Academic Regulations: Frequently Asked Questions

The University’s Regulation and Credit Framework governs all courses and awards. This ensures each course and award is structured, delivered, and assessed fairly, consistently, and transparently.

The Regulation and Credit Framework covers a range of areas including pass requirements, award classification, progression, and credit requirements (including compensation and Trailing Credit), rules for examinations and time-constrained assessments, recognition of prior learning (RPL), assessment, reassessment, academic appeals, and Additional Course Regulations.

Some of the information you may find most helpful is likely to be the details relating to assessment and classification of awards.

It is important to familiarise yourself with the assessment regulations that apply to your learning so that you understand:

• How and when your work is assessed

• Your entitlement to reassessment opportunities if you don’t pass modules the first time

• The timing of reassessment

• The requirements for passing assessment activities and modules (pass thresholds)

• The conditions relating to reassessment

• How your award will be classified.

From September 2025, you will be on the September 2025 Academic Regulations at the point you re-register for your studies.

So a student who originally registered on a course in January 2025 would transfer to the new regulations when they re-register in January 2026.

Each course has been designed to enable you to gain the knowledge and skills that meet the Course Learning Outcomes as detailed in your Course Handbook.

There are set learning outcomes that you must achieve to complete your modules and levels of study in order to progress through your course and achieve an award or credits.

During your modules, you will do regular assessment activities that will test your achievement of the learning outcomes.

There will be a variety of learning activities in class, on Blackboard (the University's Virtual Learning Environment), and through other digital and physical means.

These learning activities will support you to develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes that aim to support you to meet the requirements of your course.

As you progress through your undergraduate course, you will undertake levels of study that will introduce you to increasingly complex concepts. You will need to demonstrate the ability to learn and apply these concepts at each level and will be taught how to do this as part of your course.

Levels are part of a national Higher Education framework that sets the standards for the different types of qualification and awards.

• Undergraduate levels are Levels 4-6
• Some Undergraduate courses include additional levels of study i.e. the Foundation Year is Level 0 (meaning it does not have credits attached to it)
• An Integrated Master’s includes Level 7 modules.

In most cases, you must complete a level before progressing to a higher level.

Each undergraduate level of study (0*, 4, 5, 6, and 7 for an Integrated Master’s) consists of modules that together must have a total value of 120 credits. Modules typically have a value of 15 or 30 credits, or occasionally 60 credits (the credit value is confirmed in your Course/Module Handbook). If you started your course before August 2025, you may have modules of 20 or 40 credits.

You must always check that you are studying the correct number of credits. If you are unsure, refer to your Course/Module Handbook or talk to your Course Team (including your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) as soon as possible).

There are a range of undergraduate awards available. Your award will be based on the course that you are studying and the type of award that you are registered to complete.

To achieve an undergraduate degree with honours, you must normally achieve 360 credits. To achieve an Integrated Master’s degree, you must normally achieve 480 credits. Certain courses may have additional requirements e.g. Apprenticeship qualifications, which are separate from the academic qualification awarded by the University and require a pass in the End Point Assessment (EPA).

If you are studying for a Foundation Degree, which combines academic study and work-based learning, you will accumulate credits at Level 4 and Level 5. This is normally 240 credits.

* If you are studying on a Foundation Year (Level 0), this is a year designed to equip you with the essential and specialist skills and knowledge needed to support your progression through your chosen undergraduate degree. Foundation Years do not carry credits, but you will need to complete the equivalent of 120 credits in order to progress to the next level of study (Level 4).

Each course consists of modules that together have a total value of credits as shown in the table below. Modules typically have a value of 15 or 30 credits, or occasionally 60 credits. If you started you course before August 2025, you may have modules of 20 or 40 credits. MA and MSc awards often include a dissertation or Individual Study.

You must always check that you are studying the correct number of credits. If you are not sure, refer to your Course/Module Handbook or talk to your Course Team including your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) as soon as possible.

There are a range of Postgraduate Taught awards available. Your award will be based on the course that you are studying and the type of award that you are registered to complete.

Table showing postgraduate taught awards and the number of credits

Course structure

Your course is made up of a series of modules (usually of 30 credits each) which allow you to achieve the set learning outcomes.

