Common Masters Framework

1.1          These Regulations govern the assessment, progression and awards for students studying on programmes leading to Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

1.2          These Regulations govern all students who commence on taught FHEQ level 7 courses leading to Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees from the academic year 2016/17, onwards.

1.3          These regulations govern the awards of:

Master of Arts (MA); Master of Business Administration (MBA); Master of Clinical Education (MClinEd); Master of Fine Arts (MFA); Master of Laws (LLM); Master of Research (MRes); Master of Science (MSc); Master of Surgery (MS); the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip); Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Education (PgDipClinEd); the Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert); the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE); and the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education (PgCertClinEd).

1.4          These Regulations apply to full-time and part-time postgraduate students. Where appropriate these regulations also apply to Visiting and Credit-Only students at postgraduate level.

1.5          Alterations to or concessions against these Regulations may be made only with the approval of the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate, or by named persons with delegated powers to operate on behalf of the Committee.

In order to qualify for an award of the University a student must both:

1. Satisfy the general entrance requirements of the University and any entrance requirements relevant to the course
2. Satisfactorily complete a programme of study and assessment in accordance with these Regulations and any specific criteria set out by the relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB).

3.1          The University shall:

1. Publish any course-specific requirements for assessment and completion on the Learning and Teaching Service website
2. Publish Course Profiles specifying the modules to be taken, and options available, for each course
3. Publish Module Outlines specifying the content and assessment for each module.

3.2          Students may be awarded credit via the Recognition of Prior Learning, in accordance with the University’s policy.

3.3          Courses shall consist of:

1. 60 FHEQ level 7 credits for a Postgraduate Certificate
2. 90 FHEQ level 7 credits for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
3. A minimum of 120 FHEQ level 7 credits for a Postgraduate Diploma
4. 180 FHEQ level 7 credits for a Masters Degree except as indicated in (e) below
5. 360 FHEQ level 7 credits for a Masters of Fine Arts

Dissertation

A dissertation or research project submitted for a Masters degree (where required within the programme of study) may not incorporate, whether in the same or different form, work which has been submitted to this or any other university for a degree unless the subject of the research is an extension or continuation of research begun for such a degree. In such a case the extent of the material and the degree if any obtained should be indicated. If the dissertation or research project submitted is a joint work the student must clearly indicate, at the time of submission, which part(s) is(are) their independent contribution.

4.1.1      All students must enrol and complete their course in accordance with the course-specific requirements published by the University.

4.1.2      The maximum period of registration for part-time students is five years.

Extension to a period of study

4.2.1   The Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate may vary or amend the requirements of these Regulations in respect of a particular student. This variation may include the extension by interruption to, or repetition of, or extension of the time allowed to a student’s period of study to a maximum of two years beyond the specified length of the course. In such instances, it may also impose alternative conditions and requirements.

4.2.2      PSRBs may impose a shorter maximum period of study, details of which are published in the relevant course handbooks.

5.1       Students shall be required to enrol for and complete modules according to the requirements set out in the Course Profile and Module Outlines, by the deadline published by the Learning and Teaching Service.

5.2 No student shall register for more than the credit requirement of their course as specified in their Course Profile.

5.3 No student shall register for modules that have clashing teaching events.

5.4 Students are not permitted to take undergraduate level (FHEQ 6 or below) modules.

5.5 A student seeking a late module enrolment, or change to enrolment, after the deadline published by the Learning and Teaching Service must

• Meet any pre-requisite of the new module

• Have the agreement of the new Module Organiser

• Abide by an agreed learning plan drawn up with the new Module Organiser to remediate any missed learning activity.

Core or compulsory modules cannot be substituted.

5.6 On the recommendation of the appropriate Course Director, the Head of a student’s School of Studies may vary a student’s course by permitting that student to take up to 40 credits of optional modules at level 7 which are not included in the specified range of modules for a Masters Degree or Postgraduate Diploma. Such a variation shall not apply to core or compulsory modules. There may be no substitution of modules for a Postgraduate Certificate.

