NFAAR-FD Information for students on Foundation Degree Programmes (NFAAR Phases 4 & 5)
Terminology | Details in Programme Structure | Examples of NFAAR-FD information in Programme Catalogues | Where to access further information
NB. The information below pertains only to students on Foundation Degree programmes (links to pages for students on other types of programme can be found on the NFAAR index page).
In 2008/09 the University introduced a new academic framework of assessment regulations governing most undergraduate degree programmes. In 2011/12, this new framework is being extended to cover some foundation degree programmes (see list below for Phase 4), with the remaining programmes following under Phase 5 in 2012/13. .
The framework - called the New Framework for Assessment: Assessment Regulations Phases 4 & 5 for foundation degree programmes (NFAAR-FD) - describes the rules for progression from one stage of a degree programme to the next (including supplementary assessment, and the extent of failure that can be condoned), as well as for the award of degrees. Students taking programmes which fall within the NFAAR-FD will be assessed according to these rules.
Phase 4 of the NFAAR (implemented from 2011/12 onwards) covers the following programmes:
1. Full-time Foundation Degree programmes as listed below:
- UDAS-DFF02 : FdSc Sport (Coaching) - City of Bath College
- UDAS-DFF03: FdSc Sport (Health & Fitness) - City of Bath College
- UDAS-DFF09 : FdSc Applied Computing - City of Bath College
- UDAS-HFF02 : FdSc Sport (Sports Therapy) - Swindon College
- UDAS-LFF04 : FdSc Applied Computing - Weston College
- UDAS-LFF03 : FdSc Sport (Coaching) - Weston College
- UDAS-QFF01: FdSc Sport (Health & Fitness) - Weymouth College
- UDAS-SFF02 : FdA Creative Digital Media - Chichester College
- UDAS-WFF12 : FdSc Applied Computing - Wiltshire College (Chippenham Campus)
- UDAS-WFF13 : FdSc Applied Computing - Wiltshire College (Salisbury Campus)
- UDAS-WFF14 : FdA Creative Digital Media - Wiltshire College
2. Part-time Foundation Degree programmes as listed below:
- UDAS-DPF09 : FdSc Applied Computing - City of Bath College
- UDAS-LPF04 : FdSc Applied Computing - Weston College
- UDAS-WPF12 : FdSc Applied Computing - Wiltshire College (Chippenham Campus)
- UDAS-WPF13 : FdSc Applied Computing - Wiltshire College (Salisbury Campus)
Phase 5 of the NFAAR ( to be implemented from 2012/13 onwards) covers:
All other Foundation Degree programmes not listed above under Phase 4.
These changes will not affect students who commenced programmes of study included in Phase 4 of NFAAR-FD (see list above) prior to the 2011/12 academic year or students who commence programmes of study included in Phase 5 of NFAAR-FD prior to the 2012/13 academic year.
Terminology
The NFAAR has necessitated the introduction of new terminology which you may come across within the Foundation Degree programme catalogues:
- Parts and Stages: these describe the breakdown of a programme for the purposes of the NFAAR-FD.
- Designated Essential Units and Designated Essential Optional Units (DEUs): these are units which must be passed in order to qualify to proceed with a programme or to receive its normal award at the end; marginal failure in such units cannot be condoned.
- Designated Alternative Programmes (DAPs): these are programmes which are specified alternatives to a student's current programme of study.
- Stage Required Units (SRUs): these are units which must be passed before a student will be allowed to progress to the next stage of a programme. Any SRUs will be clearly indicated in the information box at the beginning of each programme of study. Students who fail a stage required unit will not be able to progress any further through their programme. Condonement may be allowed for SRUs according to the normal programme regulations.
- Stage Required Designated Essential Units: these are units which must be passed before a student will be allowed to progress to the next stage of the programme and which cannot be condoned.
You can find a full list of the terminology used in the NFAAR-FD in Appendix 2 (
) of the NFAAR documentation.
Programme Structure
The programme catalogues have been structured to help you understand the way in which the NFAAR-FD has been applied to each programme of study. Years of programmes which fall within the NFAAR-FD will have the relevant parts and stages described as well as any designated essential units (or designated essential optional units) and stage required units. Also, at the beginning of each year within the programme, the catalogues include a block of text providing further NFAAR-FD information:
- Whether a Designated Alternative Programme (DAP) is available for the relevant year of study and, if there is a DAP, what type of award this leads to (note that at present all Foundation Degree programmes have a DAP).
- Links to the University's official NFAAR documentation relevant to the specific programme/year of study (this includes flowcharts describing how you can progress through your programme).
- Details of any exemptions granted for the relevant stage of the programme (e.g. some programmes may require you to achieve an average mark for assessment across a particular stage which is different from that given in the standard documentation). See Appendix 10 of the NFAAR-FD documentation () which lists any exemptions currently approved.
This information will appear in a shaded box at the top of each year of study within the programme catalogues.
Example 1: standard information for Foundation Degree programmes
 NFAAR-FD assessment regulations:
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Example 2: a programme with a Stage Required Unit
NFAAR-FD assessment regulations:
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Example 3: a programme with an exemption
NFAAR-FD assessment regulations:
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Where to access further information
- You can find full details of the NFAAR-FD on the NFAAR web page. This page includes links to the full Assessment Regulations document .
- Your Programme Leader will also be able to help with any queries you might have.