The following FAQs provide an initial response to Questions you may have about the changes to the Diploma Specification.

Due to the range of Diploma structures currently approved by AVAs, the volume and nature of the work required to ensure that all Diplomas meet the new specification will vary from AVA to AVA. AVAs are in the process of developing their guidance and processes for managing the changes required and will make this available for providers/centres in due course.

A minimum of one unit of either 6-credits or 9-credits to be included in each Diploma (offered as ungraded or graded credit)

Q. The Diploma I teach is made up entirely of 3-credit units, so how will we meet the revised specification of having one 6-credit or one 9-credit unit, and who will decide which it will be?

A. Talk to your AVA, who will advise you about the process to be followed in your case. The process will differ depending on whether your units and/or Diploma are AVA designed or are provider/centre designed. Either way, there may be the opportunity to introduce this change through, for example, combining two existing (related) units or the introduction of a combined study and research skills unit. Your AVA will explore the options to find the best solution.

Q. Does the one 6-credit or one 9-credit unit need to be a graded or ungraded unit?

A. This can be either graded or ungraded credit.

Q. What else will we need to do to manage this change?

A. AVAs and providers/centres will need to have systems in place to ensure that each student is registered for, and studies a minimum of, one 6-credit or one 9-credit unit in order to meet the requirements for the award of the Diploma.

Q. Will every Diploma impacted by this change need to be revalidated in advance of delivery in August 2024?

A. Talk to your AVA who will advise about the process to be followed in your case. The process will differ depending on whether your units and/or Diploma are AVA designed or provider/centre designed, but either way your AVA will find the most efficient way to implement the change. There will need to be a process in place to ensure changes made meet the revised specification and that any units added or removed do not impact the overall Quality and academic integrity of the named Diploma. If other changes are being proposed to named Diplomas (that is, changes proposed by AVAs or providers/centres) for 2024 it may be necessary for a full revalidation to take place. All scheduled revalidations for 2024, as part of the normal cycle of revalidation, are expected to go ahead as planned.

A maximum of 30 credits that can be made up of 6 or 9-credit units (offered as ungraded and/or graded credits provided the maximum of 30 credits is not exceeded)

Q. The Diploma I teach has more than 30 credits made up of 6 and/or 9-credit units, so how will we meet the revised specification of the maximum of 30 credits, and who will decide which units will change?

A. Talk to your AVA who will advise about the process to be followed in your case. The process will differ depending on whether your units and/or Diploma are AVA designed or provider/centre designed. Either way there may be the opportunity to introduce this change through, for example, splitting existing units into units of smaller credit. Your AVA will explore the options to find the best solution.

Q. Does the 30-credit limit on 6 and 9-credit units apply only to graded units? 

A. No. The maximum of 30 credits that can be made up of 6 or 9-credit units is the total limit for a Diploma student, irrespective of whether the units are graded or ungraded. In other words, both graded and ungraded units of 6 and 9 credits count towards the maximum of 30 credits made up of 6 and/or 9-credit units. 

Q. What else will we need to do to manage this change?

A. AVAs and providers/centres will need to have systems in place to ensure that each student is registered for no more than 30 credits made up of 6 or 9-credit units in order to meet the requirements of the award of the Diploma. Diplomas can have multiple 6 or 9-credit units in order to offer students a choice of units, but a student cannot be registered for more than 30 credits made up of 6 or 9-credit units.  

Q. Will every Diploma impacted by this change need to be revalidated in advance of delivery in August 2024?

A. Talk to your AVA, who will advise you about the process to be followed in your case. The process will differ depending on whether your units and/or Diploma are AVA designed or are provider/centre designed, but either way, your AVA will find the most efficient way to implement the change. There will need to be a process in place to ensure changes made meet the revised specification and that any units added or removed do not impact the overall quality and academic integrity of the named Diploma. If other changes are being proposed to named Diplomas (that is, changes proposed by AVAs or providers/centres) for 2024, it may be necessary for a full revalidation to take place. All scheduled revalidations for 2024, as part of the normal cycle of revalidation, are expected to go ahead as planned. The introduction of a Subject Descriptor for Nursing and Health Professions (available as a pilot for 2024 for implementation in 2025).

Q. When will the Subject Descriptor be ready for publication?

A. By the end of August 2023.

Q. How do we register interest in the pilot in 2024?

A. Speak with your AVA if you are interested in taking part in the pilot. The decision to join the pilot year rests with your AVA and understandably, they are likely to want to see the Subject Descriptor first before making that decision.

Q. How much change will we need to make to our current Diplomas in this subject area?

A. This will depend on the current make-up of your Diplomas, but in a recent information gathering exercise undertaken by QAA, the vast majority of current Diplomas will meet the mandatory academic requirements of the Subject Descriptor in development. However, the two key changes being considered are (a) the inclusion of a mandatory Professional Behaviours unit at Level 3 and (b) the inclusion of a mandatory Numeracy unit at Level 2. Both of these units are likely to be validated centrally by QAA, and therefore they won't require development and validation by Access to HE Diploma providers or AVAs. Full details will be published by the end of August.

General Questions

Q. What are the arrangements for continuing students who started their course before 1 August 2024?

A. QAA will issue separate guidance to AVAs for managing continuing students (that is, students who started their Diploma before 1 August 2024) before the end of August 2023. AVAs will consider the guidance in their own specific context to determine the most appropriate way forward and will communicate with you in due course.