These regulations apply to academic and practice assessment for programmes leading to entry to one of the following Parts 12, 13 or 15 of the Single Professional Register and the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, and should be read in conjunction with the University of Southampton Calendar. The programmes are conjointly validated and the professional and academic awards cannot normally be awarded independently.

1. Marking
   
   1.1 Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and practice assessment to pass overall. Where non-assessed work is a course requirement this must also be achieved.
   
   1.2 Students will gain credit for each module successfully completed subject to meeting the requirements of 1.1
   
   1.3 Condonement of failure is not permitted under these regulations. The treatment of mitigation/special circumstances is dealt with under section 4.0.
   
   1.4 The pass mark will be 40% for the H6 level module and 50% for the remaining M7 level modules.
   
   1.4.1 Assignments should meet the specific word limit indicated in the assessment guidelines plus or minus 10%. A word count should be undertaken, noted and signed as accurate by the student on the declaration form, which must accompany every assignment.
   
   If an assignment is below the word limit it will be marked and feedback given. However, work, which is limited in length, may be compromised in terms of demonstrating the depth and breadth required to secure a pass mark.
   
   When students submit an assignment, which exceeds the word limit the assignment will be marked in its entirety, feedback given and a penalty of 10% of the awardable marks imposed. Thus if an assignment was marked out of 100, 10 marks will be deducted.
   
   1.5 Assessments will be graded as follows :
   
   1st Attempt = Pass/Refer/Defer
   2nd Attempt = Pass or Fail
   
   1.6 Non-submission of an assessment by the published due date will normally result in Refer or Fail. In exceptional circumstances students may negotiate up to a two-week extension with the module co-ordinator.
   
   Late requests for extensions (within 48 hours of published submission date) will not be considered. Such requests will be taken under special considerations. (See section 4.0)
   
   1.7 Referral at the first attempt
   
   In the event of referral at the first attempt in an assessment, students will normally be expected to reattempt the assessment at the next identified opportunity. Any student who elects not to make a second attempt will forfeit any further attempt in that assessment and therefore jeopardise their registration course standing. The Registry must be informed in writing, by the student, of the intention not to resubmit/resit.
   
   1.8 Second attempts
   
   The maximum score, which can be recorded for a second attempt, is 40% for the H6 level module and 50% for the M7 level modules.
   
   1.8.2 Failure at second attempt(s) will result in failure, which normally leads to discontinuation from the Programme.
   
   
2. Assessed Coursework
   
   2.1 Extensions and Penalty for Late Submission
   
   In cases of mitigation (see 4.0) students may apply for up to and including a two-week extension of a submission deadline.
   
   2.1.1 Students must apply direct to their module co-ordinator, having completed the extension request pro-forma, for an extension.
   
   2.1.2 In NO circumstances will extensions be authorised which exceed the two-week regulation.
   
   2.2 Clinical Placement
   
   The assessment of the clinical placement element of the programme, 66% over-all, is to ascertain the student’s progress towards, and achievement of, the NMC Competencies and the Academic and Practitioner Benchmarking Standards (QAA 2001). Students will normally undertake a minimum of 2300 hours of assessed practice in institutional and non-institutional settings.
   
   2.2.1 The student’s attainment of practice learning outcomes is judged against the Practice Assessment Criteria, which specifies the performance required in each Part of the Programme.
   
   2.2.2 Students will normally pass all clinical placement assessments within the Programme before progressing to the next level/year.
   
   2.2.3. In the event of referral at the first attempt students may undertake a second attempt. The student will be expected to pass the unachieved learning outcomes at the same level specified in the original practice assessment criteria.
   
   2.2.4 The second attempt must take place in a comparable practice setting.
   
   2.2.5 Failure at second attempt will result in failure, which will normally lead to discontinuation from the programme.
   
   
3. Reviews and Appeals
   
   The Regulations governing Reviews and Appeals by Undergraduate and Postgraduate Instructional Students are available from the Registry, School Intranet and University of Southampton Calendar.
   
   3.1 In relation to ‘appeals’ the term “degree” includes any Degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma awarded by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
   
   
4. Extensions, Special Considerations and Mitigation
   
   Extensions and Special Considerations. Due to illness or other good reasons a student may miss an examination or be unable to meet the submission date for an assignment. Procedures exist to extend, for a maximum of 2 weeks, the submission of an assignment or to re-schedule the date of an examination or submission of an assignment.
   
   4.1.1 Mitigation. Adverse circumstances affecting a student’s performance in an examination or assignment may be considered serious enough to have affected her/his performance. A procedure exists whereby an examination or assignment attempt may be declared “null and void” and a further attempt awarded.
   
   4.1.2 In no circumstances will any mark obtained in an examination or assignment be amended to take account of the candidate’s mitigation.
   
   4.2 The School will only uphold mitigation if it is satisfied that there is academic evidence that the mitigation may have affected student performance.
   
   4.3 If ongoing special considerations or mitigation are accepted a student will be conditionally eligible to proceed to the next level/year of the Programme.
   
   4.4 Once registered for an award, students are expected to maintain progress and to proceed without interruption or suspension to its conclusion. In exceptional circumstances, the School may permit a student to suspend registration for up to one year.
   
   
5. Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 of the Programme
   
   Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Year 1 in order to progress to the next level of their registered Programme.
   
   
6. Conditional Progression for students carrying referral
   
   Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted conditional progression to the next year provided they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module.
   
   
7. Calculation for the Award of Postgraduate Certificate in Care Studies
   
   In order to qualify for the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Care Studies students must have successfully achieved all assessed academic and practice elements of Year 1 of the Programme. The Postgraduate Certificate in Care Studies carries no professional qualification for practice.
   
   
8. Calculation for the Award of Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing
   
   In order to qualify for the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing students must have met all the statutory requirements for Professional Registration by successfully achieving all assessed academic and practice elements of Years 1 and 2 of the Programme.