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Section 9: Consequences of Failure

Published for 2023-24


The Consequences of Failure regulations cover the provisions for students who do not meet the Progression and Award Requirements, where there are no Extenuating Circumstances material to that failure. Students who are ill or have other valid Extenuating Circumstances should refer to Section 8: Deferred AssessmentÌýfor details of the support available.

9.1 Overaching Principles9.4 Resitting a Module
9.2 Failure at the First Attempt9.5 Repeating a Module
9.3 Failure at the Second Attempt9.6 Non-Modular Programmes

9.1ÌýOverarching Principles

Principle 34:ÌýÌý ÌýA student who does not meet the Progression and Award Requirements at the first attempt should be reassessed in the failed module(s).
Principle 35: Ìý ÌýA student who does not meet the Progression and Award Requirements at the second attempt must not be reassessed.

9.2 Failure at the First Attempt

1.A student who does not meet the Progression and Award Requirements at the first attempt should be reassessed in the failed module(s) unless they:
Ìýa)Are eligible for the award of the intended qualification, or
Ìýb)Are eligible for Condonement (Section 6.3),Ìýor
Ìýc)Have failed an Additional/ Extra-Mural Study Abroad or Placement Year (seeÌýparagraph 7Ìýbelow), or
Ìýd)Have been awarded a qualification, or
Ìýe)Have failed to meet specific, essential Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements as approved by Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Education Committee or its nominee and recorded in the Portico Progression and Award Rules Tool, or
Ìýf)Have been excluded from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê on the grounds of academic insufficiency, or
Ìýg)Have been excluded from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê as a result of academic or personal misconduct.
2.Where a student fails up to and including 60 taught credits in any one academic session reassessmentÌýmustÌýtake the form of aÌýResit.
3.Where a student fails more than 60 taught credits in any one academic session, reassessmentÌýshouldÌýtake the form of aÌýRepeat. Where aÌýRepeatÌýis considered to be impossible, the Board of ExaminersÌýmayÌýoffer the student the opportunity to take the failed assessments asÌýResits.
4.Where a student requires Deferred Assessment and Reassessment, the volume of credits for the Deferred Assessment should not be taken into consideration in determining whether a student is required to Resit or Repeat.
5.Where a student fails a Dissertation/ Research Project, reassessmentÌýshouldÌýtake the form of aÌýResitÌýunless the Board of Examiners agrees that, in its academic judgement, the extent of failure is such that additional supervision is needed to retrieve that failure. Such studentsÌýmayÌýbe required toÌýRepeatÌýthe Dissertation/ Research ProjectÌýwithÌýtuition and fees.
6.A student who fails an Additional/ Extra-Mural Study Abroad or Placement Year must not be reassessed but may be permitted to transfer to an equivalent programme without a Study Abroad or Placement requirement.
7.A studentÌýmust notÌýbe reassessed in a Passed or Condoned module.
8.A studentÌýmust notÌýbe permitted to make corrections to a piece of work after the submission deadline or examination date. If work is to be submitted for publication, a studentÌýmustÌýonly be permitted to make corrections once the Board of Examiners has made a decision about Progression and Award.
9.Reassessment must be completed within the next two academic sessions (e.g. if the student first enrols on the module in 2020-21 they must complete the assessment by the end of 2022-23). Where a module is substituted, students have two academic sessions from when they first enrol on the substituted module.
10.This period of two academic sessions may be extended at the discretion of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Education Services on behalf of the Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience). Applications must be made via the Faculty Tutor.

9.3 Failure at the Second Attempt

1.A student who does not meet the Progression and Award Requirements at the second attempt must leave the programme, and must not be permitted to re-enrol on a failed programme or module.
2.A studentÌýmayÌýbe eligible for one of the following, depending on their programme of study:Ìý
Ìýa)The award of a qualification with a different field of study, or
Ìýb)Transfer to an alternative programme, or
Ìýc)An Interim Qualification (Section 10).

9.4 Resitting a Module

1.AÌýResitÌýis a second attempt at an assessment without any additional tuition and with marks capped at the Pass Mark (see Section 3.7).
ÌýTiming of Resits
2.Resits should be scheduled as follows:
Ìý

Taught modules first assessed in Term 1 or Term 2:

Late Summer Assessment Period.

Taught modules first assessed in Term 3:

Late Summer Assessment Period or within three months of the first attempt.

