PC

Terms of reference

Terms of Reference

The Programmes Committee (PC) is a sub-committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee (QAEC).  It holds delegated responsibility from QAEC to consider proposals for new undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes and major modifications to existing undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes, including the taught elements of EngD programmes.

The Committee oversees the short course approval process and is notified of all newly approved short courses that fall within the University’s taxonomy (HE, Pre-HE, asynchronous online, and non-credit-bearing). Short course proposals that fall outside the scope of the Academic Regulations for Short Courses require approval by the Programmes Committee.

The Committee is also responsible for providing quality assurance oversight for courses that do not result in an award of the university but that bear the name of the university. This includes, but is not limited to, continuing professional development, Horizons, Business for Professionals of Engineering and Science (BPES) modules, pre-sessional courses, and summer school courses, including outreach. The Committee’s remit excludes the Early Career Researcher Institute's professional skills development programme and Careers Service’s training programme which are subject to separate quality assurance arrangements.

Approval of Programmes of Study

  • To oversee and approve an annual schedule of programme approval activity for the university linked to the university Strategic Planning Round.
  • To consider and recommend, to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee, the approval of new undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes,  including the taught elements of EngD programmes congruent with university expectations and academic regulations.
  • To manage the approval process and programme development activity including providing advice at the initial stages in such areas as: engagement with the university's mission; relevant university Codes of Practice and Strategies; and development of a Memorandum of Agreement (for collaborative programmes).
  • To scrutinise the academic standards and quality of new programme proposals, including the content of the curriculum, the learning, teaching and assessment strategies and the curriculum structure.
  • To ensure that sufficient external and independent consultation (including student consultation) has been sought in assessing the academic standards and quality of new programme proposals.
  • To receive recommendations from the Admissions Committee (AC) on proposals for new programmes, programme title changes, and the introduction of new streams.
  • To refer proposals for exemptions from the Regulations for Taught Programmes of Study to the Regulations and Policy Review Committee (RPRC).
  • To ensure that relevant internal and external reference points, including Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, have been taken into consideration in the design of a programme.

Major Modifications to Programmes of Study

  • To consider proposals for the suspension or withdrawal of programmes and major modifications to programme title, curriculum structure, content and delivery of individual programmes in accordance with the university Programme and Module Modification Procedure.
  • To receive and endorse reports from Faculty Education Committees on the approval of minor modifications to approved curricula.
  • Following appropriate strategic partnership approval, to approve all new collaborative modules (those which are run in collaboration with another institution).
  • To ensure that sufficient external and independent consultation (including student consultation) has been sought for modifications.

Short Course Approval and Modifications

  • To oversee the short course approval process and receive notification of all newly approved short courses within the university’s taxonomy.
  • To consider for approval any short course proposals that fall outside the scope of the Academic Regulations for Short Courses.
Constitution and membership

Constitution

  • a chair, nominated by the Vice Provost (Education)
  • two senior representatives for educational leadership from each faculty, nominated by the Dean (to include at least one Faculty Senior Tutor)
  • a senior representative for the Institute of Extended Learning
  • a representative for the Educational Development Unit
  • the Director of the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
  • a College Consul
  • the Director or Deputy Director of the Early Career Researcher Institute
  • two student representatives nominated by Imperial College Union
  • the Academic Registrar or (nominee)
  • the Deputy Director (Academic Quality and Standards)
  • an Assistant Registrar as secretary, with the power to co-opt

To be quorate, a minimum of one third of members need to be present.

Membership (Academic Year 2025/26)
Name Role
Dr Cloda Jenkins Co-Chair
Dr Errikos Levis Co-Chair
Dr Jeffrey Vernon Faculty of Medicine Representative (Deputy Chair)
Dr Elaina Maginn Faculty of Medicine Representative
Dr Lorraine Craig Faculty of Engineering Representative 
TBC Faculty of Engineering Representative 
Dr Christopher Ford Faculty of Natural Science Representative 
Dr Derek Huntley Faculty of Natural Science Representative 
TBC Imperial Business School Representative
Dr William Cox Imperial Business School Representative
Betty Yue Institute of Extended Learning Representative 
Dr Tiffany Chiu Educational Development Unit Representative 
Dr Kate Ippolito Educational Development Unit Representative 
Dr Magdalena Jara Early Career Researcher Institute Representative
Dr Michael Weatherburn Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication Representative
Professor Martyn McLachlan College Consul
Emina Hogas Student Representative and Deputy President (Education), Imperial College Union
Mr Nico Henry Student Representative and President, Imperial College Union
Judith Webster Director of Academic Quality and Standards
Scott Tucker Deputy Director (Academic Quality and Standards)
Steve Ward Assistant Registrar (Programme Development) - Secretary
 
Summary of the table's contents

 

Meeting dates and deadlines
 
Committee dates (Academic year 2025/26) Submission deadlines (Academic year 2025/26)
23 October 2025 02 October 2025
27 November 2025 06 November 2025
29 January 2026 08 January 2026
19 March 2026 26 February 2026
21 May 2026 30 April 2026 

Agenda items (including papers) should be submitted to the committee secretary three weeks prior to the committee meeting. Papers will normally be circulated to members one week prior to the committee meeting. 

Submission deadlines for new programme proposals should be agreed separately with the committee secretary prior to the meeting and is normally 12 weeks prior to committee. 

Minutes

Academic year 2024/25

Academic year 2023/24

Academic year 2022/23

Academic year 2021/22

Academic year 2020/21

Academic year 2019/20

Academic year 2018/19

Academic year 2017/18

 Academic year 2016/17

Academic year 2015/16

*Minutes to be confirmed at the next meeting

Committee Secretary

For more information please contact Laura Gardner Assistant Registrar (Programme Development).