Examinations
- University Examinations
The University examinations are listed in the first schedule to these regulations. Except for regulation 11 the following regulations shall not apply to examinations shown in Section A of the first schedule.
- Responsibility for organising examinations
The examinations listed in the first and second schedules to these regulations shall be organised centrally by the Academic Registrar's office in so far as these examinations involve formal written examination. Other examinations are organised by those Faculties and Departments which require them. The Examinations Office will provide dates for practical examinations held by the Language Centre.
Whenever it may be necessary for a candidate to take an examination paper in Southampton in a different place or at a different time from that set, the Head of Department must detail a member of the academic staff to deliver the question paper supplied by the Examinations Office, collect the script and make such other arrangements including invigilation as may be necessary.
- Preparation for and printing of Examination papers
Each Department is required to provide the Examinations Office with a list of all question papers to be set for the examinations which are organised centrally, together with the name and telephone number of the Author of each paper.
All examination papers to be printed must be submitted to the Examinations Office by the deadline published by the Academic Registrar. Departments will be charged for the cost of printing any papers submitted after this deadline.
The question papers for the following examinations shall be printed, except for papers for supplementary examinations held in August/September:
All University examinations (First Schedule)
The Part I Examination for the degree of
BSc (Social Sciences)
(Second Schedule)
A copy of every printed examination paper shall be deposited at the University Library by the Examinations Office. Spare copies will be returned to Departments at the end of the examination period.
Multiple-choice papers will not be printed or made available as specified above unless this is specifically requested by the Department. Departments shall keep copies of the questions for record purposes; all other unused copies shall be destroyed. When multiple-choice question papers form part of an examination paper, they shall be set out on a separate sheet.
Heads of Department are responsible for ensuring that the law relating to copyright is complied with in the production of examination papers and associated material.
For the purpose of this regulation `printing' includes reproduction by lithography or photocopier.
- Student entry for supplementary examinations
A candidate taking a supplementary examination is liable for a re-examination fee, and may be liable for an administration fee, as set out in the Fees Regulations.
Whenever any candidate for an examination has not satisfied course requirements or other requirements laid down in Ordinances and regulations (see Ordinance XVI section 8) the Head of Department concerned shall notify the Examinations Office that this candidate's script may not be marked.
- Responsibility of members of Academic staff during the Examination period.
The Departmental Examination officer (or an authorised deputy) must be available during the whole of the examination period, in case of queries, and must inform the Examinations Office of all relevant telephone numbers. He/she must remain on campus until each day's examinations have been concluded, including those held on Saturdays. Departmental Examination officers must obtain names and telephone numbers of all paper authors and ensure that they are on campus when their papers are being sat, including Saturdays.
- Conduct of examinations organised centrally
The Examinations Office will appoint a supervisor, or supervisors, for each examination room and will issue instructions to them. The Examinations Office will inform Departments of the number of invigilators required for each examination room and will issue instructions to them.
Heads of Departments or tutors must inform the Examinations Office of any student with special needs. No special arrangements will be made unless the Examinations Office is so informed.
Candidates may use calculators in the examination room only as specified by the University and as permitted by the rubric of individual examination papers.
Candidates may use dictionaries only if they bring to the examination room a letter from their tutor permitting the use of a
specified dictionary.
Normally no candidate will be permitted to enter the examination room more than half an hour after an examination has begun or to leave the room during the first half hour or the last fifteen minutes of the time allowed for the examination.
If it appears that a candidate, through circumstances beyond his/her control, deserves extra time in which to complete a paper, such extra time may be allowed only at the discretion of the Head of Department or of the person nominated as his/her representative, who will arrange for invigilation during the extra time.
Any candidate using or attempting to use unfair means to gain advantage in an examination, or any candidate suspected of cheating, will be required by the supervisor to hand in all their written work, and to resume writing in a new examination answer book. A candidate whom the supervisor or invigilator believes to be guilty of any other form of misbehaviour may be asked by the supervisor to leave the room at once. The scripts of any such candidate will be sent to the Head of Department with a full report of the incident of suspected cheating or other form of misbehaviour, which will also be sent to the Academic Registrar.
- Distribution of scripts of examinations organised centrally
Scripts may be collected by the examiner or by a person authorised by the Head of Department, either from the examination room or the Examinations Office. All scripts of a single examination paper must be collected by one person. The person collecting scripts shall sign a receipt showing the number of scripts collected. During the main examination period scripts will be available during office hours and up to 45 minutes after every examination session.
