IMPORTANT NOTE. The University of Manchester: Regulations for Undergraduate Awards Faculty of Humanities

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1 IMPORTANT NOTE Text which appears in a box or in the running text in bold below has been added by the Faculty of Humanities to clarify certain points or make them more specific. The University of Manchester: Regulations for Undergraduate Awards Faculty of Humanities Except where specified, these regulations apply only to full-time programmes. DEFINITIONS (a) Credit framework 1. Credit is a measure of units and programmes of study according to the volume of student work required. One credit corresponds to a notional ten hours of student workload. 2. Level describes the intellectual demands of units and programmes of study. A unit will be assigned a level as follows: 0 corresponding to the typical demands of a foundation year; 1, 2, or 3 corresponding to the typical demands of successive years of a Bachelor s Degree programme; or 4 corresponding to the typical demands of a Master s Degree programme. Alongside the levels of study used by the University, the QAA s Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ)* assigns levels on the basis of achievement of outcomes and attainment rather than years of study. Qualification descriptors which set out the generic outcomes and attributes expected for the award of individual qualifications are a key part of the FHEQ. FHEQ Levels Qualification FHEQ Level University Level of study Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) 4 0 corresponding to the typical demands of a foundation year Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Foundation Degree Bachelor s Degree with Honours Bachelor s Degree Master s Degree Integrated Master s Degree 5 0 corresponding to the typical demands of a foundation year 6 1, 2 or 3 corresponding to the typical demands of successive years of study 7 4 corresponding to the typical demands of a Master s Degree 3. The standard undergraduate academic year comprises 120 credits for programmes with honours, and 100 credits for Ordinary programmes. The credits are normally divided equally between the semesters. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

2 4. In undergraduate programmes, a Unit will be worth 10 credits (or an integral multiple of this figure), except for a Unit at level 7, which will be worth either 10 or 15 credits (or an integral multiple of these figures). Any variations in these credit values will require the permission of Senate. *The levels referred to are taken from the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications ( Award framework 5. Award of the Certificate of Higher Education requires 120 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 1 or above (level 4 in the FHEQ*). 6. Award of the Diploma of Higher Education requires 240 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 2 or above (level 5 in the FHEQ). 7. Award of the Ordinary Degree of Bachelor for a programme of standard length (three years full-time study or its part-time equivalent) requires 300 credits, with at least 60 credits at level 3 or above (level 6 in the FHEQ). 8. Award of the Degree of Bachelor with honours for a programme of standard length (three years full-time study or its part-time equivalent) requires 360 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 3 or above (level 6 in the FHEQ). 9. Award of the integrated Degree of Master for a programme of standard length (four years full-time study or its part-time equivalent) requires 480 credits, with at least 90 credits at level 4 (level 7 in the FHEQ). 10. For longer programmes, the total credit requirements for each award are increased pro rata to the length. (a) 5 10: This means that in any year, a student is allowed to take 20 credits (or, in the final year of an integrated Masters programme, 30 credits) at a level different from the level appropriate to that year. This applies only to course units otherwise permitted within the programme. A student will normally only be allowed to take credits at a neighbouring level, so that it would not be permitted to take level 1 (level 4 FHEQ) credits in level 3 (level 6 FHEQ). However, exceptionally, by permission of the Programme Director, a student may be allowed to take level 1 (4) credits in year 3 where this is permitted by the programme. This does not mean that the student has an automatic right to do this. Law there is one exception to the above rule which applies only to BA Accounting & Law students. In the BA(A&L) degree, in third and fourth years together, a maximum of 40 credits of level 2 (level 5 FHEQ) optional course units may be taken, disregarding the law course units required for a qualifying law degree, this degree will finish in (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

3 (a) Sections are not of direct relevance to students already admitted to the University and have been removed from this document. Section 14 has been added as it has relevance to those students who might seek exemption from a specific course unit. 14. Prior learning may also be recognised for the purpose of exempting a student from the attendance and assessment requirements of a specific unit in any year except the final year of a programme leading to the Degree of Bachelor or Integrated Degree of Master. Any unit thus exempted will not be awarded a mark but will be graded pass (and hence excluded from the calculation of the overall mark for the year). The volume of credit so exempted will not exceed one half of the total credits in any year, or for a student admitted to the programme with advanced standing, one sixth of the credits in any year. Such exemption will not imply exemption from paying any part of the normal fees for the year. MINIMUM STUDY PERIOD. 16. The award of the Degree of Bachelor or the integrated Degree of Master for a student admitted to a programme with advanced standing in respect of learning completed prior to entry (see Paragraph 13) requires completion of at least the final year of full-time study (or its part-time equivalent) at the University of Manchester. Minimum of 120 credits to be studied at University of Manchester. Any interim University of Manchester awards (e.g. Certificate / Diploma of Higher Education) for which credits have been given must be rescinded. The final classification is determined only by those units studied at Manchester. MAXIMUM STUDY PERIOD 17. A student will not be allowed to interrupt full-time study except with permission from Faculty. The full-time programme for the award of a degree will normally be completed within two academic years of the intended completion date following first registration for the programme. (a) Within the Faculty of Humanities, the right to grant permission to interrupt is delegated to Schools. ASSESSMENT 18. A student successfully completes a unit by demonstrating achievement of specified intended learning outcomes. For numerical assessment, marks are determined by the extent to which the student achieves the intended learning outcomes, such that in principle the full range from 0 to 100% is available. Where there is numerical assessment, the normal pass mark will be 40%. Where there is no numerical assessment the unit will be graded pass or fail. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

