Regulations for Modular Initial Degrees

1. Initial degrees (Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s) may be awarded following successful completion of a modular scheme of study as approved by the University.

2. Each scheme shall be defined as

  • Single Honours
  • Joint Honours
  • Major/Minor
  • Top-up

       according to the structures approved by the University.

3. To be eligible for consideration for the award of a degree under these Regulations, a student shall:

  • have pursued an approved modular scheme of study for the period prescribed by the University, except as provided by Regulation 28 below.
  • have attained such minimum levels of credit as specified in a Scheme approved by the University.
  • have fulfilled any further condition(s) required by the University.

4. Schemes of study comprise approved modules, each of which carries a credit-rating, defined in relation to the notional learning hours associated with the module, as set out in the University’s Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).

5. Initial degrees shall consist of two parts, Part One and Part Two. The University shall establish and publish appropriately rules governing the progress of students between years of study and the classification of Honours degrees. All modules taken in Part Two will contribute to the final degree assessment of each student, subject to limitations set out in the University's CATS. Modules taken at other approved institutions may be accepted in lieu of modules studied at the University. Top-up degrees shall consist of one-year at Part Two.

6. Modules are available at various levels, defined by the University in its CATS.

7. With the exception of students admitted under the provisions of Regulation 30 below, to qualify for an Honours degree at Bachelor’s level, a student must have pursued the equivalent of at least 360 credits, at least 120 of which are normally at HE Level 3/CQFW Level 6, or above. For integrated Master’s awards, a student must have pursued the equivalent of at least 480 credits, at least 120 of which are normally at HE Level M/CQFW Level 7, or above. For top-up degrees, a student must have pursued the equivalent of at least 120 credits at HE Level 3/CQFW Level 6. Full-time students are normally required to pursue the equivalent of at least 120 credits during each academic session, normally on the basis of 60 credits per semester. To permit flexibility and facilitate student choice, a maximum of 70 and a minimum of 50 credits per semester are normally allowed.

8. Students may study for awards on a part time basis, subject to the overall time limits for completion of the scheme as set in paragraph 28 below.

9. With the approval of the University, no more than 20 credits of HE Level 0/CQFW 3 modules may count towards completion of Part One, and no more than 20 credits of HE Level 1/CQFW 4 modules may count towards completion of Part Two.

10. Students will normally be assessed in the period immediately following completion of the teaching associated with each module in accordance with methods of assessment and marking procedures approved by the University.

11. The modular pass mark at Levels 1, 2 and 3 shall be 40%. The modular pass mark at M Level shall be 50%. At the discretion of the Examining Board, Part One students may be permitted up to three attempts to redeem a failed module. They shall be eligible for the full mark on resit. At the discretion of the Examination Board, Part Two students may be permitted two further attempts to resit or to substitute a failed module. They shall be eligible only for the award of the minimum pass mark in each such module, irrespective of their actual level of performance. Additional resit opportunities may be made available by Examination Boards where it is accepted that performance was affected by special circumstances.

12. Subject to paragraph 11 above, where a student has failed a module overall but has passed certain assessed elements, the marks achieved in those elements shall normally be carried forward to any resit.

13. In the case of failed modules, students will normally be expected:

       1. To (re)submit failed or non-existent coursework (if deficiencies in this component have led to the failure)

       Or:

       2. to resit the examination (where the student failed or was absent from the examination)

       Or:

       3. to resubmit the assessed work and resit the examination (where a student has failed both parts, or in some cases either part, of the assessment).

Departments may, however, stipulate different assessment methods for a retaken module than the original approved assessments. Such assessments must still test the module learning outcomes. Departments shall make clear to students which assessments will apply to them.

14. Students shall be deemed to have completed a module once the teaching associated with it has finished and shall not be allowed to withdraw from the final assessment unless there is evidence of special circumstances (illness or other compassionate grounds) which can be shown to have affected their performance and which has been presented to the relevant Examining Board before it considers their results.

15. Where assessed work is defined as an essential part of a module, Departments shall clearly specify in the information given to students the penalties for non-submission. Where a student fails to submit assessed coursework in Part Two by the specified deadline there should be no automatic right of re-submission to retrieve a failure.

