Assessment Decisions
The following information explains more about the processes involved in arriving at decisions related to formal assessment at the end of an academic year.
Undergraduate Students
Assessment decisions on undergraduate students are taken by the internal and, where appropriate, external examiners for each module and by Programme Boards. Their decisions are based on the marks obtained in written examinations and/or coursework assessments as specified in the Programme Regulations and module specifications.
Examiners and Programme Boards are able to take into account factors which have affected your performance (illness, for example) provided you have previously completed a form to explain the circumstances. Full details are given in Mitigating Circumstances.
You have a limited right to appeal against decisions taken by Programme Boards: full details are given in Academic Appeals.
Should you fail a year, you cannot begin the next part of your programme before you have passed reassessment but all students have the right to one reassessment at each part. Please see Reassessment for full details. Students who fail at re-assessment to meet the requirements for progression will normally have their studies terminated. In certain circumstances students have the right to appeal against the termination decision under Regulation XIV. Students who do not meet the progression requirements and do not exercise their right to be re-assessed are regarded as having abandoned their studies.
For assessment procedures for students with additional needs please see the Student Services assessment support pages.
Postgraduate Taught Students
A Review Board, including the Dean of School, at least three other Internal Examiners and an External Examiner, is appointed for each postgraduate programme to take assessment and mitigating circumstances decisions on modules and to review students’ overall progress.
Later on, when students have completed all their modules including resits where appropriate, modular results are considered by Programme Boards which make awards in consultation with an External Examiner. All decisions are based on the marks obtained in written examinations and/or coursework assessments as specified in the Programme Regulations and module specifications.
Examiners and Programme Boards are able to take into account factors which have affected your performance (illness, for example) provided you have previously completed a form to explain the circumstances. Full details are given in Mitigating Circumstances.
You have a limited right to appeal against decisions taken by Programme Boards: full details are given in Academic Appeals.
Should you fail to obtain credit in a module you have the right to one reassessment. Please see Reassessment for full details. Students who fail to obtain credit at re-assessment will not normally be permitted another attempt. In certain circumstances students have the right to appeal against this termination decision under Regulation XIV.
For assessment procedures for students with additional needs please see the Student Services website.