University of Southampton Calendar 2013/14


University Calendar 2013/14 Section IV : General Regulations Progression, Determination and Classification of Results : Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes

Introduction

1.1

The following regulations apply to all Undergraduate and Integrated Masters taught programmes at levels 6 and 7 (see Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CATS) Regulations), except in so far as exemption for particular programmes has been allowed under 1.3 below. These Regulations should be read in conjunction with the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes.

1.2

Where there are exceptional circumstances resulting in a student’s performance being worthy of special consideration, as defined in paragraph 3 of the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for All Credit Bearing Programmes, a Board of Examiners on the recommendation of a Special Considerations Board, has the authority to disregard aspects of these regulations and seek alternative evidence, or offer alternative methods or times for re-assessment, to show that required learning outcomes have been achieved. Detailed guidance is given in the Quality Handbook.

1.3

With the approval of the Chair of the University Programme Committee, faculties may with good cause (normally where this is necessary in order to meet the stipulations of Professional, Regulatory and Statutory Bodies (PSRBs)), operate variations on the following progression scheme. Where Faculties operate approved variations on the scheme this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations in the Calendar and will be subject to regular review by UPC.

Additional Modules

2.1

If programme regulations allow a student to take assessments in more Modules than is required by the programme specification for successful completion of the Part, progression decisions will be based on that combination of Modules which gives the best mark profile for the number of credits required in the programme specification and which is consistent with programme regulations (for example, in relation to Core and Compulsory Modules).¹

Criteria for Progression

3.1

In order to progress to the next Part of a programme or to an award, as appropriate, all Modules and each Part must be passed at the specified Pass Mark except as allowed in paragraph 3.3 below. Each Part must be successfully completed before the next Part is commenced. The University standard Module Pass Mark for undergraduate students and those on Integrated Masters programmes taking Modules at all levels will be 40. Where PSRBs require a Module Pass Mark that differs from the University standard this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations.

3.2

Some Parts of some programmes may in addition require a student to achieve an Average Mark for the Part which is greater than the Module Pass Mark. This is particularly the case for programmes subject to professional accreditation. Details will be given in individual programme regulations in the Calendar and will be subject to regular review by UPC. See paragraph 6.1 below.

3.3

Compensation: A student passing all Core Modules and achieving or exceeding the required Average Mark for the Part, but failing to achieve the required Pass Mark in non-Core Modules totalling not more than 15 ECTS (30 CATS), may be permitted to progress provided no Module mark is less than the Qualifying Mark.

Referral

4.1

A student who fails to progress under paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 may take Referral assessments in failed Modules totalling not more than 15 ECTS (30 CATS).

4.1.1	A student failing in Modules to a maximum of 30 ECTS/60 CATS of which no more than 15 ECTS/30 CATS are compensatable under 3.3 above may choose the 15 ECTS/ 30 CATS of failed Modules in which he/she refers, with the constraint that all Core Modules and any Modules in which the mark obtained is less than the Qualifying Mark must be taken.
4.1.2	If a failed Module has a higher credit value than the student requires for progression, the student may nonetheless be referred in that Module.
4.1.3	A student is not permitted to refer a Module that has already been passed in order to improve the mark, except where programme regulations require the student to achieve a specified Average Mark higher than the Module Pass Mark in any Part - see paragraph 6.1 below.

4.2

The actual marks achieved at Referral are inserted into the previous marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 are applied again to determine progression. However, the Referral marks will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to calculate the Average Mark carried forward to determine a final degree classification.

4.3

A student failing to progress after Referral may Repeat the appropriate Part of the programme under paragraph 5 below.

Repeat

5.1

A student who has not progressed to the next part of the programme at the first attempt or after referral (where permitted) and who does not qualify to take Referral assessments under paragraph 4 above may Repeat the appropriate Part of the programme.

5.2

Section 4 of the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes should be consulted regarding the right to Repeat for students sponsored by the University to enter the UK under the points-based visa system.

5.3

Internal Repeat: A student choosing an Internal Repeat will be required to Repeat all Modules, including those passed at the first sitting. The marks achieved at Internal Repeat will be inserted into the marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 applied again to determine progression. Marks for Modules in which the Pass Mark was not obtained at the first attempt will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to calculate the Average Mark carried forward to determine a final degree classification (see Section 8 below). For all other Modules the mark obtained at Repeat will be carried forward.

5.4

External Repeat: A student choosing an External Repeat will be required to Repeat those Modules in which the Module pass mark was not obtained at the first attempt or at Referral. Marks for Modules not Repeated will be carried forward. The marks achieved at External Repeat will be inserted into the previous marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 applied again to determine progression. The marks obtained during the External Repeat will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to calculate the Average Mark carried forward to determine a final degree classification (see Section 8 below).

5.5

The progression criteria for a Repeating student are the same as for the first attempt excluding the right of Referral.

5.6

Any Part may be Repeated only once. The programme of a candidate failing after Repeat shall be terminated.

Referrals and Repeats for Integrated Masters Programmes and other Programme Parts with a higher required average

6.1

Referral: Where programme regulations require a student to achieve an Average Mark for the Part which is higher than the Module Pass Mark a student failing to achieve this higher Average Mark may refer in Modules in which the mark originally achieved was less than the required Average Mark, to a maximum credit value of 15 ECTS (30 CATS). In this case:

6.1.1

Students may choose the Modules in which they refer, with the constraint that Modules in which the mark achieved is a Non-Compensatable fail must be taken.

6.1.2

The actual marks obtained at Referral will be inserted into the marks profile to determine whether the required Average Mark has been obtained.

6.1.3

For the purpose of the classification algorithm described in paragraph 8.3 below, marks for Modules originally failed will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark; for Modules passed but referred to raise the Average Mark for the Part the original Module mark will be carried forward.

6.1.4

If the Referral is successful, the Average Mark carried forward for the Part will be the required Average Mark.

6.1.5

If the student subsequently elects to transfer to a programme not requiring the higher Average Mark, that part of the Referral not required to meet the requirements of the new programme shall be disregarded and the Average Mark recalculated on that basis.

6.1.6

If the student does not obtain the required Average Mark on Referral, a Repeat will be permitted.

6.1.7

A student Repeating solely in order to achieve an Average Mark higher than the Module Pass Mark may choose to repeat Internally or Externally.

6.1.7.1

An Internal Repeat will consist of all Modules, including those passed at the first sitting The marks achieved at Internal Repeat will be inserted into the marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 applied again to determine progression. Marks for Modules in which the Pass Mark was not obtained at the first attempt will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark. For all other Modules the mark obtained at Repeat will be carried forward. The Average Mark carried forward for the Part to determine degree classification will be the required Average Mark.

6.1.7.2

An External Repeat will consist of those Modules in which the Module Pass Mark was not obtained at the first attempt or at Referral. Marks for Modules not Repeated will be carried forward. The marks achieved at External Repeat will be inserted into the previous marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 applied again to determine progression. Marks for Modules in which the Pass Mark was not obtained at the first attempt will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark. For all other Repeated Modules the mark obtained at Repeat will be carried forward. The Average Mark carried forward for the Part to determine degree classification will be the required Average Mark.

6.1.8

If a student Repeats solely in order to achieve an Average Mark which is above the Module Pass Mark, but subsequently transfers to a programme not requiring the higher Average Mark, the Repeat marks shall be disregarded and the original Module and Average Marks used.

Awards

7.1

A student successfully completing Part I of a programme according to the criteria in paragraph 3 above, but for any reason not proceeding to complete Part II, may be awarded the Certificate of Higher Education.

7.2

A student successfully completing Part II of a programme according to the criteria in paragraph 3 above, but for any reason not proceeding to complete Part III, may be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education.

7.3

If permitted by programme regulations, a student on an Integrated Masters programme successfully completing Part III of the programme according to the criteria in paragraph 3 above, but for any reason not proceeding to complete Part IV, may be awarded a Bachelors Degree.

7.4

If permitted by programme regulations, an Ordinary Degree may be available to a student who has not met the requirements to progress or graduate on an Honours Degree programme.

Classified Awards

8.1

Mark Scheme

The degree classification shall be based on the 100-point Mark Scheme for the final degree average, ie:

70% and over	First Class (I)
60% - 69%	Second Class, Upper Division (IIi)
50% - 59%	Second Class, Lower Division (IIii)
40% - 49%	Third Class (III)
Less than 40%	Fail

These boundaries refer to the final Average Mark rounded to the nearest integer. In programmes subject to professional accreditation, the programme specification may define a required aggregate Pass Park greater than the standard University Module Pass Mark.

8.2

Weighting of Parts

Part I work shall be excluded from the final degree classification. A weighting of 0:1:2 shall be used for the three Parts of an Honours degree programme, and a weighting of 0:1:2:2 for the four Parts of an integrated Masters programme. This is in addition to weighting by credit points (for example, where Parts III and IV do not contain the same number of credit points).

8.3

Classification Algorithm

The class awarded shall be that within which the average falls or the next higher class if the unrounded average is within 2% of the higher class and at least 50% of the credit points, weighted by Part, is derived from unit marks in the higher class or above.

8.4

Variations within Faculties

With the approval of the Chair of UPC, Faculties may with good cause, (normally where this is necessary in order to meet the stipulations of PSRBs), operate variations on the above classification scheme. Where this applies this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations in the Calendar and will be subject to regular review by UPC.

UPC, on 15 May 2013, agreed that students may not be permitted to study for credit modules additional to those required by the programme specification. This regulation is therefore waived for 2013-14 and will be removed from the Calendar in 2014-15 following the next review of the Regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results; Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes (waiver approved by Senate Chair's action in August 2013). Students may audit modules (not for assessment or credit) outside the requirements of their programme in accordance with the Policy on the Auditing of Modules.