Introduction to programme and course design

Programme and course design provides the vital foundation for pedagogical success, which involves far more than just adding content to a course structure. Designing programmes and courses thoughtfully and rigorously provides a framework for sustainable and effective teaching and learning, which leads to successful student outcomes.

This website will help you design and develop your programmes and courses by signposting you to high-impact teaching practices, which are founded in evidence-based learning and teaching scholarship, and include: University of Edinburgh-supported resources; design techniques; good practice examples; case studies; quick tips; toolkits; and reflective prompts.

While curriculum design is best approached from a holistic view, for the purpose of this site, we have broken content down into distinct sections. There will be overlap between these sections, and where appropriate, we have added links to help navigate the connections.  While the content of this site supports the Curriculum for Transformation Programme (CTP), it is not a handbook for actioning CTP. Further resources are under development to support this.

For an overall introduction to Designing Courses and Programmes, we recommend watching the video below by Professor Vel McCune (19 mins). 

This video is part of the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PgCAP).

The following are weblinks to key policies and documents mentioned in this video:

• Curriculum Transformation Hub (SharePoint site)
• Assessment and Feedback Principles and Priorities policy (10 pages)
• Curriculum conceptualisations and The University of Edinburgh (11 pages)
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs
• Beyond blended: Post-pandemic curriculum and learning design report (40 pages)
• Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
• Degree Programme Tables (DPT) Index (DRPS)

This site is not meant to be prescriptive nor a how-to guide; its aim is to provide you with a compilation of resources and information provided by a range of colleagues across the University of Edinburgh, as well as from external sources, to guide you on whatever stage you are at in programme and course design. Feel free to pick and choose what is of most use to you.

The first option on the main menu, ‘Programme and course design’, contains pages that present the main conceptual approaches for educators to consider when approaching programme and course design. These include: understanding what we mean by the ‘curriculum’; an introduction to the University’s Curriculum Design Principles (part of the Curriculum Transformation Programme); useful curriculum models to follow or be inspired by; guidance on designing learning outcomes; an overview of embedding digital pedagogy; an index of policies and regulations; and some examples of course and programme design in practice.

The rest of the menu options are themes integral to ‘good’ pedagogy that should all be consulted when designing courses and programmes, for example, Universal Design, Sustainability, and Reflection. For each menu option, there is a main core elements page to give an overview, plus currently two further pages per topic. A page on embedding in practice (including tips, reflection prompts, and case studies), and a page of additional resources such as blogs, videos, articles, etc.