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Student Regulations

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  2. Academic Registry
  3. Student Regulations
  4. Fitness to Practise

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.


Student Code of Conduct and Fitness to Practise Procedure 2022-23

Procedural Flowcharts

  • Procedure for Cause for Concern/Fitness to Practise Stage 2 English | Cymraeg
  • Procedure for Fitness to Practise Stage 3 (Request for Review) English | Cymraeg

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

Student Code of Conduct and Fitness to Practise Procedure 2021-22

Procedural Flowcharts

  • Procedure for Cause for Concern/Fitness to Practise Stage 2 English | Cymraeg
  • Procedure for Fitness to Practise Stage 3 (Request for Review) English | Cymraeg

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

Student Code of Conduct: Covid-19 and Associated Guidance

  • Addendum to Student Code of Conduct for Covid-19  English | Welsh
  • Guidance for dealing with breaches of the Student Code of Conduct for Covid-19  English |Welsh
  • Process Flowchart  English | Welsh


Forms and Guidance Notes

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

Amendments to Regulations 2022 - 2023

The following are key changes to the student casework regulations for the 2022/23 academic year. 

  • Amendments to wording for the purpose of clarification (2.1 / 3.3, 3.5 / 4.2 / 5.9 / 5.10 / 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.9 / 9.1)

  • Amendments to the list of courses governed by the Fitness to Practise Procedure (Appendix 1)

  • Clarification that the timescale for convening a Fitness to Practise Committee may be extended in exceptional circumstances by the University, including (but not limited to) where a student has requested legal representation (6.25)

  • Examples of circumstances which would necessitate a suspension from placement or an area of practice learning (6.7)

  • The addition of a section that enables the Cause for Concern Panel to refer a case to the Dean of Faculty (or nominee) where the concern relates to a criminal conviction, such as a driving offence, but the Panel does not consider that referral to Level 2 of the procedure is required (5.17-5.22)

  • The addition of actions available to the Cause for Concern Panel (5.10)

  • Inclusion of a section on PSRB sign off (4.8)

  • Amendment of references from Fitness to Study Procedure to Support for Study Procedure as a result of proposed changes to this set of regulations and procedure (3.13 / 5.10 / 6.2)

  • The clarification of a student’s ability to have a legally qualified support person/representative at meetings and hearings (3.7-3.9)

  • The inclusion of a section on responsibility for deciding the appropriate procedure to be followed (2.14)

  • The inclusion of a section on the purpose of No Contact Agreements (2.13)

  • Please note Section 6.42 of the Fitness to Practise procedure that specifies the changes in responsibilities for inviting Witnesses to a hearing.

  • University roles, where stated, should be interpreted as the role or equivalent role for the purposes of the application of the procedure

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

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.