These regulations make no distinction for assessment purposes between students on different modes of attendance.

These Regulations govern assessments for students who are commencing or who have moved at the beginning of 2009/2010 to an undergraduate programme which has modules with 15 credits or a multiple of 15 credits. There are a few programmes in the University which moved to a 15 credit structure in 2008/2009. Students taking these programmes will also be subject to these Regulations. Standard Undergraduate Assessment Regulations Version 4 J 1 J 1.1 J 1.2 J 1.3 J 1.3 J 1.4 Introduction These regulations are standard assessment regulations for programmes of study leading to the awards of the University shown at J 2 below. All programmes of study which lead to those awards are governed by these assessment regulations, except where Senate has agreed that a particular programme of study may be exempt from all or part of these requirements. Where such an exemption has been granted alternative assessment regulations will be published in the Student Course Handbook. Where deviation from these regulations is necessary in order to satisfy professional requirements, for example those of a Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body, the relevant Student Course Handbook will provide details of the alternative regulation(s). These regulations make no distinction for assessment purposes between students on different modes of attendance. These regulations only apply to assessments conducted for the purposes of establishing credit, determining the right to progress or determining an award. Where indicated, students should refer to the appropriate Student Course Handbook for further details of the assessment requirements for their programme of study. J 2 J 2.1 Maximum Registration Periods For each award of the University there is a limit on the period for which a student may be registered for that award, as listed below. Where a student is admitted to a programme of study with exemption or with academic credit the maximum registration period for that student will be shortened. In such cases the maximum registration period will be calculated by deducting the maximum time permitted to reach the point at which the student is to be admitted from the normal maximum registration period for the award. Award Foundation Certificate Certificate in Professional Studies Maximum Period 3 years 2 years July 2009 1

Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) Diploma in Professional Studies Foundation Degree Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies Top-up Degree Bachelor s Degree Bachelor s Degree with Honours requiring 360 credits Bachelor s Degree with Honours requiring 480 credits Graduate Certificate (Grad Cert) Graduate Diploma (Grad Dip) 3 years 2 years 5 years 5 years 2 years 3 years 7 years 7 years 9 years 2 years 3 years In order to comply with the requirements of a professional or statutory body the Student Course Handbook may specify a shorter maximum registration period for a particular programme of study. J 2.2 J 2.3 J 3 J 3.1 There is no minimum registration period for any of the awards governed by these regulations. Where a student has formally interrupted his or her studies, the period of interruption of study will be included in the student s registration period for the purposes of calculating his or her maximum period of registration under these regulations. In order to record a formal interruption of studies the student must complete and return to the Faculty Office a Student Changes E3 Form (see also E2.17.3). Expiry of Maximum Registration Period All students should aim to complete their programme of study within the maximum registration period. It is acknowledged, however, that there will be students who do not complete within that timeframe. A student whose maximum registration period for the award has expired may request to proceed on the programme of study on which he or she has been registered. Such a student cannot proceed without some re-assessment of the currency of his or her previous learning. Such re-assessment may result in no, part, or full academic credit being granted for the student's previous July 2009 2

study on the programme concerned. The assessment of students for academic credit is the responsibility of the Examination Board but, in the case of part-time students only, responsibility for a decision to allow a student to proceed with full academic credit may be delegated to the Course Director. Where full academic credit has been granted the student may proceed on the programme of study. Where full academic credit is not granted the student may not proceed on the programme until full academic credit has been obtained, usually by undertaking further study at the same or a lower level of attainment to that reached previously. The decision on whether to readmit a student to an earlier stage of the same programme on which he or she was previously enrolled in order to obtain the missing credit is a matter for the Board of Studies or those nominated to act on its behalf. J 3.2 The University cannot extend a maximum registration period which is specified by a professional or statutory body for a particular programme of study. J 4 J 4.1 J 4.2 J 4.3 J 4.4 J 4.5 J 4.6 J 4.7 Modules All undergraduate programmes of study consist of a series of modules. A module is a discrete block of study with its own objectives, syllabus, learning outcomes and assessment requirements. The modules which form a programme of study are described in the Student Course Handbook. Each module is assigned a credit value and level within an individual programme. More information about the credit rating and level of modules is given in J 5 and J 6 below. Modules must be classified as core or optional within a particular programme. The Student Course Handbook will define whether modules are core or optional in a particular programme of study. All core modules within a student s programme of study are compulsory. Programme teams may specify modules within a programme which are essential to the integrity of one or more of the awards governed by these regulations. These essential modules must be completed successfully in order to satisfy the requirements for that award and therefore they cannot be compensated. Such modules will be identified in the Student Course Handbook. An optional module is one selected by a student from a set of modules specified in the Student Course Handbook. The number of optional modules a student must successfully complete in order to qualify for the award is also specified in the Student Course Handbook. Where appropriate an optional module may be specified as a pre-requisite module for another optional module provided it satisfies the criteria set out in J 3.6 below. A pre-requisite module is one which must have been successfully completed before a module or modules for which it is specified as a pre-requisite can be studied in a subsequent level. A module is defined as a pre-requisite because it is essential for students to complete it successfully as preparation for study of the subsequent module; therefore, a module cannot be designated a pre-requisite for a later module July 2009 3

to which its subject content is not linked directly. Where a programme contains prerequisite modules they are identified in the Student Course Handbook. J 4.7 J 4.8 A co-requisite module is one which must be taken in conjunction with another specified module during the same semester. Co-requisite modules are identified in the Student Course Handbook. The Student Course Handbook may also specify excluded combinations of modules. Excluded combinations are modules which may not be taken as part of the same programme of study. J 5 J 5.1 J 5.2 J 5.3 J 5.4 J 5.5 J 5.6 The Credit Framework All programmes of study which lead to the awards governed by these regulations are credit rated. Awards are obtained by accumulating a specified number of these credits (see J 8.1 below). Credits are awarded in accordance with the University s framework for credit accumulation and transfer which accords with the systems used by many other British universities and can be easily translated to the systems used by European universities. Each module has a credit rating. A standard size module has 15 credits which represents 150 notional learning hours. Individual students may take more or less time to achieve the outcomes of a particular module, thus this figure is merely indicative. A programme of study may contain double modules (30 credits) or triple modules (45 credits) etc and, exceptionally, when a programme is approved the inclusion of modules with a lower credit rating may be agreed where that is appropriate to the particular aims and learning outcomes. Details of the credit rating of each module within a programme are given in the Student Course Handbook. In order to be awarded the credits associated with a module a student must successfully complete the assessment associated with that module, satisfying the requirements for a pass mark set out at J 9 below. Where failure in a module has been compensated, the credits associated with the compensated module will be added to the credits achieved by the student for the purposes of calculating eligibility for an award (see J 16 below). Some undergraduate programmes of study include work-based learning which is assessed and has a credit rating. Details of any work-based learning are given in the Student Course Handbook which will also explain the assessment process and the amount of credit allocated to these modules. If a student has been granted academic credit through APL these credits count towards the total number of credits required for the award. The regulations governing the granting of academic credit are set out in Section D above. July 2009 4

J 6 J 6.1 Levels Modules are also assigned a level within each programme of study. The level represents the position of the module in the curriculum in terms of the sophistication of the knowledge, understanding and skills that a student is required to demonstrate to achieve the learning outcomes. Modules which contribute to the awards governed by these regulations are designated levels as set out in the descriptor for each award in Section B of Part 1. J 7 J 7.1 J 7.2 J 7.3 Module Assessment Modules are assessed by the methods and criteria described in the syllabus provided in the Student Course Handbook. A schedule of assessment will be published to students at the start of each module or combination of modules. The schedule will provide information about the nature and timing of assessment for the module or combination of modules. The following limits have been placed upon the number of assessments permitted per module: Modules with a credit rating of less than 15 shall include one item of assessment only; and Modules with a credit rating of 15 or more may include up to two items of assessment. The assessment method(s) for each item of assessment will be defined in the schedule of assessment. The method used to assess each item of assessment will vary according to the nature of the module and may include, for example, an examination (including open-book), presentation, coursework, log-book, project, laboratory test or clinical test etc. J 7.4 J 7.5 Senate may accept a recommendation from a panel established to consider the approval or review and re-approval of a programme of study to allow a module to include more assessments than would normally be possible under J 7.3 above. Such a proposal may also be approved through a Faculty s minor change processes. In these cases, the nature and size of the additional item(s) of assessment will be explained in the Student Course Handbook. The use of additional grading schemes to supplement the information provided to students about their assessed work is permitted. Where such a scheme is operated it will be described in the relevant Student Course Handbook. July 2009 5

J 8 J 8.1 J 8.1.1 Eligibility for awards Credit Requirements In order to satisfy the requirements for an award, students must have been awarded the credits shown in the table below. Where a student has been admitted with academic credit to an undergraduate programme the amount of credit required for an award will be reduced by the number of credits with which the student has been admitted. The regulations governing the admission of students with academic credit are given in Section D of Part 1 of the Academic Regulations and Policies. Award Minimum credit needed to satisfy the requirements of the award Foundation Certificate 120 credits at level 3; Certificate in Professional 60 credits at level 4 Studies 1 Level 3 credits cannot contribute to any other award governed by these regulations. Certificate of Higher Education 120 credits at level 4 or above 2 (Cert HE) 1 Diploma in Professional Studies 1 a minimum of 60 credits at level 5 Foundation Degree 1 Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) 1 240 credits of which at least 120 must be at level 5 240 credits of which at least 120 must be at level 5 or above 2 Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies 1 a minimum of 60 credits at level 6 Bachelor s Degree 1 Bachelor s Degree with Honours 300 credits of which at least 60 must be at level 6 and not more than 120 at level 4 360 credits of which at least 120 must be at level 6 and not more than 120 at level 4 1 Available as an aegrotat award. Where, in order to comply with the requirements of a professional or accrediting body, an aegrotat award is not available for a particular programme of study this will be specified in the Student Handbook. 2 When an Examination Board is considering a student s results for an award, credits achieved for Level 5 or 6 modules may be counted towards the award of a Cert HE or a Dip HE provided the student has met the requirements for that award. July 2009 6

Graduate Certificate (Grad 60 credits at Level 6 Cert) 1 Graduate Diploma (Grad Dip) 1 120 credits at Level 6 Certain programmes of study which lead to the award of Bachelor s Degree with Honours require 480 credits of which at least 240 must be at level 6 and not more than 120 at level 4. The relevant Student Course Handbook will include details. J 8.2 J 8.2.1 J 8.2.2 J 8.2.3 Joint Degrees and awards with a major or minor Some programmes of study leading to the award of Bachelor s degree with Honours permit students to undertake specified modules in order to gain a joint honours award. In order to qualify for a joint honours award the student s programme of study must have included modules equivalent to 60 credits in each of the joint subjects at levels 5 and 6. Some undergraduate programmes of study permit students to undertake specified modules in order to gain an award with a major or minor. To qualify for a major the student s programme of study must include modules in the major subject equivalent to at least 75 credits from level 5 or 6 for the award of Diploma of Higher Education, 105 credits at level 5 and 6 for the award of Bachelor s Degree or 135 credits from level 5 and 6 for a Bachelor s Degree with Honours. In order to qualify for a minor the student s main study must be combined with modules in the minor subject which are equivalent to at least 30 credits from level 5 or 6 for the award of Diploma of Higher Education, 60 credits from Level 5 and 6 for the award of Bachelor s Degree or 75 credits from Level 5 and 6 for the award of Bachelor s Degree with Honours. An award with a minor shall not be made where a student's profile includes modules in the minor subject that equal or exceed the credits required for a major or joint award. In such cases a joint award or an award with a major may be made if this is permitted under the regulations for the programme concerned. J 8.2.4 Where a student joins an undergraduate programme partway through Level 5 or 6, major/minor awards should be calculated as follows: If the student joins the programme with 60 level 5 credits, the student s programme of study must include modules in the major subject equivalent to at least 90 credits from level 5 and 6 for the award of Bachelor s Degree with honours. In order to qualify for a minor the student s main study must be combined with modules in the minor subject which are equivalent to at least 45 credits at Level 5 or 6 (see also J17.8 below).; If a student joins the programme at the start of Level 6, the programme of study must include modules in the major subject equivalent to at least 75 level July 2009 7

6 credits for the award of Bachelor s Degree with Honours. In order to qualify for a minor the student s main study must be combined with modules in the minor subject which are equivalent to at least 30 credits at level 6 for the award of Bachelor s Degree with Honours (see also J17.9 below). An award with a minor shall not be made where a student's profile includes modules in the minor subject that equal or exceed the credits required for a major or joint award. In such cases a joint award or an award with a major may be made if this is permitted under the regulations for the programme concerned. J 8.2.5 The following awards are available with major and minor awards: Diploma of Higher Education Foundation Degree Bachelor s Degree Bachelor s Degree with Honours J 9 J 9.1 J 9.1.1 Marks Marks for items of assessment Marks assigned by examiners for each item of assessment are expressed as a percentage and in whole numbers. J 9.2 Pass mark for a module J 9.2.1 The pass mark for a module with one item of assessment is 40%. J 9.2.2 In modules which have more than one item of assessment a pass will be awarded where: the overall average of the marks achieved for the items of assessment is 40% or more; and the mark in each separate item of assessment is not less than 30%. In calculating the overall average mark for a module the marks attributed to each item of assessment will be weighted equally unless a different weighting has been specified in the Student Course Handbook J 9.2.3 J 9.2.4 Where the process of calculating the overall weighted average mark for a module results in a mark which is not a whole number, that mark will be expressed to one decimal place except where the overall weighted average expressed to one decimal place is between 39.5% and 39.9%. In these cases the overall average mark will be rounded up. Where a different pass mark is required in order to meet requirements of a professional body this will be specified in the Student Course Handbook. July 2009 8

J 9.2.5 If it is agreed at the point of programme approval or via a Faculty s minor change procedures that a module is to be marked on a pass/fail basis this will be specified in the Student Course Handbook. J 10 J 10.1 J 10.2 Notification of Marks to Students Marks will remain provisional until they have been confirmed by the relevant Examination Board. A final transcript which accords with the University s standard template for the transcript of learning and achievement will be issued when an award is confirmed. J 11 J 11.1 J 11.2 J 11.3 J 11.4 J 11.5 Late Coursework It is the responsibility of students to submit work for assessment as required. Information about the nature and timing of assessment will be published to students in accordance with J 7.1 and J 7.2 above. The Student Course Handbook will also define those items of assessment which are classified as coursework. Where a student submits his or her first attempt at an assessment after the published deadline the maximum mark available will be 40% provided it is submitted no more than 5 working days after the published deadline. Work submitted more than 5 working days after the published deadline will not be marked and the student will be deemed to have failed an attempt at the assessment. Where a student submits a re-assessment attempt after the published deadline the student will be deemed to have failed the re-assessment and the coursework will be returned to the student unmarked. A student who is unable to meet a coursework deadline because of exceptional circumstances may request either an extension to the coursework deadline or to defer the assessment (see J12). J 12 J 12.1 Claims to defer assessment or to request a coursework extension because of Exceptional Circumstances A student who is unable to attend an examination or other form of assessment or to meet a coursework deadline because of exceptional circumstances may make a request either to: defer the attempt at the assessment(s) to a later date; or be granted an extension to complete coursework. J 12.2 The regulations and procedures for requests to defer an assessment or to be granted an extension are described in Part II of the Academic Regulations and July 2009 9

Policies. Guidance for students is also published in Part II which describes the type of circumstances that may be seen as exceptional and the nature of evidence that will be required to determine the validity of a request to defer an assessment or be granted an extension. J12.3 If a student with disabilities has a Support Statement recommending additional time to complete coursework, the student may be granted an alternative deadline in accordance with the policy and procedures set out in Part II. The granting of additional time to complete the coursework does not affect the student s right to submit a request for a deferral of assessment or an extension on the grounds of exceptional circumstances provided the student s request is based on exceptional circumstances which have not already been taken into account in the Support Statement. J 13 Progression J 13.1 Progression from Level 3 to Level 4 J 13.1.1 In order to progress from level 3 to level 4 a student must have been awarded 120 credits at level 3. J 13.2 Progression from Level 4 upwards J 13.2.1 In order to progress to the next level a student must have successfully completed modules worth 90 credits or more in the level. J 13.2.2 Therefore, a student who has failed modules worth more than 30 credits in a level will not be permitted to progress to the next level until the requirements laid down in J 13.2.1 above have been met. J 13.2.3 A student who has satisfied the requirements set out in J 13.2.1 above, may be permitted to study modules from different levels concurrently provided the limitations on module registration set down in J 14.1 are not exceeded. J 13.2.4 A student will not be permitted to commence study of a module for which he or she has not already completed successfully a module identified as a pre-requisite for that module. J 14 Provisions in the Event of Failure Flowcharts summarising the re-assessment process defined in Regulations J 14.1 to J 14.5 can be found in Annex 1 below. J 14.1 General Provisions J 14.1.1 A student who has failed a module or modules may be registered for assessment in modules equivalent to a maximum of 150 credits in any one year in order to retrieve the failed module(s). The student will be required to re-register for assessment in the failed module or modules before being permitted to register for new modules. Thus, where a student is to re-study a module concurrently with new modules and July 2009 10

there is a timetable clash between the module to be re-studied and a new module it is the module being re-studied in which the student will be registered. J 14.1.2 The maximum mark which can be awarded for a module after re-assessment is 40% irrespective of the academic merits of the re-assessed work. This mark will be used for the purposes of determining the differentiation or classification of an award. J 14.1.3 Where a decision has been taken to cease to offer a module, the Faculty will schedule three re-assessment opportunities for the final cohort, which will include a requirement to re-study the module for those students who fail at referral (see J 14.3). Students will be eligible to submit claims to defer an assessment or claim a coursework extension because of exceptional circumstances in respect of each attempt at assessment in such a module (see Procedures for the Procedures for the Consideration of Exceptional Circumstances in Part II). Students will be offered the choice of registering for a replacement module, rather than repeating the module which is being phased out. Any attempt at this alternative module will be regarded as a re-assessment. The maximum mark which can be awarded after reassessment in the replacement module is 40% irrespective of the academic merits of the re-assessed work. This mark will be used for the purposes of determining the differentiation or classification of an award. J 14.1.4 A student cannot demand re-assessment or the right to re-study to retrieve failure in a module which is no longer current in the programme. The Examination Board will make such special arrangements as it deems appropriate in cases where it is not practicable for students to be re-assessed in the same module and by the same methods as before. J 14.1.5 A student will not be permitted to repeat the assessment for an item of assessment, module or modules he or she has already completed successfully in order to improve the mark. J 14.1.6 Where a student has failed an optional module or modules he or she will be permitted to substitute alternative optional modules, provided such modules are available. The actual mark achieved for the assessment of the new module will be used for the purposes of calculating the differentiation or classification of an award. Failed substitute modules cannot subsequently be substituted (see Flowchart 2 at Annex 1 below). J 14.2 Referral J 14.2.1 A student who fails a module or modules at the first attempt will be referred in the item(s) of assessment he or she has failed. The re-assessment will take place on the next occasion the module is assessed. J 14.2.2 Where a module includes more than one item of assessment a student will not be required to be referred in an item he or she has passed. The mark achieved in the passed item will be used along with the mark achieved after re-assessment of the failed item to calculate the overall weighted average mark for the module. The mark achieved in a re-assessed item of assessment must be 30% or more and must be sufficient to raise the overall weighted average mark for the module to July 2009 11

40%. Where a student has failed more than one item of assessment in a module he or she will be registered automatically for re-assessment in the failed items of assessment. If the mark achieved after re-assessment in an item of assessment is lower than that achieved at the previous attempt, the higher mark achieved will be used to calculate the overall weighted average mark for the module. J 14.3 Re-studying modules J 14.3.1 Where a student at the referral attempt either: fails the module(s); or fails either to attend the examination/assessment task or to submit coursework in which he or she was referred he or she will be required to register automatically to re-study the module(s). The Learning Agreement will define how the student will re-study to recoup failure (see J 14.5) J 14.3.2 The student will be required to complete all of the items of assessment in the module. Assessment marks from a previous attempt cannot be carried forward. J 14.4 Re-assessment after re-studying J 14.4.1 Where a student after re-studying a module either: fails the module(s); or fails either to attend the examination/assessment task or to submit re-assessment coursework he or she will be referred for one final attempt at re-assessment in the module on the next occasion the module is assessed. J 14.4.2 Where a module includes more than one item of assessment a student will not be required to be referred in an item he or she has passed after re-study. The mark achieved in the passed item will be used along with the mark achieved after reassessment of the failed item to calculate the overall weighted average mark for the module. The mark achieved in a re-assessed item of assessment must be 30% or more and must be sufficient to raise the overall weighted average mark for the module to 40%. Where a student has failed more than one item of assessment in a module after re-study he or she will be registered automatically for re-assessment in the failed items of assessment. If the mark achieved after re-assessment in an item of assessment is lower than that achieved at the second re-assessment attempt (i.e. after re-study), the higher mark achieved will be used to calculate the overall weighted average mark for the module. July 2009 12

J 14.5 Learning Agreements J 14.5.1 If a student has failed a module or modules a written agreement with the student, called a Learning Agreement, will be drawn up. The Learning Agreement will specify: the module(s) the student has failed and needs to retrieve; whether the student is required to re-study the module; where a student is to re-study a module or modules, the number of new modules which the student will study concurrently; the support the student will receive in retrieving the failed module; and the date(s) at which a student will be required to be re-assessed. J 14.5.2 If, after the next assessment attempt, the student still has a failed module or modules to retrieve a new Learning Agreement will be agreed with the student. J 14.5.3 If the student fails either to attend the examination/assessment task or to submit reassessment coursework by the date(s) agreed he or she will be deemed to have failed that opportunity for re-assessment unless a claim to defer the assessment has been upheld. J 15 J 15.1 J 15.2 Withdrawal from the programme Where a student withdraws before completing his or her programme, the student will be entitled to receive an interim award provided that the requirements for that award have already been met. Where an interim award is not available this will be specified in the Student Course Handbook. A student who fails again after exhausting the right to re-assessment afforded under J 14 above will be given the opportunity either: to accept the conferment of the highest level of interim award for which he or she has satisfied the requirements, in which case the student will be withdrawn from the programme; or to transfer his or her registration to an appropriate alternative programme for which he or she can still satisfy the requirements, where such a programme is available. J 15.3 An Examination Board may withdraw a student who has been required to re-study and who, despite warnings, has failed to meet the requirements to attend/engage in the module as set out in the Learning Agreement. If the student has already satisfied the requirements for an interim award he or she will be given the opportunity to accept that award. July 2009 13