In some courses, all modules are core, while in others you may have a mixture of core and optional modules.

Core modules are those that are essential to the achievement of the learning outcomes of the course, which means that all students on the course need to study them. Optional modules, where available, allow you to focus on a preferred area within your domain of study. If your course offers optional modules, then at a set point in the year you will be asked to select your preferred modules for the next year.

Academic year structure

Your course will be delivered over one or more academic years.

Some university courses operate on a semester academic calendar, where each year is divided into two semesters. Some operate on a trimester academic calendar, where each year is divided into three trimesters or terms.

Some academic calendars also include additional weeks designed to provide you with time away from your studies to support your academic learning and personal development.

Your Course/Module Handbook will clarify which academic calendar your course is on.

There are rules that govern how many credits you can take in any given semester or trimester. These are normally 60 credits per semester or trimester. If you have any additional questions, please speak to your Course Team.

You can expect to be assessed throughout your course.

During assessment, you’ll be tested on your ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that have been set out in the learning outcomes for a module.

There are two types of assessment you will encounter: formative and summative.

• Formative assessment - takes place throughout your module. It might take the same form as the summative assessment or test specific knowledge. For example, it could be an online or in-class quiz or questions in a seminar or tutorial. You may be given a mark for this assessment, but it will not contribute to your overall module mark.
  
  Formative assessment(s) provide an opportunity for you to see how well you are doing and what you need to do to improve before your summative assessment(s). It is important because, no matter how hard you have studied, if you do not understand what the assessment requires you to do, or do not yet have the skills to articulate your learning, you will not do as well.

• Summative assessment - after this type of assessment, you will receive a mark that comprises or contributes to your overall module mark. The mark is based on set marking criteria, which can be found in your Course/Module Handbook.

Your learning is assessed in a variety of ways so that you and the University can be sure that you are gaining the required skills, knowledge, and marks to enable you to progress and achieve your desired award. The main categories are Examinations, Practical's, Coursework, and Set Exercises. 

Depending on the assessment activity, you could be assessed as an individual or as part of a group. The assessment could occur in a placement or work-based learning setting.

Whatever form the assessment takes, the key thing is that it must allow you to demonstrate the learning outcomes of the module. You must make sure that you know the learning outcomes and are clear about what is expected of you.

Information and guidance about your learning outcomes and the assessments that you will be required to complete for your modules are available in your Course/Module Handbook and via your Module Tutor.

Assessment of placement is as important as any other assessment activity you undertake. It allows your course to assess a number of things, for example:

• How have you applied knowledge and theory in different settings.

• What activities have you done and the learning you have gained from them.

• How have you experienced a placement and reflected upon it.

Your assessment may also include an assessment of practice competencies or standard.

Placement assessment may take place during or after your placement. It may be carried out by one of your tutors or by someone who works at your placement who has specific expertise in that area. Some placement assessments have a mark and some are pass/fail, depending on your module and course. Placement assessments may be subject to different reassessment regulations, and it is important that you check your course regulations carefully.

Assessment is an ongoing process that takes place throughout your course.

Depending on the course and modules, assessment activities could be spread throughout each module. You may also be assessed at the end of a module, semester, or trimester (depending on the academic calendar for your course), or at the end of a level of study.

For Apprenticeship qualifications, there is an additional assessment point after the completion of your academic qualification. This is called an End Point Assessment (EPA).

At the beginning of each semester or trimester, you will be provided (normally in your Course/Module Handbook and on your Blackboard module site) with written details of the assessment activities as well as the methods of assessment and formal feedback that will be used. Information provided will include:

• Descriptions of each assessment activity

• Suggested reading lists

• A schedule of assessment activities, including the submission/completion date and the date by which you will receive formal feedback

• Feedback methods.

Where details of assessment activities are not available in your Course/Module Handbook or on Blackboard, they will be confirmed to you in an alternative form.

It is important to ensure that you know all key dates for your course, including when your classes start and end, the specific times that you are required to attend the University, and formal assessment and reassessment periods. Assessment periods vary depending on the academic calendar your course follows, which is stated in your Course/Module Handbook.