Taught modules first assessed in the summer vacation/ Term 4:

Within three months of the first attempt.

Masters Dissertations/ Research Projects: September-start programmes:

By 31 January of the following academic session.

Masters Dissertations/ Research Projects: January-start programmes:

By 30 April of the following academic session.

3.Departments/ Divisions running Resits and Deferrals outside of the Late Summer Assessment Period must:
Ìýa)Ensure that students have an adequate amount of time in which to revise or complete the work, and
Ìýb)Manage the assessment including the operation of unseen written examinations (students cannot be timetabled into the main Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê LSA Examination Timetable), and
Ìýc)Ensure that there are no timetabling clashes, especially for students external to the Teaching Department/ Division, and
Ìýd)Ensure that marks are entered by the deadlines published by Student and Registry Services each year so that students can formally progress to any subsequent years of study, and
Ìýe)Ensure that the award of a student’s degree is not delayed unreasonably, and
Ìýf)Ensure that all students registered on the module are aware of the reassessment dates as early as possible.
4.Progressing students should not enrol on the next year of study until the Resit has been completed.
Ìýa)Exceptionally, a student may be permitted to Provisionally Progress and Resit the module in tandem with the next year of study in a maximum of 30 credits. See Section 6.4: Provisional ProgressionÌýfor further details.
ÌýResit Marks
5.Resitting studentsÌýmustÌýonly be reassessed in the failed moduleÌýcomponent(s).
6.Where a student passes a Resit, the module mark(s)ÌýmustÌýbe capped at the Pass Mark (Section 3.7).
7.Where a student fails a Resit, the higher mark from the two attempts will be recorded for the affected Component(s).
ÌýRequirements and Entitlements
8.Resitting studentsÌýshould notÌýattend any additional lectures, seminars or other teaching activities. TheyÌýmayÌýbe offered, but are not automatically entitled to, additional tutorials or supervision.
9.ThereÌýmustÌýbe no fee for Resitting an assessment.Ìý
10.Resitting studentsÌýshouldÌýhave access to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê’s facilities such as the library and other learning resources, although thereÌýmayÌýbe limited availability of some resources during Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê vacation periods.
11.Resitting studentsÌýmustÌýbe entitled to the Reasonable Adjustments provisions for students with disabilities and other long-term medical or mental health conditions.
12.StudentsÌýshouldÌýundertake a Resit before they commence a Study Abroad Year or Placement Year.
ÌýFormat of the Resit
13.Resitting studentsÌýmustÌýbe reassessed under the syllabus in place at the first attempt.
14.Resitting studentsÌýshouldÌýbe reassessed by the same Method used at the first attempt (e.g. essay, exam, practical etc.). Where a Resit by the same Method of assessment is difficult or impossible, a Board of ExaminersÌýmay,Ìýwith the approval of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Education Committee or its nominee, set a different Method of reassessment. The alternative MethodÌýmust:
Ìýa)Allow students to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes to the same extent as the original assessment, and
Ìýb)Be approved by the External Examiner, preferably at the point of Programme and/ or Module Approval.
15.The Board of Examiners must determine whether Resitting students will be reassessed in the same Task (e.g. the same essay question) or whether a new Task will be set (e.g. a new essay question or new exam paper). Any new assessment Task must:
Ìýa)Allow students to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes to the same extent as the original Task, and
Ìýb)Be approved by the External Examiner, preferably at the same time as the original Task/ paper.
16.Resitting studentsÌýcannotÌýsubstitute a failed module with an alternative module because the Resit includes no teaching.

9.5 Repeating a Module

1.A Repeat is a second attempt at an assessment in the following academic session with tuition and fees and with marks capped at the Pass Mark (see Section 3.7).
ÌýTiming of a Repeat
2.A student who is required to RepeatÌýmustÌýre-enrol on the failed modules in the following academic session.
3.Progressing studentsÌýshould notÌýenrol on the next year of study until the Repeat has been completed.
Ìýa)Exceptionally, a student may be permitted to Provisionally Progress and Repeat the module in tandem with the next year of study in a maximum of 30 credits. See Section 6.4: Provisional Progression for further details.
ÌýRepeat Marks
4.Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýbe reassessed inÌýall the componentsÌýof the failed module(s).Ìý
5.Where a student Passes a Repeat, the module mark(s)ÌýmustÌýbe capped at the Pass Mark (Section 3.7).
6.Where a student fails a Repeat, the marks from the Repeat attempt will be recorded.
ÌýRequirements and Entitlements
7.Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýre-enrol on the affected module(s), attend all teaching activities and be entitled to the standard tuition and supervision provisions on the module(s).Ìý
8.The fees for Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýbe charged pro-rata to the credit value of the module(s) concerned.Ìý
9.Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýhave full access to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê’s facilities such as the library and other learning resources.
10.Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýbe entitled to the Reasonable Adjustments provisions for students with disabilities and other long-term medical or mental health conditions.
11.Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýmeet Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê’s minimum attendance requirements to be eligible for their Repeat attempt.
ÌýFormat of the Repeat
12.The components and/ or syllabus of the affected module(s)ÌýmayÌýbe different if the programme or module has changed between years of study. Repeating studentsÌýmustÌýbe reassessed in the components and syllabus of the new year.
ÌýSubstitution of Modules
13.Subject to approval by the Departmental Tutor, a Repeating student may apply to substitute up to 30 credits of modules with one or more alternative modules in any one academic session, up to a maximum of 60 credits across the whole programme.
14.If a programme has changed between years of study, or a module will not be running, the Departmental TutorÌýmayÌýpermit a studentÌýto substitute more than 30 credits per year, or more than 60 credits across the programme, with one or more alternative modules.
15.The substitute module(s)ÌýmustÌýsatisfy the programme requirements in terms of credit-weighting and academic level. StudentsÌýmust notÌýtake modules from a subsequent year of study in advance.
16.The substitute module(s)ÌýmustÌýbe treated as a second attempt and marksÌýmustÌýbe capped at the Pass Mark (Section 3.7).
17.All approved substitutions must be notified to Student Records by the Department.

9.6ÌýNon-Modular Programmes

9.6.1 BA (Hons) English

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above,Ìýwith the following implementation:
a)Where a student fails one examination in the first year of the programme, reassessment should take the form of a Resit.Ìý
Ìýb)Where a student fails two or more examinations in the first year of the programme, reassessment should take the form of a Repeat. Where a Repeat is considered to be impossible, the Board of Examiners may offer the student the opportunity to take the failed assessments as Resits.
Ìýc)The fees for Repeating Year 1 students must be charged pro-rata to the proportion of the teaching load represented by the repeat:
ÌýÌýi.Two papers: 66% of the fee.
ÌýÌýii.Three papers: 100% of the fee.

9.6.2 BA (Hons) Fine ArtÌý

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above, with the following exceptions:
Ìýa)A student who fails the final assessment of Studio Work at the end of Year 4 should Resit at the end of the following academic session. Exceptionally, the Board of Examiners may determine that the extent of failure is such that the student must Repeat the Studio Work, with tuition and fees, in the following academic session.

9.6.3 BFA (Hons) Fine ArtÌý

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above, with the following exceptions:
Ìýa)A student who fails the final assessment of Studio Work at the end of Year 3 should Resit at the end of the following academic session. Exceptionally, the Board of Examiners may determine that the extent of failure is such that the student must Repeat the Studio Work, with tuition and fees, in the following academic session.

9.6.4 MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery)Ìý

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above, with the following exceptions:
Ìýa)Pass results in individual components of the MBBS assessment are carried forward to in-year resit sittings. In years 4, 5 and 6, because of the clinical nature of these years, students who fail one or more components have the option of deferring their second attempt and repeating the full programme of study including all in-course requirements for the year, with tuition and fees, and retaking both components
Ìýb)Students must qualify within 9 years of commencing the programme or, for UK graduate entrants with exemption from the iBSc requirement, within 8 years of commencing the programme.

9.6.5ÌýMA Fine Art

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above, with the following exceptions:
Ìýa)A student who fails the final assessment of Studio Work at the end of Year 2 should Resit at the end of the following academic session. Exceptionally, the Board of Examiners may determine that the extent of failure is such that the student must Repeat the Studio Work, with tuition and fees, in the following academic session.

9.6.6ÌýMFA Fine Art in the Slade School of Fine Art

1.A student who fails to meet the Progression and Award Requirements is subject to the standard Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Consequences of FailureÌýregulations detailed above, with the following exceptions:
Ìýa)A student who fails the final assessment of Studio Work at the end of Year 2 should Resit at the end of the following academic session. Exceptionally, the Board of Examiners may determine that the extent of failure is such that the student must Repeat the Studio Work, with tuition and fees, in the following academic session.