16. Part One students who fail to complete the year satisfactorily as defined in the conventions, but on whom there have been no adverse reports concerning academic progress, shall normally be allowed to repeat the whole or part of the year as full-time, part-time or part-time external students. Any unacceptable academic practice penalties will normally be retained.

17. In Part Two, a student may not resit any module for which a pass mark has been attained previously. However, Part Two students, with the Department’s permission, may recommence their second year again on a different degree scheme provided learning outcomes have been met for the first year of the new degree scheme. The overall restriction of three attempts to pass a module (whether newly chosen or previously studied modules) remains, e.g repeating the second year will be considered one of the three attempts, whether modules have been previously passed or not. Capped resits, N indicators, as well as any passed modules that are required, will be transferred onto the new degree scheme.  A student may also opt to resit only those modules previously failed.  Students may be allowed to substitute new modules for those failed, but these will remain capped.

18. For full-time study students must progress within two years of commencing each level in Part Two.

19. Departments will maintain records on all students who fail individual modules.

20. Departmental Examining Boards shall record clearly where marks have been adjusted and the grounds for adjustment.

21. Students who are absent without good cause or explanation from examinations or who fail because of non-submission of assessed work under rules defined by the University shall suffer the penalty set out by the University. Those who, because of medical, compassionate or other special grounds, have failed or been absent from module assessments, may with the approval of the Examination Board be allowed to resit for the full mark. Such students shall have the option of resitting the relevant modules in the supplementary examination period or the following session.

22. Bachelor degree students may fail no more than 20 credits which contribute to the final award classification (excluding Level S Modules). Integrated Master’s degree students may fail no more than 20 credits across Level Two (Second Year) and Three (Third Year) and may fail no more than 20 credits at M Level (Fourth Year).

22a. BSc Nursing (Adult) and BSc Nursing (Mental Health)schemes - students must pass all component assessments in all modules across Part One and Part Two, as well as satisfactorily completing the theory and placement hours; all 360 credits must be passed, i.e. no failed credits are permitted.

23. Students who are admitted to a modular initial degree scheme but are subsequently unable, or not permitted, to progress to completion may, depending upon the number of credits attained at the appropriate levels at the time of exit, qualify for one of the following awards:

  • Certificate in Higher Education (HE Level 1/CQFW 4)
  • Diploma in Higher Education (HE Level 2/CQFW 5)
  • Ordinary Degree (HE Level 3/CQFW 6)
  • Bachelor’s Degree (HE Level 3/CQFW 6)

The University shall establish conventions for the award of these qualifications. Students who temporarily withdraw with the intention of returning to their studies at a later date will not normally be eligible for the award of the Certificate of Higher Education, the Diploma of Higher Education, the Ordinary Degree or the Bachelor’s Degree.

24. Students exiting a degree scheme with an Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma of Higher Education or Ordinary Degree under these arrangements shall be eligible for a Pass award only.

25. Initial degree students who have fulfilled the requirements of the scheme shall be awarded the following Honours classes:

  •  First
  •  Second Class, Division One
  •  Second Class, Division Two
  •  Third Class

An Examining Board shall have discretion to determine those initial degree students who, having failed to satisfy the Board for the award of Honours, may be eligible for the award of a degree at Pass level.

26. A student who has qualified for a degree at Honours or Pass Level may not subsequently resit a failed module with the aim of improving the Class of Degree previously awarded.

27. Students who fail to reach the standard required for the award of a degree, but who subsequently redeem their failure in modules to the satisfaction of the Examining Board under Regulation 11 above, shall be eligible for consideration for the award of a degree at the Pass or Honours level, as appropriate.

28. To allow for retrieval of failure and periods of temporary withdrawal, the maximum time limit for completion of the award shall be the study scheme duration plus two years. e.g.

Full-time mode of study
- two-year scheme: not more than four years from the start of the scheme
- three-year scheme: not more than five years from the start of the scheme

Part-time mode of study
- two-year scheme: not more than six years from the start of the scheme
- three-year scheme: not more than eight years from the start of the scheme

Extensions to these time limits based on exceptional special circumstances may be granted by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (or nominee) on submission of a request by an academic department to the Academic Registry, supported by evidence of the special circumstances and a strong and reasoned case, showing that completion can reasonably be expected within a further 12 month period.

