Policies

Award (6.74-6.94)

Calculating the Credit Weighted Average

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At the point of progression a Taught Credit Weighted average will be calculated for the taught component of the taught modules. The Taught Credit Weighted Average is calculated on the basis of all of the taught modules in the programme, excluding the project or dissertation module, weighted by their credit value. This the Credit Weighted Average that is used for the purposes of determining compensation (see Senate Regulation 6.47).

6.75

At the point of award a Credit Weighted Average will be calculated for the programme as a whole. The Programme Credit Weighted Average is calculated based on all the credit bearing modules in the programme, including the project or dissertation, weighted by their credit value.

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Where a student has failed to meet the requirements for a higher award and is being considered for an interim award, the credit weighted average will either be calculated on the basis of specified modules where this is set out in the programme specification, or where this is not the case the best combination of modules will be used. For example, where a student has completed 90 credits and is eligible for a Postgraduate Certificate, the best 60 credits will be taken to calculate the credit weighted average.

Requirement for award

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A Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma and a Masters degree may be awarded with pass, merit, or distinction. In all cases classification is determined either on the basis of an overall credit weighted average or preponderance of credits, whichever leads to the better result for a student. The following descriptors apply:

Pass

To be awarded a pass a student will have demonstrated achievement of the specified learning outcomes of the programme to a satisfactory standard, demonstrating a critical and substantial understanding of the topic. They will have demonstrated the ability to develop an independent, systematic and logical or insightful argument or evaluation. They will also have demonstrated a significant degree of competence in the appropriate use of the relevant literature, theory, methodologies, practices, and tools and shown evidence of clarity, focus and cogency in communication.

Merit

To be awarded a merit a student will have demonstrated achievement of the specified learning outcomes of the programme to a very good standard, demonstrating a well-developed, critical and comprehensive understanding of the topic. They will have demonstrated the ability to develop an independent, systematic and logical or insightful argument or evaluation. They will also have demonstrated a high degree of competence in the appropriate use of the relevant literature, theory, methodologies, practices, and tools, and shown a high level of clarity, focus and cogency in communication.

Distinction

To be awarded a distinction a student will have demonstrated achievement of the specified learning outcomes of the programme to an excellent standard, demonstrating a sophisticated, critical and thorough understanding of the topic. They will have demonstrated evidence of originality of thought and the ability to develop an independent, highly systematic and logical or insightful argument or evaluation. They will also have demonstrated excellence in the appropriate use of the relevant literature, theory, methodologies, practices, and tools, and shown excellent clarity, focus and cogency in communication.

6.78

In order to be awarded a student must have:

  • a) Completed the required number of credits for the award as set out in Senate Regulation 6.9 above
  • b) Achieved a pass or compensated pass in the number of credits set out in para Senate Regulation 6.53 and have no module marks below 40.00%
  • c) For a Masters Award, achieved a minimum of 50.00% in the project or dissertation
  • d) Met any programme specific requirements set out in the programme specification

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Students who do not meet the requirements for their intended award after all attempts are exhausted will automatically be considered for the highest intermediate award for which they meet the criteria.

Classification of awards

Masters awards (MA, MSc, MEM, LLM, MBA, MEd)

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Where a student meets the eligibility requirements for award set out in Senate Regulation 6.78 above the Board will apply the following criteria to determine the classification of the award:

  • Masters
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 50.00%
  • Masters with Merit
    • A Programme credit Weighted Average of at least 60.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 58.00% or higher and at least 90 credits at 60.00% or higher
  • Masters with Distinction
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of at least 70.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 68.00% or higher and at least 90 credits at 70.00% or higher

Master of Research (MRes)

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Where a student meets the eligibility requirements for award set out in Senate Regulation 6.78 above the Board will apply the following criteria to determine the classification of the award:

  • MRes
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 50.00%
  • MRes with Merit
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 60.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 58.00% or higher and at least 90 credits at 60.00% or higher
  • MRes with Distinction
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 70.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 68.00% or higher and at least 90 credits at 70.00% or higher

Postgraduate Diploma

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For a Postgraduate Diploma where a student meets the eligibility criteria for award set out in Senate Regulation 6.78 the Board of Examiners will apply the following criteria in order to determine the classification of the award:

  • Postgraduate Diploma
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 50.00%
  • Postgraduate Diploma with Merit
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 60.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 58.00% or higher and at least 60 credits at 60.00% or higher
  • Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average of at least 70.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 68.00% or higher and at least 60 credits at 70.00% or higher

6.83

At the discretion of the Board of Examiners where a student has passed 105 taught credits with a mark of 50.00% or higher, has a Programme Credit Weighted Average of 50.00% or higher, has 15 taught credits below a mark of 40.00% with no attempts remaining and has passed their project, a student may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

Postgraduate Certificate

6.84

For a Postgraduate Certificate where a student meets the eligibility criteria for award set out in Senate Regulation 6.78 the Board of Examiners will apply the following criteria in order to determine the classification of the award:

  • Postgraduate Certificate
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 50.00%
  • Postgraduate Certificate with Merit
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 60.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 58.00% or higher and at least 30 credits at 60.00% or higher
  • Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction
    • A Programme Credit-Weighted Average mark of at least 70.00%, or
    • A Programme Credit Weighted Average of 58.00% or higher and at least 30 credits at 60.00% or higher

Placements

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Some programmes may contain mandatory or optional placements. Mandatory placements contribute to the final award and must therefore be passed in order for the student to pass their programme and be awarded a qualification. These requirements will be set out in the relevant programme specification.

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Where a programme contains an optional placement, which includes industrial placements, these will not contribute marks to the final award. Students may be required to meet additional progression criteria to proceed to the placement, and these will be detailed in the relevant programme specification. Students may be required to meet certain attendance or assessment criteria whilst on placement to achieve the learning outcomes of the placement. Successful completion of an industrial placement and associated attendance and assessment criteria will allow student’s degree title to include ‘with industry’. These requirements will be set out in the relevant programme specification. Failure to meet the attendance and assessment criteria for the placement will result in students being unable to meet the intended learning outcomes, in which case they will not receive the ‘with industry’ component of their degree title.

Aegrotat awards

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An aegrotat award may be considered in certain circumstances where a student is prevented through illness or other sufficient cause from completing the final assessment for the taught component of the award. Exemption may not be granted from completing the project.

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The circumstances experienced by the student should be such that they are unlikely to be able to complete outstanding assessments at a future date and have insufficient credits for a degree to be awarded or a classification determined. In all other circumstances standard re-assessment regulations will apply.

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Boards of Examiners should be satisfied that, on the basis of the student’s performance prior to the circumstances, the student would have been expected to pass the assessments if the circumstances had not occurred.

6.90

Students must have successfully passed the project and typically at least 50% of the taught credits for the award. An aegrotat degree may not be awarded where the project has not been passed.

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A student should indicate that they are willing to accept an aegrotat award and understand that no further opportunities will be available for re-assessment.

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An aegrotat award will be unclassified.

6.93

Where a student does not meet the requirements for an Aegrotat degree they may be considered for an intermediate qualification in line with the requirements of the above regulations.

Posthumous awards

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A Board of Examiners may posthumously award a Masters degree, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate on the basis of credit successfully completed. A posthumous Masters degree may be awarded where a pass has been obtained in the project and at least 50% of the taught credits for the award. Where this threshold has not been met the appropriate intermediate award will be made on a posthumous basis.

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