Academic Regulations

1. Purpose and scope

These regulations are the overarching rules governing admission, progression, assessment, and the conferment of awards for LIBT's Academic programmes (see the Glossary, LIBT Quality Glossary, for this and LIBT's other two programme categories). They sit above, and are read together with, the other policies in this portfolio, which set out the detailed procedures: the Assessment Policy, the Academic Appeals and Complaints Policy, the Assessment Malpractice Policy, the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, and the Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration Policies. Where those policies give a procedure, these regulations do not repeat it.

These regulations apply to every student on an Academic programme, for the whole of their registration. A student is governed by the version of these regulations in force on the date a relevant event happens (for example, the date an assessment is submitted), not the version in force when they enrolled. See the Glossary's "Version that applies to a student."

Where LIBT is the awarding body (including where the programme carries CMI accreditation or endorsement), these regulations apply in full. Where QUALIFI is the awarding body, QUALIFI's own regulations take precedence where they differ, as stated on the relevant programme specification, consistent with the Quality Framework Statement.

2. Principles

LIBT's core objective is to maintain academic standards equivalent to those set out in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). LIBT has adopted the FHEQ voluntarily, as explained in the Quality Framework Statement (LIBT Quality Framework Statement).

In exercising its academic authority, LIBT will:

• determine and publish entry, progression, and award requirements for every programme;
• deliver, assess, and confer its own Diplomas, and support delivery of QUALIFI- and CMI-recognised qualifications;
• monitor every programme's curriculum, assessment, staffing, and student outcomes, through the Course Approval and Review Policy and Course Monitoring Policy;
• apply no discrimination on any protected characteristic under UK law as a condition of admission, study, or award; and
• keep this framework under annual review by the Academic Board, in line with FHEQ, awarding body requirements, and UK sector practice.

Where LIBT experiences an exceptional disruption to normal operation (for example, a major service outage), the Academic Board may approve temporary alternative arrangements to preserve academic standards, provided these are recorded, communicated to affected students and staff, and reviewed for fairness.

3. Academic awards

LIBT confers Undergraduate Diplomas, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Doctoral Diplomas, at the FHEQ comparable levels shown below. LIBT does this either as the awarding body itself (including where the programme carries CMI accreditation or endorsement) or under QUALIFI's award.

FHEQ level	Typical LIBT award
4	Level 4 Diploma
5	Level 5 Diploma, Level 5 Extended Diploma
6	Level 6 Diploma
7	Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
8	Postgraduate Doctoral Diploma

The current list of live QUALIFI- and CMI-awarded qualifications, with their regulator qualification numbers, is maintained by the Academic Registry and published alongside this document. Awards are made with Pass, Merit, or Distinction (see section 6).

LIBT's Professional Certificate and Executive Development provision (see the Glossary) is not award-bearing and is outside the scope of these regulations.

4. Admission of students

Admission decisions are evidence-based, fair, and made by the Academic Registry with oversight from the Academic Board, consistent with the Quality Framework Statement's equality commitments. Full admission criteria and process are set out in the Recruitment and Admissions Policy. The following rules apply in addition:

• English language: an applicant whose first language is not English must show an IELTS score (or equivalent) of at least 6.0, with no component below 5.5, for Levels 4–6; or 6.5, with no component below 6.0, for Level 7, dated within the last two years.
• Recognition of Prior Learning: admission with credit, exemption, or advanced standing is decided under the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, including its 70% maximum exemption and mapping requirements. A final project or dissertation module can never be exempted through RPL.
• Right to refuse: LIBT may refuse admission where an applicant does not meet minimum entry criteria, provides fraudulent documentation, or has a record of conduct incompatible with LIBT's policies. LIBT may also withdraw an offer where information is misrepresented.
• Re-admission after withdrawal for misconduct: normally requires Academic Board approval.
• Associate students: a person may enrol on up to two modules per student academic year for personal or professional development without registering for a full qualification. Credit achieved this way may later count as RPL if the person registers for a qualification, subject to the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.
• Concurrent enrolment: a student may not be enrolled full-time on two LIBT programmes at once. Concurrent full-time and part-time enrolment needs approval from both Programme Leaders. No module or credit may count towards more than one award except under an approved joint or dual award.

