Validation advisors’ guidance

It is through the validation process that the University of the Arts London maintains and enhances the quality of its higher education courses. This process includes scrutiny by academic or professional subject specialists, and by recent graduates of the course. These pages provide advice and guidance that graduates and externals may find useful during the course development process.

In order to secure a high quality of educational and academic experience for students, and to ensure that the standards set at validation are still being met and enhanced and that curricula are up to date and relevant, the university has several related processes:

• Validation: the development of new courses, new pathways to courses or new modes of study.
• Revalidation: the restructuring or rewriting of existing courses including any major change that requires a staged development with input from external and internal peers.
• Modifications: the process for making amendments to course structure or content. The process supports course teams to be more reactive to changes that may be necessary as a result of student or external feedback, and allows the validity of a course to be maintained.

As an academic or professional subject specialist, an external assessor supports the course development process by evaluating the course and its content from the point of view either his/her experience of courses in the subject area at a similar level or of his/her knowledge and experience in the relevant professional or industry sector. Recent graduates also provide valuable insights into the student experience of the course, the aspects that were well managed and successful and the elements that would benefit most from changes.

Guidance

• Guidance pack external assessors validation November 2017 (PDF 1061KB)
• Guidance on the university credit framework and course structures (Word 120KB)

Fees and expenses

For courses at UAL Colleges:

• External Advisors Fees & Expense Claim Form April 2023 (Word 52KB)

For courses at Northbrook College (formerly known as Greater Brighton Metropolitan College):

• Northbrook College External Advisors Fee Claim Form April 2023 (Word 39KB)

For courses at South Essex College:

• South Essex Advisors Claim Form April 2023 (Word 53KB)

For courses at London Contemporary Dance School:

• LCDS External Advisors Fee Claim Form April 2023 (Word 39KB)

Please note: Expenses will not be paid without submission of hard copy receipts.