4 19. The Board of Examiners may determine from evidence available to it that a student who has been prevented by good cause from completing the assessment for a unit will be awarded the percentage mark from the completed assessment as the mark for the unit as a whole if at least half of the assessment has been completed or a pass if less than half of the assessment has been completed. 20. For the purposes of determining progression, the percentage mark that represents a compensatable fail will be not less than 30%. Where a unit is graded simply pass or fail there is no compensatable fail mark. All Schools have adopted 30% as the lowest mark permissible for a compensatable fail. Colleagues should be aware that if they wish to award a non-compensatable mark they should give a mark of 29% (or less). Law has stipulated that the core units must be passed at 40% and students in School of Law should be aware of the two levels of compensation: that applying to the University of Manchester degree, and that applying additionally if such a degree is also to be a qualifying law degree (QLD) which has professional recognition. A University of Manchester degree may also be achieved with some compensated fails at a minimum of 30%. For a QLD however, there must be no mark in a QLD subject below 35%. PROGRESSION 21. The overall mark for a given year of a programme will be calculated as an average of the numerical marks awarded for each unit in that year weighted by the credits for that unit, with suitable provision for marks from any assessments that relate to more than one unit or to study outside the standard programme. Units graded pass or fail are excluded from the calculation. 22. The minimum overall pass mark will be 40% to progress from one year of a programme for the Degree of Bachelor to the next and to progress to Years 2 and 3 of a programme for the integrated Degree of Master. The minimum overall pass mark will be 50% to progress to Year 4 of a programme for the integrated Degree of Master : Where a course unit involves more than one element of assessment, students performance should be assessed for the unit as a whole. If the aggregate performance within a unit is below the pass mark then reassessment may be possible. The form of assessment should preferably be determined in advance and communicated to students in course material. Boards of Examiners should determine whether reassessment will apply. Where a student fails a course unit the maximum mark that can be awarded following reassessment applies to the whole unit, even if the failure has been caused by poor performance in only one element of the assessment. A student who fails to progress to a subsequent year of a Bachelor s programme will be reassessed in all units for which the pass mark was not obtained (including units for which a (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

5 compensatable fail mark was obtained). SAHC These progression rules apply only where students have completed all the assessment for each course unit, except where regulation 19 is employed. Where a student has not attempted all assessment for a course unit, automatic compensation of marks between will not be practised. 23. To progress from one year of a programme to the next, except from Year 3 to Year 4 of a programme for the Integrated Degree of Master, a student must reach the minimum pass mark overall; and reach the pass mark in individual units totalling at least two thirds of the credits for that year; and reach the compensatable fail mark in all remaining units. From 17 October 2007 onwards: To progress from year 3 to year 4 of a programme for the Integrated Degree of Master a student must reach the minimum pass mark overall; and satisfy the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor with at least 2ii Honours as set out in paragraphs 32 to 37 of these Regulations (a) Faculties may allow Schools on discipline-specific grounds to adopt more stringent requirements, including (but not restricted to): limiting the number of credits for which a compensatable fail mark will be available in each of the separate components of a joint degree programme; specifying core units for which no compensatable fail mark will be available; increasing the proportion of the total credit that must reach the pass mark (ultimately to the total credits available, thus allowing no compensatable fails); setting a compensatable fail mark greater than 30% as allowed under Paragraph 20; setting a higher pass mark overall. These requirements are specified in the programme documentation and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure they familiarise themselves with these. 23, Third bullet point - reach the compensatable fail mark in all remaining units a student may therefore fail 40 credits and be eligible for compensation (if these are between 30-39%). A student may therefore fail 40 credits and as long as all failed marks are 30% or over they are eligible for compensation. As indicated by the second list of bullet points under 23, Schools or Programmes may adopt stricter criteria for certain aspects of this. The regulation points out that it is the student s responsibility to familiarise themselves with programme specific information, but please also draw their attention to any regulations which are additional to those in the green booklet. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

