For the development and approval of new undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes of study that lead to a named award of the University, a New Programme Proposal (NPP) Form must be submitted. 

• University of Manchester New Programme Proposal Form (Word) 

• University of Manchester New Programme Proposal Form (PDF) 

For further information about the process of developing and submitting a new programme proposal, please see the New Programme Proposal Guidance Document, which contains guidance for writing a  Programme Specification, along with guidance for completing a Course Unit Specification and the Course Unit Specification Template. 

All on-campus programmes must be fully approved by 31st March (for Undergraduate programmes) or 31st May (for Postgraduate taught programmes), OR THE LAST WORKING DAY PRIOR TO THESE DATES, of the year they are intended to be delivered for the first time (or minus 6 months in circumstances where the programme has a non-standard start date).  

For approval of amendment(s) to taught programmes, please submit a Programme Amendment Form.  

When completing the Programme Amendment Form, please refer to the Programme Amendment Matrix, which provides guidance about the types of changes, the level of endorsement required, the implications for the Competitions and Marketing Authority (CMA) material information and the communication requirements for existing students and offer-holders. Please noted that the matrix is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guideline.  

The deadline for submitting taught programme amendments to Teaching and Learning Delivery (via email to quality@manchester.ac.uk) for 2025/26 are: 

• Undergraduate programmes - 31 March 2025 
• Postgraduate programmes - 30 May 2025  

Please be aware that School and Faculty deadlines may be considerably earlier than these dates, and you should ensure that you are aware of those deadlines. 

Adherence to these deadlines is vital to ensure the University remains compliant with the requirements of the Competitions and Marketing Authority (CMA) in relation to timescales to provide material information to students and offer holders.  Amendments submitted to TLD after these deadlines will only be accepted in cases of unforeseen and/or un-avoidable circumstances and you should contact your Faculty Teaching and Learning Officer in the first instance for advice.  

You are strongly advised to consult with students in advance of any proposed amendments. This could be engaging with student representatives, including the Students' Union/Association Executive and course representatives and, where possible, drawing on views from individual students such as student consultations and feedback from student surveys.   

In line with OfS guidance, students must be notified in advance of any changes and should be informed of the reason(s) for the changes, the impact the changes are likely to have and options available where students may be adversely affected by any proposed change. To ensure that full, timely information is available, and students can raise questions and explore options available you should: 

• Fully document the reasons for the amendments and your decision-making process to support the rationale for the change.  This will strengthen justification for proceeding in this way and to anticipate challenges or possible questions.  You should reference any alternatives explored, along with student feedback/consultation and how this was considered. You should also indicate any significant adverse impacts on the learner experience. 
• Provide early communication to allow those affected to make fully informed decisions about alternatives. 
• When communicating with students, invite them to raise any questions that they may have about proposed changes with their School/Department in the first instance and refer students to formal processes should it not be possible to resolve questions/queries at this stage.  

Please ensure that you consult with your School Admissions colleagues and refer to the communication templates and guidance at Programme Amendment, Withdrawal and Suspension Applicant Communication Templates and Guidance where offer holders are impacted by any programme amendments to ensure consistent communication. These templates also reflect our commitments highlighted in the set Student Protection Plan - Policy on Refunds and Compensation. If you do not have access to the Student Marketing & Recruitment, Admissions Sharepoint site, you can request access at SMRA Hub Request Form). Please note that all communication to offer holders regarding programme amendments must be sent by the Admissions team. 

Information regarding the withdrawal or suspension of a taught programme of study (UG or PGT), including the Withdrawal or Suspension of a Taught Programme template can be found in the Programme Withdrawal and Suspension Guidance Document.