The following rules for Part I and Part II of undergraduate programmes were approved by Academic Quality and Standards Committee on 26 May 2004. They will apply to students entering Part I of an undergraduate programme in or after 2004-5.
The rules to be applied to continuing students will be as specified at their first registration unless otherwise notified.
1. Definitions
1.1 Referral
The retaking of all or part of the assessment or an alternative assessment of a failed module in order to achieve the pass mark. Referral examinations are usually taken in the August/September following the academic year in which the module was failed, but may be taken at other times by agreement with the School concerned.
1.2 Resit
The retaking of assessments as an external student during the following academic year. The number and type of assessments to be re-taken are defined in each programme specification. A candidate's registration is suspended until the resit has been successfully completed. University regulations only allow one resit during the whole duration of a student's programme.
If there are special circumstances, a Board of Examiners may allow a candidate to repeat as an alternative to resitting. In the absence of special circumstances, an internal resit may be permitted if this is considered to be in that candidate's best interests. In either of these cases, normal fees are payable.
1.3 Repeat
Taking an academic year for the second time. This is normally only permitted when there are special circumstances which precluded the candidate from successfully completing it at the first attempt. Any assessments from the first attempt are set aside and (in contrast to an internal resit) any resit right is not affected. Normal fees are payable.
1.4 Module Pass Mark
The minimum mark required in order to pass a module. This will be 40% or such higher mark as is required by the programme specification.
2. Part I of all Programmes and Part II of BA/BEng/BSc Programmes
2.1
A candidate achieving the module pass mark or more in every module may progress to the next Part of the programme.
2.2
A candidate failing to achieve the module pass mark in non-core modules may progress to the next Part of the programme so long as the aggregate achieved and the total number of credit points in failed modules are within the limits specified in the following table:
Rounded Aggregate Mark
Maximum Credit Points in failed non-Core Modules
<43%
0
43% - 44%
10
45% - 46%
15
47% - 49%
20
>=50%
30
(Clause updated following AQSC on 16 March 2005.)
2.3
(Clause deleted following AQSC on 16 March 2005.)
2.4
A candidate achieving 40% or more on aggregate, but failing core modules or failing more modules in total than allowed under 2.2 and 2.3 above, may take referrals in:
all failed core modules, and
such other failed modules as the candidate shall, after counselling by the school, choose.
The module pass mark at referral shall be the same as at first attempt. A referral candidate may progress if:
all core modules are passed, and
substituting the referral marks (where greater than the first attempt marks) into the original marks grid allows progression under 2.1 to 2.3 above.
2.5
A candidate failing at first attempt and not satisfying criteria 2.1 to 2.4 above, or failing at referral, and who has not previously been allowed a resit, may take a resit examination. The modules to be taken at resit shall be as determined by the Board of Examiners within the range allowed by the programme specification. The marks for the resit modules will be substituted into the examination grid in place of the first attempt marks, where higher. The same rules 2.1 to 2.3 will then be applied. No referral or further resit will be available.
3. Part II of Undergraduate Masters Programme
3.1
A candidate must satisfy the requirements to progress on a Bachelors programme as defined in section 2 above, and in addition:
3.2
A candidate must achieve the aggregate mark specified in the programme specification (at present 55% for all programmes in the Faculty).
3.3
A candidate satisfying 3.1 above, but failing to achieve the required aggregate, may take referral examinations in such modules as the candidate shall, after counselling by the school, choose. The marks for the referred modules will be substituted into the examination grid in place of the first attempt marks, where higher. If the required aggregate is achieved, the candidate may progress.
3.4
A candidate failing to satisfy 3.1 above (perhaps after referral) or to achieve the required aggregate at referral under 3.3, and who has not previously been allowed a resit, may take a resit examination. The modules to be taken at resit shall be as determined by the Board of Examiners within the range allowed by the programme specification. The marks for the resit modules will be substituted into the examination grid in place of the first attempt marks, where higher. The same rules 3.1 to 3.2 will then be applied. No referral or further resit will be available.
3.5
A candidate satisfying 3.1 above may request a transfer to the equivalent Bachelors programme at any time prior to the start of the following academic year or during the resit or repeat year, if relevant.
4. Exit Awards
4.1
A candidate successfully completing Part I of a programme according to the criteria in Section 2 above, but for any reason not proceeding to complete Part II, may be awarded the Certificate of Higher Education.
4.2
A candidate successfully completing Part II of a programme according to the criteria in Section 2 above, but for any reason not proceeding to complete Part III, may be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education.