Senate regulation 6: Regulations governing taught postgraduate programmes of study: Progression (6.21-6.30)

Re-assessment

6.21

Where a student fails to achieve the 50.00% pass mark in a module they shall, subject to the requirements of paragraphs 6.22, 6.24 and 6.26 below, be entitled to re-sit or re-submit any of the failed components of assessment associated with the module in which they scored less than 50.00%, on one occasion only. A student will not be re-assessed in a module or module component where the 50.00% pass mark has already been obtained, except where a module mark of 50.00% or more has been obtained but a pass in the failed component is a requirement for a pass in the module as a whole. In such cases, the student shall be entitled to resit the failed component for the purposes of passing the module but the original module mark will not be amended.

6.22

The nature of a piece of coursework, for example work done in the laboratory or during fieldwork, may mean that the coursework cannot be reassessed in the same form. If the coursework is necessary to assess the learning outcomes for the module, no suitable alternative assessment is possible, and failure in that component means that the module is failed overall, then the module will be deemed to have been failed without the possibility of reassessment.

6.23

The maximum mark awarded for a re-assessed component of assessment will be 50.00%. Where a student completes a reassessment in a component, the higher of the original mark or the capped reassessment mark will be used to calculate the module outcome.

6.24

The number of credits of taught modules that a student shall be entitled to re-sit or re-submit is half of the credit value of the taught component of the programme, up to a maximum value of 60 credits.

6.25

A student may, at the discretion of the Panel of Examiners, be permitted to undertake an alternative piece of re-assessment in place of a failed assessment component in a taught module. Alternative re-assessment methods shall be stated in the relevant module specification. In exceptional circumstances, further alternative arrangements may be approved by the Panel of Examiners for the programme.

6.26

One resubmission of the dissertation or research project will normally be allowed. However, where practical or laboratory work is involved, see paragraph 6.27 below.

6.27

Where a student has completed a dissertation or research project which must be done in residence, for example, one based on laboratory or field work, and has failed the module, a Panel of Examiners will either

• provide an opportunity for a resubmission, where the failure relates to the quality of the written submission for the module; or
• provide an alternative reassessment, where it is possible to do so to allow the student an appropriate opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes for the module; or
• deem the student to have failed the module without an opportunity for reassessment, where the failure relates to laboratory or field work which cannot be repeated.

Progression requirements

6.28

The progress of each student shall be considered by a Board of Examiners at the end of the taught component of the programme.  The Board of Examiners shall determine whether a student is permitted to progress to the dissertation or research project.  Where the structure of a programme is such that a student has already begun work on their dissertation or research project, the Board of Examiners shall determine whether the student may continue with this work.

6.29

In making progression decisions for students on MA, MSc, LLM, MEM, MEd, and MBA programmes, a Board of Examiners shall adopt the following progression requirements: 

Up to 30 taught module credits failed at first attempt

A student will proceed to, or continue with, the dissertation or research project and is entitled to re-sit failed modules up to the maximum credit value set out in paragraph 6.24 above, at the earliest opportunity.

If, after reassessment, a student has any module mark of < 40.00%, Grade ‘F’, they will not be allowed to continue work on the dissertation or research project and shall be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Examiners.

31 - 45 taught module credits failed at first attempt

A student will proceed to or continue with, the dissertation or research project and is entitled to re-sit failed modules up to the maximum credit value set out in paragraph 6.24 above, at the earliest opportunity.

If, after reassessment, a student has more than 30 credits of failed modules, or any module mark of < 40.00%, Grade ‘F’, they will not be allowed to continue work on the dissertation or research project and shall be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Examiners.

46 – 60 taught module credits failed at first attempt

A student will not proceed to, or continue with, the dissertation or research project but is entitled to re-sit failed modules, up to the maximum credit value set out in paragraph 6.24 above at the earliest opportunity. 

If, after reassessment, a student has 30 credits or fewer of failed modules, and no module mark < 40.00%, they will be allowed to progress to, or continue with, the dissertation research project.

If, after reassessment, a student has more than 30 credits of failed modules, or any module mark of < 40.00%, Grade ‘F’, they will not be allowed to continue work on the dissertation or research project and shall be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Examiners.

More than 60 taught module credits failed at first attempt

A student will not proceed to, or continue with, the dissertation or research project, but is entitled to re-sit failed modules up to the maximum credit value set out in paragraph 6.24 above in order to meet the requirements for intermediate award, where the relevant programme specification makes provision for such an award.

Where there is no provision for an intermediate award, or where the number of credits failed is such that the student cannot redeem a sufficient number to meet the requirements for an intermediate award, a board of examiners shall terminate their course for academic failure.

6.30

In making progression decisions for students on MRes programmes, a Board of Examiners shall adopt the progression requirements set out in paragraph 6.29 above, but shall not permit a student to progress to, or continue with, a dissertation or research project unless it would be possible for the student to meet the requirements for award following successful reassessment.