5.7          A student may be suspended from a module which has a practice element/placement where a Professional Code of Conduct applies, pending formal investigation of the circumstances in accordance with published procedures, where the Head of School decides that:

1. There is prima facie evidence that a student’s behaviour has jeopardised the welfare of a subject (whether patient, pupil or client), and/or
2. The student has has contravened the relevant professional code of conduct, and/or
3. The behaviour of the student is incompatible with behaviour required by the relevant profession. 

A student may seek approval from the Head of School to spend not more than three months of the dissertation element of the period of study at some other approved place of study or research.

7.1 Each course shall have an assessment strategy linked to the learning outcomes of the course.

7.2  The method and timings of each assessment shall be published in Module Outlines, on the students’ Portal and in examination timetables as appropriate.

7.3  The assessment of each module shall generate a single mark between 0% and 100%, calculated from contributing individual component marks, weighted appropriately.

7.4 The pass mark of a numerically marked Masters’ module (level 7) shall be 50%.

7.5 All marks will be recorded and displayed to two decimal places. For the purposes of progression and classification (pass/merit/distinction), module, taught component and classification marks will be treated as if rounded to the nearest integer:

1. Module marks within 0.5 per cent of a pass mark will be awarded a pass
2. Module marks within 0.5 per cent of a higher classification grade will be awarded the higher classification
3. Taught component average marks within 0.5 per cent of the pass mark will be considered to have achieved the threshold
4. Classification marks within 0.5 per cent of a higher classification will be awarded the higher classification
5. Classification marks within 0.5 per cent of a borderline will be considered as being borderline.

7.6  The pass mark must be achieved at the module level.  These modules are identified with a ‘pass on aggregate’ marks scheme.

7.7 Where there is a PSRB requirement to do so, each individual component of the module may be required to be passed in order to pass the module; such modules are identified with a ‘pass all components’ marks scheme.

7.8 Where appropriate, individual modules, or components within modules, may be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Membership of Boards of Examiners

8.1.1      The Board of Examiners shall comprise a Chair (who shall not be the Head of the School), external examiner(s) and at least two additional internal examiners, who  are academic staff having a major responsibility for teaching and/or assessment of the modules or the course under consideration. The membership of Boards of Examiners and their sub-groups must be approved by the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate.

8.1.2      With the exception of the Board of Examiners for the Final Assessment, a Board may delegate its functions to a sub-group of examiners which shall include the Chair (or Deputy Chair) of the Board and at least two other internal examiners.

8.1.3      There shall be an Extenuating Circumstances Panel which acts an advisory group to the Board of Examiners to consider students’ extenuating circumstances and the related evidence.

8.1.4    All members of a Board of Examiners (or one of its sub-groups) are required to attend unless the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate has approved their absence in advance. In the case of reassessment for the final degree classification, the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate may approve the absence of the external examiners, if there is evidence that they have been appropriately consulted.

8.1.5  In order to inform its decisions, a Board of Examiners may invite the attendance or comments of other internal staff who are not members. Such an invitation will not confer rights of membership.

8.2  The Chair

The Chair of the Board of Examiners, with appropriate support and regulatory advice from the Secretary to the Board, shall have responsibility for:

1. Seeking approval of the membership of the Board and its sub-groups;
2. The production of examination papers;
3. Marking and moderation processes and other quality assurance scrutiny, in liaison with the School Director of Teaching and Learning where necessary;
4. The chairing of the meetings of the Board;
5. Ensuring that any decisions on progression, classification or the award of academic qualifications are not influenced beyond the recorded marks by a student having plagiarised and/or colluded or otherwise been disciplined;
6. Making and recording all arrangements with external examiners, including the size and nature of the sample for moderation in accordance with University guidelines, arrangements for consultation at Reassessment Boards where required and ensuring that the views of external examiners are given due weight in any decisions made by the Board of Examiners which are not determined by formal vote;
7. Considering any recommendations of the Extenuating Circumstances Panel in accordance with Regulation 11;
8. The recording of decisions made by the Board of Examiners and ensuring that all members of the Board of Examiners or appointed sub-group thereof have signed the appropriate results and pass lists;
9. Ensuring that the Board of Examiners awards prizes in accordance with the rules approved by the Learning and Teaching Committee and reports the awards to the School Board;
10. Ensuring compliance with the relevant Regulations;
11. Undertaking such other tasks as the Senate shall require.