- Retention of examination scripts
This regulation shall apply to the examinations listed in the first and second schedules other than sessional examinations:
- The Faculty (or the relevant Department acting on behalf of the Faculty) must ensure that, subject to (b) below, all written work, including examination scripts, essays, laboratory books, etc., submitted for examination shall be kept for at least 28 days after the course ends and the award to which it contributes is made.
- The Faculty (or the relevant Department acting on behalf of the Faculty) may permit the return of any work other than examination scripts to candidates provided that the Dean (or, if appropriate, the Head of Department) is satisfied that the material is required to assist in further studies or employment, and provided that the candidates concerned accept responsibility for ensuring that, in case of need, it remains available to the University as required above.
- Examination records
Detailed records of candidates' performance in examinations shall be kept by Faculties for a minimum of ten years (except when special arrangements are made for them to be kept in Departments for a similar period). Faculty Boards shall report to the Senate the names of all candidates who successfully complete an examination leading directly to a University qualification, and of those candidates recommended to be awarded a qualification without having completed the examination. Faculties must report to Senate any recommendation for termination of course following failure of an examination. In order to facilitate the preparation of the Graduation Programme Faculty Offices shall inform the Academic Registrar of the results of final examinations as soon as these are known.
- Publication of examination results
Faculties are responsible for informing candidates of examination results, subject to confirmation by Senate in the case of results leading directly to a University qualification. Faculty Offices shall report the results of the September supplementary examinations to the Academic Registrar not later than the Monday of the penultimate week of the vacation and shall at the same time inform the candidates concerned of their results.
- Certification of awards
Students who leave the University without returning library or other University property previously borrowed will not be issued with formal certification until they are returned. Students awarded a degree, diploma or certificate without having paid the fees prescribed or any other sums due to the University (Ordinance 7.4 notwithstanding) shall not be issued with formal certification until they are paid.
First Schedule
University Examinations
A. All examinations for the degrees of Doctor, Master of Surgery and Master of Philosophy.
B. The following examinations for other Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates.
Faculty of Arts
All examinations for unit courses in the faculty.
The examinations for the Certificate in Mathematics and for the Certificate of Proficiency in Languages.
All examinations for the degrees of MA and MMus.
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
The Part I Examination, the Part II Examination and the Part III Examination for the degree of BSc and BEng.
The examinations for the degree of Master of Engineering.
The examinations for the Tripartite Diploma.
All examinations for the degree of MSc and for the Dip Soton.
Faculty of Law
The first, second and final year examinations for the degree of LLB.
All examinations for the degree of LLM and for the degree of MA (Criminal Justice).
Faculty of Mathematical Studies
Part I, Part II and Part III of the Final Examination for the degree of BSc (single and combined honours).
The examinations for the degree of Master of Mathematics.
All examinations for the degree of MSc and for the Dip Soton.
The examinations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Operational Research and for the Postgraduate Certificate in Statistics.
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences
The examinations for the degree of BSc.
The examinations for the degree of BM.
The examinations for the degree of BN.
The examinations for the degree of BNSc.
The examinations for the degree of MSc and for the Dip Soton.
Faculty of Science
All examinations for unit courses in the Faculty.
All examinations for the degree of MSc and for the Dip Soton.
The examinations for the Certificate in Postgraduate Study.
Faculty of Social Sciences
The Final Examination for the degree of BSc (Social Sciences).
The examinations for the degree of Master of Social Work.
The examinations for the Diploma in Primary Health Care.
All examinations for the degree of MSc (Social Sciences), for the Dip Soton and related Certificates.
The examinations for the Diploma in, and Master of Business Administration.
The examination for the degree of Master of Philosophy (Research Methodology).
The examination for the degree of MA(Ed).
The examination for the degree of MSc(Ed).
The examination for the degree of BEd with Mathematics.
The examination for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
The examination for the two year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (with Mathematics).
The examination for the Certificate in Advanced Educational Studies.
The examination for the Advanced Certificate in Practical Curriculum Development.
The examinations for the Certificates in Environmental Studies, the History of Technology and Science, Industrial Relations, French Studies and Western European Studies.
Second Schedule
Additional Examinations Organised by the Academic Registrar's Office
Faculty of Social Sciences
The Part I Examination for the degree of BSc (Social Sciences).