J 15.4 A student who fails to satisfy the assessment requirements for his or her programme within the maximum permitted registration period for the award will be withdrawn from the programme (see J 3 above). J 16 J 16.1 J 16.2 J 16.3 J 16.4 Compensation Compensation is the process by which an Examination Board, in consideration of a student s overall performance, recommends that credit be awarded for a module in which a student has failed to satisfy the assessment criteria. Compensation is only applied when the conditions in J 16.4 to J 16.6 below have been met. The compensation regulations will be invoked by the Examination Board when the student s results are considered at the end of each level and/or for an award. An Examination Board is not permitted to compensate failure in any module forming part of a programme of study that contributes to an award containing fewer than 120 credits. The maximum number of credits that may be compensated at the end of each level of each award is stated below. A student cannot be compensated in a module and referred for re-assessment/re-study in another module at the same level at the same meeting of the Examination Board. Thus, where a student has failed in modules exceeding the volumes of credit stated below no failed module will be compensated. Foundation Certificate Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be compensated at the end of level 3. Certificate of Higher Education Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be compensated at the end of level 4. Diploma of Higher Education and Foundation Degree Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be compensated at the end of level 4. Modules equivalent to a maximum of 15 credits may be compensated at the end of level 5. Bachelor s Degree Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be compensated at Level 4. July 2009 14

Modules equivalent to a maximum of 15 credits may be compensated at Level 5 or 6. Compensation will not be permitted at Level 5 or 6 where a student has failed modules worth more than 15 credits within the level. Bachelor s Degree with Honours Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be compensated at Level 4. Modules equivalent to a maximum of 15 credits may be compensated at the end of level 5. Modules equivalent to a maximum of 30 credits may be subject to compensation by the end of level 6. This total must include any level 5 modules that were compensated at the end of level 5. 3 Compensation will not be permitted at Level 6 where a student has failed modules equivalent to more than 30 credits over Levels 5 and 6. This total of failed modules must include any modules compensated at the end of Level 5. 4 Level 6 top-up degrees Modules equivalent to a maximum of 15 credits at level 6 may be compensated. Certificate in Professional Studies Diploma in Professional Studies Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies An Examination Board is not permitted to compensate failure in any module forming part of a programme of study that contributes to the award of Certificate in Professional Studies, Diploma in Professional Studies or Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies. 3 In programmes which lead to the award of Bachelor s degree with Honours and require 360 credits at Levels 5 and 6, a student may be compensated in modules equivalent to 15 credits when he or she has taken modules equivalent to 120 credits at Level 5; when a student has taken modules equivalent to 120 credits at Level 6 he or she may be compensated in modules equivalent to 15 credits; when a student has 240 credits at Level 6 he or she may be compensated in modules equivalent to 30 credits but this total must include any Level 6 credits already compensated. 4 In programmes which lead to the award of Bachelor s degree with Honours and require 360 credits at Level 5 and 6, compensation will not be permitted when a student has taken 240 credits at Level 6 and has failed modules equivalent to more than 30 credits over Level 6. This total of failed modules must include any modules compensated at the end of the first 120 credits at Level 6. July 2009 15