6 SAHC These progression rules apply only where students have completed all the assessment for each course unit, except where regulation 19 is employed. Where a student has not attempted all assessment for a course unit, automatic compensation of marks between will not be practised. Education core course units are non-compensatable. Law use the progression criteria set out in para 23, although there are some subjects which must be passed, (i.e. compensation is not allowed in such subjects): for LLB first year these are Legal Method and Systems, Contract, Public Law I and Tort (and the same applies if any of these subjects are taken by LLB direct entry second year students although currently it is only Tort which may be taken in second year by such students); for LLB in English Law with French Law first year, these are French Language I, Legal Method and Systems, Public Law I and Tort; for LLB in Law with Criminology first year, these are Legal Method and Systems, Contract and Tort; for BA(Accounting and Law) first year, these are Legal Method and Systems and Tort; Financial Reporting and Financial Decision Making; for BA(Law with Politics) first year, these are Legal Method and Systems, Contract, and Tort; for BA Criminology and BSocSc Criminology and Social Policy, there are no subjects which cannot attract compensation. Additionally, those students who wish to graduate with a qualifying law degree or QLD (a prerequisite for going on to legal professional training) will need to achieve higher than the minimum standard specified in paragraph 23 above. For a degree to count as a QLD, a student must pass all the QLD subjects (i.e. at 40% or more), or pass all the QLD subjects except one, which may have a compensated mark at 35%-39%, provided that the student has no other fail (even a fail which may be compensated by the University s regulations), in any other subject at all, throughout the degree programme. The specific subjects required for a QLD are: Public Law I or Constitutional Law Contract Law Legal Method and Systems Criminal Law or Criminal Law (Criminology) Tort Public Law II or Administrative Law Equity and Trusts Land Law EC Law The School of Law advice to non-final year students, who are awarded compensation in one or more subject, but wish to graduate with a QLD, is to resit and try to achieve a pass. (See also para 25.) There is no risk to the student s academic qualification and a pass at resit may protect the QLD status. A student who has passed all the QLD subjects, but got compensated fails in one or more non- QLD subjects, may still get a QLD. Thus a final year student who gets a compensated fail in a non-qld subject but has passed all subjects before final year, may still get a QLD. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

7 MBS For progression between years 1 & 2 and between years 2 & 3, MBS will permit compensatable passes in 20 credits. For final year Honours classification MBS will permit compensatable passes in 20 credits for 1 st, 2.1 and 2.2; compensatable passes in 40 credits for class 3 and in 50 credits for the Ordinary Degree. Compensation is not allowed in respect of certain core courses for the IMF, IBFE, ABIS and the Accounting and Finance specialisms on the BA (Econ). As there is no Ordinary programme for the BScs in International Management, International Management with French and International Management with American Business Studies (due to the stringent academic requirements of the exchange partner institutions) students on these programmes who achieve the appropriate standard for transfer to an ordinary programme will transfer to the BSc in Management ordinary programme. SoSS To progress from one year of a programme to the next, a student must reach the minimum pass mark of 40% overall (i.e. minimum aggregate of 480); and reach the pass mark of 40% in individual units totalling at least 100 credits of the 120 credits for that year; and reach the compensatable fail mark (30%) in all remaining units. Please note: Special progression rules apply to students taking Economics and MBS (Accounting and Finance) course units. Progression relative to BEconSc students A student who fails (that is attains a mark of less than 40%) in a core unit cannot normally compensate for such a failure and will not normally be allowed to progress to the succeeding year. Core units for progression to the second year are: EQ1041 & EQ1042; or EQ1081 & EQ1082; and ES1071 & ES1072. Core units for progression to the third year are: EQ2351 & EQ2352; and EQ2401 & EQ2402; and ES2120 & ES2110. Normally, students will not be allowed to pursue a pathway if they have failed (that is attained a mark of less than 40%) one or more prerequisites for that pathway even if they have been allowed to progress in the degree. Normally, students will not be allowed to register for a course if they have failed (that is attained a mark of less than 40%) one or more prerequisites for that course even if they have been allowed to progress in the degree. Progression relative to non-beconsc students taking Economics course units Where a student passes the year as a whole, including where appropriate resits, but fails (that is has a mark of less than 40%) courses which are either area or individual course prerequisites, then progression to the succeeding year would apply but the failed prerequisite units may have the following consequences: Failed area prerequisites would mean that the student would not normally be able to pursue the area of study relevant to the area prerequisites. Note: this refers specifically to BA(Econ) Business Studies, Development Studies and Economics specialists and BA(IBFE) students. Failed individual course prerequisites would limit the choice of courses available in the succeeding year as those courses for which individual course prerequisites are required would not normally be available to the student. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

8 Progression relative to BA(Econ) students specialising in Accounting, Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Economics, Economics and Finance or Finance A student who fails (that is attains a mark of less than 40%) in a core unit cannot compensate for such a failure and will not be allowed to progress to the succeeding year. Core units for progression to the second year are: BMAN10501, BMAN10512 & BMAN10522 Core units for progression to the third year are: BMAN20000, BMAN20020, BMAN20040, BMAN20072 & BMAN SAHC may specify some course units are non-compensatable, this depends on the degree programme; full details will be given in the handbook(s). Education core course units are non-compensatable SED all compensatable SLLC core language course units are non-compensatable (see paragraph 28) Law refer to notes after Regulation 23 MBS for progression between yrs 1 & 2 and between yrs 2 & 3 compensatable passes in 20 credits only permissible SoSS for progression between years compensatable passes in 20 credits only permissible 24. A student who fails to progress to a subsequent year of a programme for the Degree of Bachelor, or to a subsequent year other than the final year of a programme for the integrated Degree of Master, will be reassessed in all units for which the unit pass mark was not attained. Such reassessment must be designed to assess achievement of the same intended learning outcomes but need not be of the same form as that originally used. It will normally take place in time for the student to progress at the time originally intended. In order to progress, a student will be required to pass each unit reassessed. The student will then be deemed to have obtained the credits necessary for progression. However, the marks originally obtained will be used to calculate the overall mark for the year. (from Oct 2007 onwards the following statement is included) Although compensation is not normally available, Faculties may for good cause allow a School to adopt a scheme of compensation, provided that such a scheme is no less stringent than the scheme the School uses under Paragraph 23. (a) (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

9 Normal compensation rules apply to resit exams, except where this is not in line with the requirements of professional bodies. Where a reassessment differs from the original rubric, this must be made clear to all students retaking the assessment (some students may be re-sitting without attendance). The same compensation rules apply as in the case of a first sit. However as in all cases of reassessment, it is the original mark that stands. It is important that Schools find a secure way of recording original and resit marks. Note that it is stated that students who do not progress as described under 23 will be reassessed in all units for which the unit pass mark was not attained. Hence, if a student has non-compensatable fails, all their failed credits must be resat, including the compensatable ones. Some Schools may impose a maximum number of resits and this will be indicated in the programme handbook MBS due to the need for students to start their exchange year earlier than their Manchester counterparts and also due to the stringent academic requirements of the partner institutions, students offered 2 nd year resits for the BScs International Management, International management with French and International management with American Business Studies will have to transfer to the BSc in management programme if unsuccessful in the resits. 25. A student who progresses to a subsequent year of a programme according to Paragraph 23, having obtained compensatable fail marks for some units, may be reassessed in those units in order to achieve higher marks where such marks are required by a relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body. However, the marks originally obtained, which may include compensatable fail marks for some units, will be used to calculate the overall mark for the year. From 17 October 2007 onwards: 25. A student who progresses to a subsequent year of a programme according to Paragraph 23 may be reassessed in order to achieve higher marks where such marks are required by a relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body. However, the marks originally obtained, which may include compensatable fail marks for some units, will be used to calculate the overall mark for the year. Law students wishing to get a QLD, may resit course unit(s) in which they were awarded compensation for a mark of 30%-39% at the first attempt. The resit mark(s) will be recorded on an official transcript for QLD purposes, but the original mark will be used in calculation of the overall mark for the year. Normally only one resit attempt is permitted. However further resits for professional purposes may be allowed by the School, upon application by the student, (although it is the student s responsibility to check that passes in such further resits would be acceptable to the relevant professional body). (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

10 26. A student who fails to progress to the final year of a programme for the integrated Degree of Master will not be reassessed but instead will be considered forthwith for the award of the Degree of Bachelor. 27. A student who fails after reassessment (and application of compensation allowed as in Paragraph 24) to progress to a subsequent year of a programme for an Honours Degree but has passed units totalling at least 100 credits (after compensation where allowed) will progress to the subsequent year of the programme for the Ordinary Degree of Bachelor, except as allowed under Paragraph A student who fails to progress to a subsequent year of a programme having failed after reassessment to reach the unit pass mark (or the compensatable mark where compensation is allowed) in units totalling no more than 20 credits may be allowed by the Board of Examiners to progress to the next year taking additional units of the same credit value and at the same level (or a higher level if the programme specification allows) as the failed credits, in addition to the full set of units for that year. To complete that year successfully, the student must satisfy the usual criteria for the year and reach the unit pass mark for the additional credits. Depending on the programme, there may be a requirement that the student retakes the same unit that was failed, in which case the student must pass it at the first attempt. A student who satisfies the criteria for the year but fails to pass the additional credits will be treated as having completed successfully that year of the programme for the Ordinary Degree of Bachelor. Schools to publish in School / programme handbook(s) whether credits carried forward to a subsequent year have to be from the same course unit as previously studied or not or whether the students can undertake a different course unit (of the same credit value and at the same level). Combined Studies if it is a core course unit then discussions would be held with the provider SAHC permitted to undertake a different course unit to that previously undertaken, unless core course Education permitted to undertake a different course unit to that previously undertaken, unless core course SED permitted to undertake a different course unit to that previously undertaken, unless core course SLLC permitted to undertake a different course unit to that previously undertaken, unless core course (see list below) LAW permitted to undertake a different course unit to the one previously undertaken. In making decisions about which course units to take, students should take account of compulsory course units, pre-requisits and the requirements of professional bodies. MBS have to undertake the same course unit as that previously undertaken (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

