Principles and Policies

Our principles and policies govern all activities at Aston University

Our values and culture are vital to the successful delivery of the Aston University Strategy 2018 to 2023. The University recognises its responsibility to be an exemplar of behaviour and conduct in all that it does, and it aspires to lead the HE sector in terms of its approach to ethical practice. The University's values, as identified in the Strategy, are to be professional and ambitious; to be innovative and collaborative; and to be ethical and inclusive.

The University’s reputation and the trust of its beneficiaries and stakeholders are among its most important assets – although these take a long time to attain they may be lost very quickly. Acting with integrity is not only the right thing to do, it protects the interests of our beneficiaries; improves our performance; and differentiates us in an increasingly competitive and complex global higher education market. All members of the Aston community have an important role to play in achieving these goals and creating a culture where ethical conduct is intrinsic to the University’s cultural foundations.

If you would like access to any policy in a different format, please contact webaccessibility@aston.ac.uk

Professor Aleks Subic
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

Aston University policies: Content list

Integrity: Accurate Finance Practice
Prevention of Fraud Policy
Prevention of Money Laundering Policy
Anti-Facilitation of Tax Evasion Policy
Government and Trade Controls
Import Controls Policy
Export Controls and Trade Sanctions Policy
Financial Sanctions Policy
Immigration Law Compliance Policy
Handling Potential Conflicts of Interests
Register of Staff Interests and Declarations of Interests Policy
Interacting with Government
Public Affairs Policy
Prevention of Bribery
Anti-Bribery Policy
Prevention of Slavery
Anti-Modern Slavery Policy
Responsible Charging
Tuition Fee Charging Policy
Competition Law Compliance Policy
Student Refund and Compensation Policy
Responsible Fund Raising
Fundraising Policy
Responsible Investment
Treasury Management and Financial Investment Policy
Ethical Investment Policy
Responsible Purchasing Practice
Procurement Policy
Fair and Appropriate Remuneration
Senior Pay
Respect: Ensuring Fair Admissions Practices
Admissions Policy
Ensuring Fair Employment Practices
Dependency Care, Compassionate and Bereavement Leave Policy
Consultancy Policy
Disciplinary Policy and Procedure
Grievance Policy – Support Staff
Maternity and Adoption Leave Policy
Parliamentary Leave Policy
Performance Management Policy
Personal Relationships Policy and Procedure
Prevention of Bullying and Harassment Policy
Probation Procedure for Academic Staff
Probation Procedure for Support Staff
Recruitment and Selection Policy
Recruitment and Employment of Ex-Offenders Policy
Relocation Policy
Shared Parental Leave Policy
Sickness Absence Management Policy
Ensuring the Health and Safety of our Community
Health and Safety Policy
Business Continuity Policy
Grievance Policy Procedure
Promoting Respect in our Community
Freedom of Expression Policy
Equality and Diversity Policy
Supporting Disabled Workers Policy
Dynamic Working Policy
Flexible Working – Right to Apply
Whistleblowing Policy
Safeguarding Concern Policy
Transparent Complaint Handling
Student Complaints Purpose and Principles Statement
Student Complaints Procedure
Formal Complaint Form
Complaint Outcome Review Request Form
Stewardship: Community Engagement
Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
Marketing and Communications Policy
Social Media Policy
Safeguarding Assets and Information
Financial and Contracting Policy
Information Management Policy
IT Acceptable Use Policy
IT Monitoring Policy
IT Security Policy
IT Remote Working Policy
Privacy Policy
Policy on the Naming of Buildings, Facilities and External Spaces
Safeguarding Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property Policy
Safeguarding the Environment
Sustainability Policy
Effective Risk Management
Strategic Risk Management Policy
Academic: Academic Regulations
General Regulations for Programmes
Examinations and Assessment
Student Discipline
Personal Tutoring Policy
Research Integrity and Ethics
Graduate School Policies and Procedures
General Regulations for Degrees by Research and Thesis
General Regulations for Research Degrees by Staff of Aston University and by Aston University Graduates
General Regulations for Presentation of Theses
Code of Practice for Research Degrees
Quality Assurance
Open Access Policy
Publications Repository and Governance Policy
Research Data Management Policy
Aston Data Explorer Governance Policy
Research Publications Policy
Responsible Use of Research Publication Metrics Policy
Funding Of Research

View videos introducing our policies

Integrity

Accurate Finance Practice

Prevention of Fraud Policy150.85 KB

Prevention of Money Laundering Policy315.37 KB

Anti-Facilitation of Tax Evasion Policy611.49 KB

Government and Trade Controls

Import Controls Policy142.66 KB

Export Controls and Trade Sanctions Policy632.84 KB

Financial Sanctions Policy323.84 KB

Immigration Law Compliance Policy606.11 KB

UKVI Monitoring and Engagement Policy171.7 KB

global_mobility_policy.pdf433.06 KB

Handling Potential Conflicts of Interests

Respect

Ensuring Fair Admissions Practices

Admissions Policy544.14 KB

Ensuring Fair Employment Practices

Dependency Care, Compassionate and Bereavement Leave Policy321.08 KB

Consultancy Policy407.26 KB

Disciplinary Policy and Procedure350.62 KB

Grievance Policy – Support Staff565.93 KB

Maternity and Adoption Leave Policy452.76 KB

Parliamentary Leave Policy285.8 KB

Performance Management Policy394.6 KB

Personal Relationships Policy and Procedure307.22 KB

Prevention of Bullying and Harassment Policy451.46 KB

Probation Procedure for Academic Staff319.83 KB

Probation Procedure for Support Staff291.43 KB

Recruitment and Selection Policy419.48 KB

Recruitment and Employment of Ex Offenders Policy300.83 KB

Relocation Policy309.52 KB

Shared Parental Leave Policy448.16 KB

Sickness Absence Management Policy361.48 KB

Grievance Policy and Procedure355.25 KB

Ensuring the Health and Safety of our Community

Health and Safety Policy745.32 KB

Business Continuity Policy796.95 KB

Promoting Respect in our Community

Supporting Disabled Workers Policy566.95 KB

Dynamic Working Policy405.41 KB

Equality and Diversity Policy310.1 KB

Flexible Working – Right to Apply310.54 KB

Freedom of Expression Policy303.67 KB

Whistleblowing Policy228.82 KB

Safeguarding-Concern-Policy-April-2022.pdf232.64 KB

Transparent Complaint Handling

Student Complaints Purpose and Principles Statement198.07 KB

Student Complaints Procedure235.92 KB

Formal Complaint Form59.27 KB

Complaint Outcome Review Request Form65.46 KB

Stewardship

Community Engagement

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy841.54 KB

Marketing and Communications Policy577.49 KB

Social Media Policy426.44 KB

Safeguarding Assets and Information

Financial and Contracting Policy457.85 KB

Information Management Policy458.99 KB

IT Acceptable Use Policy546.46 KB

IT Monitoring Policy537.43 KB

IT Security Policy1.16 MB

IT Remote Working Policy427.85 KB

Privacy Policy496.05 KB

Policy on the Naming of Buildings, Facilities and External Spaces316.94 KB

Safeguarding Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property Policy624.77 KB

Safeguarding the Environment

Sustainability Policy307.75 KB

Effective Risk Management

Strategic Risk Management Policy474.02 KB

Academic

Academic Regulations

General Regulations for Programmes

Credit & Qualifications Framework
General Regulations for Undergraduate and Integrated Master’s Programmes
General Regulations for Foundation Degrees
General Regulations for Graduate Diplomas
General Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Programmes
General Regulations for the MBChB Programme
General Regulations for the Conduct of Boards of Examiners
Regulations on Fitness to Study
Regulations on Fitness to Practise

Associated Guidance

New and Revised General Regulations 2020/21
Guidance for Boards of Examiners - Summer 2020
Guidance for Staff on Trailing Credit into stage P
Virtuous Credit Guidance Notes
University Approach to Award Calculation Algorithms

Examinations and Assessment

Assessment Regulations
Invigilation Procedures for Examinations
Policy on Giving Effective Feedback on Assessed Work
Examination Regulations for Candidates

Associated Guidance

Summary Note on Assessment for 2020/21
Student Guide to Exceptional Circumstances
Guidance to Schools on the Abandonment of Assessments and Lost Examination & Assessment Papers
Guidance for Boards of Examiners on Dissertation Stage Progression Regulations

Student Discipline

Regulations on Student Discipline
Tariff of Penalties
Disciplinary Board Procedures
Aston Student Code of Conduct

Associated Guidance

Plagiarism: Notes of Guidance for Markers

Other Guidance

Personal Tutoring Policy357.69 KB

Research

The policies and procedures held under the remit of the University Research Committee can be separated into four main areas:

Research Integrity and Ethics
Graduate School Policies and Procedures
Funding of Research
Research Publications, Open Access and Open Data.

Each area also has a number of associated guidance documents appropriate to the relevant stakeholders. All areas of Aston Research Policies and Procedures are informed by ‘Our Principles’.

Research Integrity and Ethics

Graduate School Policies and Procedures

The current versions of the below Research Degree regulations and codes of practice are collated and are password protected

General Regulations

I. General Regulations for Degrees by Research and Thesis535.84 KB

II. General Regulations for Research Degrees by Staff of Aston University and by Aston University Graduates387.75 KB

III. General Regulations for Presentation of Theses429.5 KB

Codes of Practice

I. Code of Practice for Research Degrees1.54 MB

Quality Assurance

Aston Graduate School Quality Assurance Policies

Research Publications, Open Access and Open Data