HE Student Protection Plan

This policy applies to all College activity including ESF contracts.

1. Introduction

   • 1.1. Leicester College is committed to giving you the best possible learning experience. Sometimes, the College may need to make changes to courses or modules, and these changes can affect your studies. To protect your interests, all higher education providers must have a Student Protection Plan, as required by the Office for Students (OfS Condition of Registration C3). This plan is written in clear, student-friendly language so that both students and staff can easily understand it.

   • 1.2 We review all the possible risks that could affect the delivery of your courses, and we are confident that these risks are low. If significant changes do ever need to be made, the College will give you reasonable notice and will consult with you about what is happening. In rare cases, some changes may need to be made at short notice, but we will always keep you informed.

   • 1.3 This plan outlines the measures that the College will take to protect the interests of its current and prospective higher education students in the event of:

     • Course closure

     • Material change to course content or delivery including a move to online delivery in response to Government instigated lockdown or other such event

     • Change of awarding partner

     • Campus change or closure

     • Change to mode of study

     • Loss or restriction of Office for Students registration.

2. Course Closure - Existing students.

   • 2.1 The risk of an active course being closed is very low. However, the College does have procedures in place if a course is ever suspended or closed. If this happens, the College will run a “teach-out” process, which means you will be able to finish your qualification within your maximum enrolment period. During this time, the College will make sure academic standards are maintained and that you can still meet all the learning outcomes for your course. You will be informed about how the closure affects your ability to interrupt your studies or resit assessments. All other reassessment opportunities will stay the same.

   • 2.2 In the very unlikely situation where we cannot complete the teaching of a course, we will work with you to decide the best next step. Options may include:

     • Transferring to another suitable course at Leicester College

     • Transferring to a suitable course at another provider in the region

     • Leaving the course early with an appropriate exit award, such as a Certificate of Higher Education

     We will do everything we can to support your learning goals. Any refunds will be handled according to the College’s Fee Policy.

3. Course Closure - Applicants

   • 3.1 If we decide to close a course to new applicants, we will contact all affected applicants and explain their options. These may include transferring their application to another suitable Leicester College course. Our careers team will also be available to help applicants explore alternative courses at other higher education institutions. We will support them in updating their UCAS choices, with no additional cost.

4. Closure or Suspension of Honours Degree Top-up Route

   • 4.1 Many of our Level 4 (HNC, Cert HE) and Level 5 (Foundation Degree/HND) courses are designed to help you progress to a one-year Honours Degree “top-up”. If an Honours top-up route is ever closed or discontinued—which is very unlikely—the College’s HE team and careers service will support you. They will work with you to find a suitable alternative top-up course if you need one.

5. Material Changes In-year to Course Content and Delivery

   • 5.1 The chance of material changes being made to your course (such as a change to course structure, modules or assessment) during the year is low because our HE courses are overseen by external awarding organisations and are delivered by well-integrated teams. If the College is forced to close temporarily or staff cannot be on site, some face-to-face teaching may need to move online so that learning can continue. If any of these changes occur, we will keep them to a minimum and keep you fully informed. You will also have the option to withdraw and transfer to another institution if you feel the course no longer meets your needs. Throughout any changes, the College will make sure you are fully supported.

   • 5.2 Sometimes course content may change because a programme is being re-validated or updated to reflect new developments in the industry or profession. When this happens, academic staff will consult with current students. The College will update any previously published information, such as the prospectus, and inform applicants about the changes.

   • 5.3 If we ever need to make major changes to how your course is delivered, such as changes to the timetable, we will carefully consider how this might affect you, considering your needs and circumstances. You will be consulted and given timely updates about any changes. We will keep changes to a minimum, and if you feel the course no longer meets your needs, you may choose to withdraw and transfer to another institution, with our support.

6. Change of Awarding Partner

   • 6.1 All Leicester College HE qualifications are validated and awarded by De Montfort University or Pearson Edexcel. These are well-established, reputable awarding organisations and their position in the HE market is strong, so closure and market exit is extremely unlikely.

   • 6.2 If your course loses its validation or isn’t renewed by the awarding organisation, the College will offer a ‘teach out’ so you can complete your qualification within your maximum enrolment period, including any reassessments if needed. If this isn’t possible, the alternatives outlined in section 2.2 will apply.

   • 6.3 The College will communicate arrangements relating to changes to awarding organisations to all active students and applicants.

7. Campus closure or change to course delivery location

   • 7.1 Leicester College’s higher education courses are delivered over three established and well-maintained campuses: Abbey Park, Freemen’s Park, and St Margaret’s. There are currently no plans to dispose of any of these properties.

   • 7.2 Occasionally, the decision to move a course from one campus to another might be taken where it is felt this is in the best interest of students in terms of the facilities and resources available in a certain location. Should this happen, the College will carefully consider impact to students, taking account of their needs, characteristics, and circumstances, and students will be consulted and given timely information about the outcome. The campuses are all within Leicester city centre with good access to public transport. Childcare facilities are available on site at Freemen’s Park and Abbey Park. Should students be affected by campus change in relation to childcare requirements they will be advised on alternative services and this will be taken into consideration as far as is reasonable and possible when making timetabling decisions.

   • 7.3 Sometimes, campuses may need to close temporarily due to circumstances beyond our control. If this happens, you may be asked to use an alternative site, after the College has consulted with you. This could include using resources at our partner DMU or other local colleges. If that isn’t possible, for example during a public health lockdown, your course will be delivered more online so you can continue your studies.

8. Change to Mode of Study

   • 8.1 It’s very rare for the College to change the mode of study for a course. If this ever happens, the College will carefully consider how it affects you, taking your needs and circumstances into account. If you feel the course no longer meets your needs, you may choose to withdraw and transfer to another institution, with our support.

9. Loss or restriction of office for students registration

   • 9.1 Leicester College must be registered with the Office for Students (OfS) to access public higher education funding and student support. The OfS monitors the College to make sure we continue to meet their requirements, and the College prioritises meeting the required criteria for on-going registration. If the College HE Student Protection Plan were ever removed from the register, we would do everything we can to minimise disruption for you. This could include working with student finance agencies so you can complete your course or year or helping you transfer to another provider if needed.9.2 Simultaneously, the College will take all necessary actions to meet the required criteria for registration.

10. Compensation Arrangements

    • 10.1 This protection plan has outlined the action the College will take in the unlikely event of significant change to a course or programme. The College does not offer compensation for tuition, maintenance or lost time but will consider reasonable claims to cover additional material costs, for example, travel or childcare. The College will meet the financial obligations of the plan through its cash reserves.

11. Communication with students and feedback

    • 11.1 The HE Student Protection Plan is reviewed annually in consultation with students through the College’s governance and management board structure. The HE Student Protection Plan can be accessed from the College website and the student representative Moodle VLE page. As part of the HE Welcome Pack new applicants will be provided with the web link to the document in correspondence from the HE office.

    • 11.2 Should it be necessary to implement the Student Protection Plan (ie where material changes to a course cannot be avoided) students will be contacted in writing to advise them of the expected change, the consequences of this, and an explanation of what will happen next.

    • 11.3 If you wish to offer feedback on the College’s management of change you can do so by speaking directly to your course team or the HE office heoffice@leicestercollege.ac.uk, or engaging with the Student Voice process. Should be you be unhappy with the outcomes of these processes please refer to the College Complaints Policy.

12. Further specific information can be found in the following documents:

    • HE Academic Regulations

    • Complaints Policy

    • Fees Policy.