To learn more about your academic calendar and accessing your personal student timetable, please speak with your Course Team and check the student webpages.

Your Course/Module Handbook will contain specific information about the process for submitting your work and completing your assessment activities.

You will normally be asked to submit your coursework assessment activities through Turnitin. This online service also allows you to upload draft versions of your assessments before final submission. It is designed to help you and your tutors check your work for originality and help guard against plagiarism.

Turnitin can be accessed through Blackboard. Where there are different arrangements, your Course Team will let you know.

It is important that you always download the receipt confirming that your submission to Turnitin was successful and that you keep those receipts until the end of that level of study.

There are some exceptions for the submission of draft work, please check your Course/Module Handbook for guidance.

For guidance on how to use Turnitin, please refer to the Turnitin guide.

If you are asked to submit your assessment activity through a different route from Turnitin, your Course Team will explain the process.

What happens if I am unable to complete my assessment activity on time?

It is important to complete your assessments on time to ensure you’re able to progress in your studies within the expected timeframes.

There are firm assessment submission deadlines with penalties for late submission of work unless you have been granted an extension or deferral.

Assessments usually have a deadline of 2pm on the day of the deadline published in the Course/Module Handbook and Blackboard.

Late Penalties

In the case of late submission of coursework without an approved exceptional circumstance, the mark will be penalised.

The late submission of assessed work will only be allowed for a period of two working days (working days are defined as Monday to Friday).

The penalty for late submission within the allowable period will be a flat 10% of the available marks. The 10% deduction will reduce the mark to no less than the pass mark, where the work would otherwise have passed. 

After two working days late, a mark of zero will be recorded and the work will be considered a non-submission.

The submission deadline is 2pm on the date due. The application of the penalty starts after 2:01pm on the day of the published deadline. For example, for late assessments, a penalty of 10% will be applied from 2:01pm on the day of the published deadline until 2pm on the second working day. The calculation of “working days” is Monday to Friday.

The penalty may differ for assessments that are only marked as pass/fail and for assessments that must meet specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. In these cases, you will find details of the penalties in your Course/Module Handbook.

Failure to attend an examination without approved exceptional circumstance will automatically result in a mark of 0%.

Exceptional Circumstances

It is important to complete your assessments on time to ensure you’re able to progress in your studies within the expected timeframes; however, exceptional circumstances provide a short extension to your coursework or allow you to postpone/re-take an exam or time-constrained assessment.

For more information on exceptional circumstances, visit the student webpages. 

Feedback is provided in a number of forms and is delivered in different ways. It could be verbal or written, online or paper; it can come from your Module Tutor or your fellow students, depending on the type of assessment and the marking criteria (these can be found in your Course/Module Handbook).

The aim is to provide you with timely and useful feedback within 15 working days of the submission date. For certain modules and assessment activities such as dissertations, extended projects, individual studies, formal examinations, and work submitted after the deadline, there may be an extended period for feedback.

The marking process for your assessment activities is rigorous and thorough and is based on approved marking criteria as detailed in your Course/Module Handbook.

Marking is carried out by examiners approved by Canterbury Christ Church University and is then reviewed by subject specialists from other institutions (External Examiners) who are part of a formally convened body (a Board of Examiners) that is responsible for confirming students’ marks and progression and granting awards.

1. Completed assessment activities are marked by an approved examiner.
2. Assessment activities are then either: Moderated, meaning a sample of the marked assessment activities is reviewed by a University-approved examiner to ensure that the criteria for assessment and arrangements for feedback have been appropriately applied OR Double marked (where required by the University's Regulation and Credit Framework), meaning the summative assessments for all students are reviewed by a second approved examiner.
3. Once moderation or double marking is completed, a provisional mark is allocated to your work and published on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (e.g. Blackboard, Turnitin, Pebblepad). This is the mark pre-penalties or caps. This mark does not include any potential penalties you may have incurred if submitting the work late. Neither does it include any cap because it is a reassessment.
4. Once assessment activities are completed and marks are published on the VLE, a sample of those marked assessment activities is then reviewed by an External Examiner.
5. At the end of a semester/trimester, final module marks are confirmed by a Module Ratification Process involving University examiners with input from the External Examiner. After the process, you will receive your results via MyRecord. These marks are inclusive of any penalties (for lateness) and caps (if reassessment).
6. At the end of a level of study, final module marks are considered by a Progression and Award Board of Examiners. This board confirms student progression, reassessment (if required), and grants awards.

For all Undergraduate awards (except Integrated Master’s) in order to pass a level of study and progress to the next level or complete an award, your calculated overall average mark for the level must be 40% or greater.

For an Integrated Master’s the pass mark for the award is 40% but in order to remain on the Integrated Master’s pathway and progress from Level 5 to 6, your calculated overall mark for Level 5 must be 50% or greater.

The mark you receive for each module studied is calculated based on what you receive for each individual assessment that you have completed. Each mark is given an assessment weighting. This is used to calculate your final mark for each module. There may be some professional modules where some or all of the assessments are pass/fail and no marks assigned.

There may be some modules where you need to pass all assessments in the module, in order to meet specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. Where this is the case, details will be provided in your Course/Module Handbook.

Examples of module mark calculations based on assessment weightings

These examples illustrate the calculation of a module mark based on two assessments where one is coursework, while the other is an examination (the assessment weightings vary).

*If you meet certain criteria, this may be eligible for a compensated pass.

What is the postgraduate taught pass mark?

The pass mark for a postgraduate taught module is 50%. In addition, in order to complete an award, your calculated average overall mark must be 50% or greater.

The mark you receive for each module studied is calculated based on what you receive for each individual assessment that you have completed. Each mark is given an assessment weighting. This is used to calculate your final mark for each module. There may be some professional modules where some or all of the assessments are pass/fail and no marks assigned.

There may be some modules where you need to pass all assessments in the module, in order to meet specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. Where this is the case, details will be provided in your Course/Module Handbook.

Examples of module mark calculations based on assessment weightings

These examples illustrate the calculation of a module mark based on two assessments where one is coursework, while the other is an examination (the assessment weightings vary).

*If you meet certain criteria, this may be eligible for a compensated pass.

Yes, you need to achieve a pass in every module.

• For undergraduate awards, at each level of study, you must normally achieve a pass (40% or greater*) in each of your modules in order to achieve 120 credits and gain an overall pass of a level.
  
  *There are higher requirements at certain levels on an Integrated Master’s course.
  
  
• For postgraduate taught awards, you must normally achieve a pass (50% or greater) in each of your modules to achieve the required number of credits for your award.

A ‘compensated pass’ is available for most, but not all, courses. Some courses have approved Additional Course Regulations that do not allow compensation, due to professional or employer requirements.

Compensation allows you to progress to the next level of study or gain an award when you have not passed all of your modules, but a Progression and Award Board confirms you have met set criteria relating to a level of study. For more information see the compensation FAQ.

At the end of a semester/trimester you will be given formal notification of the marking outcomes for the modules you have completed.

The possible outcomes are:

• Passed a module(s) and continue with your course.

• Did not pass a module(s) and undertake reassessment. The timing of this will be confirmed to you in writing. In most cases, you will continue with your new modules while preparing for reassessment.

• Did not pass a module(s) and you have exhausted all reassessment and retake attempts for which you are eligible, without passing. You cannot continue and will exit the course with the relevant alternate exit award or credits.

Release dates for results are published in advance and you can check these with your Course Team. 

No. Normally, you cannot progress if you do not achieve a pass in all of your modules.

All decisions about students’ module marks, progression, and achievements have to adhere to the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework. These decisions are made by the Boards of Examiners. The University then notifies you of the decision. If you pass all modules, you will be able to progress or achieve an award as planned.

If you do not pass all modules, the Progression and Award Board will grant one of the following options:

1) Confirm a pass with Compensation:
This is only available for applicable courses where you meet the criteria. If granted a ‘compensated pass’, you will be able to progress to the next level or achieve an award.

2) Offer a reassessment or a retake:
If you are granted reassessment, this means you will be offered another attempt at failed component(s) of the assessment to try and pass the failed module(s) - the marks for your reassessment work will be capped at the pass mark.

If you are granted a retake, you will be offered an attempt to re-study of a module in full as if for the first time - the first assessment attempt in a retake is not capped at the pass mark.

Under specific conditions, you may be granted an opportunity for Trailing Credit, which means you can progress to your next level or stage while doing a limited amount of reassessment to try and pass the failed module(s).

3) Offer deferral:
When you meet set criteria, you can be granted a short delay to your assessment submission date, based on approved Exceptional Circumstances. This is called a deferral.

If you are granted a deferral on your first attempt at an assessment, you will be offered the chance to complete the assessment by a specified date and your mark will not be capped.

You must complete the deferral by the specified date, which is normally within the same academic year. Normally, you cannot carry a deferral into the next academic year.

4) Cannot continue:

This will happen if you have not submitted anything for a level or stage of study (non-submission in all modules) without approved Exceptional Circumstances OR

if you have not met the academic requirements to continue your course OR

you have exhausted all your reassessment and/or retake opportunities, without passing. You can exit the course with the relevant alternate exit award or credits.

There could be a range of reasons why you are unable to progress as planned.

If you do not achieve an overall pass of a level of study, a Progression and Award Board of Examiners will offer you a set number of reassessment opportunities in line with the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework. In some instances, these may require you to retake (i.e. re-study) a module.

If you think you are unable to continue because of personal reasons or difficult circumstances, you should seek advice and talk through your options for taking a break from your studies with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). Support is also available from Student Support & Wellbeing - find out more at Support Services. If you decide to take a break (formally known as interrupt) or withdraw from your studies, you must meet certain conditions, including deadline dates for making these changes.

In some situations, it may be necessary to withdraw from studies before achieving your intended award. If you find yourself in this situation, you would then receive a transcript of the modules studied/credits achieved and you may be eligible for an alternative award.  For example, if you were to leave a BA (Hons) Degree after successfully completing Level 4, you may be eligible to achieve a Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE); if you were to leave after successfully completing Level 5, you may be eligible to achieve a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE). If you were studying on a Foundation Year and left without completing, you would not be eligible for an award, but would receive a transcript of the modules studied.

Retrieval means further attempts to pass a module that has been failed – to ‘retrieve’ the fail. Some key terms are:

A Fail with retrieval available is where a student hasn’t passed a module(s) and a further attempt is available to a student to pass the module(s).

A Fail with no retrieval available is where a student hasn’t passed a module(s) and has exhausted all attempts.

There are two ways to retrieve a module that has been failed at the first attempt:

Reassessment – this means another attempt at a component of assessment where the module has been failed. This is normally done by submitting an improved form of your original work or taking another examination with different questions on the same subject.

It does not involve reattending/re-studying a module.

If passed, the mark for the component of assessment will be capped at the standard assessment pass mark (40% for undergraduate, 50% for postgraduate).

Retake of module – this means re-studying a module in full as if for the first time - the first assessment attempt in a retake is not capped at the pass mark.

A retake is offered for undergraduate students who have failed after their second attempt at an assessment and do not meet the criteria for Trailing Credit.

A retake is offered for postgraduate taught students who have failed after their second attempt at an assessment and got a mark of 39% or less.

Some courses have approved Additional Course Regulations that do not allow reassessment due to professional or employer requirements.

You are not allowed to reattend a year in industry for the purposes of reassessment.

For students on courses that have professional body or employer requirements, there may be restrictions on the number of reassessments you are entitled to. Where this is the case, details will be provided in your Course/Module Handbook.

Where the standard regulations apply, students are usually eligible for up to four attempts at the assessment of the module.

This would be as follows:

• Your first assessment attempt and, if needed, another attempt (called a reassessment) in the same academic year.

• Then, if you have failed the module(s) after your second attempt (first reassessment), but have engaged with your studies, you will be given one of the following options:

• • Pass with compensation

• • Progress to the next level/stage with Trailing Credit (undergraduate only, where you have up to 40 credits of failed credit only)

• • Continue with reassessment (postgraduate taught only, where you have achieved a module mark of 40-49% for the failed module(s))

• • Retake failed modules (where you have not met the criteria for a pass with compensation or Trailing Credit [undergraduate] or reassessment [postgraduate]).

If you have still failed the module(s) after your third attempt at the module assessment, whether it was done as Trailing Credit, reassessment or a retake, you will have one final attempt to pass the failed credit. This will be as a reassessment in the reassessment period.

If you have failed after your last attempt or have not engaged with your studies without an approved Exceptional Circumstance, you cannot continue your studies. Where eligible, you may receive a lower exit award or any institutional credits achieved.

No, students cannot be reassessed in passed credit. 

What is a retake?

It means that you will re-study the whole module or modules in full. It incurs an additional fee.

For undergraduate students, the reason you would be offered a retake is that you have failed your second attempt at an assessment and do not meet the criteria for Trailing Credit.

For postgraduate taught students, the reason you would be offered a retake is that you have failed your second attempt at an assessment and achieved a mark of 39% or less.

You will only be offered a retake (a) if there is evidence of sufficient engagement in your studies and (b) if the relevant award is still being offered by the University.

You won’t be able to progress to the next level or stage of your award without first passing your retake.

For a retake, you are required to re-study the unpassed modules (or their nearest equivalent where a course has been revalidated) in full, as if for the first time. The reason is that if you have failed after two attempts, you are likely to need further support to understand the concepts and pass the module. The purpose of a retake is to support you to further develop your knowledge, skills, and understanding.

For a retake, there is no carry-over of marks for individual components of the assessment to pass the module, even if some components were passed in a previous study.

Your first attempt at a component of assessment for a retake is not capped. The second attempt at a component of assessment for a retake (undertaken as reassessment) is capped at the pass mark.

A resubmission is a form of reassessment. It means re-doing (or improving) and resubmitting the assessment(s) that you haven't passed. You do not restudy the module and the mark is capped at the pass mark. It does not incur an additional fee charge.

Trailing Credit is a form of reassessment available at undergraduate level. It means re-doing (or improving) and resubmitting the assessment you haven't passed alongside your next level or stage of study. You do not restudy the module and the mark is capped at the pass mark. It does not incur an additional fee charge.

You would only be offered Trailing Credit where (a) you have failed a module after your first reassessment attempt and (b) no more than 40 credits are being trailed.

The only uncapped assessment attempts are the first attempt at an assessment and the first attempt at a retake.

Trailed modules and resubmissions are capped because the assessment was not passed at the first attempt. To offer them as uncapped attempts would not be aligned with sector practice.

A first attempt at a retake is not capped because it means that you will re-study the whole module or modules in full and it incurs an additional fee charge.

A Progression and Award Board may confirm that you have passed your level of study where you have passed some but not all of your modules, and have met very specific criteria. This type of progression is called compensation or a ‘compensated pass’.

Compensation is only applied when the full profile of marks covering all credits for a level of study are available to the Progression and Award Board of Examiners and all reassessment opportunities have been taken.

The actual mark for the compensated module will be included on your Academic Summary and official transcripts with the letters ‘CP’ to denote a Compensated Pass.

How does undergraduate compensation work?

Compensation is available for most, but not all, undergraduate courses. Some courses have approved Additional Course Regulations that do not allow compensation, due to professional or employer requirements.

Compensation allows you to progress to the next level of study or gain an award when you have not passed all of your modules, but a Progression and Award Board confirms you have met all of the following criteria relating to a level of study:

• Passed modules to the value of at least 90 credits and

• Obtained a mark of at least 30% in the module(s) to be compensated and

• Obtained an average mark of 40% for all graded credits across the level.

Compensation is not allowed for ‘student success modules’.

How does postgraduate taught compensation work?

Compensation is available for a maximum of 30 credits on most, but not all, postgraduate taught courses of 120 credits or greater i.e. PG Dip or above. Some courses have approved Additional Course Regulations that do not allow compensation, due to professional or employer requirements.

Compensation allows you to progress to the next level of study or gain an award when you have not passed all of your modules, but a Progression and Award Board confirms you have met all of the following criteria:

• Passed all modules except 30 credits and

• Achieved a mark of at least 40% in the module to be compensated and

• Achieved a combined average mark of at least 50% for all graded credits contributing to the award. 