29.  Examination scripts and other assessed work shall be retained by Departments for a minimum of six months after candidates complete each part of their study scheme.

30. Within overall limits stipulated by the University for credit accumulation and transfer, the University may, at its discretion, deem the performance of a student in study previously pursued at another approved institution and/or any prior experiential learning to count towards the requirements for the award of a degree. Such prior study or experiential learning shall be relevant to the scheme to be pursued and shall be credit-rated by the University prior to the student's admission to the University.

The maximum number of credits which may be accepted to count towards an initial Bachelor’s degree of the University under these arrangements shall be not more than 240. NB in the case of Pre-Registration Nursing schemes a maximum of 50% Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning (RP(E)L) is permitted. Where the maximum transferable credit allowed has been accepted, the remaining credits to be pursued at the University must be at HE Level 3/CQFW Level 6, or above. See the University’s CATS.

Additional Regulations

Special provisions relating to the following degrees:

BA Early Childhood Studies (with Early Years Practitioner Status)

31. Students who are admitted to the BA Early Childhood Studies (with Early Years Practitioner Status) scheme will be subject to the Regulations for Modular Initial Degrees with the following exception. If they are subsequently unable, or not permitted, to progress to completion they may, depending upon the number of credits attained at the appropriate levels at the time of exit, qualify for one of the following awards with ‘Early Childhood Studies’ as the scheme title (no Early Years Practitioner Status):

  • Certificate in Higher Education (HE Level 1/CQFW 4
  • Diploma in Higher Education (HE Level 2/CQFW 5
  • Ordinary Degree (HE Level 3/CQFW 6)

BSc Nursing (Adult) and BSc Nursing (Mental Health) 

32. Students who are admitted to the BSc Nursing (Adult) and BSc Nursing (Mental Health) schemes will be subject to the Regulations for Modular Initial Degrees with the following exception. If they are subsequently unable, or not permitted, to progress to completion they may, depending upon the number of credits attained at the appropriate levels at the time of exit, qualify for one of the following awards with ‘Healthcare Studies’ as the scheme title:

  • Certificate in Higher Education (HE Level 1/CQFW 4)
  • Diploma in Higher Education (HE Level 2/CQFW 5)

A candidate who fails to achieve the BSc Nursing (Adult) and BSc Nursing (Mental Health) requirements set out in 4.8 of the AQH, but meets the AU modular initial degree regulations, will be eligible for the award of a BSc in Healthcare Studies.

Integrated Master's Degrees

Scheme of Study

The University has approved the following integrated Master’s degrees:

  • MArts
  • MBiol
  • MAg
  • MComp
  • MEng
  • MLaw
  • MLibArts
  • MMath
  • MPhys
  • MSci

A candidate for an Integrated Master's degree shall pursue a scheme of study of normally at least four academic years comprising a total of 480 credits at levels indicated below:

 

Credits

HE Level

CQFW Level

120

1

4

120

2

5

120

3

6

120

M

7

1. Transfer between Integrated Master's Degrees and cognate Bachelor's schemes

At the discretion of the University, a candidate for an Integrated Master's degree may transfer or be required to transfer their registration to a cognate scheme of study for BSc, BEng or BA at the following points:

a. Either

on accumulation of 120 credits at HE Level 1/CQFW 4;

b. Or, if later

on accumulation of a further 120 credits at HE Level 2/CQFW 5.

Such a candidate shall enter the Bachelor’s degree scheme at the appropriate point and at the latest at the commencement of the HE Level 3/CQFW Level 6 modules.

2. Award of a Bachelor’s degree to students who have accumulated 360 credits in an Integrated Master’s scheme:

A student who has accumulated 360 credits, with 120 credits each at HE Levels 1,2 and 3/CQFW Level 4, 5 and 6 or higher, but who:

a.  is unable to proceed further with the scheme, or

b. fails to accumulate a further 120 credits at HE Level M/CQFW Level 7

may, on the recommendation of the Examining Board, be awarded a Bachelor’s degree at the Honours or Pass level, as appropriate, subject to satisfying the requirements for that scheme.

 

Updated: Sept 2024