11 SoSS Permitted to undertake a different course unit to that previously undertaken, unless core course. BAEcon students may be permitted to change pathway The original mark stands and this must be recorded; the resit is just for the credit. A student is not allowed to carry a course unit credit of the same level more than once (except under mitigating circumstances), but can carry credits again if at a different level. A student who carries credits from year 1 to year 2, must successfully gain the designated credits in the second year. The same student may, however, carry second year credits into the final year. If the student is required to carry the credits in the form of the same unit as that failed, the student only gets one further attempt to do a resit for the same exam i.e. there is a maximum of three attempts in total. If the student is required to make up for the carried credits by taking another course unit of the appropriate level then the student is allowed the standard two attempts. Therefore a student has a maximum of three attempts in total. It is important that students are provided with clear and accurate information about which rules apply to them. Schools may put restrictions on which credits may not be carried. However, it is not necessary to determine that any credits which form pre-requisites for next level s courses may not be carried. It has been the convention in parts of the Faculty in the past that attendance of the failed course unit is sufficient to satisfy pre-requisite requirements. Schools will need to make sure that students get clear information about this. Whenever credits are carried, it is the initial mark of the original course unit which stands. This needs to be recorded. If students take a different course unit from the one originally failed, it needs to be marked clearly which course unit is the one taken as the carried credits. Given that students are allowed to take credits out of turn (cf 5-9), the level of the course may not be enough to identify the one taken out of turn. The course unit therefore needs to be identified by the student at the beginning of the academic year. It must not be left until marks are known for the course units. SLLC It was decided that certain core units (e.g. core language units) would be excluded from this provision. Failure in the course units listed below will not be permitted and credits for these course units cannot be carried over to subsequent years of study: Chinese EALC10141 Mandarin Chinese I & II EALC10150 Chinese for Advanced Learners EALC20140 Mandarin Chinese III & IV French FREN10210 French language I FREN20210 French Language II FREN10050 French for A Modern Language and Business Management FREN20050 French for A Modern Language and Business and Management German GERM10210 German Language Skills I GERM20210 German Language Skills II GERM10100 Beginners German Language Skills (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

12 GERM20100 German Language Skills for Ex-Beginners Italian ITAL10200 Italian Language 1A ITAL10210 Italian Language 1B ITAL20200 Italian Language 2A ITAL20210 Italian Language 2B Japanese EALC10080 Japanese Language and Linguistics I EALC10090 Japanese Language and Linguistics for Advanced Learners Linguistics and English Language No course units identified that cannot be carried over. Middle Eastern Studies Arabic 1A (MEST10111), 1B (MEST10122), 2A (MEST20111), 2B (MEST20112) simply for students taking the following degrees: Arabic Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Languages (where one language is Arabic), A Middle Eastern Language and a Modern Language (where one language is Arabic) or Linguistics and a Middle Eastern Language or English Language and a Middle Eastern Language (where the Middle Eastern language is Arabic); Persian 1A (MEST10411), 1B (MEST10422), 2A (MEST20411), 2B (MEST20412) simply for students taking the following degrees: Persian Studies, Persian and Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Languages (where one language is Persian), A Middle Eastern Language and a Modern Language (where one language is Persian) or Linguistics and a Middle Eastern Language or English Language and a Middle Eastern Language (where the Middle Eastern language is Persian); Hebrew 1A (MEST10211), 1B (MEST10222), 2A (MEST20211), 2B ((MEST20212) simply for students taking the following degrees: Hebrew Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern Languages (where one language is Hebrew), A Middle Eastern Language and a Modern Language (where one language is Hebrew) or Linguistics and a Middle Eastern Language or English Language and a Middle Eastern Language (where the Middle Eastern language is Hebrew); Turkish 1A (MEST10311), 1B (MEST10322), 2A (MEST20311), 2B (MEST20312) simply for students taking the following: Turkish Studies, Turkish and Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Languages (where one language is Turkish), A Middle Eastern Language and a Modern Language (where one language is Turkish) or Linguistics and a Middle Eastern Language or English Language and a Middle Eastern Language (where the Middle Eastern language is Turkish); Aramaic/Syriac 1A (MEST10611), 1B (MEST10622), 2A (MEST20611), 2B (MEST20622) simply for students taking the following degrees: Middle Eastern Languages (where one language is Aramaic/Syriac), A Middle Eastern Language and a Modern Language (where one language is Aramaic/Syriac) Russian RUSS10540 Beginners Russian RUSS10210 Russian Language Skills I RUSS20450 Post-Beginners Russian RUSS20010 Russian Language II Spanish and Portuguese SPLA10110/20110 Introductory Portuguese Language SPLA10020 Portuguese Language I (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

