The University’s examination and assessment regulations Hilary Gilbert Academic Standards and Partnership

Regulations General examination and assessment regulations (GEAR) principal regulations (section C) examination boards (section D) course–specific regulations PSRB requirements course handbooks

Common Academic Framework aligns with FHEQ and HE credit framework modules multiples of 10 credits mandatory, compulsory, optional well-defined, named routes for courses f/t ug programme 120 credits per academic year f/t pg programme 180 credits per year stages of study to allow progression maximum registration period

Assessment pass mark for module ug 40% (threshold for each assessment component 30%) pg 50% ( threshold for each assessment component 40%) numerical marking 0-100% undergraduate - common marking/grading scale postgraduate new regulations from 2009/10 cohort 60-69% merit, 70%+ distinction

Extensions to deadlines mitigating circumstances late work, non-submission of work, non-attendance at exam = 0% student can apply for an extension to deadline, must provide documentary evidence students can submit mitigating circumstances, must provide documentary evidence, for absence from an assessment failure to submit assessed work failure to submit assessed work by deadline (late) unrepresentative performance

Examination Boards two-tier system Area Examination Board (AEB) Course Examination Board (CEB) boards can be combined

Area Examination Boards consider results of individual modules possible module results pass fail and recommend referral fail moderate marks for whole group, if necessary mitigating circumstances NOT considered for individual students may if whole module affected

Referral (discretion) student must complete additional work to pass module permitted at all levels no minimum mark module capped at 40% regulations indicate where not permitted maximum 50% of total credit studied in a stage

Course Examination Board consider results of individual students may not change AEB marks may use discretion but only where regulations allow mitigating circumstances pre-board meeting of small group, including the chair, may review claims and make recommendations on acceptance to CEB deferral opportunity for any failed module note acceptance where module passed academic misconduct - considers recommendations of penalty from investigating panel

Course Examination Board- decisions Progression progress - unconditional, conditional endorse recommended referrals, progression decision deferred to next meeting of board accept mitigating circumstances, permit deferral(s), progression decision deferred to next meeting of board do not progress - require student to slow progress and repeat failed modules in part-time mode Fail and exclude on academic grounds Receive an award (borderlines)

Unconditional progression passed all modules in the stage compensation awarded (discretion) credit awarded to enable student to progress to next stage or achieve award when not all modules passed any level maximum 20 credits per 120 credit stage no change to mark for failed module, remains on transcript not for mandatory modules no minimum mark/stage average

Repeat (discretion) module must be repeated in full permitted at all levels module capped at 40% up to 20 credits for every 120 credits can be trailed into next stage (conditional progression)

Reassessment referral - tied to original take of module (mark capped) repeat – take module again with attendance (if in the following stage known as trailing) (mark capped) deferral – reassessment as if for first time due to upheld mitigating circumstances (mark not capped) number of assessment attempts at module first attempt at module, referral, repeat attempt at module, referral

Awards Bachelors degree with Honours L5:L6 ratio 25:75 classification Foundation degree L5 only merit (credit-weighted mean mark 60-69%) distinction (credit-weighted mean mark 70%+)

Awards Integrated Masters degree L6:L7 ratio 50:50 classification as honours degrees (under discussion) Postgraduate awards (PGCert, PGDip, Masters) merit (credit-weighted mean mark over all modules of at least 60 and at least 60 in the dissertation) distinction (credit-weighted mean mark over all modules of at least 70 and at least 70 in the dissertation)

Borderlines (discretion) yes – Bachelors degree with Honou rs, Foundation degree, Integrated Masters no – postgraduate awards within 2% of classification boundary at least half of the credit contributing to classification, including at least half of credit at level of award, should be in higher category discretion of board to also consider: proximity to classification progressive improvement mitigating circumstances

Administration external examiners’ handbook school (or Faculty) exam board arrangements, students’ work, assessment details, course handbooks, assessment policy fees and expenses forms registry annual report, GEAR, external examiners’ handbook

How to keep in touch Polly Kearsey – Academic Standards Administrator Website: external examiners’ homepage Telephone: