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King's College London

Collaborative provision

The College defines 'collaborative provision' as: any type of educational opportunity where the achievement of the relevant learning outcomes for a King’s module or programme of study is dependent on the arrangement made with a Partner.

The College offers a range of different types of collaborative activity with an approved partner of the College, the most common of which are Articulation agreements and Dual and Joint Awards. Further information on how the College defines its activity can be found in the College's Definitions of Collaborative Activity.

The College retains responsibility for the academic standards of its own awards and for the quality of the student experience, irrespective of where the programme is delivered or with/by whom. All collaborative activity is subject to formal approval and monitoring by the College. All collaborative programmes must be formally approved and monitored, with the Collaborative Provision Sub-Committee having the necessary oversight.

The College's 'Procedures for the approval and monitoring of collaborative activity' detailed in our Quality Assurance Handbook are designed to align with the QAA's UK Quality Code for Higher Education and Advice and Guidance: Partnerships taking into account the various components of the Office for Students (OfS) conditions of registration that the College must meet. It sets out the processes to follow and the template forms to use to require formal approval of a collaborative programme. In addition, the Centre for Doctoral Studies produces its own guidance and processes for the formal approval of Joint PhD programmes.

The procedures provide a framework for how the College approves, monitors and manages all aspects of the student's academic experience when delivering a learning opportunity with a Partner, ensuring that our standards of awards will be credible and secure. This takes the form of a risk based approach from initial approval through to monitoring and review prior to renewal or termination of an agreement and is in addition to the standard approval and monitoring processes in place for a King's only programme.

The processes for the approval and monitoring of collaborative provision and relevant template forms can be located at:

It is essential for the College to ensure that all parties have a clear understanding of what is expected and that appropriate steps are taken to identify and mitigate for any risks and meet student expectations, particularly where the programme arrangements are considered complex or unusual. All collaborative programme activity must be underpinned by a legal agreement.

Further support

The appropriate professional services departments should also be consulted directly for advice and support when initiating and developing proposals for the following activities: