Procedures for Criminal Conviction Checking for Professional Courses
1. Criminal Conviction declared on Application Form
When an applicant declares a criminal conviction on an application form, a letter requesting further information is sent to the applicant and a hold put on their application on the University’s student records database. The completed form is passed to Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) in the first instance, together with a completed risk assessment form, to make a decision on whether the applicant can be considered for an offer of a place. If necessary, the references provided by the applicant are taken up. The form, plus supporting documents, are then sent to the relevant School for consideration. The final decision on whether an offer can be made rests with the School Panel of Professional Practice. This decision will be based on whether the student will be able to practise the profession, on successful completion of the course. Any appeal against the decision must be made to the Head of Registry who will ensure that a fair process has been followed.2. Criminal Conviction not declared on Application Form
All students on professional courses are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check by completing an online application before they register with the University. Should a disclosure reveal that a student has a criminal conviction that was not declared before registration, the Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) will write to the student to ask him/her to attend a meeting to explain the non-declaration. Subsequent to the meeting with the student, the Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) will provide the Head of Registry with all the information pertaining to the case (reason for non-declaration and offence). The Head of Registry will then decide whether to rescind the offer of a place at the University and will write to the student with his/her decision. Normally, the student will be asked to leave the University. The decision of the Head of Registry is final and there shall be no appeal.3. Criminal Conviction declaration by Students
Each year, as part of the online re-enrolment task, students must declare that they have not received a conviction in the past year. If they do receive a conviction, they will be asked to declare it to Registry. The student will be asked to provide more details of the conviction by completing the standard criminal conviction declaration form. If the conviction is other than minor, the student disciplinary procedures, as set out in Senate Regulation 6, will be followed. The decision on whether the student can remain at the University will be based on (i) whether the student will be able to practise the profession on successful completion of the course and (ii) the safety of staff and students. The implications of the student possibly bringing the University into disrepute shall also be considered.If it subsequently comes to light that a student has an undeclared conviction, the University’s disciplinary procedures shall be followed, as set out in Senate Regulation 6.