13 SPLA10210 Spanish Language I SPLA10200 Ab Initio Spanish Language SPLA20100 Portuguese Language 2 SPLA20210 Spanish Language 2 Failure in the course units listed above has two consequences. Firstly, automatic compensation cannot be applied, so students who have received a mark below 40% in a core language course unit will have to resit it, even if the mark is 30% or above. Secondly, a student who fails a core language unit in the resit examination will not be able to carry the credits into a subsequent year of study. This ruling means that students taking any of the core course units listed above must pass the course unit with a minimum mark of 40% in order to proceed to the next year of study. At the meeting of the Board of Examiners held on 9 September 2007, it was decided that students studying Joint Honours in Modern Languages who fail a maximum of 20 credits in the core language in one of the languages being studied, at the Board s discretion, may be permitted to transfer to Single Honours in the language for which the core language course unit has been passed and may proceed to the next year of study carrying a maximum of 20 credits. (a) 29. A student who fails to progress to Year 2 of a programme after reassessment may be allowed by the Board of Examiners to re-start Year 1 of that or a cognate programme. Normally, this will only be permitted under special circumstances. The regulations make explicit that a student who fails to progress to Year 2 of a programme may be allowed to repeat the first year, but only under exceptional circumstances. It is never a student's entitlement to repeat any year and permission to do so must be granted by the relevant Board of Examiners. The regulations do not explicitly mention the possibility of repeating Year 2 or Year 3 and hence they neither explicitly permit nor explicitly forbid this. It is our assumption then that such cases should be rare, only occur under very exceptional circumstances and be dealt with on a case by case basis at School level. SLLC it was agreed at the School s Examinations Committee (8/11/06) that if 30 credits had been failed, but one or more of those failures were within the compensatable range, then the Examination Board should recommend a restart of the failed year instead of the student being excluded. 30. To progress to a subsequent year of a programme for the Ordinary Degree of Bachelor, a student must: reach the pass mark overall in units totalling 100 credits; and reach the pass mark in individual units totalling at least 60 credits; and reach the compensatable fail mark in all remaining units. This means that you can only compensate up to 40 credits for the Ordinary Degree. 13 (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May 2008

14 MITIGATION 31. The Board of Examiners, or other cognate body constituted for this purpose, may determine from evidence of good cause shown before an assessment period (or exceptionally after the assessment period if the cause was not then known to the student or could not then have been shown by the student) that a student s performance was likely to have been impaired. It may then judge that without the impairment the student would have reached higher marks sufficient to demonstrate the necessary learning outcomes and thereby satisfy the requirements for progression under the criteria in Paragraphs 21 to 30 or for a given degree classification under the criteria in Paragraphs 32 to 37. It will not adjust the mark of the student in individual units or overall, but will treat the unadjusted marks separately in any subsequent computations. The marks in individual units or overall should not be adjusted where mitigation has been agreed. However they do need to be marked in the student system so as to be flagged for future Boards of Examiners. Some note of the degree of severity of the circumstances may also need to be kept to prevent the case from having to be reopened in every case. Where it is deemed appropriate the course units that were subject to mitigation can be re-opened at subsequent examination boards. Other ways of recording the degree of severity may also be used. The School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures change the students academic standing to SPCL so that it appears on the examination grid; this is a temporary measure and does not appear on the student s transcript. The School of Arts, Histories & Cultures insert comments in the comments box on the examination grid macros produced by John Smith. CLASSIFICATION 32. The Degree of Bachelor with Honours will normally be awarded in classes 1, 2i, 2ii and 3. The integrated Degree of Master will be normally awarded in classes 1, 2i and 2ii, unless approval by a professional, statutory or regulatory body requires the use of class 3. The Ordinary Degree of Bachelor will be awarded without any classes or divisions. 33. The Board of Examiners may determine from evidence available to it that a candidate for an honours degree who has been prevented by good cause from completing the final examination or assessment will be awarded a class of degree the Board judges to be suitable, or unclassified honours if the Board judges that no class can be determined. This regulation replaces the aegrotat degree in that it essentially allows the examiners considerable flexibility to award a degree in circumstances where the student, for good cause, has been unable to complete the normal workload or assessment requirements i.e. Examination Boards have the discretion to award a degree with fewer credits than normally required. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

15 This is expected to occur only under extremely rare circumstances and it will be on the judgement of the Board of Examiners. 34. A candidate for any award who fails to satisfy the requirements for the intended award but satisfies those for a lower award will be eligible for the lower award. The programme title of the lower award will normally be the same as that of the intended award, but an appropriate alternative programme title will be used: (i) when the student has not satisfied the credit requirements for one of two subjects studied in combination; or (ii) when at least part of the title of the degree is associated with a right to practise; or (iii) for other good cause. The Certificate of Higher Education or Diploma of Higher Education may be awarded without a programme title. 35. The overall mark for a programme is a weighted average of the overall marks for different years of the programme. For the different classes the overall mark ranges are: for class 1, not less than 70.0%; for class 2i, less than 70.0% but not less than 60.0%; for class 2ii, less than 60.0% but not less than 50.0%; for class 3, less than 50.0% but not less than 40.0%. (a) Only years 2, 3 and, where relevant, 4 may be counted towards degree classification. The weighting of each year towards the final degree classification is determined by Schools for each programme. It s the overall average that determines degree classification, unless students are in a boundary zone, in which case regulation 37 Method A applies. If students fail units then look at regulation 36. If regulation 36 doesn t apply because too many credits have been failed then regulation 38 Ordinary Degree applies. Combined Studies for degree classification purposes the weighting for 2 nd year will be 25% and for the 3 rd or 4 th year 75% SAHC for degree classification purposes the weighting for 2 nd year will be 25% and for the 3 rd or 4 th year 75% Education for degree classification purposes the weighting for 2 nd year will be 40% and for the 3 rd year 60% SED for three year programmes the weighting of the 2 nd year will be 25% and for the 3 rd year 75%, for Planning four year programmes (280 credits in total), 40 credits (14%) will be considered from 15 (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May 2008

16 the 2 nd year, and 120 credits (43%& 43%) from both the 3 rd and 4 th years SLLC for degree classification purposes the weighting for the 2 nd year will be 25% and for the 3 rd (or 4 th ) year 75% Law LLB; BA (Law with Politics); BSocSc Criminology & Social Policy; BA Criminology, LLB Law with Criminology 1/3rd 2 nd year and 2/3rds 3 rd year BA (Accounting & Law) 1/3 rd 3 rd year and 2/3rds 4 th year LLB (English Law with French Law) 1/3rd 2 nd year and 2/3rds 4 th year and the 3 rd year in France Must achieve a pass (LLB ELFL students who fail the year in France will be permitted to continue on the LLB degree, but will not be able to graduate with an LLB ELFL) MBS BSc in Management/Management(Specialism); BSc in MIT, BSc in IM, BA in ABIS, BA in IBFE: 2nd year 25%, Final year 75% BSc in IMABS: 2nd year 25%, Final year 75% but the current final year students will have a weighting of: 2nd year 20%, 3rd year abroad 20%, Final year 60% BSc in IMF: 2nd year 35% (25%Mgt,10%French), Final year 65% (45%Mgt,20%French) Ex-Informatics programmes: BSc in ITMB: 2nd year 25%, Final year 75% BSc in ITMB with IE: 2nd year 20%, 3rd year industry 10%, Final year 70% BSc in SAD, BSc in IT&NM, BSc in ISE, BSc in ISD: 2nd year 20%, Final year 80% BSc in SAD with IE, BSc in IT&NM with IE, BSc in ISE with IE, BSc in ISD with IE: 2nd year 15%, 3rd year industry 10%, Final year 75% The above ex-informatics programmes also have to obtain a pass in the final year Project in order to get an Honours degree. SoSS for degree classification purposes the weighting for the 2 nd year will be 1/7 th (14%) and for the 3 rd year 6/7 th (86%) The classification rules of the owning School apply to joint programmes. For the different classes boundary zones are: for class 1, less than 70.0% but not less than 68.0%; for class 2i, less than 60.0% but not less than 58.0%; for class 2ii, less than 50.0% but not less than 48.0%; for class 3, less than 40.0% but not less than 38.0%. For students in the boundary zone see regulation 37 Method A 36. A student who obtains an overall mark in the range required for class 1, 2i or 2ii and obtains at least two-thirds of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than 40.0% will be awarded that class of degree. A student who obtains the overall mark in the range required for class 3 and obtains at least half of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

17 40.0% will be awarded that class of degree, unless the Faculty has approved more stringent requirements for such an award. Except as provided under Paragraph 37, a student who obtains an overall mark in the range for that class but obtains less than the specified fraction of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than 40.0% will be awarded the next class lower, or for class 3 will be considered under the criteria in Paragraph 38. (a) In line with these regulations, the Faculty of Humanities has agreed that some Schools may apply more stringent criteria and it is the responsibility of students to check these provisions in the programme documentation. SAHC for classification of the final Honours degree the School will apply the regulations as stated Education for classification of the final Honours degree the School will apply the regulations as stated SED for classification of the final Honours degree the School will apply the regulations as stated SLLC for classification of the final Honours degree the School will apply the regulations as stated (these will be reviewed after the 1 st year of operation) Law For classification of the final Honours degree the School will apply the regulations as stated. Those students who wish to gain a QLD must additionally have no more than the stated number of compensated failed subjects throughout the degree programme, as set out under paragraph 23. MBS For classification of the final year Honours degree MBS has applied more stringent criteria and students must pass : 1st, 2.1, credits; 3rd - 80 credits; Ordinary degree - in the case of students who transfer to Ordinary as a result of failing final year at Honours - 60 credits; in the case of students who are already on an Ordinary degree - 50 credits. SoSS for classification of the final Honours degree the School has applied more stringent criteria and students must pass 1 st, 2.1, credits; 3 rd 80 credits; Ordinary Degree as in regulation 39. This is because there is no compensatable level. Examples A student gets 65% overall; & 80 credits of final year are above 40%; student will get 2:i. If less than 80 credits are above 40% student gets 2:ii. The Board is awarding credits even though the marks are below 40% so this fits with regulation 8. Marks are not compensatable in the final year. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

18 A student would be allowed to fail 40 credits including non compensatable fail marks and get the class of degree determined by their average. Compensation applies to progression, not to classification. In SoSS, if a student gets 68% overall average (as calculated by the School criteria); fail up to 20 credits; if at least 80 from 100 passed credits (with a mark not below 40%) for the final year are in the first class range the student can be awarded a first class degree A student gets the following marks (6 x 20 credits) 48%, 43%, 41% 10%, 0%, 0% - for Regulation 36 you would calculate it as follows: / 6 = 24% therefore the student doesn t qualify for a 3 rd class honours degree. You then need to apply Regulation 38 (see example under 38 below). 37. A student may be considered for the next higher class of degree than determined by Paragraph 36 by one of two methods approved for each programme by the relevant Faculty. (a) The Faculty of Humanities employs Method B only under very exceptional circumstances. Examples Method A (by mark distribution) A student who obtains an overall mark in the boundary zone for that class and obtains at least two-thirds of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than 40.0% will obtain that class if at least two thirds of the credits for the final year are in or above the range required for that class. 68% overall average (as calculated by School criteria); fail up to 40 credits; if at least 80 credits (with a mark not below 40%) for the final year are in the first class range the student can be awarded a first class degree. MBS & SoSS: 68% overall average (as calculated by School criteria); fail up to 20 credits; if at least 100 credits (with a mark not below 40%) for the final year are in the first class range the student can be awarded a first class degree. Method B (by mark review) For a student who either (i) obtains an overall mark in the range required for a given class but does not obtain the fraction of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than 40.0% (as specified in Paragraph 36); or (ii) obtains an overall mark in the boundary zone for that class and obtains the fraction of the credits for the final year with a mark not less than 40.0% (as specified in Paragraph 36), the relevant External Examiners will review the marks, and may conduct an oral (viva voce) examination of the student. On the basis of that review, the External Examiners may recommend that the student obtains that class of degree. 18 (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May 2008

19 38. The Ordinary Degree of Bachelor will be awarded to a student who at the end of the honours programme obtains an overall mark of not less than 40.0%, averaged over final-year units totalling 60 credits, and obtains at least half of those credits with a mark of not less than 40.0%. This is awarded by default Example As in Regulation 36 above a student gets the following marks (6 x 20 credits) 48%, 43%, 41% 10%, 0%, 0%, therefore doesn t qualify for a third class Honours Degree. Take the best 60 credits so / 3 = 44%, the average is above 40% and 60 credits are above 40% so the Ordinary Degree can be awarded. 39. The Ordinary Degree of Bachelor will be awarded to a student who at the end of the Ordinary programme obtains an overall mark of not less than 40.0% averaged over finalyear units totalling 100 credits, and obtains at least half of the credits with a mark of not less than 40.0%. This is awarded following failure at an earlier point in the programme and as a consequence the student is transferred to an Ordinary Degree. Point 7 of the Policy on Reassessment in Undergraduate Programmes states There are no reassessment opportunities for the final 120 credits of a Degree of Bachelor programme. Any student failing to pass the required 120 credits will instead be considered for the award of Ordinary Degree of Bachelor. A strict interpretation of the policy means that students on the Ordinary Degree route do not have the opportunity for resits in the final year (subject to paragraphs of these regulations) 40. A student who fulfils the requirements for the award of a degree may seek to be reassessed in some units in the final year in order to achieve higher marks required by a relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body. However, the marks originally obtained will be used to determine the class of degree awarded to such a student. Late Submission of Coursework Two schemes are in operation across the Faculty: a mark of zero to be applied or a sliding scale for the deduction of marks. (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May

20 Sliding Scale - the piece will lose 10 marks for the first day it is late and then 5 marks per day thereafter including weekends. Special arrangements will be made over holiday periods. SAHC Education SED SLLC Law MBS SSS - mark of zero - sliding scale - mark of zero - sliding scale - sliding scale - sliding scale - sliding scale Students on a joint Honours Degree / Combined Studies Degree need to be aware of the relevant schemes in operation. Only the first submission of a dissertation will be marked. There is no such concept as showing contempt for the examinations process. Paper for Senate 29 June 2005 Revised 4 August 2005 Revised 5 May 2010 (to include FHEQ levels) (a) Faculty of Humanities explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 Faculty of Humanities additional explanatory notes added May 2008 (a) FofH explanatory notes inserted 22 September, 2005 FofH additional explanatory notes added May