Learning and Teaching Policies
The University often needs to put in place a range of temporary policies and procedures related to learning, teaching or assessment. This information is provided here on the Policy Bank and is updated annually.
2025/26 Key Information
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Academic Approvals, Annual Monitoring and Periodic Review
- Academic Approvals
- Academic Approvals Process Briefing Paper
- Academic Audit
- Academic Audit Briefing Paper
- Academic Review
- Academic Review Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Annual Monitoring and Review (AMR) (School; Partner)
- Annual Monitoring and Review - Briefing Paper
- Enhancement Workshop - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- External Reviews
- Graduate Apprenticeships- Validation
- Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Changes to Programme/Course (new BP to follow)
- Monitoring and Review Process - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- MQA Full Accreditation - Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Professional Services Review
- Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs)
Academic decision-making and Boards of Examiners
- Academic Decision-Making: Summary of Approach (for Staff)
- Academic Decision-Making: Guidelines for Boards of Examiners on Maintaining Academic Standards (for Staff)
- Academic Decision-Making: Guide for Students on Three-Stage Approach
- Academic Decision-Making: Guide for Students on What happens after Exams?
- Policy on Mitigating the Impact of Industrial Action on Assessment, Progression and Award
- Chief External Examiners Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Discretionary Award of Credits - Policy
- Examination Board Guidelines and Assessment Procedures (UG and PG)
- External Examiners
- Guidance for meeting the Engineering Council’s Condonement & Compensation Policy
- Posthumous Award Policy
Assessment (including coursework and exams)
Key Assessment Policy Information
- Summary of Key Assessment Policy Information 2024/25
- Making Changes to Assessment
- Types of Assessment: Policy and Administrative Definitions
- Coursework: Scheduling and Submission of Coursework
- Feedback on Coursework
- Feedback on Exams (and Access to Exam Scripts)
- Review of Assessment Tasks (Coursework and Exams) by External Examiners
- Assessment: School Roles and Responsibilities
- Assessment Policy, Practice and Support: Briefing Session, September 2023
- Academic Integrity SharePoint: Resources for staff
- Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones: Policy
- Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones: Procedures
- Exams and Other Assessments in Different Timezones - Briefing Paper
- Feedback Resources
- Feedback on Coursework and Examinations Policy - Briefing Paper
- HAPS Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- HAPS Policy
- HAPS Information for Postgraduate students
- HAPS Information for Undergraduate students
- Managing Online Assessment due to VLE Access Holds and IT Services Access Holds
- Moderation of Assessment Policy
- Moderation of Assessment: School Implementation Procedures
- Moderation of Assessment Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Plagiarism: Student Guide
- Professionalism and Academic Integrity website: Students
Examination Operations
Programmes and Courses
- Additional Entry Points, Key principles (Academic and Business) for Campus-Based Programmes
- Additional Entry Points, Key Principles Briefing Paper
- Admission of a Child Procedure
- Approved Learning Partners
- Approved Teachers, Approved Tutors and Approved Markers
- Artificial Intelligence: Implications for HW Learning & Teaching
- Block Teaching Policy
- Block Teaching Briefing Paper
- Change of Course, Programme or Campus
- Consolidation Week – Guidance and Support
- Email and Messaging Policy; Approved Tools for Communicating with Students
- Engagement and Attendance Policy
- Engagement and Attendance Policy Compulsory Withdrawal Procedures
- English Language Requirements - Dubai
- English Language Requirements - Malaysia
- English Language Requirements: Scotland, Online Programmes, Academic Partnerships
- Fair Access Policy
- Global Code of Practice for the Management, Assurance and Enhancement of Taught Programmes
- Graduate Attributes - Exploring the Heriot-Watt Graduate Attributes
- Implementing the Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses Briefing Paper
- Implementing the Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses - Local Modifications Briefing Paper
- Learning and Teaching Key Principles – Briefing Paper
- Management of Transcripts and Certifications
- Peer Observation of Teaching Scheme
- Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses
- Policy on Programme Titles, Learning Outcomes and Courses Briefing Paper
- Programme Handbook Template
- Programme Transfer Policy (amended for 2020/21)
- RPL Policy
- RPL Procedures
- RPL Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- SCQF and European Credit and Transfer System - Information for Undergraduate Students
- SCQF and European Credit and Transfer System - Information for Postgraduate Students
- SCQF Chart
- SCQF Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Teaching Models: Definitions of Standard Models
- Timetabled Classes: Start and End Times across all Campuses
- Transfer between Campuses Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Transfer between Campuses Policy
- Use of Recordings for Teaching and Learning: Policy
- Use of Recordings for Teaching and Learning: Procedures
- Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Baseline
Research Student Policies
Supporting Students
- Mitigating Circumstances
- Personal Tutoring Briefing Paper
- Personal Tutoring - Key elements for 2024 - 2025
- Personal Tutoring Policy and Guidelines
- Personal Tutoring SharePoint Site
- Supporting Student Athletes Policy – Academic Flexibility
- Supporting Student Carers Policy
- Temporary Suspension of Studies
- Temporary Suspension of Studies Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- TSS: Support to Study Policy
Student Voice (representation and surveys)
Other policies A–Z
- Additional Fees and Charges
- Charter and Statutes (Current)
- Complaints Procedures
- Dual Awards (University Position on Dual Awards in relation to Academic Partnerships)
- Exchange Agreements
- Global Academic Management Structures for Schools and School Leadership Roles
- Global Academic Management Structures Annex: Policy on the Management of Combined Studies (under review)
- HESA Student Data Collection Notice
- Ordinances
- Partnership Agreements
- Partnership Framework Briefing Paper (new paper to follow)
- Regulations
- Staff Scholarships and Remission of Fees Policy
- Student Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures
- Student Records Procedure (Information Governance)
- Use of Student Data
- Visiting Scholar Guidelines