specification.
1.1.9 The ifs School of Finance reserves the right from time to time, and without notice, to amend these general regulations by resolution of the Academic Board. Such changed regulations will come into effect at the beginning of the next appropriate academic session, but the ifs School of Finance may, at its discretion, introduce changes during a session where it is in the interests of students to do so, or necessary to reflect changes in the law.
1.1.10 Notice of any amendments to these regulations will be published on the ifs School of Finance website and, where appropriate, sent direct to students. Relevant information on each programme is contained in the separate programme specification, to which an email link will be sent to students on first registration for the programme. An updated version will be maintained on the website alongside the relevant module specifications.
1.2 Award titles
1.2.1 ifs School of Finance may confer the following higher education awards:
Awards at Level 4 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
Awards at Level 5 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland which may be conferred with the grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction:
Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
Foundation of Arts degree (FdA)
Foundation of Science degree (FdSc)
Awards at Level 6 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons))
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons))
ifs School of Finance may confer Bachelor's degrees with the following Honours classifications:
First Class Honours
Upper Second Class Honours
Lower Second Class Honours
Third Class Honours
Awards at Level 7 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which may be conferred with the grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction:
Postgraudate Certificate (PGCert)
Postgraudate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Science (MSc) [Master of Research (MRes) - where the taught component is larger than the research component]
The ifs School of Finance awards professional qualifications and designations up to and including Level 7. Details of these professional qualifications can be found on the ifs School of Finance website.
1.2.2 The programme specification shall prescribe the modules that make up that programme, the level of each module and its credit value. Detail of credit required for an award can be found in section 4.2.
1.2.3 The responsibility for the academic standards of all higher education awards lies with the Academic Board. The Academic Board shall confer awards on behalf of the ifs School of Finance in accordance with these regulations. The academic standards of the award are the same irrespective of the mode or location of the delivery.
1.3 Honorary awards
The Academic Board may confer the title of Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon.DSc).
1.4 Language
1.4.1 Unless determined otherwise by the Academic Board, English will be the language used for, and in all, tuition delivery, study materials, assessment and administration.
1.4.2 Students are expected to have a minimum standard of English as part of the entry requirements for a programme (see 2.1.4).
1.5 Validated programmes
Separate or varied procedures may apply in respect of validated programmes offered with strategic partner institutions. Where this is the case, this will be indicated in the regulations set down in the programme specification. Students should check the programme specification for the applicable procedure.