Your degree - key information

Continuation and Completion

Single honours students
A student at Level C, I, or H of a Single honours award completes their level of study (or award as appropriate) if a weighted Level aggregate of 40% is achieved across their year of study i.e. over the two 60 credit courses taken over both semesters.

Double major students level C
Students will normally complete Level C if a weighted aggregate of 40% is attained across 120 credits of study approved for their two academic Subjects. Further scrutiny will take place if the aggregate in one Subject is less than 25 even if the overall aggregate of both Subjects is 40 or above.

Double major students levels I and H
On a double major students must achieve a weighted aggregate of 40% or higher in both of their subjects. Where available, students will also be eligible to switch to a Major/ Minor route in the Subject of their choice.

If a student at Level I achieves a final overall aggregate of 40% or more in one in one Subject but in their second Subject they have achieved a weighted aggregate of 35%-39%, they will be subject to further scrutiny. If their overall weighted aggregate for Level I is 40%, taking into account both subjects, they may be allowed to pass the subject in which they achieved 35-39% with reservation. The student will then be offered the opportunity to move to single honours in the Subject they have passed, where available. If the Subject they have passed at Level I is not available at Level H, as a single honours, the student will be required to retake the subject they have failed and cannot continue to the next level of study

Notwithstanding continuation requirements detailed above a student will be unable to continue on their current course if:

• their profile includes any mark of 0 associated with non-submission or academic misconduct.
• they have failed to reach a minimum of Grade E for any academic assessment that the University has defined as a “Qualifying Component”.
• they do not meet Professional or Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB)

In such cases the student will be required to undertake reassessment in these components and will then be subject to the usual continuation rules.

Continuation for students who undertake a placement year

Students who undertake a placement year must have satisfied the University requirements for continuation from Level I to Level H. At the nearest Board of Examiners to the end of the placement the Board will confirm the outcome of the placement. If the placement is passed a student will continue to Level H of their course with placement year, if they do not pass they will continue to Level H of their course without placement year.

In year resubmissions

• A student who did not achieve a pass mark in one or more coursework assessments in Levels C, I or H will have the opportunity, before the Continuation and Award board meets, to re-submit assessment tasks that have been identified in the Course handbook as ‘available for resubmission’. These will ordinarily be the most heavily weighted assessment tasks. However, resubmission of dissertations and research projects will only be offered to students who have achieved grade F or F+. There will be no extensions to the submission date.
• Resubmissions are subject to capping at Grade E. Students retain their right to undergo reassessment provided they fulfil the conditions detailed in the regulations.
• Resubmission of coursework tasks will not normally be offered if the coursework assessment task was failed due to non-participation in practical work or in taught
• Resubmission of coursework may also be denied in cases of Academic Misconduct as defined in the Academic Misconduct

Assessment opportunities after the summer Continuation and Award Boards

Students may be deemed to have forfeited their entitlement to reassessment in certain circumstances. Specifically, the Continuation and Award Board may require a student to retake their academic Subject, or their Level of study if their failure is related to issues associated with professional practice or a failure to undertake practical work, or if this outcome is advised as the result of academic misconduct. Students who have reached the maximum duration for completion of study may be required to terminate their studies rather than undertake further reassessment.

For all other students who have failed to continue into the next level of study after first assessment and any resubmission opportunities offered before the summer Boards, there will normally be a reassessment opportunity as indicated below. 

• All level C students who achieve a level aggregate between 25 and 39, or fail to continue, will normally be eligible for reassessment. Students who achieve a level aggregate less than 25 will be required to retake failed blocks of study.
• Single Honours students at Levels I and H who achieve a level aggregate between 25 and 39, or fail to otherwise continue, will normally be eligible for reassessment. Students who achieve a level aggregate less than 25 will be required to retake the level of study.
• Dual Major students at Levels I and H who achieve a subject aggregate between 25 and 39 in one or both subject(s), or fail to otherwise continue, will normally be eligible for reassessment. Students who achieve subject(s) aggregate less than 25 will be required to retake the failed subject(s). 
• In some instances, students will be required to undertake reassessments despite their weighted aggregate for the subject or level being greater than 40%. This might be because they have not yet continued or completed their award because their profile includes any mark of 0 associated with non-submission or academic misconduct OR they have failed to reach a minimum of grade E for any academic assessment that the University has defined as a “Qualifying Component” OR they do not meet Professional or Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. In such cases reassessment task(s) will be capped at grade E, but the level or subject aggregate will be frozen at the original mark.

