The marking process for your assessment activities is rigorous and thorough. It's based on approved marking criteria to ensure transparency and fairness.
Assessment criteria
The Office for Students (OfS) requires all higher education providers to follow standard assessment criteria focusing on what has been achieved and an emphasis on standards around spelling, punctuation, grammar and numeracy appropriate to your learning outcomes.
It is important that you check your Course and Module Handbooks for your assessment criteria which will be included as part of your assessment brief. We take a compassionate approach to learning, providing supportive feedback on assessments that helps students to develop and succeed in their studies.
If you have questions that are specific to your assessment criteria, please contact your personal academic tutor (PAT) or Course Tutor. For any concerns about how your personal circumstances may impact your ability to successfully undertake your assessment please contact the Student Wellbeing Team.
Marking is carried out by examiners approved by the University. It’s 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.
Undergraduate pass mark
You need to 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.
The outcome at the end of the marking process could be:
- You’re awarded a pass so can progress to the next level of study or complete your award.
- You’ve not yet passed a level and can’t progress so you may:
- Be eligible for further assessment opportunities (e.g. reassessment).
- Have exhausted your reassessment opportunities and are required to withdraw. You’ll be awarded credits for passed modules, and an exit award where eligible.
Find out more here.
Calculating your classification
In all cases, award classifications are based on the raw marks achieved according to the criteria set out in the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework. Examiners and Boards of Examiners don’t have the discretion to change individual marks.
Once you’ve achieved a pass (with or without compensation) in all the credits for your award (120 credits at each level of study), your final award classification is calculated using your raw module marks. The final mark is rounded to the nearest integer.
|
Award |
Award Classification |
|
BA/BSc (Hons) Degree |
The classification is calculated using marks from your best 100 credits at Level 5 and your best 100 credits at Level 6. Level 5 accounts for 40% of your final mark and Level 6 accounts for 60% of your final mark. |
|
BA/BSc (Hons) Top-up Degree |
The classification is calculated using marks from your best 100 credits at Level 6. |
|
Foundation Degree |
The award of Distinction or Merit will be awarded only where 100 credits or more are graded, as opposed to Pass/Fail. For classification, an average of the marks of your best 100 credits at Level 5 will be used. |
|
Integrated Master's |
The classification is calculated using the average mark of your best 100 credits at Level 5, the average mark of your best 100 credits at Level 6 and the average mark of 120 credits at Level 7. The average mark at Level 7 will be combined with the average mark at Level 6 and the average mark at Level 5 in the ratio 50:30:20 and rounded to the nearest integer. |
|
Ordinary Degree |
An Ordinary Degree is an undergraduate degree that is awarded without honours and does not have an award classification (1st/2:1/2:2/3rd). You will qualify if you have achieved 300 undergraduate credits of which at least 60 credits are at Level 6. (An Honours Degree is 360 credits, with a minimum of 120 credits at Level 6). What do I need to consider in accepting an Ordinary Degree? An Ordinary Degree is an undergraduate degree and will be accepted by many employers. However, there are certain professions that will require an Honours Degree and most postgraduate study courses normally state a requirement for an Honours Degree. Would I be able to apply to complete an Honours Degree at a later stage? This may be available to you. If you leave the University with an Ordinary Degree, you may be eligible to return to the University to achieve an Honours Degree. An application to do so, would be subject to the University admissions and return to study policies. |
What mark is required to achieve:
- A First-Class Honours (a 1st)
Your calculated overall mark awarded by a Board of Examiners must be 70% or above. - An Upper Second-Class Honours (a 2:1)
Your calculated overall mark awarded by a Board of Examiners must be 60% – 69%. - A Lower Second-Class Honours (a 2:2)
Your calculated overall mark awarded by a Board of Examiners must be 50% - 59%. - A Third-Class Honours (a 3rd)
Your calculated overall mark awarded by a Board of Examiners must be 40% - 49%.
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