All changes in the title of a validated award must be notified to the RIBA Validation Co-ordinator and the ARB Reporting Officer (whether accompanied by changes in the course content or not) so that, where appropriate, RIBA and ARB approval can be formally transferred to the new qualification.

Any significant changes to a validated course and the associated examination must be notified to the RIBA and the ARB. This applies also to a series of small changes which cumulatively represent a significant change. Consideration of the changes is undertaken by the New Courses and Course Changes Group which is a sub-group of the Advisory Group.

All significant changes to any aspect of a course as described in documentation provided at the time of validation must be notified including, for example, major changes to course structure or content; teaching resources, including staffing; assessment methods and arrangements; the method of arriving at award classifications, and arrangements for professional practice. Where a School is uncertain if a change should be notified it is best to keep the RIBA Validation Co-ordinator and the ARB Reporting Officer informed.

Courses are expected to evolve in order to reflect changes within architecture and higher education more generally. If, after scrutinising the details of a change, the New Courses and Course Changes Group is satisfied that the course still fulfils the criteria for approval (including the percentages specified for core, related and other subjects), and that the change does not radically alter the purpose and results, it will recommend that it be accepted, subject to a full evaluation at the next scheduled Visiting Board.

Where changes are judged to alter fundamentally the content and thrust of a course, the New Courses and Course Changes Group may recommend that proposals be considered under procedures for new courses (see section 3).

Schools Seeking Advice

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Schools of Architecture who wish further advice on course development may contact, in the first instance, the RIBA Validation Co-ordinator and/or the ARB Reporting Officer. Former members of the RIBA Visitors Panel and/or ARB Visitors Panel may act in an advisory capacity to a school on course development. The RIBA Validation Co-ordinator and/or the ARB Reporting Officer will forward to the school names of former members of the Visitors Panels who are willing to act in this capacity on request. Former members of the RIBA Visitors Panel and/or ARB Visitors Panel may advise a school on course development provided that subsequently they do not serve on a visiting board to that course, or attend an Advisory Group or NCCCG meeting where that course is discussed.