Fitness to Practise

The University has a responsibility to ensure that students studying on certain courses are fit to qualify in their respective professions, regardless of performing well in assessments and not committing a specific offence. A student’s fitness to practise may be assessed for a number of reasons, for example, a drug/alcohol related problem, mental ill health or any condition or disorder which would adversely affect the student’s performance. The University has a responsibility to deal with such students to ensure that they do not qualify to practise in a profession when they are deemed not fit to do so. This may also apply to other students working for professional qualifications, for example in other professions allied to medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions.


Previous years' regulations are available on request from the Student Casework Unit. Please email: [email protected].

Student Code of Conduct

  • Inclusion of a section stating that unauthorised recording, copying or distribution of recordings or written material will be considered a disciplinary offence (para 3.7)
  • Inclusion of additional/amended definitions under Sexual Misconduct (para 6.3.2)

Non-academic Misconduct Regulations

  • Inclusion of a process to allow the Responding Student the opportunity to confirm or deny that an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct has occurred (para 2.9)
  • Inclusion of examples of mitigating, aggravating and compounding factors (paras 2.43-2.45)
  • Replacement of the previous ‘Cause for Concern’ process with a new process (paras 4.19-4.24)
  • Reference to the Report and Support system as a reporting mechanism (para 4.25)

Non-academic Misconduct Procedures

  • Inclusion of examples of what will be taken into account when considering a request for legal representation (Requests for Legal Representation, para 5)
  • Inclusion of details of the role of the University’s legally qualified person (Requests for Legal Representation, para 7)
  • Inclusion of further details on how decisions on whether to report an incident to the police against the wishes of the Reporting Party will be made (Risk Assessment Procedure, para 4)
  • Clarification of process when the Reporting Party does not want the Responding Student informed of any considerations under the Procedure (Risk Assessment Procedure, para 5)
  • Replacement of the previous ‘Cause for Concern’ process with a new process (Fitness to Practise Procedures – Procedure for Stage 1)

Previous years' regulations are available on request from the Student Casework Unit. Please email [email protected].

Cause for Concern

If it is believed that a student has breached professional standards or conduct, a Cause for Concern Form should be completed and forwarded to the appropriate course leader, who will discuss the issue with the head of school. If appropriate, the matter will be escalated to a Faculty Cause for Concern Panel. The panel will determine the next steps, which could be deciding that further action is required, establishing an action plan or referral to an investigation under the Fitness to Practise Regulations.

Request for Review

Students have the right to request a review of the penalty imposed by the Fitness to Practise Committee. Requests for review can only be considered where they meet the grounds for review as detailed in the regulations. The request for review must be submitted to the Student Casework Unit on the correct form and should be received within 10 working days of the formal notification of the outcome of the Fitness to Practise Committee.

  • Request for Review of a Fitness to Practise Decision Form English | Cymraeg
  • Guidance Notes on the Request for Review of a Fitness to Practise Decision Form English | Cymraeg

The following are key changes to the student casework regulations for the 2023-24 academic year:

  • Clarification that the Procedure that applies will be the Procedure in operation during the year in which the allegation is received (1.2)
  • Inclusion of a section on potential penalties (4.1- 4.11)
  • Clarification that the Investigating Officer will normally be one of the University’s Professional Investigating Officers and that in certain circumstances, the University may decide to employ a specialist investigator external to the University (7.1.7)
  • Clarification that, where a student’s studies on their course are terminated, the penalty will be ratified by the Vice Chancellor (or nominee) if the Chair of the Committee is not a member of Executive (7.27)
  • Inclusion of the option for a Reporting Student (where applicable and classed as a witness for the purpose of the Procedure) to attend a hearing (7.42)
  • Inclusion of guidelines for the application of penalties (section 11)

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) have now replaced the Data Protection Act. An explanation of how the University will use your data can be found here and in the Communication Plan above. Please note that in accordance with GDPR Regulations any third party supporting evidence will only be accepted if it is accompanied by a completed Third Party Consent Form.