Planning a new course

Developing a new distance learning course, like any new course, is a strategic decision. It is a multi-stage process, and sufficient time should be allowed - typically 18 months - to develop your curriculum and advertise it in good time to recruit successfully.  

All new courses must be approved by the Academic Planning and Collaborations Group (APCG) and then validated, usually by a University Validation Panel (UVP) or, less often, at a Validation Event. This process enables the university to assess the academic and financial viability of a new course, the alignment with university strategy and the education plan, and set and maintain appropriate academic standards.  

For further information on this process please visit the Academic Quality Enhancement website.  

Time commitment

Developing a high-quality distance learning module requires a significant investment of time and effort, particularly in the early stages. At Leeds Beckett, our asynchronous-first approach to distance learning means that teaching materials - such as pre-recorded lectures, readings, and activities - must be created and uploaded onto MyBeckett well in advance of the semester start date. This ensures students can engage with the content flexibly and at their own pace.

To support effective planning, we recommend allocating approximately 200 hours to develop new online teaching content for a 20-credit module.

We strongly encourage you to start early. This upfront investment will help ensure a smooth teaching experience and a rich learning environment for your students. 

The role of the tutor webpage discusses time commitment in relation to teaching delivery.

Further help and support

The Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) can advise on curriculum design and development.  

The Digital Learning Service provide support and guidance for MyBeckett.