This page sets out the arrangements which apply to students registered with Bristol Baptist College, and forms the basis of the contractual agreement between you as the student and us as the College.

All the documents referred to in these terms and conditions will be available throughout your studies on the Baptist College Student Terms and Conditions Pages on Moodle.

How To Get Help And Advice On The Documents

If you cannot access or do not understand these documents, please email Sophie at atkinsons@bristol-baptist.ac.uk. You can also contact us if you are unsure about what we have written and want to discuss it before you register.

Policy On Changes

We will try not to make material changes to the arrangements for your programme once we have offered you a place. However, we may have to make changes to a course before or after it has begun in response to changes in legal requirements or government or validating University policy, or in the policies of our partners, or due to staffing needs. We will give you reasonable notice of such changes, and of the date they take effect. If we do make such changes we will support you to find alternatives that allow you to complete your programme with us.

Registration As A Student

You will register for a programme at the College. You will be sent information about registration in your induction pack, prior to the start of your course. You will need to provide evidence of your previous academic study and qualifications, proof of your name, nationality, date and place of birth and (where required) an enhanced DBS disclosure. Depending on your programme, you will also be registered as a student of one of our validating universities.

Complaints And Appeals

The College does not permit ‘admissions appeals’, that is to say requests by unsuccessful applicants for a formal review of the outcome of an admissions decision. Complaints concerning the administration of the colleges’ admissions policy and procedures will be processed according to the Student Complaints Policy. The colleges endeavour to handle any complaints fairly, effectively and in a timely manner. Those who wish to consider a complaint about the admissions process prior to registration should contact the Principal.

Registered Students may make a complaint using the Student Complaints Policy. Validating Universities have an Academic Appeals Procedure which may also be used by students.

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) runs an independent scheme to review student complaints. Bristol Baptist College is a member of this scheme. If you are unhappy with the outcome of a complaint you may be able to ask the OIA to review your case. You can find more information about making a complaint to the OIA, what it can and can’t look at and what it can do to put things right if something has gone wrong here: https://www.oiahe.org.uk/students The Scheme does not apply to admissions appeals and complaints.

You normally need to have completed the College’s complaints and appeals procedure before you complain to the OIA. We will send you a letter called a “Completion of Procedures Letter” when you have reached the end of our processes and there are no further steps you can take internally. If your complaint or appeal is not upheld, we will issue you with a Completion of Procedures Letter automatically. If your complaint or appeal is upheld or partly upheld you can ask for a Completion of Procedures Letter if you want one. You can find more information about Completion of Procedures Letters and when you should expect to receive one here: https://www.oiahe.org.uk/providers/completion-of-procedures-letters

Student Procedures

You agree to follow our expectations in relation to student behaviour when you register with us.

  • We expect students to be in sympathy with the Aim and Values of Bristol Baptist College.
  • We expect students to take responsibility for organising their studies and ensuring they are aware of their timetable and expectations for attendance at all activities relating to their courses. If students are unable to attend a lecture or other study activity, they are expected to inform their personal tutor and the lecturer concerned, and to make good any missed work. If you are unsure about any aspect of your course, you should contact your personal tutor as soon as possible.
  • We expect students to manage their time so that they are able to meet deadlines for their assignments. Extensions will only be granted for severe and unexpected circumstances.
  • We expect students to help to build the College community, joining in meals and other activities where possible, contributing to the enhancement of our programmes through constructive evaluation of modules and encouraging the growth and discipleship of others.
  • We expect students to be open to new and different ideas, to having their own presuppositions challenged, but also to learning how to disagree respectfully. Students are encouraged to reflect deeply on what they are learning, both in their placement experience and in the classroom.
  • We expect students to bring to their studies their previous life experience, and to share this with others.
  • We expect students to respect and conserve the resources and property of the College.
  • We expect students to treat other students, tutors, staff and others involved in the life of the College with respect at all times (please see our Dignity At Work policy).
  • We expect students on formational programmes (ministerial, CYF, Disciple-makers), to meet all the non-accredited requirements of that programme, which will be explained to you before registration.
  • Students on a ministerial programme are also subject to the Guidelines for Baptist Ministerial Conduct.

Student Financial Arrangements

In registering as a student, you agree to pay to us your tuition fees, or other amount that may have been negotiated, and other charges for your studies. You will have been informed of the fee for your course when you were made an offer of a place with us.

The following paragraph sets out the arrangements for paying tuition fees to us. This is relevant regardless of who pays the tuition fees. You may pay your tuition fees yourself, or payment of tuition fees may come on your behalf from a loan from the Student Loans Company or from a Sponsor, such as a church.

Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis. The exception is if we told you differently in our offer letter. If the course lasts longer than one year, tuition fees are subject to an annual inflationary increase for every year. Tuition fees may be paid in a maximum of twelve instalments per year. If you are unable to pay your fees, please speak to the College Manager as soon as possible. In certain circumstances the non-payment of fees may mean you have to withdraw from the course, or are unable to proceed to a higher award. You may have to meet other costs in addition to your tuition fees. This depends on your course. We will provide details of any additional costs when we make you an offer.

Assessment

When you receive credit for your modules, you will be able to count that credit towards a qualification. You can see how this works for Durham-validated awards here: https://www.dur.ac.uk/common.awards/regulations/core/

You need to meet the assessment requirements for your programme before going on to the next stage of study or receiving your qualification. You may have to withdraw from the programme if you do not meet these requirements. We use academic judgment to decide whether you meet the learning outcomes of your studies.

Details of assessment arrangements and award regulations are found on the module pages and in the Academic and Practical Information for Students on Moodle. You will receive guidance on this once you begin your course.

If a student submits an assessment containing work that is not the student’s own work, or submitted for another assessment, without acknowledging the sources, the student commits ‘plagiarism’. We define plagiarism as the act of presenting the material, ideas, and arguments of another person as one’s own. All assessments are put through text comparison software, Turnitin, to detect plagiarism. It is intellectually dishonest to cheat. A student who cheats might gain an unfair advantage. This prevents fair assessment. Cheating includes paying for work from someone else and submitting it as one’s own. We give further examples here, https://www.dur.ac.uk/common.awards/policies/conduct.assessment/irregularities/ This page also explains how we deal with academic misconduct for those on our taught awards.

Students registered on Aberdeen awards should consult the material at this link: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/online-resources/avoiding-plagiarism/

Information Services

All students must abide by our IT policy. This explains what we expect of students to keep College computing services secure. Students breaking these rules may face disciplinary action. If you use our library services, you have to follow the Library Regulations.

Student Support

All students are allocated a personal tutor. This person is available for you to talk through any general personal, pastoral or academic issues or concerns. If you have any specific queries about a module or assignment, you should speak to the lecturer of that module.

The college also has a College Chaplain, who is available for you to talk to for pastoral support should you wish.

The college tutors and Chaplain can signpost you to any further support you may need, such as counselling, etc.

Personal Information

When you apply to us and register with us, we use the personal information you gave us. We explain how we do this in the Data Protection Information for Students. We explain where we may pass personal information to third parties. We use the information we hold to process your registration, keep in touch with you and provide services and facilities. It is important it is correct. You need to keep your personal information up to date. You can do this by telling us of any changes or errors. You must notify us promptly if you change your name, the country you are resident, or your contact details. Before updating our records, we may ask you to provide evidence of the change.

Notification Of Disabilities

If you told us you have a disability that might affect your studies, examination or assessment, we will start to make the necessary arrangements. However, you may need to provide us with any further information we request so that we can make reasonable adjustments as specified by the Equality Act 2010. If you would like to tell us about a disability, please contact us.

Updated January 2022