The External Examiner

8.3.1 The role of the external examiner is to ensure that:

1. Internal marking is consistent, fairly applied and of an appropriate standard
2. Assessment has enabled learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
3. Academic standards are appropriate for the level of the award
4. Recommendations for awards and for classification of awards are consistent, fair, fairly applied and of an appropriate standard.

8.3.2 The external examiner shall undertake duties as described in the Senate’s Code of Practice for the External Examiner System for Awards (Taught Programmes) including consultation with the Chair of the Board of Examiners with regards to all arrangements, e.g. size and nature of the sample for moderation.

8.3.3      The external examiner shall attend the Final Assessment Board(s) and, where appropriate, participate in the Final Reassessment Board(s) where recommendations for awards are made and sign the appropriate pass lists

8.3.4 The external examiner shall monitor module marks and confirm whether marking standards are acceptable. The external examiner should review the marks awarded and report to the Board of Examiners as follows:

1. Where the marking standards are judged to be acceptable, that no further action is required
2. Where the marking standards are judged to be unacceptable, and the external examiner has drawn this to the attention of the Board before module marks have been confirmed, request that the Board shall review and amend as appropriate the marks of all the students who have taken the module or item in question. If the overall marking standards are acceptable but an individual mark appears to be inappropriate, the mark shall stand but it will be drawn to the attention of the Final Assessment Board
3. Where the marking standards are judged to be unacceptable, and the external examiner has drawn this to the attention of the Board after module marks have been confirmed, request that the Board shall not amend confirmed marks but shall take appropriate action to ensure that the classification of students is not compromised. This will normally involve considering the position of all borderline candidates who have taken the module or item in question and might also involve a review of further samples of work to ascertain an appropriate allowance to be made in the consideration of such borderline students.

Voting

The Board of Examiners may determine its decisions by formal vote. Where a vote is taken the decision shall go with the overall majority. The Chair shall have the casting vote.

8.5   Meetings of the Boards of Examiners

The individual meetings of the Boards of Examiners shall be scheduled at the beginning of the academic year by the Learning and Teaching Service in consultation with the Chairs of the Board of Examiners.

The dates the Board meetings are held vary depending on the course; and are influenced by the course’s start and end date, its structure (taught modules plus dissertation/research project modules, or all taught modules) and its duration (up to 2 years full-time and 5 years part-time).  The dates of the Boards of Examiners are published on the Learning and Teaching Service web pages.

8.6 Provision of Assessment Information

8.6.1 Boards of Examiners shall receive the following:

1. Module marks and any contributing component marks achieved by each student taking the module;
2. The aggregate mark for the taught component of the course for each student, in so far as completed, expressed as a percentage and taking weightings into account;
3. Where relevant, the confirmed marks from previous Board(s).

8.6.2 Results will be presented as follows:

1. Marks shall be displayed to two decimal places for all marks, including  module and component marks, taught component and final award marks;
2. Where appropriate, modules and individual components assessed without the award of a mark shall be presented as Pass/Fail.

9.1 Students’ attendance, engagement and progress will be monitored throughout the year under General Regulation 13.

9.2  Schools may opt to hold a Student Progress Meeting; any such Progress Meeting will take place after the first semester (or equivalent) block of teaching on a date set in accordance with Regulation 8.5.

9.3 Where Progress Meetings are held the Board of Examiners or sub-group of Examiners shall review each student’s attendance record and marks achieved to date. For any student who warrants special attention, such as the non-submission of one or more pieces of work and/or an aggregate mark of below 50% for modules in which the assessed work has been completed, the Board shall refer the student to the Head of School, Adviser, or other delegated member of academic staff for appropriate action such as consideration under General Regulation 13, Engagement and Progress.

