Generally, DFL courses follow a five-year cycle (although it can be varied if there are very good reasons). This long-term approach has advantages of:
- allowing for the rational planning of resources, such as in making staff available to work on producing new or revised courses, buying any special items, and gaining copyright clearances on secondary materials; and
- enabling large print-runs and thus improving cost-effectiveness.
The five-year cycle for a new course starting in 2009 would be:
2009: New course is developed to be offered for the first time.
2010: The course undergoes minor adjustment following its first offering.
2011: Course is offered unrevised.
2012: Course is offered unrevised.
2013: Course is offered unrevised.
2014: Course is revised.