Graduate Certificate An Examination Board is not permitted to compensate failure in any module forming part of a programme of study that contributes to the award of Graduate Certificate. Graduate Diploma Modules equivalent to a maximum of 15 credits at level 6 may be compensated. J 16.5 To be eligible for compensation a student must have achieved: an overall average mark of 45% or above in all of the modules that contribute to the level; 5 and an overall weighted average mark of 29.5% or above in the module for which compensation is being considered. J 16.6 J 16.7 J 16.8 J 16.9 Compensation will be applied to a module in which the student has been reassessed if the mark awarded after re-assessment is sufficient to meet the requirements laid down in J 16.5 above. The Student Course Handbook will identify modules in which failure cannot be compensated. Optional modules cannot be identified as ineligible for compensation except where the module concerned serves as a pre-requisite for another module in a particular student s programme. Modules in which failure has been compensated cannot be used as pre-requisites for subsequent modules. Where a student has elected to substitute an alternative optional module for an optional module that has been failed, the actual mark achieved in the assessment of the alternative module will be used to calculate the student s entitlement to compensation. J 16.10 Where failure in a module has been compensated, the credits associated with the compensated module will be added to the credits achieved by the student for the purposes of determining progression or calculating eligibility for an award. J 16.11 Where failure in a module has been compensated, the actual mark achieved by the student will be used for the purposes of calculating the differentiation or classification of the award. J 16.12 At Levels 5 and 6, a student may decline to have failure in a module or modules compensated and may elect to be re-assessed instead with a view to improving the mark or marks awarded to 40% for the purposes of calculating the differentiation or 5 Where compensation is applied at Level 6 on a Bachelor s Degree or Bachelor s Degree with Honours programme a student must have achieved an overall average mark of 45% or above in all modules that contribute to Level 5 and Level 6 combined July 2009 16

classification of the award. A student electing to be re-assessed must notify the Faculty in writing within three weeks of publication of the results. 6 Where a student fails again after such re-assessment, the mark(s) achieved in the re-assessment will be used to calculate the student s eligibility for compensation unless the mark(s) achieved after re-assessment is lower than that previously achieved in which case the higher mark will be used. J 17 The Classification of Honours Degrees J 17.1 For Bachelor s Degrees with Honours which require a student to be awarded 360 credits the classification of the award will be calculated as described below. Senate may accept a recommendation from a panel established to consider the approval or review and re-approval of a programme of study to allow a method of classification based solely on the overall average of Level 6 modules equivalent to 120 credits where this is more appropriate to the particular discipline. 7 J 17.2 J 17.3 The Examination Board will consider the overall average of the best Level 5 marks achieved in modules equivalent to 30 credits and the best Level 6 marks in modules equivalent to 90 credits. 8 In calculating the overall average mark, module marks will be weighted in proportion to their credit value. Marks to one decimal place will be totalled for the calculation and the overall average mark will be expressed as a whole number. In order to express the total percentage mark as a whole number fractions of.5 and above will be rounded up, anything below.5 will be rounded down. This total will determine the degree classification as shown in the following table: 6 The arrangements for providing notification will be published to students affected by this regulation. 7 In the case of awards of Bachelor s Degree with Honours that require students to be awarded 480 credits, the method agreed on behalf of the Senate to calculate the classification of honours awards will be recorded in the relevant Student Handbook. 8 For students who were awarded marks for Level 5 or Level 6 work on their programme before the start of 2009/10 the classification of the award will be calculated from whichever of the following two calculation methods produces the highest mark: Method 1 the overall average of the marks achieved for level 5 and level 6 modules equivalent to 240 credits. Where students have a mixture of 12 and 15 credits within a level the total number of credits achieved may amount to slightly more or less than 240 credits. An adjustment will be made to take this difference into account in the calculation. Method 2 the overall average of the marks achieved in level 6 modules equivalent to 90 credits. For the purposes of calculating the overall average mark the highest marks achieved by the student in level 6 modules equivalent to 90 credits will be used. In respect of non-standard size modules a single module equivalence will be calculated and used for the purposes of determining the student s overall average mark. Where students have a mixture of 12 and 15 credits within Level 6 an adjustment will be made to take this into account in the calculation. July 2009 17

Honours Classification First Class Total percentage mark 70% or above Second Class Honours Division I 60 69 % Second Class Honours Division II 50 59% Third Class 40 49% J 17.4 Where failure in a Level 5 or 6 module has been compensated (see J 15 above) the actual mark achieved by the student will be used to calculate the classification of the award. J 17.5 Where a student has been admitted with academic credit partway through level 5, the degree classification will be based solely upon the marks achieved in the modules the student is required to complete on the programme in order to qualify for the award and will be calculated in accordance with J 17.2 to J 17.3 above. J 17.6 J 17.7 Where a student has been admitted to a Level 6 top-up degree or admitted with academic credit to the start of Level 6 the classification of the award will be based solely upon the marks achieved in the modules the student is required to complete on the programme in order to qualify for the award. Where a student has undertaken approved study at an overseas institution as part of an exchange programme, the results achieved in the modules studied abroad will be excluded for the purposes of calculating the honours classification. Thus the calculation of the honours classification will be based upon the student s performance in all other Level 5 and 6 modules, calculated in accordance with J17.2 to J 17.3 above. J 18 J 18.1 J 18.2 Awards with Commendation or Distinction Certain awards include provision for the award to be conferred with Commendation or Distinction. The requirements which must be satisfied for an award with Commendation or Distinction are set out at J 18.3 to J 18.6 below. The following awards are available with Commendation or Distinction: Foundation Certificate Certificate of Higher Education Diploma of Higher Education Foundation Degree Bachelor s Degree Graduate Diploma July 2009 18