10.1        All marks are provisional until these have been confirmed by the Board of Examiners, which shall receive the marks presented for each module, and contributing components, being assessed and for which it is responsible.

10.2        It is the role of the Board of Examiners to confirm that internal and external moderation has been completed and that the marking standards for the module are appropriate.

Adjustment of Marks

In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Examiners may determine that marks obtained in a component of the module should be amended by scaling. Scaling may only be undertaken with the approval of the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate, which must be given for each assessment item for which the Board of Examiners believes that scaling is necessary. A recommendation that scaling should occur must be informed by factors other than the standard deviation and average marks for the module relative to other modules and should seek to address factors not previously addressed by internal and external moderation. Only upward scaling will be approved and the method for scaling shall be piecewise linear scaling. Any such adjustment must be made for all students who have taken the assessment in question.

10.4  In some circumstances it may be appropriate for the assessment item to be remarked.

10.5. Marks may not be adjusted for individual students. Special factors relating to an individual student’s marks and performance may only be taken into account at the relevant Intermediate or Final Assessment Board meeting.

10.6  After completing the above process, the Board shall confirm all marks.

10.7 Where modules are assessed without the award of a mark the Board of Examiners shall resolve whether the student has achieved a Pass.

10.8       Marks thus confirmed by the Board of Examiners shall not normally be subject to further amendment except in the following instances:

(a)          to correct an error in recording or transcription;

(b)          following a decision to change a mark as a result of an Academic Appeal by a student. In such cases and after completion of the Academic Appeal process the final mark shall be determined by the Board of Examiners, if necessary at a later date;

(c)           as a result of the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

11.1 The Extenuating Circumstances Panel advising the Board of Examiners shall consider extenuating circumstances formally reported to it, and make recommendations to the Board, in accordance with the University’s Extenuating Circumstances (Taught Programmes) Regulations.

11.2 The Board of Examiners shall formally approve the compensation or other recommendation made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel. Any alternative arrangement shall only be approved by the Board if it is in the student’s best interest.

11.3 The Extenuating Circumstances Panel advising the Board shall treat all statements of extenuating circumstances as confidential, not to be disclosed outside the meeting of the Panel. Where circumstances are particularly sensitive, students may ask that the disclosure of the information be limited.

12.1 A student may be granted a Delayed Assessment (including a Delayed Reassessment) in accordance with the University’s Extenuating Circumstances (Taught Prorgrammes) Regulations.

12.2 Students for whom a Delayed Assessment has been approved shall normally be required to take the Delayed Assessment at the earliest possible opportunity.

12.3 In the case where a Delayed Assessment/Reassessment has been requested by a student and is approved then even though the initial assessment has been attempted, the original mark for the initial assessment will be voided.  The mark for the Delayed Assessment/Reassessment will be used in consideration of satisfactory completion of the taught component and for classification (pass/merit/distinction) purposes.

13.1 There will be an Intermediate Assessment Board of Examiners to receive and  confirm and confirm module marks and consider overall performance to date when:

(a) full-time students have attempted all taught modules as defined in the programme Course Profile;

(b) full-time students on courses that extend over more than one academic year (or its equivalent) have attempted a specified set of taught modules;

(c)  part-time or credit-only students have attempted specified taught module(s) in an academic year (or its equivalent).

13.2       At this meeting the Board of Examiners shall:

(a) receive and confirm module marks;

(b) receive and consider an aggregate mark for the taught component of the course for each student, or the part of the taught component so far completed, expressed as a percentage and taking weightings into account. Marks shall contribute to the aggregate in direct proportion to the number of credits associated with the module(s) in question. Where a course includes both numerically marked and pass/fail modules, the aggregate shall be calculated using only numerically marked modules;

(c) note that marks used for the purpose of compiling an aggregate mark may not include any mark(s) derived from Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) unless a concession has been granted by the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate;

(d) confirm whether students have satisfactorily completed the taught modules attempted by the time of the Board meeting or should be referred to reassessment in failed modules;

(e) confirm whether students have satisfactorily completed the taught component of the course where they have completed all taught modules or should be considered for compensation and/or referred to reassessment in failed modules;

(f) receive any recommendations made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel.

