The Society has received applications to accredit 23 bioscience degree programmes from 10 UK universities, submitted for the September 2013 round of applications. This could mark the beginning of a trend for the Degree Accreditation Programme, which accredited three times the anticipated number of degrees in the January 2013 round.

Paul Trimmer, accreditation manager, said: "The Degree Accreditation Programme has received a lot of support and interest over the past year from the bioscience community, and this looks set to continue. We are already receiving expressions of interest for the January 2014 deadline of accreditation, and I would like to encourage any universities considering accreditation to submit their expression of interest as soon as possible."

Applications to the Degree Accreditation Programme are accepted in two rounds per year: deadlines for this are 1^st January and 1^st September each year. In order to secure an assessment in the New Year, full applications should be submitted as soon as possible. With the increasing number of applications, it may become necessary to prioritise applications on a first-come, first-served basis; later submissions may potentially be delayed until September 2014 for their assessment.

With the completion of the UKCES funding next year, applicants should be aware that submissions received after 1^st September 2014 will not be eligible for subsidised fees; all universities with applications in this round will be required to pay for the honorariums and expenses of the assessors.

Members of the Degree Accreditation Team are available to meet with any higher education institution considering applying for accreditation. To book a meeting, please email the Accreditation Team.