The team are responsible for formal examinations, including the creation of the exam timetable and the delivery of examinations, including their invigilation. Also supporting student coursework submissions and the delivery of other forms of assessment which takes place outside of the formal examination periods. Providing support for students with disabilities, and other issues which affect their performance in assessments, via the extenuating circumstances processes and through the provision of alternative examination arrangements.

This team is responsible for the exam delivery that takes place at the university. This includes:

• Scheduling and the delivery of examinations during the specified university exam and reassessment periods
• Supporting termtime in-person Examsys exams
• Invigilator recruitment, training, scheduling and management

In addition, the team provide support for students with disabilities or other factors which may affect their performance in assessments. This is done via the extenuating circumstances process and through the provision of alternative exam arrangements.

The Business Operations team are responsible for a number of areas that support the running of Registry and Academic Affairs. These include:

• Purchasing and financial monitoring
• IT equipment management
• Oversight of office spaces including equipment and desk bookings
• Health and Safety
• Governance
• Strategy
• Executive support
• Maintaining centralised systems (e.g annual leave)
• Monitoring staffing levels within Registry and Academic Affairs
• Recruiting to vacancies

The international student experience is a major focus for much of the work of Registry and Academic Affairs. Specialist teams within the Global Opportunities, Visa and Immigration area support key student services. 

Global Opportunities 

These teams cover a range of activities, including:

• Management of visiting exchange and inter-campus mobility schemes for inbound students
• Promotion and marketing of the university's study abroad activities for outbound exchanges 
• Management of outbound exchange opportunities to international partners, UNNC and UNM

• Development of student exchange agreements with overseas university partners

• Short term mobility opportunities overseas

• Management of Federal Aid funding

• Management of Turing funding

• Management of UK placement activity for selected Schools and Departments

Visa and Immigration

• Free and professional immigration support and advice* – whether as applicants or current students as well as their families and recent graduates.
• Responsibility for maintaining compliance in line with the UKVI immigration rules by ensuring that relevant University immigration policy, guidance and procedures are up to date and applied consistently.

* Immigration advice is regulated and is subject to the Immigration Services Commissioner's Code of Standards and Commissioner's rules. The Visa and Immigration team are the only team at the University authorised by the regulator to provide immigration advice.

The PGR team deliver high-quality services to a diverse community of students and staff across areas relating to the PGR journey.  The team support the administration of the student journey from registration to graduation and work with the Researcher Academy, Faculties and Professional Services to enhance the postgraduate research student experience and contribute to the research community. 

Key activities include:

• Maintaining the student record including engagement, supervision and progression activity
• Managing the research degree examination process
• Managing change of circumstance requests
• Overseeing the regulations and quality manual content for research degrees
• Overseeing the development and strategy for PGR student record systems

Communications and Development  

The Communications and Development team works across RAA to deliver on the University’s staff-focused initiatives and respond to sector-wide people development policies including but not limited to: 

Communications and Engagement e.g. newsletters, events and online resources like SharePoint.  

Providing access to wellbeing guidance and resources. 

Equality, diversity and inclusion matters.  

We regularly interact with colleagues across the department to understand their development needs, provide expertise and resources to support and improve individual and team performance. We help formulate and drive the departmental People Plan.  

Data Integrity:  

The Data Integrity team focuses on the reporting, data analysis and management information capabilities of our department with a view to improving the student experience and the quality of our data. We work to support the university statutory responsibilities, working with PPSC toward successful HESES and HESA returns. We also develop tools to support the work of the department, improve data literacy and understanding to support the department and upskill staff access and use of data to inform their work. 

External Reporting and Systems: 

The External Reporting and Systems team has a core role in reporting to the Student Loans Company and the UK Visa & Immigration. We report student changes of circumstances to these bodies and also support students with their related queries. This is important from both a statutory and student well being point of view. The work that we do ensures tuition fee income is released to the university and helps protect our status as a sponsor of student visas. We also support the use of technology and development of our systems. We work with others to find technical solutions or review solutions proposed by others, assist with testing and first use support.  

Fees and Charges: 

The Fees & Charges team work to ensure correct tuition fee charges are raised on all appropriate student accounts and investigate any issues raised by either staff, students or applicants. We collaborate with other teams across RAA to ensure the student record is correct for the raising of appropriate fees and charges, also with Finance and Infrastructure colleagues on the maintenance and accuracy of our income information. We work closely with School based and External Relations colleagues, where the liability for fees rest with a third party, as well as both domestic and overseas sponsors. We provide specialist advice regarding tuition fee liability and regulations to a wide range of stakeholders. 

Funding and Financial Support: 

The Funding & Financial Support team provide support and guidance to students and applicants with queries around government funding and other sources of financial support. We are responsible for administering payment of awards to students from sources such as scholarships and bursaries, including funds available as part of the University Access and Participation Plan.  

We manage the University’s Support Funds, including the Hardship and Crisis Funds and support student financial capability. We also administer International Student Recruitment scholarships and post SLC tuition fee loans to student accounts.