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Senate Regulations

View or download Senate Regulations. The regulations contain rules and important information about being a student at the University. They are approved by the Senate of the University.

The regulations are part of the formal contract between you and the University. Familiarise yourself with relevant sections at the start of your studies and then consult the regulations at appropriate intervals during your studies.
View our Quick Guide to Regulations for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students

Please note: due to the exceptional circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic the University has taken a number of measures in 2020 and 2021 to protect our students' outcomes.

For students due to graduate in 2021 the University has introduced the Education Safeguard which sets out the measures that we are already taking, and the further measures that we may take at Boards of Examiners to protect student outcomes.

Where students graduated in 2020 the Senate Regulations were amended in line with the Safety Net Policy, and this will still apply to students who were due to graduate in 2020 but have been required to undertake further assessment in 2021.

The Regulations that apply to each cohort are set out below. There are some programmes where accreditation or other requirements mean that the above measures or other regulatory changes cannot apply to particular cohorts. Please check with your school to confirm which regulations will apply to your studies.

On this page: Senate Regulations | Related policies | Archive of regulations that preceded Senate Regulations

If you require an accessible version of these regulatory documents please contact the Quality Office

Senate Regulations

Regulation Contents
Introduction to Senate Regulations
Senate Regulation 1

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing minimum entry qualifications and language requirements for taught programmes of study (PDF)

  • General entrance requirements for undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes of study
  • English language requirements for admission to a programme of study
Senate Regulation 2

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing admission and registration for taught programmes (PDF)

Regulations relating to:

  • Associate Students
  • Admission to programmes of study
  • Registration procedures
  • Transfers
  • Suspension, withdrawal and resumption of studies
  • Accreditation of Prior Learning
Senate Regulation 3

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing fees (PDF)
Senate Regulation 4

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing student obligations (PDF)

  • Attendance and Religious Observance
  • Student Engagement expectations and monitoring
  • Employment
  • International student obligations
  • Ethical Approval of student work
Senate Regulation 5

Regulations governing undergraduate programmes of study, incorporating

  • Composition of degree programmes
  • Rules of Progression
  • Awards and classification
  • Borderline candidates
There are different variants of Senate Regulation 5 depending on the year in which a student commenced their studies and whether their studies were affected by the global pandemic, please see the following to determine which regulation applies:

Senate Regulation 5 for students commencing their studies in 2018/19 or later and graduating in 2021 (PDF).

  • Students who started their studies in 2018 or later and are due to graduate in 2021 should consult this Regulation.
  • This will include the majority of students who are due to graduate from a three year degree in the summer of 2021
  • For students due to graduate in 2021 on this regulation, you should also consult the Education Safeguard which sets out the measures that the University may take to exceptionally amend these regulations in light of the potential impact of the pandemic.

Senate Regulation 5 for students commencing their studies in 2018/19 or later but not graduating in 2021 (for example students on a four year programme) (PDF).

  • Students who started their studies in 2018 are are not due to graduate in 2021 should consult this Regulation.
  • This includes students who are due to progress to year 2, 3 or 4 in 2021/22.
Senate Regulation 5, exceptional variation for students due to graduate in 2020 (PDF), incorporating exceptional revisions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Students who were due to graduate in 2020 but have been required to undertake re-assessment in 2021 should consult this regulation
  • This Regulation should be read in conjunction with the Undergraduate Safety Net Policy

Students who commenced their studies before 2018/19 and are due to graduate in 2021 or later should consult the version of Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Senate Regulation 5 in place for 2017/18 (PDF).

If this registration period applies to you, you can also watch or read our Student Guide to Undergraduate Assessment and Award  and use our Award calculator - See Student Results or the Regulations for Students homepage

If you are unsure which version of Senate Regulation 5 applies to you, please contact your academic school.
The Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2015-16 version of Senate Regulation 5 (PDF) is available for reference purposes
Senate Regulation 6
Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study, including
  • Programme structure
  • Modules
  • Re-assessment
  • Progression requirements
  • Criteria for awards
  • Classification of awards

Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study (exceptional variations 2021) apply to all taught postgraduate students who commenced a full time 12 month programme of study in August or September 2020. This regulation should be read in conjunction with the PGT Safeguard Policy. Where a student commenced their studies before August 2020, or are studying a part time programme commencing at this time please see the Safeguard for details of the regulations that apply.

Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study, exceptional variations (2020) (PDF), apply to all taught postgraduate programmes where a student was studying modules between 16 March 2020 and 27 September 2020 This regulation should be read in conjunction with the PGT Safety Net Policy.

Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study - 2015 (PDF) applies to all students who commenced their studies after August 2015 and completed their studies prior to 16 March 2020.  This version of the regulations also applies to students who commenced their studies after 28 September 2020.
Students who commenced their studies before July 2015 will be assessed under the regulations in place for their cohort, which are available from qualoffice@le.ac.uk
Senate Regulation 7

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing the assessment of taught programmes (PDF)

  • Internal Examining (see also guidance below)
  • External Examining
  • Panels and Boards of Examiners
  • Late submission of coursework (updated August 2017)
  • Mitigating circumstances (updated August 2017)
  • Disability and long term conditions
  • Publication of results
  • Conferral and certification of awards

Note. This version of Senate Regulation 7 was approved by Senate in July 2017 and applies from August 2017.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Guidance on marking moderation (PDF) is available to assist staff in meeting the requirements of Senate Regulation 7 relating to internal examining. The Guidance was approved by the Academic Policy Committee in May 2015.
For mitigating circumstances processes applicable to 2016/17 assessments, consult the previous version of Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Senate Regulation 7 [updated April 2017] (PDF) (also applicable for reassessments taken in September 2017).
Senate Regulation 8

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing examinations (PDF)

  • Registration for examinations and examination timetable
  • Setting examination papers and security
  • Invigilation
  • Conduct during examinations
  • Alternative examination arrangements
  • Use of calculators and dictionaries
Senate Regulation 9

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing Research Degree Programmes (PDF)

  • Admission and Selection
  • Registration
  • Induction and Training
  • Supervision of Research Students
  • Progress Review Monitoring
  • Research Student Obligations and Research Conduct
  • Thesis Submission
  • Thesis Examination

Appendix One - Regulations Governing Research Degree by Published Work Programmes

Appendix Two - Regulations Governing Higher Doctorate Programmes

Appendix Three - Regulations Governing Professional Doctorate Programmes
Senate Regulation 10

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing academic appeals (PDF)

  • Procedure for the consideration of appeals against the decision of a Board of Examiners or another academic body responsible for decisions on student assessment, progression and award.

Note: These regulations apply for all students on taught or research degrees from September 2015.
The version of Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Senate Regulation 10 in force during the 2014/15 academic year (PDF) is also available.
Senate Regulation 11

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing student conduct and discipline (PDF)

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Appendix 1: Student Conduct and Covid-19

  • These regulations include the Student Code of Conduct to which all students are expected to adhere throughout their studies
  • These regulations set out the process for the investigation of potential breaches of regulations relating to student conduct, and the sanctions that may be applied
  • These regulations cover both academic and non-academic conduct
  • These regulations are supported by a number of aligned policies, such as the Policy on Sexual Misconduct
Senate Regulation 12

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing student complaints (PDF)

  • Procedure for the consideration of formal student complaints concerning both the academic and non-academic services of the University.

Note: These regulations apply for all students on taught or research degrees
Senate Regulation 13

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Emergency Regulation

This regulation sets out the actions the University can take when its academic activities suffer significant disruption due to serious or unexpected events outside of its control.

Senate Regulations are issued on a rolling rather than annual basis.
If you have any queries relating to the operation of these regulations, please contact the Quality Office (qualoffice@le.ac.uk, or 0116 252 2605) for advice.

Related policies

There are a number of additional policies relating to your studies at the University of Leicester that you should familiarise yourself with.

Archive of regulations that preceded Senate Regulations

General Regulations for Taught Programmes

These regulations were issued on an annual basis.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2011/12 (706KB) | Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2010/11 (531KB) | Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2009/10 (654KB) | Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2008/09 (495KB)

Regulations for Research Degree Programmes

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2012-13 (598KB) | Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 2013-14 (519KB)

Please note: due to the exceptional circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic the University has revised the regulations for students graduating in 2020 in line with the Safety Net Policy. The regulations which apply for individual cohorts are set out below.  There are some programmes where accreditation or other requirements mean that the Safety Net or other regulatory changes cannot apply to particular cohorts.  Please check with your school to confirm which regulations will apply to your studies.

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