Fitness to practise

Fitness to practise regulations only apply to students who are on courses that lead to registration to a professional body. This includes students in health and social care, psychology or veterinary medicine. Students on these programmes are required to abide by a professional code. Allegations of failing to do so will trigger an internal investigation in line with the regulations for fitness to practise.

Please follow this link to the 'B6: Regulations for fitness to practise' for the 2023/24 academic year. N.B. These Regulations are updated by the University on a regular basis. Please view the Academic and Student Regulations and Procedures webpage for the latest version.

Registration bodies

The University works with the following professional bodies:

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
British Psychological Society (BPS)
General Medical Council (GMC)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Raising concerns

The University will report any concerns about a student's professionalism to the relevant Executive Dean, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Faculty and the relevant Head of School and will investigate it as a matter of urgency. Normally a Case Officer will investigate working alongside a member of the University academic staff who is a registrant of the relevant Registration Body and is independent of the student.

Being notified about concerns

Within five working days of receiving the allegation, the Case Officer will write to you:

Explaining that an allegation has been made about your professional behaviour
Explaining the nature of the allegation and that it is being investigated as part of the regulations for fitness to practise, a copy of which will be supplied to the you
Identifying which Registration Body’s professional conduct or practice requirements are applicable (a copy of which will be supplied to you)
Inviting you to a meeting with themselves and the assisting registrant
Explaining that you may provide a written response to the allegations within 10 working days of the Case Officer’s letter
Explaining that you can obtain advice and support from the University of Surrey Students’ Union and/or the student’s own professional association or trades union.

Ahead of the meeting you will be provided with five working days’ notice and will be advised as to who will be present at the meeting and informed that you may be accompanied at the meeting by a friend or representative of the Students’ Union or a representative of their own professional associated or trades union. You may attend the meeting via telephone or Skype.

Investigating concerns

Length of an investigation

Normally the investigation will be concluded within 20 working days. If it takes longer than 20 working days, you will be informed of this and the reasons why.

Outcomes of an investigation

The Case Officer can come to one of four findings:

That no further action is necessary and the issue is closed
That no further action is necessary under the regulations for fitness to practise but that a recommendation is made for the issue to be progressed under the University’s student disciplinary regulations
A Support to Study Panel is convened under the regulations for support to study as the matter is not a fitness to practise issue but is serious enough to warrant Panel consideration
A Fitness to Practise Panel is convened