Engaged students who are still unsuccessful after reassessment will normally be allowed to retake the subject or level of study where appropriate.

The University’s fit to sit policy

The University operates a fit to sit policy which requires students who submit coursework assessments or sit an examination, to declare themselves well enough to do so. Any student submitting assessment may not claim retrospective mitigating circumstances in relation to such an assessment unless there is proof of exceptional circumstances. On Moodle, Turnitin carries a clear guidance note, as do class test or examination papers advising you about the fit to sit policy and its implications. You should also keep the following guidance in mind whatever the assessment format.

• you have read and understand the Mitigating Circumstances Policy;
• you were fit to study in the period prior to submitting the work;
• you understand that, by submitting the assessment, you are declaring yourself fit to be assessed;
• you understand that your work will be marked strictly on merit;
• you understand that you will not subsequently be able to ask for the mark to be declared null and void on the basis of illness or other mitigating circumstances unless, exceptionally, you are able to provide medical evidence that you were unfit to make sound judgements at the time the work was submitted;
• you understand the University’s rules about academic misconduct, and no part of the assessment has been produced as a result of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion or data fabrication.

Use of Turnitin as an academic writing tool

Remember, Turnitin is a formative tool which you are encouraged to access on a number of occasions prior to your submission. Do be sure that you read and digest your originality report, and that you use it to identify any issues with your academic writing.

Note: It is your responsibility as a student to upload the correct version of your work to the correct Turnitin.

Correction of incorrect uploads after the submission date is not possible except in exceptional circumstances. All students should be aware of the onus to upload the final versions of their original assignments; additionally, you should be confident that the Turnitin drop box you upload to is the correct one for your assignment. If you submit to the wrong Turnitin link, your work will normally be considered in the same way as a non-submission.

The University expects its students to adhere to the guidelines relating to academic misconduct; this includes not only plagiarism but many other forms of misconduct that are documented in our Academic Misconduct Policy. Please be sure that you have read the policy before you submit any work for assessment.

Extensions for coursework or deferral of examinations

The University has a fit to sit policy. If you are not fit to submit a piece of coursework you should apply for an extension via the online system. If you are not fit to sit an examination you should use the Examination Deferral Form. A medical evidence form is available which can be completed by an external professional to support your extension request.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE FORM

Return of feedback and entry of provisional outcomes into your SRM

The Student Record Management (SRM) facility allows you to keep a careful track of the provisional outcomes of your assessments. Remember, this outcome cannot be confirmed until the Examiners have considered your results at the end of year Continuation and Award Boards which take place in June/July. However, after submission of a coursework assessment piece you should expect to receive feedback and have your mark appear on your SRM within four working weeks of submitting your work. Please remember that the University has some closed days over the main holiday periods of Christmas and Easter which are excluded from the working week.

Feedback on Examinations

A bespoke examination feedback proforma is available to all students to guide and improve performance in examinations. Feedback using the proforma will be made available to you, this is particularly important for those who are required to take reassessment examinations in the August period. The proforma is included on your Moodle so that you can see what feedback will be available to you, it will also assist you with your preparations for examination.

Types of Academic Misconduct

The University has an academic misconduct policy which is clearly guided by best practice guidelines. As an academic community we expect the highest level of academic honesty.

The University considers academic misconduct to be defined under the following headings, this list is not exhaustive: Academic Misconduct may take a number of forms. The following is not an exhaustive list: 

• Plagiarism
• Self Plagiarism/Recycling
• Use of commissioned third parties including essay writing services, artificial intelligence or buying or otherwise obtaining work online or elsewhere through use of available software.
• Fraudulent or fabricated coursework
• Cheating in Examinations
• Collusion
• Deception which includes faking mitigating circumstances in relation to an assessment
• Breaching ethical standards
• Bribery