Now that we have moved even further away from the pandemic-related disruption of 2019/20 and 2020/21, there is no longer the need for a detailed ‘assessment framework’ setting out mitigations for graduating and continuing students in the same way as there was in previous years. However, we recognise that there is still a need to take account of the previous disruption, where appropriate, to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in any way.
Some mitigations have therefore been retained from previous years to take account of the disruption to their studies that some students will have experienced. The key points are summarised below.
For UG students due to graduate this academic session, the vast majority will have been able to take all of the credits and assessments that will contribute to their degree classification. Normal Regulations will therefore apply in most cases.
However, the previous disruption will still have some impact for any students who were registered during the Covid period, and the following will be applied in order to take account of this:
- Second year marks from 2020/21 will continue to be used for the degree classification only if they do not have a negative overall impact.
- For students taking a year abroad or an inverted year abroad whose second year was in 2020/21, the marks for Stage 2 (the second year in 2020/21 and the year abroad) will only be used if they improve the overall mark for degree classification.
- There will continue to be simplified credit requirements for borderline students to be considered for a higher degree classification. For example:
o For graduating cohorts on a three-year degree (BSc, BA, BEng), in order to profile up to a first class degree, at least 60 credits (50% of the module marks) in the final year must normally be in the 1st class category and, of the remainder, at least 40 credits must be in the 2.1 category.
o For graduating cohorts on a four-year degree (MSci, MEng) in order to profile up to a first class degree, at least 50% of the module marks at Stage 3 (i.e. year 3 and 4) must normally be in the 1st class category and a majority of the remainder of the module marks at Stage 3 must be in the 2.1 category.
o However, if any students would achieve a higher classification using the standard (non-simplified) credit requirements instead, these will be applied automatically so that students are not disadvantaged.
o As in 2022/23, the mark threshold and zone of discretion for each degree classification boundary remains in accordance with normal regulatory requirements. For example, an overall mark of 70% is required for the award of a first class degree; and all students who achieve an overall mark of 68 or 69 will be considered for a first class degree through the profiling system. The normal equivalent thresholds apply to 2.1 and 2.2 degrees, and normal regulatory requirements also apply for the award of a Pass degree.
o Note: There might be situations in which a student has an overall mark of <70% but is not awarded a first class degree because the above criteria are not fulfilled. In such cases, if the Board of Examiners decides that a student with <70% should be awarded a 1st Class Honours, based on the full profile of marks across all years of study, an award can be made ‘Notwithstanding Regulations’ as long as the External Examiner is supportive.
- Students will continue to be able to download an explanatory letter to accompany their transcripts, if required, which will explain why year 1 marks from 2019/20 are incomplete.