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Version 1.0 - Last Updated: 25 Oct 2023

Creating a full-time undergraduate course - Shortened and compressed academic year

Entering term dates – undergraduate courses only

English, Scottish and Northern Irish-domiciled students

You should ensure that term dates in CMS reflect the term date advice in this guide. Do not enter term dates that overlap in the same academic year.

Example 1

A student begins a 2.5-year degree programme with a shortened first academic year.

The student’s study pattern is:

Year 1 – January to July
Year 2 – September to July
Year 3 – September to July

CMS must show their study pattern as:

Year 1 – January to December
Year 2 – January to December
Year 3 – January to July

Example 2

A student begins a shortened foundation year before progressing onto the chosen degree pathway.

The student’s study pattern is:

Year 1 – September to December
Year 2 – January to December
Year 3 – January to December
Year 4 – January to December

CMS must show their study pattern as:

Year 1 – September to July
Year 2 – September to July
Year 3 – September to July
Year 4 – September to December

If the final academic year is less than 15 weeks, you cannot receive more than £4,500 in tuition fee loan or grant. This fee reflects the shortened academic year.

For full-time courses, you should space the term dates throughout the academic year. This guarantees students are paid at regular and timely intervals, while still respecting the liability period restrictions. It also ensures that the term lengths reflect the teaching provided to students, though we appreciate that this may not align to your true academic schedule.

Welsh-domiciled students

If a Welsh-domiciled student starts a compressed or shortened academic year, the Welsh Government lets them access the next year’s tuition and maintenance support from the point the next year of study begins.

Example

February start, compressed first year, annual tuition charge £8,000.
Liability point 1 (4 February):
  • you confirm the student’s attendance
  • you're paid £2,000 fee loan or grant in February
Liability point 2 (22 April):
  • you confirm the student’s attendance
  • you're paid £2,000 fee loan or grant in May
Liability point 3 (5 July):
  • you confirm the student’s attendance
  • you're paid £4,000 fee loan or grant in October
The student begins the second year of the course in September. They'll have 100% of the tuition fee and maintenance support available from the start of the academic year in September.
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