13.3   In all cases, the Board may refer to the to the Head of School, Adviser or other delegated member of academic staff, any student whose aggregate mark for the taught component is below 50%, for appropriate academic guidance and advice, such as consideration under General Regulation 13, Attendance, Engagement and Progress.

13.4  Satisfactory completion of the taught component

The Board of Examiners shall confirm that a student has satisfactorily completed the taught component of the course when the student has achieved the following:

(a)  For courses assessed with numerical marks:

i.  Achieved the pass mark in all taught modules;

or

ii.  an overall aggregate of 50%; and

iii.  at least the pass mark in all taught modules, except for up to 40 credits (Masters or Postgraduate Diploma) or 20 credits (Postgraduate Certificate) of taught modules, which shall be designated compensation; in accordance with Regulation 13.5.2; and

iv. at least the pass mark in all modules designated core for the course and where applicable a pass in any component assessment of placement learning.

(b) For courses assessed on a pass/fail basis:

i.              A pass in all taught modules; 

ii.             where applicable, a pass in any component assessment of placement learning;

iii.            where a course  is comprised entirely of modules  marked on a pass/fail basis the Board does not have the discretion to permit compensation.

13.5       Failure to complete the taught component satisfactorily

13.5.1  If a student has completed all the taught components of the course but has not done so satisfactorily, the Board of Examiners shall offer the option of reassessment in failed modules. In such circumstances, the student may:

(i)            either undertake reassessment in the failed modules (see §14); or

(i)           Note: Where a student has failed a placement component and it is indicated that the student is unlikely to reach the appropriate standard of professional practice within the reassessment period (i.e. where there is evidence of continued and persistent failure to demonstrate professional competence within the placements(s)) the student will not be offered reassessment;

or

(ii)           receive compensation at the discretion of the Board in accordance with Regulation 13.5.2, or

(iii)          withdraw from the course and receive an award where appropriate in accordance with Regulation 13.5.4.

13.5.2 Discretion to permit compensation

On the basis of the evidence available, the Board of Examiners shall consider whether the exercise of discretion, as distinct from a reassessment opportunity, is in the best interests of the student in terms of the outcome of the course.

(a)          The Board shall receive recommendations made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel and any information submitted to it by the previous Module Assessment Board(s).

(b)          Compensation is permitted in up to 40 credits (Masters and Postgraduate Diploma) or 20 credits (Postgraduate Certificate) of taught modules in total.

(c)           The Board does not have discretion to permit compensation where:

i.              all of the modules for  a course are marked on a pass/fail basis;

ii.             the modules are core to the course and must be passed for the student to obtain their award;

iii.            the modules include an element or elements which students must pass in order to satisfactorily complete the module.

13.5.3    Where an Intermediate Assessment Board is considering the marks of a student who has not yet attempted all the modules comprising the taught component (for example, a part-time student or a full-time student whose course extends over more than twelve months), the Board shall:

(a)          Either offer the option of reassessment in the failed module(s) and/or required elements within a module where the mark for that element is below the pass mark;

or

(b)          Defer a decision on reassessment, where it is in the best interests of the student, until all marks for the taught component are available for any student who has obtained an aggregate of at least 50% for the modules so far attempted and has failed (a) module(s) by a narrow margin.

13.5.4    Where the Board has offered the option of reassessment in failed module(s), the student may either:

(a)          undertake reassessment as required by the Board of Examiners; or

(b)          request a transfer to a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate course for which the requirements may still be met, subject to the agreement of the appropriate Course Director; or

(c)           withdraw from the course and receive an award where appropriate as in Table 1:

Table 1

14.1        Students, if not eligible for compensation or for whom compensation is not considered to be in their best interests, will be referred to reassessment in all failed components of the failed module normally in the form of the original assessment. Any exceptions to this may be made only with the approval of the Learning and Teaching Committee of Senate.

