A short course is a period of learning that does not lead to a qualification, as described in the University’s Undergraduate or Postgraduate Awards Framework. Short courses do not lead to a nationally recognised higher education award, as defined in the Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA) Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).
The QAA for Higher Education is the independent body that checks on standards and quality in UK higher education. It conducts quality assessment reviews, develops reference points and guidance for providers, and conducts or commissions research on relevant issues
The process for the approval of a short course is designed to allow schools to respond to commercial opportunities, while ensuring that academic standards and the quality of learning are not compromised.
The approval process differentiates between courses that offer credit and those that do not. It also draws necessary distinctions between the two in terms of the level of central university approval required.