The Awarding Body :

• Rules upon the entry qualifications that students must possess to enrol on the CIPR courses
• Sets the syllabuses
• Accredits and monitors teaching centres from both the public and private sectors to deliver courses that follow the syllabuses
• Establishes and regulates assessment processes
• Makes awards
• Controls certification
• Collaborates with its teaching centres in the provision of student services, ensuring that all students have equal opportunities
• Investigates and makes decisions upon reported cases of student or centre malpractice
• Arranges for the independent review of appeals from students and centres
• Liaises with the national regulatory authorities as appropriate
• Sets the criteria for appointment as CIPR examiners
• Lays down the ongoing training and development that CIPR examiners
  must undergo

The CIPR Awarding Body is led by its own Head, and discharges these duties through its own Committee. This delegates particular functions, especially to a sub committee. All correspondence for the CIPR Awarding Body should be directed in the first instance to the Qualifications Department at the Institute.

Awards Sub Committee

The process for all Units (except the CRT) requires initial assessment of candidate work within the teaching centre. This involves full examination of all submissions, with selective 2nd marking to ensure consistency and quality of assessment. For  the CRT, marking is undertaken independently of a student's teaching centre.

CIPR chief examiners assess the quality and consistency of marking across centres. In addition to reviewing the spread and level of marks awarded, representative work is requested by these examiners from each centre. They are able to make adjustments to grades awarded if necessary to maintain the quality and  integrity of the qualifications.

The CIPR examiners sit on the Awards Sub Committee where they confer and reach final agreement on grades to be awarded. This meets formally three times a year (Spring, Summer and Winter) to recognise Unit achievements, award Advanced Certificate and Diploma qualifications, appraise special considerations and request candidates to resubmit or resit assignments as appropriate under guidance from the relevant CIPR examiner. The Awards Sub Committee reports to the Qualifications Awarding Body Committee (see diagram).
 

Date	Purpose*	Resit notes
Spring (April)	Primarily recognises achievements in Units 1.1 and 2.1 Also confirms resubmissions as below and will award qualifications for those now successful in all 3 Units	Candidates able to resit these in Spring for confirmation at July Awards Sub Committee
Summer (July)	Primarily recognises achievements in Units 1.2 and 2.2 Also confirms resubmissions as above and will award qualifications for those now successful in all 3 Units	Candidates able to resit these in Summer for confirmation at November Awards Sub Committee
Winter (November)	Primarily recognises achievements in Units 1.3 and 2.3 Awards qualifications for those successful in all 3 Units. Also confirms resubmissions as above and will award qualifications for those now successful in all 3 Units	Candidates able to resit these in New Year for confirmation at April Awards Sub Committee
* Based on September start – January start candidates will have their work for Units 1.1 and 2.1 considered by the July ASC, Units 1.2 and 2.2 at the November ASC, and Units 1.3 and 2.3 at the April ASC.

How the qualifications team fits into the CIPR structure (pdf).