J 18.3 J 18.4 J 18.5 J 18.6 An award with Commendation will be made to students who satisfy the requirements for the award and achieve an overall average mark of between 60% - 69% at the credit value and levels specified in the table below. An award with Distinction will be made to students who satisfy the requirements for the award and achieve an overall average mark of 70% or above at the credit value and levels specified in the table below. Where module marks are averaged for the purposes of determining eligibility for an award with Commendation or Distinction, marks to one decimal place will be totalled for the calculation but the overall average mark will be expressed as a whole number. In order to express the overall average mark as a whole number fractions of.5 and above will be rounded up, anything below.5 will be rounded down. Where a student has been admitted with academic credit the differentiation of the award will be based solely upon the marks achieved in the modules the student was required to complete on the programme in order to qualify for the award. Award Credit value used for calculating average Additional rule for particular award Foundation Certificate 120 credits at Level 3 Certificate of Higher Education 120 credits at Level 4 Diploma of Higher Education 120 credits at Level 5 and/or Level 6 Foundation Degree 120 credits at level 5 Where completed modules from Level 5 and Level 6 total more than 120 credits, the calculation will be based upon the marks achieved in the candidate s best modules equivalent to at least 120 credits. Bachelor s Degree requiring 300 credits Bachelor s Degree requiring 360 credits 180 credits at Level 5 and 6 Where completed modules at Level 5 and Level 6 total more than 180 credits, the calculation will be based upon the marks achieved in the candidate s best modules equivalent to at least 180 credits. The method agreed on behalf of the Senate to calculate the differentiation will be recorded in the relevant Student Handbook Graduate Diploma 120 credits at Level 6 July 2009 19

J 19 Cheating The procedures to be followed in cases of alleged cheating are governed by the Student Disciplinary Procedure given in Part II. J 20 Representations by Students Against Academic Decisions The procedures to be followed for representations by students against academic decision where there has been a material irregularity in the conduct of the assessment or the Examination Board are described in Part II. July 2009 20

MODULE ASSESSMENT (1 st attempt) Annex 1 to Section J Full mark obtained. Module passed and credit awarded. PASS Pass? FAIL Module failed. Student referred for re-sit. Learning Agreement agreed. (2 nd attempt) Mark Capped at 40%. Module passed and credit awarded. PASS Pass? FAIL Module failed. Student registered to re-study entire module. Learning Agreement reviewed. (1 st re-study attempt) PASS Pass? FAIL Re-studied module failed. Student has one final attempt to re-sit. Learning Agreement reviewed. PASS Pass? FAIL Final attempt at module failed. Withdraw or transfer to another programme. Flowchart 1: Quick Reference Flow Chart- For Re-Sit/Re- Study of Failed Core Modules July 2009 21

OPTIONAL MODULE ASSESSMENT. (1 st Attempt) Flowchart 2: Quick Reference Flow Chart- For Re-Sit/ Re-Study Of Failed Optional Modules PASS Pass? FAIL Module failed. Re-sit or substitute with alternative optional module? SUBSTITUTE Commence study on new substituted module. (1 st attempt not capped) Student restarts as if for the first time* RE-SIT SUBSTITUTE Full mark obtained. Module passed and credit awarded. PASS Re-sit module (2 nd attempt). Learning Agreement agreed** Pass? FAIL Module failed. Re-study module or substitute with alternative optional module? RE-STUDY Re-study module. Learning Agreement reviewed (1 st re-study attempt) Pass? FAIL SUBSTITUTE Module failed. Re-sit module (final attempt) or substitute PASS RE-SIT Mark capped at 40%. Module passed and credit awarded. Re-sit module. Learning Agreement reviewed (Final attempt) PASS Pass? FAIL * Students may elect to substitute optional modules on ONE occasion only and only where alternative optional modules are available. See relevant Student Handbook for details of optional module availability. ** Where students fail a module Learning Agreements would be required to be agreed before re-commencing study. Withdraw; transfer to another programme where possible; or substitution permitted if not taken previously. July 2009 22