Return of marked work

The policy on the return of marked work sets out the University's expectations for all departments to follow to support the provision of timely and constructive feedback to students. The policy was last revised in March 2025.

Download the policy on the return of marked work (PDF 533kb)

Policy statement

Coursework assignments

1. Feedback and provisional grading of coursework for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students will be returned within one of the below periods for both campus-based and distance-learning programmes. For assignments with a deadline before start of examination week(s) (e.g. week 25 for S1, 42 for S2) for the module:
   
   a) On-time submission: within 20 working days of the submission date.
   
   b) For submissions up to 10 days after the deadline (late submissions, or submissions for which late penalties have been waived, due to either mitigating circumstances or reasonable adjustments), these will be returned within 30 working days of the original deadline.
   
   For assignments with a deadline during examination week(s) for the module:
   
   c) Marks and feedback for any work with a deadline for submission after the start of the formal assessment period for that module will be released after the awarding/progression board has met. 
   
   For research dissertations / project reports:
   
   d) Marks for capstone research dissertations / project reports will normally be released after the Panel of Examiners has met. Marks may be released before these panels, but with the clear explanation that they are provisional. 
   e) Where there are smaller assessment components (e.g. interim reports, presentations, vivas) that take place significantly before the examination period the provisional marks for these components should be released as detailed in a or b above 
   
   
2. Working days are defined as Monday to Friday and will not include public holidays and days when the University is closed. 
3. Feedback and provisional grades for assessments may (and are encouraged to) be returned at any point before the end of the above periods. However, staff should be aware that work returned before the last permissible submission date could place late submitters at an advantage and so it may be necessary to delay until 11 working days after the original deadline.
4. Automatically marked assignments, such as but not limited to Blackboard multiple choice tests, should not have marks automatically released to students at the point of submission. All marks from these assignments should be reviewed and moderated before release to students. 
   
   Note: Formative assignments, such as practice tests are allowed to be released immediately.
   
    
   In line with the University Feedback Charter methods and delivery of feedback should be designed to support student assessment literacy and understanding of the form and function of feedback.
5. There are certain campus-based programmes for which, for reasons to do with professional, statutory or regulatory accreditation, large numbers of external experts are involved in marking. Subject to approval by the college Dean of Education, these may be permitted a longer turnaround time, and these longer periods must be clearly communicated to students together with the reasons for the need for extra time.
6. Professional doctorate students should be provided with a provisional mark and associated feedback on submitted assessed components (excluding the thesis) within 20 working days from the date that the assessed component was submitted (DSocSci) or within 30 working days from the date that the assessed component was submitted (DClinPsy degree programme). 
7. In exceptional circumstances where it is not possible to meet the published return period, the following actions should be taken: 
   
   a) Students must be notified as soon as possible of the delay, the reasons for it and the new revised return date.
   b) Where possible, staff should revise future deadlines to account for any delay in useful/necessary feedback on the previous assignment.
   
   
8. In line with the University Feedback Charter methods and delivery of feedback should be designed to support student assessment literacy and understanding of the form and function of feedback. 
9. Students must be notified early in each module both the submission dates and the return dates for all coursework that is submitted on-time, and where reasonably possible the return dates for late-submitters. This information should be published on the module’s Blackboard site (as required by the standard course template(s) and through module handbooks or their equivalent.
10. Schools must provide students with a programme level schedule of all assessment deadlines for the semester or year at the start of the relevant period, in order to allow students to plan their work. This is of particular importance for students who may have a disability.
11. Staff engaged in marking should be notified, at the start of the semester, of the marking schedules, of the submission and return dates for each piece of work for which they will be responsible so they can plan their diaries accordingly. 
12. Submission and return of assignments within a module must be scheduled such that students receive feedback on one assignment before completion of further assignments of a similar format. This applies to both formative and summative assignments.
13. Where there are co-requisite modules that are taken in parallel within a programme, there should be co-ordination between module convenors such that students receive feedback on one assignment before completion of a further assignment of a similar format. 
14. The majority of marking of coursework will be completed online, and feedback will be returned to students online or via email by default.  There may be certain circumstances where hard copy submission of an element of assessment is beneficial for educational reasons. It may not always be possible or appropriate to provide feedback online or via email.
15. The returned work should incorporate appropriate feedback guidance to enable students to identify both where they have demonstrated particular strengths and how to improve their performance in future assignments. Further guidance regarding the provision of feedback is provided on the University website. This applies to both formative and summative assignments.
16. Schools or individual tutors should make clear to students how they can discuss the feedback that they have received, for example through student hours or drop-in surgeries either in person or digitally. Feedback should always take account of the particular needs of students with disabilities.
17. Heads of School (or their delegated representatives) should monitor the turnaround time of coursework and the provision of feedback for all their modules. Schools will be asked to comment in their Annual Programme Review reports on their success in adhering to this policy. 
18. When Schools notify students of the return of marks, they are encouraged to communicate their success with respect to the return windows communicated in point 1. These successes should also be shared more generally through student voice committees and/or general communication with the whole student population.
19. Schools should regularly review their methods of marking and assessment design in line with the University Assessment Strategy and the Student Unions' feedback charter, incorporating a range of approaches as appropriate. 
20. Schools should communicate to students the marking and moderation process taken for the various type of coursework assignments students undertake, and how this results in the advertised return periods outlined in point 1. 

Examinations

1. Following the approval of the results by panels of examiners, schools should make examination results available to students within 10 working days of the panel. Note that module results should be released in accordance with the requirements for publication of results defined in Senate Regulation 7 (see Senate Regulation 7.118-120). 
2. Schools should provide general feedback on examination performance for each module and this should provide students with overall cohort statistics to allow students to benchmark themselves. Additionally, a short summary paragraph identifying any trends should also be provided.
3. In foundation years and year one of UG and PG, students should, where reasonably possible, have the opportunity to see at least one of their marked (written) examination scripts. To provide maximum benefit, this should ideally be after their first semester examinations. 
4. The process by which Schools will provide examination feedback to their students must be clearly communicated to their students at (re)induction and other times of the year as appropriate.  Students must additionally have the opportunity to discuss their results with their personal tutor.
5. Schools should communicate to students the marking and moderation process taken for the examinations and how this results in a longer return period.

Introduction of the policy and history of revisions

The policy on the return of marked work was originally approved by Senate in July 2011, on the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee. It was revised in July 2014 to incorporate Professional Doctorate programmes. Further revisions were approved by Senate in November 2014 departments to reflect the provision of feedback on examination performance and add action points for departments. The Policy was reviewed in the summer of 2020 at which point the turnaround time for campus based and distance learning programmes was harmonised.

A further review was carried out in the spring of 2025.