Unit Award Scheme

AQA UAS terms of business

To register for and use the AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS), organisations must agree to and comply with these Terms of Business. These terms apply throughout an organisation’s participation in UAS, including on initial registration and through annual acceptance before using the scheme in each academic year.

1. Registration and annual acceptance

1.1 Registration is subject to compliance with all requirements set out in the registration process, to the satisfaction of AQA, and is only effective once confirmed in writing by AQA.

1.2 The information provided during registration and throughout the organisation's participation in UAS must be true and accurate. The organisation will comply with AQA's requirements, including those set out in any guidance or training documentation, for the operation of UAS.

1.3 The organisation gives AQA permission to verify its details, including with any credit risk agency. If any information provided is false or inaccurate, AQA may cancel the application or deregister the organisation if a UAS number has already been issued.

1.4 The organisation agrees to review and accept the current AQA Unit Award Scheme Terms of Business annually before using the scheme in each academic year.

1.5 Where changes have been made to these Terms of Business, AQA may highlight those changes during the annual acceptance process. It remains the responsibility of the organisation to review and comply with the current version of the Terms of Business.

2. Safeguarding requirements

2.1 Registration is subject to the submission of the organisation's safeguarding policy to AQA and confirmation that it meets the requirements set out in the safeguarding guidance document.

2.2 The organisation will maintain an up-to-date safeguarding policy that complies with the safeguarding guidance document at all times.

3. Organisational responsibilities

3.1 The organisation will ensure that all staff involved in the delivery or administration of UAS are familiar with the current Terms of Business and associated guidance at the start of each academic year and comply with them at all times.

3.2 All those delivering units are, or will be, appropriately qualified or trained to do so.

3.3 The organisation agrees to inform AQA as soon as possible of any change in its circumstances that may affect its ability to operate UAS in accordance with AQA's requirements or to meet its financial obligations to AQA.

3.4 AQA UAS does not have a direct relationship with the learner or their parent/guardian and will only correspond with the registered organisation.

4. Delivery and use of units

4.1 The way in which a unit is used will provide, for each individual student, a course which will facilitate both coherence and progression.

4.2 Units will only be used by the organisation for its own students and will not be provided or made available in any way to any third party.

5. Unit validation and intellectual property

5.1 Any unit submitted for validation will represent a valid and worthwhile educational experience and will have been pre-validated by the organisation's pre-validating committee.

5.2 A unit submitted for validation will not contain reference to the organisation name within the title or content.

5.3 The organisation grants AQA a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free licence to use and make the organisation's units available, in paper or electronic form, to other interested parties for use by them.

6. Branding and representation

6.1 The organisation will not use the AQA logo in any of its published or electronic materials or on its website.

6.2 The organisation may only refer to being an organisation registered to use AQA's UAS validated units and will not, directly or indirectly, claim to be otherwise associated with, or accredited by, AQA, nor give the impression that the units comprise, or contribute towards, any qualification.

7. Financial terms

7.1 The organisation agrees to pay the published AQA Unit Award Scheme fees in accordance with the payment terms below and understands that the UAS registration fee is non-refundable.

7.2 The organisation understands and agrees to AQA's payment terms of 30 days from the date of invoice and will advise AQA of any disputes within 14 days of receipt of the invoice. These terms supersede any future customer terms received.

7.3 All payments for services must be paid in Sterling (GBP).

7.4 Refunds, including credit notes, will only be paid in Sterling (GBP).

7.5 All bank charges payable for payments made outside the UK will be deducted from any refund.

8. Breach and termination

8.1 AQA shall be entitled to suspend or terminate the organisation's registration, and therefore its right to use UAS units, with immediate effect where:

a) the organisation breaches these Terms of Business

b) AQA determines that false or inaccurate information has been provided by the organisation, or

c) AQA reasonably considers that the organisation has brought, or may bring, AQA or the Unit Award Scheme into disrepute.

Such action may be taken at AQA's sole discretion and with immediate effect.

Acceptance

To register for or continue using the AQA Unit Award Scheme, organisations must confirm their acceptance of these Terms of Business.