University Calendar 2013/14
Section IV : General Regulations
Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes


PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
 
ARCHIVE 2007/8
ARCHIVE 2008/9
ARCHIVE 2009/10
ARCHIVE 2010/11
ARCHIVE 2011/12
ARCHIVE 2012/13
1. Introduction
  1.1 The following regulations apply to all programmes at levels 6 and 7 (see Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme). They should be read in conjunction with the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes or the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes as applicable to the programme of study.
       
2. Definitions
  2.1 Average Mark contribution to a Part of a Programme: The mark obtained by taking the average (rounded to integer, except as required by paragraph 7.2 in the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes or paragraph 8.3 in the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes) of all individual marks, weighted according to their credit point weightings, contributing to the assessment of a Part of a programme.
  2.2 Capped Mark: The Capped Mark will be the Module Pass Mark. When a mark is "Capped" the mark which will be used to calculate the Average Mark carried forward to determine the final degree classification will be the Module pass mark, even if the actual mark achieved for the Module is higher. If the mark achieved is lower than the Module Pass Mark, the actual mark obtained will be used. The circumstances in which Capped Marks will be used are set out in the paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes or paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes.
  2.3 Compensation: The award of credit for a failed Module on the basis that performance elsewhere ensures the learning outcomes of the programme as a whole have been met.
  2.4 Compulsory Module: a Module which must be taken by all students on a particular programme.
  2.5 Core Module: A Module which must be taken and passed by all students on a particular programme. Where programme regulations specify, a student may be required to select a Module from within a group of Modules, which Module, once selected, then becomes Core.
  2.6 Mark Scheme: Module marks will be expressed using an integral marking scale of 0 to 100.
  2.7 Module: A specified element of learning material with its own learning outcomes and assessment procedures. (The terms 'Unit' and, in the context of the Student Records System, 'Course' are synonymous with 'Module'.)
  2.8 Non-Compensatable fail: A failed Module for which Compensation cannot be allowed. A failed Module is Non-Compensatable if the mark achieved for the Module is lower than the Qualifying Mark, or if the failed Module is a Core Module for the programme.
  2.9 Part: A collection of Modules, normally corresponding to two semesters of study for a full-time student, which is assessed as a group to determine progression. (The term 'Part' is preferred to 'Year' which can be imprecise in the context of part-time students or students who repeat or suspend registration, and also preferred to 'Level' since not all material will necessarily be at the same academic level: see paragraph 2.1  in the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results:  Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes.) A Part will predominantly be at one academic level with successive Parts at successively higher levels. However, some study may be at other levels as permitted by the CATS Regulations. Each Part will consist of a number of Modules. The total credit rating for the Modules will be as specified in the CATS regulations.
  2.10 Pass Mark: The minimum mark that must be achieved in order to pass. It may be applied either to a Module or to an average mark. Information about the relevant standard University Pass Mark may be found in the regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes and the regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes.
  2.11 Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs): External bodies which accredit programmes that lead to a professional or vocational qualification or exemption from a professional examination.
  2.12 Qualifying Mark: The minimum mark that must be achieved in a Module in order for Compensation to be allowed against that Module (subject to paragraph 3.3 for the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes or paragraph 3.2 for the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes). This will be 25 or such higher mark as is required by programme regulations.
  2.13 Referral: The re-taking of all or Part of the assessment or an alternative assessment of a failed Module in order to achieve the required Pass Mark. Referral assessments are usually taken in the August/September at the end of the academic year in which the Module was failed, but may be taken at other times, including earlier, as specified by the Faculty concerned. The arrangements for Referral are specified in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.3 and 6.11 to 6.15 of the regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes and paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes.
  2.14 Repeat: The re-taking of assessments during the academic year following the first attempt at assessment, or following an unsuccessful Referral. Normally students may choose whether to Repeat Internally or Externally, following academic counselling from the Faculty. However, some Modules have specific practical or placement requirements that necessitate attendance; students needing to Repeat such Modules will be required to undertake a full Internal Repeat. Where this applies it will be stated in the Module specification. Should a Module which is to be repeated not be available in the following year, the Board of Examiners shall specify what alternative assessment should be taken. The Arrangements for Repeat are specified in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.6 and 6.1.6 to 6.1.8 of the Regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes and paragraphs 5.1 to 5.5 of the Regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Standalone Masters Programmes.
    2.14.1 Internal Repeat: A student choosing an Internal Repeat will be required to Repeat all Modules, including those passed at the first sitting. The student is entitled to attend all taught sessions, and required to submit all coursework and to take all examinations. The full tuition fee is charged for an Internal Repeat.
    2.14.2

External Repeat: A student choosing an External Repeat will be permitted to Repeat only those Modules which were failed at the first attempt. The student is not required to pay tuition fees and hence is not entitled to access taught sessions or academic or pastoral support services. He/she will have an enrolment status of 'Repeat non attending' which allows access to the Library and to IT services only, A student Repeating Externally may be required to pay examination fees. Programme regulations will specify the mode of assessment which will be used.
       
3. Special Considerations for all Taught Programmes
  3.1 A student's performance may be worthy of special consideration if their performance in a relevant assessment has been adversely affected by exceptional circumstances outside their control and there is evidence to support such a claim. Exceptional circumstances may relate to situations personal to the student, such as illness or family difficulties, or to external factors such as the illness of a lecturer at a crucial time in a module, or disruption or cancellation of any part of the examination process. Such external factors may affect an individual student and/or groups and/or cohorts of students.
  3.2 Special considerations shall only apply to circumstances which can be clearly related to performance in particular elements of assessment.
  3.3 A student who believes that his/her performance in a relevant assessment is worthy of special consideration should ensure, as far as possible, that the evidence relating to these circumstances is given to the appropriate person within the Faculty in advance of the next meeting of the Board of Examiners using the Special Considerations Request form. Faculties must ensure that deadlines for the submission of special considerations claims are publicised to students. Where exceptional circumstances affect a group or cohort of students and relate to a situation already known to, and evidenced by, the Faculty concerned (eg: disruption to an examination or illness of a member of staff), and the Faculty confirms that it is referring the matter for special consideration, the notification of the exceptional circumstances need not be brought forward by individual students and may be considered by the Board of Examiners or by a Special Considerations Board (see paragraph 3.4 below).
  3.4 Boards of Examiners shall establish a small Special Considerations Board to consider the evidence presented by individual students and make recommendations to the Board of Examiners. The establishment of a smaller board to handle such cases avoids the necessity for students' individual circumstances to be discussed in the wider Board of Examiners. Where the Chair of the Board of Examiners deems it appropriate because of the nature of the case, exceptional circumstances affecting groups or cohorts of students (see paragraph 3.1) may also be referred to the Special Considerations Board.
  3.5 The consideration of exceptional circumstances shall remain distinct from the marking process and actual marks shall be determined solely on the basis of work submitted. Marks shall not be adjusted in the light of special circumstances. However, the Special Considerations Board may recommend the setting aside of marks which it considers to be inconsistent with a student's overall performance (see paragraph 3.6).
  3.6 Should a Special Considerations Board (or Board of Examiners under paragraph 3.3) accept that exceptional circumstances have affected academic performance, the Board shall normally recommend the award of a classification or a progress decision consistent with the performance which, on the evidence available to it, the Board reasonably judges the student would have achieved if performance had not been affected by these circumstances. If the evidence is insufficient to make such a judgement, the Special Considerations Board may recommend setting aside the results of particular assessments and allowing the student to take such assessments again as if for the first time.
  3.7 The authority of the Special Considerations Board to make allowance for exceptional circumstances may be restricted in some programmes subject to Professional, Statutory or Regulatory requirements or because of the special requirements of particular programmes. In such cases, this will be made clear to students in programme documentation.
  3.8 Boards of Examiners shall consider recommendations from Special Considerations Boards before making a determination of the student's result and any progress decision arising from the result.
  3.9 A Board of Examiners may note exceptional circumstances to be carried forward for further consideration in a later year of a programme. Apart from this, no exceptional circumstances applying to previous years of a programme shall normally be taken into consideration.
  3.10 In all cases the Board of Examiners must be assured that overall programme learning outcomes have been met before a recommendation for an award can be made. Where, in respect of a final examination, a student affected by exceptional circumstances is unable to satisfy the examiners in accordance with the relevant Regulations, and where it would be inappropriate to consider permitting this student to retake assessments as for the first time, that student may be considered for the award of an aegrotat degree in accordance with the terms of Ordinance 7.4.4.
     
4. Implications for students Sponsored by the University under Tier 4 of the Points Based System
  4.1 The University is licensed by the UK Border Agency(UKBA) to act as a sponsor for visa purposes under Tier 4 of the Points Based System to Eligible Students admitted to Relevant Programmes of Study at the University. As a licensed Sponsor, the University must comply with certain specified obligations to the UK Border Agency. A student sponsored by the University to enter the UK under the points-based visa scheme who is unable by the terms of their Visa to remain in the UK to undertake an Internal Repeat will retain the right to an External Repeat provided this is permitted by the regulations applicable to their programme of study. Where an External Repeat is not permitted the student's programme will of necessity be terminated. Regulation 7.3 of the Regulations Governing Students Sponsored by the University under Tier 4 of the Points Based System will apply. On successful completion of an External Repeat, the student will need to re-apply for entry into the UK.
  4.2 The UKBA places limits on the total period of time a student on a Tier 4 Visa can spend studying at or above degree level in his/her lifetime; time spent undertaking an Internal Repeat will count towards this total period.
  4.3 A student who is concerned about his/her entitlement to remain in the UK following a failure to progress should seek urgent advice from the Student Visa Guidance Service.

Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 30-Aug-2013
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