Changes to how we deliver your course from 2024
We want you to get the best possible experience during your time at Reading and we do this by constantly working in partnership with you and your Students’ Union. The feedback we have gained in this way, together with the annual National Student Survey and broader research into best practice showed us that we needed to make some changes to ensure studying here is even more rewarding and offers additional exciting opportunities for students to get the most from their time here.
The Portfolio Review Project (PRP) will implement these changes, all of which are driven by a desire to improve the student learning experience, improve student wellbeing, and to deliver the inclusive teaching and learning students have told us they want.
We are taking the time to get this right and the majority of changes will be implemented from the 2024/25 academic year onwards. We also aim to answer any questions you may have.
What will this change look like?
Changes to the Academic Year. A new academic year model will be implemented from September 2024, changing from three 10-week terms to two 15-week semesters. This will improve how courses are organised and assessed, as well as improving opportunities to study abroad or go on international placements.
- Side-by-side comparison of the current and future Academic Year structures.
- Postgraduate taught - Current term-based academic year
- Postgraduate taught - New semester-based academic year
- Postgraduate taught - combined view
- Undergraduate - Current term-based academic year
- Undergraduate - New semester-based academic year
- Undergraduate combined view
- Current academic term dates.
Changes to Modules and Assessments. We’re making some changes to our modules and courses to make sure that expectations are consistent, and that you have the right amount of choice and a well-designed timetable. Aligned with these changes, we also want to ensure that you have the right amount of assessment, spread out appropriately, and that your assessments allow you to demonstrate your knowledge in a way that is valuable for real life and professional contexts.
Digital Learning enhancements. We’ve learned a lot from your feedback and our experiences of digital learning, before and during the pandemic and we will continue to promote and support the effective and creative use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Your teaching will primarily be in person and you will have a range of engaging, interactive sessions depending on your discipline. In reflection of our aspirations of being inclusive, respecting diversity, enabling participation, and removing barriers, this will be provided alongside well-designed and purposeful digital activities and resources that can allow you to study more flexibly and bring variety and interest to your studies.
Contractual changes. For some of you these changes may amount to a change to your student contract from September 2024.: You may have already received a communication from us outlining the move to the semester system and an updated Fees Policy which will apply from September 2024. The changes to our courses outlined above may also amount to a contract change, and we will share updated Programme Specifications with you as per the following timetable:
- Current UG students from August 2023
- Current PGT students from September 2023
- UG offer holders will begin receiving details of contractual changes from July 2023
- PG offer holders will begin receiving details of contractual changes and new programme specifications from September 2023
We are taking the time to make sure this complex piece of work is done right and will keep you updated as progress is made. If you would like to know more about the changes we are making, current students should contact their School and Offer Holders can contact our project team on portfolio.pathway@reading.ac.uk