5. Assessment, progression, and classification

Assessment itself, meaning marking, resubmission, internal verification, moderation, and external examining, is governed by the Assessment Policy. These regulations set the progression and classification rules that sit above it.

5.1 Grading scale

One grading scale applies to every module and to the overall qualification classification, as set out in the Assessment Policy: Distinction 80–100, Merit 60–79, Pass 40–59, Fail 0–39.

5.2 Progression

To progress to the next level, a student must normally have achieved the full credit total for the preceding level. Alternatively, a student may progress having passed at least 100 of 120 credits, if permitted by the Academic Board to carry (trail) up to 20 credits into the next level.

5.3 Condonement

The Academic Board may condone a marginal fail (a mark of 30–39%) in up to 20 credits per level, provided the student has otherwise met the programme's learning outcomes. A module required for professional accreditation, or a final project or dissertation module, can never be condoned. A condoned module counts towards progression and the qualification but is recorded as condoned, not as a pass, on the student's transcript.

5.4 Reassessment and deferral

A student who fails a module has one reassessment opportunity, capped at a Pass grade, consistent with the Assessment Policy. An assessment deferred under the Special Consideration Policy is treated as a first attempt and is not capped.

5.5 Classification of the overall award

The overall classification is calculated as the weighted average of a student's best module marks up to the qualification's credit total, using the scale in section 5.1. RPL and condoned credit are excluded from this calculation. A classification is not revised after it is confirmed, except where a malpractice finding under the Assessment Malpractice Policy leads the Academic Board to revoke or amend it.

6. Credit framework

A full student academic year of full-time study is normally 120 credits (approximately 1,200 notional learning hours). A standard module is 20 credits (200 notional learning hours), though modules of 10, 15, or 30 credits may be approved. The credit required for each award is:

Award	Total credits	Minimum at the award's level
Certificate	60	60
Level 4/5/6 Diploma	120	120 at that level
Level 5 Extended Diploma	240	240 across Levels 4–5
Postgraduate Certificate	60	60 at Level 7
Postgraduate Diploma	120	120 at Level 7
Level 8 Diploma	160	160 at Level 8

The maximum registration period for any Diploma or Certificate, including approved interruptions, is normally three years from a one-year standard duration. A student may apply to interrupt their studies (temporary withdrawal) for up to 18 months for personal, medical, or financial reasons, with Academic Registry approval. On return, they rejoin under the regulations and curriculum version current for their new cohort.

7. Conferment of awards

The Academic Board confers all academic awards, on the recommendation of the Assessment Group (Assessment Policy), once moderation and any external examining are complete. The Academic Board records every conferred award in the LIBT Register of Academic Awards maintained by the Academic Registry.

7.1 Certificates and transcripts

Every certificate and transcript states, at minimum: the student's full legal name, the award title and classification, the awarding body, the programme title, and a unique reference allowing the record to be verified. Duplicates are issued only on request and payment of the administrative fee. Duplicates are marked as a duplicate with the original award date.

7.2 Revocation

The Academic Board, with Board of Directors approval, may revoke a conferred award where academic misconduct, fraud, or an administrative error in the original approval is proven, following the process in the Assessment Malpractice Policy. A student has the right to appeal a revocation under the Academic Appeals and Complaints Policy.

8. Course closure

Where a course reaches the end of its approval period or is withdrawn, LIBT ensures every registered student can either complete under their existing regulations or transfer to an equivalent successor programme with full credit recognition.

9. Review

This document is reviewed annually by the Academic Board. Any change must be checked against the Cross-Reference Map, in particular against the Assessment Policy, the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, and the Academic Appeals and Complaints Policy.

Company information: London Institute of Business & Technology Limited (LIBT) Hillary House, Prospect Hill, Douglas, IM1 1EQ, Isle of Man, British Isles.