A-E

Award, aegrotat

An award that may be considered in exceptional circumstances, for example, when significant ill health or death prevent completion of study. Ordinances 14.8 and 14.9 contain detail of requirements. See also University Ordinances.

Award eligibility

Conditions that must be met for a student to be recommended for a specific award.

Boards of Examiners for Courses (BEC)

Name of the board with responsibility for assuring the academic standards for the courses under its academic authority. Boards of Examiners for Courses (BECs) determine student progression or final degree classification, as appropriate, based on marks determined by the appropriate Board of Examiners for Units (BEUs), and recommend these to the Board of Studies (BoS) for approval. Although they do not decide whether an Individual Mitigating Circumstances (IMC) claim is accepted, they do determine what action (if any) is taken as a result within the parameters outlined in the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations (UGAR).

See also QA35 Assessment Procedures for Taught Programmes of Study. BECs are also known as Boards of Examiners for Programmes (BEPs) in University regulations and quality assurance documents, the meaning is the same.

Board of Examiners for Units (BEU)

Name of the board with responsibility for assuring the academic standards for the units under its academic authority. BEUs ensure unit marks are fair and an accurate reflection of the standards achieved by students, recommending these to the Board of Examiners for Courses (BEC). See also QA35 Assessment Procedures for Taught Programmes of Study.

Board of Studies (BoS)

Name of the board with delegated responsibility from the University's Senate for the award of taught degrees based on the recommendations from Boards of Examiners for Courses (BECs). It is also responsible for the monitoring and approval of student progression outcomes. Only when results have been approved by a Board of Studies are they confirmed as final decisions.

Degree classification

The indicator of a student's overall performance in the course.

Co-existent course

Two related courses that lead to different intended awards in the same subject, for example, a bachelor's degree (BSc), and an undergraduate master's degree (MSci). Students may be permitted or required to move between these courses depending on academic performance.

Condonable range

The numerical range a unit mark must be in for failure in that unit to be eligible for condonement.

Condonement

This allows credit to be awarded for a failed unit. This decision is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners for Courses (BEC). The Undergraduate Assessment Regulations (UGAR) contain the rules and unit mark range for condonement.

Course exemption

An agreed exemption from specific assessment regulation(s). For the 2023/24 academic year, if a course has any exemptions, they can be found in the Exemptions UGAR document.

Course specification

The name of the document detailing the course content, duration, intended award and possible exit awards. The course specification can also describe additional requirements to be eligible for the intended award or a named exit award.

Credit

A numerical value that indicates the notional hours of learning required to complete a unit. The University uses the European Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (ECTS) where 1 credit is equivalent to 20 notional hours of learning. A typical undergraduate year is 60 credits, which is equivalent to 1200 hours of notional study.

Credit is awarded in recognition that the learning outcomes for a unit have been demonstrated by passing (or being condoned in) a unit.

Deferred assessment

Supplementary assessment of a failed unit with an agreed Individual Mitigating Circumstance (IMC).

Designated Alternative Course (DAC)

A closely related, alternative course to the one being studied. Transfer between courses may be required depending on academic performance. DACs are also known as Designated Alternative Programmes (DAPs) in University regulations and quality assurance documents, the meaning is the same.

Exit award

A possible alternative award if a student is not eligible for the intended award for the course. Exit awards have specific requirements.

F-J

Individual Mitigating Circumstances (IMCs)

The University’s description of unexpected circumstances which temporarily prevent a student from undertaking assessment, or which significantly impair a student’s performance in assessment. See also Individual Mitigating Circumstances.

Intended award

The primary award type that is associated with a course, for example, MSc, MBA, BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), MEng (Hons), etc. The intended award is listed in the course specification.

K-O

Main assessment periods

The two periods during the academic year during which most summative assessment is submitted or taken. These periods occur after semester 1 and semester 2. See also Academic year charts.

Must Pass Unit (MPU)

Must Pass Units must be passed for a student to be awarded the credit and be eligible for the intended award for their course. They cannot be condoned. Must Pass Units are also known as Designated Essential Units (DEUs) in University regulations and quality assurance documents, the meaning is the same.

Overall Course Average (OCA)

The credit-weighted mean of the unit marks from the specific stages that contribute to the award. The OCA is calculated and presented to two decimal places.

Overall Stage Average (OSA)

The credit-weighted mean of the unit marks for a stage. It is used in determining progression and as part of the calculation of the Overall Course Average. The OSA is calculated and presented to two decimal places.

P-T

Reassessment

Supplementary assessment of a failed unit.

Repeat a stage

A decision by the Board of Examiners for Courses (BEC). It means that a student cannot progress to the next stage of the course and instead must re-attempt a stage already taken. All marks from the previous stage attempt will be voided and only outcomes from the repeated attempt will be recorded on the transcript and used to calculate the overall stage and, if applicable, course averages. The student will join a new cohort and the units they take may be different from their first attempt.

Stage(s)

The term for a specific period of course study, normally corresponding to 60 credits of units or a full-time year of study. Some courses have stages with 30 credits of units.

Supplementary assessment

The term for the two possible types of assessment attempt (deferred assessment or reassessment) when a unit is failed.

Supplementary assessment period

The designated time before the start of an academic year when supplementary assessment is normally taken. See also Academic year charts.

Suspend for supplementary assessment

A decision by a Board of Examiners for Courses (BEC). It means a student cannot progress to the next stage and instead must suspend their studies and take the required supplementary assessment during the next academic year. The student must remain registered with the University but will not be in attendance. See also suspending your studies.

Trailing assessment

A decision by a Board of Examiners for Courses. It means a student, who for IMC-related reasons has supplementary assessment still to take after the supplementary assessment period, is permitted to progress to the next stage with ‘trailing assessment’. Any trailing assessment must still be taken and passed (or condoned if applicable).

U-Z

Unit

A discrete component of learning with defined intended learning outcomes and related assessment. Each stage of a course comprises one or more units. Each unit has a fixed credit value.

Unit mark

The numerical weighted mean of the marks for each summative assessment in a unit. The unit mark is calculated and presented to zero decimal places.

Unit outcomes

Whether a unit has been passed, failed, or condoned.

Unit pass mark

The numerical mark required to pass the unit.