14.2        Where students are registered on courses that lead to professional registration reassessment may be offered in any component of a module where the mark in that element is below the pass mark acceptable to the Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body. (a) Students registered on courses that lead to professional registration may be    referred to reassessment in:

(i)            any module where the aggregate mark obtained is below the pass mark acceptable to the professional, statutory or regulatory body (PSRB);

(ii)           any component of a module where the mark in that component is below the pass mark acceptable to the PSRB.

(b)          In addition, where the failed module or component is a clinical/practical placement, the Board may:

(i)            modify the form and duration of the reassessment on an individual basis, to take account of any special circumstances, the needs of the student and the needs of the placement provider;

(ii)           opt not to offer a reassessment opportunity to a student who has demonstrated a failure that, in the view of the Board, indicates that the student is unlikely to achieve a pass mark or reach the appropriate standards for professional practice within the reassessment period (i.e. where there is evidence of continued and persistent failure to demonstrate professional competence within the placement with no significant trajectory towards competence). In the event that reassessment is not offered, the student shall be required to withdraw from the course of study.

In all cases described above, the Board shall take into account the comments of external examiners and where applicable, the guidelines issued by the relevant PSRB.

14.3        Students are required to pay the appropriate reassessment fee by the deadline published by the University. See our Fees and Charges page for more information. 

14.4       Reassessment will normally be offered on one occasion only.

14.5        Reassessment for each module shall be completed:

(a)          if by examination  at the next scheduled sitting of examinations in that module, or during the designated reassessment periods as specified by the University;

(b)          if by coursework or project, the deadline for submission of the reassessment shall be agreed by the Board of Examiners and shall be no later than three months from the date of the relevant Assessment Board;

(c)           if by assessment of practice, in accordance with arrangements agreed by the Board of Examiners (which may require the Board of Examiners to seek a concession from the Learning and Teaching Committee to extend the period of registration or to intercalate the student).

(Note:  Reassessment of the Dissertation is covered in Regulation 17.3)

14.6        Module marks following reassessment are calculated as follows:

(a)          All marks achieved at reassessment are stored on the Student Record System;

(b)          for ‘Pass on Aggregate’ mark schemes, the highest mark achieved for each component, whether achieved at first attempt or reassessment, is used, weighted appropriately, to calculate the overall module mark. Where the overall module mark is at or above the pass mark, following reassessment, the mark will be capped to the pass mark. This capped mark will be the mark used for completion of the taught component and classification purposes;

(c)           for ‘Pass all Components’ mark scheme modules, component marks at or above the pass mark achieved at reassessment will be capped at the pass mark.

15.1        There shall be an Intermediate Reassessment Board at which the Board of Examiners shall:  

(a)          Confirm and consider the module marks achieved for each student following their reassessment of modules forming part of the taught component;

(b)          consider whether students who have attempted all taught modules as defined in the Course Profile have now satisfactorily completed the taught component of the course as set out in Regulation 13;

(c)           act an Intermediate Assessment Board or Final Assessment Board for students who have undertaken a delayed assessment and/or who have had an approved extension for the submission of work;

(d)          consider, where the Course Profile requires a student to pass all modules, whether a student has satisfactorily completed reassessment and should continue to the next component of the course, or be required to withdraw.

16.2 Marks will be presented as follows:

(a)          the original mark achieved in each module or component that was reassessed;

(b)          the actual mark achieved at Reassessment;

(c)           the overall module mark calculated following Reassessment; the capped mark will be recorded against the module (for ‘Pass on Aggregate’ modules) or component (for ‘Pass all components’ modules) for use in consideration of satisfactory completion of the taught component and classification (pass/merit/distinction) purposes.

16.3       Consideration of extenuating circumstances at the Reassessment Board

16.3.1    The Board of Examiners shall receive recommendations from the Extenuating Circumstances Panel in accordance with Regulation 11.

16.3.2    Where a student has been granted a delayed assessment, in accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances Regulations, the Board of Examiners shall require the student to interrupt their studies and return to undergo the delayed assessment at the next available opportunity.

16.3.3 For all other students with extenuating circumstances the Board of Examiners shall formally approve the recommendation made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel. Any alternative arrangement shall only be approved by the Board if it is in the student’s best interest.

16.4        Satisfactory Completion of the Taught Component following Reassessment

16.4.1    The Board of Examiners shall use the actual mark(s) obtained from the reassessment(s) where the mark is a pass mark, or the higher of the marks obtained for the module where the student has not achieved the pass mark, for the purposes of determining whether the student has satisfactorily completed the taught component, with reference to Regulation 13.4.

16.4.2    Where an Intermediate Reassessment Board is reviewing the mark(s) of a student who has not yet attempted all the modules comprising the taught component (for example, part-time students and full-time students on courses lasting two years), or a credit-only student, the Board of Examiners shall confirm that a student has satisfactorily completed the module(s) so far undertaken where the student has obtained a pass mark at reassessment.

16.5        Discretion to permit compensation following reassessment

16.5.1    The Board shall consider the record of each reassessed student and take into account recommendations received from the Extenuating Circumstances Panel. For students who have attempted all modules comprising the taught component and have not completed the taught component satisfactorily after the Reassessment, the Board shall determine whether to permit compensation at its discretion in accordance with Regulation 13.5.2

16.5.2    The Board of Examiners may only permit compensation in up to 40 credits (20 credits for the Postgraduate Certificate) of taught modules across assessment and reassessment combined.

16.5.3    Discretion to permit compensation may only be exercised where a student has completed all the modules comprising the taught component of the course as set out in the Course Profile.

16.6        Failure to complete the Taught Component Satisfactorily

16.6.1    Where a student has neither completed the taught component satisfactorily nor been permitted compensation through the discretion of the Board of Examiners, the Board shall:

(a)          recommend the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in accordance with Regulation 13.5.4 where the student would pass insufficient modules from the taught component and (where applicable) the dissertation component to qualify for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma; or

(b)          require the student to transfer to a Postgraduate Diploma where the student could pass sufficient modules from the taught and (where applicable) dissertation components to qualify for the award; or

(c)           where neither of the above is available, require the student to withdraw from the University.

16.6.2   Where the Intermediate Reassessment Board is considering the mark(s) of a student who has not yet attempted all modules comprising the taught component and who has not achieved the pass mark in (a) module(s) following reassessment, the Intermediate Reassessment Board shall:

(a)          Require the student to transfer to the Postgraduate Diploma, where the student could pass sufficient modules from the taught and (where applicable) dissertation components to qualify for the award; or

(b)          Require the student to transfer to the Postgraduate Certificate where the student could not pass sufficient modules from the taught and (where applicable) dissertation components to qualify for a Postgraduate Diploma, but could pass sufficient modules from the taught component to qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate; or

(c)           In the case of courses leading to professional registration and which comprise core modules, either require the student to transfer to a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma course where one exists, or require the student to withdraw from the University and recommend an award where appropriate.

17.1        There shall be a Final Assessment Board at which the Board of Examiners, including the External Examiner(s), shall consider the results of all students at the end of their period of study.

17.2.1    The Board of Examiners shall receive the results of all Assessments, and any Reassessment of the taught component modules, which count towards the award and shall:

(a)          confirm and consider the marks for the dissertation module (where applicable) and determine whether students have satisfactorily completed the dissertation module  in accordance with Regulation 17.3; 

(b)          receive any recommendations made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel;

(c)           recommend to Senate the conferment of awards to all students who have met the requirements of their course as specified in the Course Profile and course handbook(s) and as laid out in these Regulations;

(d)          in respect of Masters Degree students who have met the requirements of their course as well as any other requirements specified by a PSRB, recommend that students have, in accordance with Regulation 17.4:

(i)            passed with Distinction; or

(ii)           passed with Merit; or

(iii)          passed.

17.3       The Dissertation Module

17.3.1    The Board of Examiners shall confirm that a student has satisfactorily completed the dissertation module (where applicable) where the student has achieved at least the pass mark (50%) in the module as a whole.

