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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 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.

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

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
  • Attendance Monitoring
  • Neglect of academic obligations
  • 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 their year of graduation, please see the following to determine which regulation applies:
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Senate Regulation 5, exceptional variation for students graduating in 2020 (PDF), incorporating exceptional revisions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Senate Regulation 5 for students commencing their studies in 2018/19 or later (PDF).

  • Students in their first or second year of of their programme should consult this Regulation
  • Students who undertook a repeat first year in 2018/19 should consult this version of the Regulation.

Students who commenced their studies before 2018/19 and are not graduating in 2020 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

Please note that the above will not apply to students who are graduating in 2020 as the University has made a number of emergency temporary revisions to this regulation in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  These are set out in Senate Regulation 5 (exceptional variation for 2020 graduation, above). 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

Exceptional temporary revisions to Senate Regulation 6 have been put in place in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study, exceptional variations (PDF), apply to all taught postgraduate programmes regardless of mode of study (campus based, distance learning or part time) where a student was studying modules which were not complete by 16 March 2020.  This regulation should be read in conjunction with the PGT Safety Net Policy.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF) 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
Students who commenced their studies between September 2012 and July 2015 and have completed their studies by 16 March 2020 are assessed under the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Regulations (PDF) in place during that period.
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 discipline (PDF)
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 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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