Module sizes (number of students)

Working to optimise our use of the estate will reduce pressure on the timetable and decrease the number of classes delivered in non-optimal locations or at inconvenient times.  The distribution of students into class sizes should be a material concern when a programme is being developed.

Every programme carries with it a significant number of costs including (but not limited to) annual planning, student office, promotion and publicity, fees, admissions, timetabling, quality assurance (e.g. approval,, annual monitoring and external examining).

Joint Awards require further care to avoid timetabling clashes, and effective Joint Awards require additional resources to provide liaison tutors, dedicated inductions etc. Most of these costs do not scale with the size of the cohort recruited.

Expectations

• Estimated or historic (as appropriate) numbers of students per module, including optional modules, should be considered at programme approval
• Module and class sizes must be suitable for the intended learning outcomes and the need to provide opportunities for active learning, but also optimise use of available teaching spaces.
• Module and class sizes should be financially sustainable.
• Measures should be taken to address:
  
  • modules with ten or fewer student registrations
  • modules with class sizes that so large that they may only be taught in a highly limited range of rooms or by duplicating lectures or classes.