If you meet specific criteria, you may be granted permission to progress to the next level of study while completing reassessment for modules that have not yet been passed from the previous level or stage. This is called Trailing Credit.

Trailing Credit is available for most, but not all undergraduate courses. It is not allowed for:

• Foundation Year into Level 4

• Placement year or year abroad

• Final year of study

• Short courses / micro-credentials

• Where excluded by Additional Course Regulations based on the requirements of a professional body or employer

• Student success modules.

You will be allowed to progress with Trailing Credit into the next level or stage of your course only where (a) you have failed a module after your first reassessment attempt and (b) no more than 40 credits are being trailed.

Trailing Credit means:

• You do not reattend the module that is being trailed.

• The reassessment must be taken in the designated reassessment period.

• Reassessment is only for the failed components of the module.

• The marks for the trailed component(s) of the assessment are capped at the pass mark.

If you do not pass your Trailed Credit by the end of the academic year, you won’t be eligible for any further attempts at reassessment or a retake of the Trailed Credit.

For postgraduate courses, where you don’t pass a module after a second assessment attempt, the nature of their third attempt (and fourth, if required) will depend on the module marks for any modules not passed:

• Where you have a module mark of 40 - 49%, and meet all other reassessment criteria, you will be granted a further reassessment attempt.
• Where you have a module mark of 39% or less, you will be required to complete a retake with attendance of the failed module.

Where the third attempt is as a further reassessment (not a retake):

• You do not reattend the module that is being reassessed.

• The reassessment must be taken in the designated reassessment period.

• Reassessment is only for the failed components of the module.

• The mark for the reassessed component(s) is capped at the pass mark.

If you do not pass your further reassessment attempts by the end of the academic year, you won’t be eligible to progress unless you are eligible for a compensated pass.

The standard regulations for reassessment and retake will apply to placements in the cases where you have failed the placement assessment at the first attempt in the following instances:

• There are no PSRB exclusions; AND
  • Reassessment can be undertaken without reattendance;
  • Reattendance for the purposes of reassessment can be accommodated and does not require repeating the placement in full.

Where you have failed a placement and are required to re-attend a placement in full for summative assessment, this will have to be undertaken as a retake. In these cases, a student will only be allowed to have a maximum of two attendances at a placement

Where a student is required to reattend a placement, this can only be offered where suitable placement opportunities are available.

Placement reassessments may be subject to different reassessment rules and regulations (for example, whether or not you can reattend a placement), and it is important that you check any Additional Course Regulations that apply to your course carefully.

Undergraduate degree

Your Level 5 modules are weighted 40% and your Level 6 marks are weighted 60%. These percentages are calculated using raw module marks, then the final average mark (within 0.50) is rounded up to give a final mark as follows:

• 0-39% Fail
• 40-49% Third Class (3rd)
• 50-59% Lower Second Class (2.2)
• 60-69% Upper Second Class (2.1)
• 70-100% First Class (1st)

After this, if you have a grade two percentage points below the classification boundary (e.g. 58%) this is considered in the borderline zone. To be eligible for a borderline decision to qualify for the higher classification, a student must have 50% of marked credits at the level of the award in the higher classification banding.

For students who enrolled before August 2025 and who remain on their originally registered course, calculation of the classification will be completed under the above formula and the old formula (which did not have the possibility for a borderline). These students will receive the highest outcome.

For other awards, see the Regulations for Taught Awards.

Master’s degree

Classification will be based on an average of all Level 7 credits. These are calculated using raw module marks, then the final average mark (within 0.50) is rounded up to give a final mark as follows:

• 0-49% Fail
• 50-59% Pass
• 60-69% Merit
• 70-100% Distinction

After this, if you have a grade two percentage points below the classification boundary (e.g. 68%) is considered in the borderline zone. To be eligible for a borderline decision to qualify for the higher classification, a student must have 50% of marked credits at the Level of award in the higher classification banding.

For students who enrolled prior to August 2025 and who remain on their originally registered course, calculation of the classification will be completed under the above formula and the old formula (which did not have the possibility for a borderline). These students will receive the highest outcome.

For other awards, see the Regulations for Taught Awards.