17.3.2    In the event that a student has not completed the dissertation module satisfactorily, but has achieved a mark of at least 40% in the dissertation module, the Board of Examiners shall offer the option of reassessment in the dissertation module. In such circumstances, the student may:

(a)          Either undertake reassessment, where the deadline for resubmission shall be no later than three months from the date of the relevant Assessment Board; or

(b)          Withdraw from the course and receive a compensatory award where appropriate.

17.3.3   In the event that a student has not completed the dissertation module satisfactorily and has not achieved a mark of at least 40%, the Board of Examiners may exercise discretion to offer the option of reassessment in the dissertation module or shall require the student to withdraw from the course and receive an award where appropriate.

17.4 Consideration of the Award

17.4.1 Recommendation of awards shall be made as detailed in Table 2:

Table 2

Table 3

When considering the performance of students who studied in 2019/20 Boards of Examiners shall have additional discretion to consider students outside the 2% borderlines and pay particular attention to the performance of students prior to 15th March 2020. 

17.4.3   Consideration of students for Masters Awards within 2% of merit and distinction categories shall be as detailed in Table 4:

Table 4

When considering the performance of students who studied in 2019/20 Boards of Examiners shall have additional discretion to consider students outside of the 2% borderlines and pay particular attention to the performance of students prior to 15^th March 2020.

17.4.4 Award of an Aegrotat Degree

The Board of Examiners may recommend the award of an Aegrotat degree in cases where the Examiners are satisfied by appropriate evidence that a student would have obtained a degree but was unable to complete final assessment under the following circumstances and conditions. The Board must:

a)            be satisfied that the work done by the student shows beyond reasonable doubt that the student would have passed the assessment;

and

b)            be informed of the circumstances which must be such that:

i.              the student is not in a position to complete the final assessment within a reasonable period of time; and

ii.             the Examiners could not recommend the degree based on the range of marks available.

18.1        There shall be a Final Reassessment Board at which the appropriate Board of Examiners shall review the marks achieved at reassessment in the dissertation and (where appropriate) in the taught component. At least one External Examiner shall be part of the consideration of awards.  The Board shall:

(a)          determine whether students have satisfactorily completed the course as a whole following the reassessment (including any placement requirements for the course);

(b)          recommend to Senate the conferment of awards to students who have met the requirements of their course as specified in the Course Profile and course handbooks and as laid out in these Regulations;

(c)           perform all the duties of a Final Assessment Board in respect of students who have undertaken a delayed assessment;

(d)          receive any recommendations made by the Extenuating Circumstances Panel;

(e)          where applicable, recommend a compensatory award, in accordance with Regulation 13.5.4.

18.2       The Final Reassessment Board may also act as the Intermediate and/or Final Assessment Board for students with a delayed assessment or approved extensions to the submission deadline for coursework, projects and/or the dissertation.

18.3       Consideration of extenuating circumstances at the Final Reassessment Board

The Board of Examiners shall receive recommendations from the Extenuating Circumstances Panel in accordance with Regulations 11 and 16.3.

19.1        The deliberations of Boards of Examiners are confidential except where a student requests information about their own award via an Academic Appeal or Academic Complaint (see Regulation 19.4 below);

19.2        Examiners are required to make academic decisions about students’ performance, and marks are a guide to examiners in making those decisions.  However, other factors may be taken into account in accordance with these Regulations and students should be aware that a particular number or pattern of marks does not necessarily lead to a given result;

19.3        Students will be formally advised of the outcome of the consideration of their academic performance by a Board of Examiners in accordance with procedures approved by the Registrar and Secretary;

19.4        As part of an informal or formal Academic Appeal or Complaint the Head of School, Chair of Examiners or Secretary to the Board of Examiners, may advise an individual student of the discussions of the Board of Examiners as they relate solely to the individual student’s academic performance.  In this context, minutes of the relevant Board of Examiners with appropriate redactions can be released by the School to the student who has submitted an Academic Appeal or Academic Complaint without recourse to the General Data Protection Regulations.