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26.
The final degree mark is rounded to the nearest integer.
27.
The degree classification is awarded using the criteria shown below.
Classification
Final Mark
First Class
70 or above
Upper Second
60 to 69
Lower Second
50 to 59
Third
40 to 49
Pass
40 or above
Fail
Less than 40
Borderline marks:
28.
The borderline for degree classification is taken to be those weighted average marks within two points
of each boundary (e.g. 58 or 59 for a borderline Upper Second).
29.
The higher classification can be made for borderline marks if and only if the student has achieved
marks commensurate with the higher classification in modules in their final two years (the two highest
Levels) to the value of at least 120 credits and that at least 60 of these credits were achieved in their
final year (the highest Level). For example, a candidate on BSc Physics who has achieved a final mark
of 58 or 59 would be awarded a 2-1 provided that they have achieved a mark of 60 or above in
modules at Level 5 or Level 6 to the value of 120 credits and that at least 60 of those credits were
achieved at Level 6.
Certificates and Diplomas:
30.
Students who are required to withdraw or who fail to complete the degree programme may be
eligible for an exit-point award. Students who have accumulated 120 credits at Level 4 or above are
eligible for the award of a Certificate in Higher Education. Students who have accumulated 240 credits
with at least 120 credits at Level 5 or above are eligible for the award of a Diploma in Higher
Education.
Extenuating circumstances:
31.
Extenuating circumstances requesting Examining Board Remedies are reviewed by the Extenuating
Circumstances Panel prior to each Examining Board. This Panel is responsible for reviewing the stated
circumstances and the evidence submitted and makes recommendation to the Examining Board as to
whether or not the extenuating circumstances are valid and whether they should be taken into
account. The Panel considers only relevant, evidence-based information. At all times confidentiality is
respected. Examining Board Remedies are normally applied only to the examination component of
module assessments because coursework will have been dealt with by means of “extensions” (see
Clause 36).
32.
Examining Boards cannot modify individual module marks even in the presence of extenuating
circumstances.
33.
Where a student with valid extenuating circumstances has failed a module, the Examining Board will
offer a resit “as if for the first time” at the next available opportunity in the component affected by the
extenuating circumstances (usually the examination only, in which case the coursework mark stands).
This resit is not capped at 40% (unless it is already a second attempt). The module result would be
prefaced by “A”, e.g. AR or AI rather than FR or FI.
34.
Where a student with valid extenuating circumstances has passed a module, the module result is
returned as PX highlighting it for potential “discounting” in the calculation of the final degree result.
Full details of “discounting” are given in the University Academic Regulations.
35.
Where a student with protected characteristics and with valid extenuating circumstances has passed a
module, the Examining Board can offer a resit or simply award a pass with the current mark and award
the appropriate credits. In these circumstances, the student will be consulted. (For clarity on these
rules please consult the University Academic Regulations.)
36.
Extenuating circumstances requesting extensions to submission dates for coursework will have been
dealt with during the teaching semester and are not normally considered further by the Extenuating
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Circumstances Panel. Extensions to deadlines are normally one week maximum. Requests for
extensions submitted more than one week after deadlines are normally denied, irrespective of the
circumstances.
Resits
37.
Re-assessments may be offered as summer resits or a repeat assessment in the following academic
year. Both types of re-assessment are referred to as “resits” in the following.
38.
To be eligible for summer resits, students must be carrying no more than a total of 60 failed credits.
39.
To be eligible for resits in a repeat year, students must be carrying no more than a total of 100 failed
credits.
40.
In the absence of extenuating circumstances, resit marks are capped at 40%.
41.
Students are not allowed to resit any module which they have passed and hence they cannot increase
any mark by taking repeat assessments.
42.
Regulations state that (in the absence of extenuating circumstances) students are not allowed to resit
a module more than twice (i.e. the first attempt plus two resits). Students failing core or required
modules after three attempts will be required to withdraw.
43.
Resit module codes are as follows (not the complete list):
FR/AR
Fail, resit before start of the next academic year (summer resit)
FI/AI
Fail, internal resit during the next year
FE/AE
Fail, external resit during the next year
FW/AW
Fail, not allowed to resit
44.
Note that external resits carry lower fees.
Resits in laboratory-based modules
45.
The following rules apply to any modules in which there is a significant contribution from laboratory
work (>50%).
46.
Students are expected to attend all scheduled laboratory classes.
47.
Subject to the attendance requirements stated in Clause 48 and 49 below, students must have
acquired a minimum module mark of 30 if they are to be offered summer resits
2
. Failure to reach this
threshold will require re-assessment of the whole module in the coming academic year. The resit
module mark will be capped at 40%.
48.
Students who fail to attend at least 80% of their scheduled laboratory classes will be deemed to have
failed that module. In such cases, if a student has acquired a mark of 40% or greater, the Module
Organiser will return a mark of 39% Fail. If the student has acquired a mark of less than 40% the
actual mark will be returned. Subject to the restriction of Clause 49 below, students who have failed
laboratory-based modules will be offered a summer resit involving further practical or written work
1
.
In order to pass the module, any additional work undertaken must in itself be of a sufficient standard
to be awarded a pass mark and the accumulated mark must raise the module mark to the pass
threshold. The resit module mark will be capped at 40%.
49.
If a student has failed to attend at least 60% of the scheduled laboratory classes, a summer resit will
not be offered and the student will instead be required to be re-assessed in the whole module in the
following academic year; this will require the normal expectations of attendance and the module mark
will be capped at 40%.
50.
Students who miss a laboratory session but who provide valid extenuating circumstances (i.e. requests
for extensions) will be given an opportunity to repeat the session either in another scheduled class or
at the end of the teaching period.
51.
Some of the School’s laboratory-based modules are required modules and students will not progress
under any circumstances with fails in these modules.
2
Note that there are minimum requirements for credit accumulation across the year to be eligible for summer
resits. See Clause 10.