Diploma in Nursing, Advanced Diploma in Nursing, Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing (156 weeks) with NMC Registration: Assessment Regulations (Intakes From September 2001 onwards)


These regulations apply to academic and practice assessment for programmes leading to entry to one of the following Parts 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the Single Professional Register and the award of Advanced Diploma in Nursing, Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing, Diploma in Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) 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 for each module will be 40% for all levels.

    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.

    1.4.2 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.

    1.4.3 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 coordinator.

    Late requests for extensions (within 48 hours of published submission date) will not be considered. Such requests will be taken under special considerations.

    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.

    The maximum score, which can be recorded for a second attempt, is 40%.

    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 below) students may apply for up to and including a 2 week extension of a submission deadline.

    2.1.1 Students must apply direct to their module coordinator, having completed the extension request proforma, 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, 50% over-all, is to ascertain the student’s progress towards, and achievement of, the UKCC (superseded by 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

    3.1 The Regulations governing Reviews and Appeals by Undergraduate and Postgraduate Instructional Students are available from the Student Administration Office, School Intranet and University of Southampton Calendar.

    In relation to ‘appeals’ the term “degree” includes any Degree, Advanced Diploma, diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing or Diploma awarded by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

  4. Extensions, Special Considerations and Mitigation

    4.1 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. See part 1 of this document.

    4.2 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.

    4.3 In no circumstances will any mark obtained in an examination or assignment be amended to take account of the candidate’s mitigation.

    4.4 The School will only uphold mitigation if it is satisfied that there is academic evidence that the mitigation may have affected student performance.

    4.4.1 If ongoing special considerations or mitigation are accepted a student will be conditionally eligible to proceed to the next level/year of the Programme.

    4.4.2 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. Calculation for the Exit Award of Certificate of Higher Education

    In order to qualify for the award of Certificate of Higher Education students must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 1

  6. Calculation for the Exit Award of Diploma of Higher Education

    In order to qualify for the exit award of Diploma of Higher Education students must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 1 and 120 credits at Level 2.

  7. Calculation for the Award of Diploma in Nursing

    In order to qualify for the award of Diploma in Nursing students must have met all the statutory requirements for Professional Registration, which means successfully achieving all assessed academic and practice elements of Levels 1 and 2 of the Programme.

  8. Calculation for the Award of Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing

    In order to qualify for the award of Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing students must have met all the statutory requirements for Professional Registration which means successfully achieving all assessed academic and practice elements of Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Programme.

  9. Calculation for the Award of Bachelor of Nursing (Hons)

    In order to qualify for the award of Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) students must have met all the statutory requirements for Professional Registration which means successfully achieving all assessed academic and practice elements of Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Programme

    9.1 All Level 2 and Level 3 module results contribute towards the degree classification.

    9.2 Degree classification is calculated on the basis of the 8 modules taken in levels 2 and 3. Level 2 average is weighted against level 3 average in the ratio of 40 (level 2) and 60 (level 3).

    9.3 The degree classification is calculated as follows :

    1. taking the final marks from each level 2 module result, weight each module result according to it’s percentage value for the level (i.e. a 30 credit module result will be weighted at 0.25) and multiply the mean sum of the weighted module results by 0.4.

    2. taking the final marks from each level 3 module result, weight each module result according to it’s percentage value for the level (i.e. a 10 credit module result will be weighted at 0.12) and multiply the mean sum of the weighted module results by 0.6.

    3. add the level 2 (0.4 weighted) score to the level 3 (0.6 weighted) score to determine degree classification.

    9.4 An upgrade to the next highest classification is invoked for candidates who achieve module results equating to a minimum of 80 credits, in the higher category, provided that they have recorded no referrals in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the Programme AND have achieved the higher category in their dissertation/evidence based project.

    9.5 ONLY borderline classification results within one percent of the next highest classification band are eligible for consideration for a discretionary upgrade.

    9.6 Progression from Level 1, Common Foundation Programme, to the Diploma in Nursing, Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing (Hons)

    Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Level 1 in order to progress to the next level of their registered Programme.

    9.7 Students must normally have successfully passed all clinical placements before progressing.

    9.8 Conditional Progression for students carrying referral. Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted conditional progression to the next level provided they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module.

  10. Progression from Year 2 to Year 3 of the Diploma in Nursing

    Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Year 2 in order to progress to Year 3 of the Diploma in Nursing.

    10.1 Students must normally have successfully passed all clinical placements before progressing.

    10.2 Conditional Progression for students carrying referral. Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted a conditional progression to the next year provided they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module.

    10.3 Progression from Level 2 Advanced Diploma in Nursing to Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing
    Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Level 2 in order to progress to level 3 Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing.

    10.4 Students must normally have successfully passed all clinical placements before progressing.

    10.5 Conditional Progression for students carrying referral. Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted a conditional progression to the next level provided they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module.

  11. Progression from Level 2 to Level 3 for the Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Programme

    Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Level 2 in order to progress to level 3 of the Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Programme.

    11.1 Students must normally have successfully passed all clinical placements before progressing.

    11.2 Conditional Progression for students carrying referral. Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted a conditional progressing to the next level provided they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module.

  12. Registration for the Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) Conversion Programme post Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing qualification

    Students who have successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing post2003 will be eligible for direct entry onto the Post Registration Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) conversion programme.

  13. Transfer from the Diploma in Nursing to the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing

    Students registered for the Diploma in Nursing who pass Level 1 at the end of year 1 will automatically be eligible for transfer onto the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing Programme. There will be NO further opportunity for transfer onto the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing, during the three year registration period after the end of Semester I, Year 2.

  14. Transfer from the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing to the Diploma in Nursing

    Students registered for the Advanced Diploma/ Diploma with Advanced Studies in Nursing will be permitted to transfer to the Diploma in Nursing at the following points:

    • at the end of Semester 1, Year 1 and the end of Year 1;
    • at the end of Semester 1, Year 2 and the end of Year 2;
    • at the end of Semester 1, Year 3.