Institutions developing new programmes of architectural study, for which they are considering applying in due course for validation, are encouraged to contact the Validation Co-ordinator at the RIBA and the Reporting Officer at the ARB at an early stage. Any course in an institution which does not already have a validated course at the same level must seek validation as a "New Course". Where the new proposal is for a course with significant elements in common with an already validated course, it may be considered under Course Changes procedures (see section 5)

Exploratory discussions will be held by the RIBA and the ARB with the Institution in order to gain a clear understanding of the proposal, to determine whether it should be considered as a new course or a course change, and to advise how the course might be developed in relation to the criteria for approval set out in Part 2: Criteria for Validation. The RIBA and the ARB will consult with each other concerning the proposal which will also be referred to the Advisory Group (see Appendix 4, page 35). The ARB will, in consultation with the RIBA, nominate a sub-committee of the Advisory Group consisting of equal numbers of individuals drawn from the two Visitors Panels with special responsibility for new course proposals and course changes called the New Courses and Course Changes Group (the NCCCG). Preliminary Visiting Boards referred to herein will be formed from members of the NCCCG.

Once the proposals for a new course have been fully specified, the host Institution may seek its designation as a "Candidate Course for Recognition"by the RIBA and/or the ARB. The designation "Candidate Course for Recognition"implies that course proposals are judged to have the potential to meet RIBA and/or ARB criteria for approval if implemented in the way anticipated. It is not, however, equivalent to recognition which can only be granted once the standards of the work produced have been assessed and found satisfactory at initial validation.

In some cases the consideration of a new course will be made before it has been introduced, in others there will be students in the early years of the course. Consideration as early as possible is recommended provided the documentation of the proposals is sufficiently well developed. Consideration will normally involve a visit from a Preliminary Visiting Board.

Documentation required for a visit to consider a new course covers so far as possible the same topics as those for a Revalidation Visiting Board. This will normally be full details of the course (or proposed course) and the School context, including staffing. The information specified in Appendix 2 must be provided, omitting only those details which will not yet be available (normally student statistics and copies of such documents as examination papers for previous years and external examiner reports); documentation prepared for internal validation within an Institution may be sufficient for this purpose.

In place of the Critical Self Appraisal a 'New Course Statement' must be provided, covering the rationale for the introduction of the course, proposed special features, the context (including the relationship with the wider academic provision within the School) and any other issues which the School wishes to draw to the special attention of the Preliminary Visiting Board. .

Since students' work is not available for inspection it is normally possible to amend the timetable set out in Appendix 1 so that the visit takes one day. An individual timetable is produced for each visit and the School is asked to provide the relevant information so that this can include the names of the main participants in each meeting and the location of meetings.

Visits are normally held during term-time. The School is asked to provide a secure room which can be used as a base and for all private discussions during the visit.

The Preliminary Visiting Board will produce a Preliminary Board Report in accordance with the guidelines in Appendix 3c. 'Candidate Course for Recognition' status is recommended if the course content and structure is judged to have the potential to fulfil the relevant criteria for approval, (see Part 2; Criteria for Validation), if implemented in the manner anticipated. The Preliminary Board Report should specify the length of time 'Candidate Course for Recognition' should apply. In normal circumstances this should not exceed 5 years from the date specified in the Preliminary Board Report. When an existing course applies for recognition, the procedures for considering new course proposals as described above should be followed. However, 'Candidate Course for Recognition' status should not, in normal circumstances, exceed two years from the date specified in the Preliminary Board Report.

Conditions are not attached to such a recommendation. Where the course content and structure are not judged to have the potential to fulfil all criteria for approval, a statement will be provided in the report of the visit outlining the areas where changes or improvements are needed. The School may enter into further discussions and request another visit at a later date.

Students graduating from courses with 'Candidate Course for Recognition' status who wish to obtain the benefits of full recognition must be considered under external entry procedures operated by the RIBA and the ARB.

It is very important that the status of the course, and the associated qualification, is correctly described in all publicity material. To avoid misrepresentation courses with 'Candidate Course for Recognition' status are strongly advised to submit all publicity material to the RIBA and ARB for guidance prior to publication to ensure that all courses are correctly described.