If you are unable to submit your alternative assessment or coursework assessment due after 01 March 2020 until the end of the Academic Year (even after an extension where this could be granted) then you will be offered another attempt at the assessment without needing to submit Extenuating Circumstances. Students will be offered a First Sit attempt appropriate to their current registration:

• UG students will be offered a First Sit/ First Sit for repeat (uncapped) and PGT students will be offered an ‘Uncapped Resit’, the marks for all of which will be uncapped.
• For students already completing a resit attempt, UG students will be offered a First Sit for resit and PGT students will be offered another resit; the marks for which will be capped in line with College Regulations.

Students will be able to complete these first sits at the next available opportunity and there will be no charge for these additional attempts.

Our commitment to final year students is that they will not be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. We are offering two ways in which this will be implemented: a Safety Net (sometimes called a 'no detriment' policy) and a Best 90 policy. These will ensure that, as far as we can, the impact of the last few months of disruption is minimised, although please note that our regulations require that you must pass 90 credits in your final year to be able to graduate. 

Safety Net: The safety net guarantees that any performance you have achieved before the disruption is locked into the degree calculation and your overall mark will not drop below that threshold. We will calculate a guaranteed Safety Net baseline final degree percentage using your averages from Year 2, and all final year coursework and other assessment marks that were unaffected by either the coronavirus emergency or industrial action in 2019-20.  This will be the baseline mark, and we guarantee that your final classification will not fall below this. So if, for example, your baseline mark is under 70% but 60% or over you will be awarded at least an upper second class degree, providing you pass enough credits overall to graduate. 

We will work through your complete portfolio of work identifying ‘components’ (individual pieces of coursework or other assessments) that are ‘unaffected’ and ‘affected’. This will include any work with submission deadlines before 2 March 2020.  So all of your second year work will be included, as will all summative work that you have completed this academic year that was ‘unaffected’. We will average your marks for this portfolio – third year work will be double-weighted in calculating the average. 

This work will take place at the Summer Examination Boards when all marking has been completed and checked by External Examiners. For that reason we cannot let you know this baseline mark now, but we will use it in awarding your degree classification.   

Best 90: We will be calculating the overall percentage for your final year based on the best 90 credits out of 120 credits that you are taking this year. This means that the lowest marks will not be used to calculate your third year percentage.  That might be, for example, a single 30 credit course, or two 15 credit courses, or other combinations. This mark will be fed into our standard degree calculation ‘algorithm’ (so three year degrees will be double-weighted in relation to second year work).

The changes to the calculation we employ will ensure that only your best work will be used to calculate your final classification and if your classification outcome calculated under the Best 90 policy is higher than your Safety Net baseline, then you will be awarded the higher classification – i.e. your degree classification can only go up, not down.

Where professional bodies accredit our degrees, we will still calculate a mark to form a baseline guarantee of classification, and use the best 90 credits to calculate your final year average, but you may be required to pass all courses or specific courses for accreditation. You will get clear information from your School about the requirements for your programme.

Our commitment to final year MSci students is that they will not be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. We are offering two ways in which this will be implemented: a Safety Net (sometimes called a 'no detriment' policy) and a Best 90 policy. These will ensure that, as far as we can, the impact of the last months of disruption is minimised, although please note that our regulations require that you must pass 90 credits in your final year to be able to graduate.  

Safety Net: The safety net guarantees that any performance you have achieved before the disruption is locked into the degree calculation and your overall mark will not drop below that threshold. We will calculate a guaranteed Safety Net baseline final degree percentage using your averages from Years 2 and 3, and all final year coursework and other assessment marks that were unaffected by either the coronavirus emergency or industrial action in 2019-20.  This will be the baseline mark, and we guarantee that your final classification will not fall below this. So if, for example, your baseline mark is under 70% but 60% or over you will be awarded at least an upper second class degree, providing you pass enough credits overall to graduate.  

We will work through your complete portfolio of work identifying ‘components’ (individual pieces of coursework or other assessments) that are ‘unaffected’ and ‘affected’. So all of your second year and third year work will be included, as will all summative work that you have completed this academic year that was ‘unaffected’.  This will include any work with submission deadlines before 02 March 2020.  We will average your marks for this portfolio – the 3rd stage and final stage will be double-weighted in calculating the degree average. 

This work will take place at the summer Examination Boards when all marking has been completed and checked by External Examiners.  For that reason we cannot let you know this baseline mark now, but will use it in awarding your degree classification.   

Best 90: We will be calculating the overall percentage for your final year based on the best 90 credits out of 120 credits that you are taking this year. This means that the lowest marks will not be used to calculate your final year stage average.  That might be, for example, a single 30 credit course, or two 15 credit courses, or other combinations. This mark will be fed into our standard degree calculation ‘algorithm’ (so for MSci degrees, the marks for stages 3 and 4 will be double-weighted in relation to second year work.) 

The changes to the calculation we employ will ensure that only your best work will be used to calculate your final classification and if your classification outcome calculated under the Best 90 policy is higher than your Safety Net baseline, then you will be awarded the higher classification – i.e. your degree classification can only go up, not down. 

Where professional bodies accredit our degrees, we will still calculate a mark to form a baseline guarantee of classification, and use the best 90 credits to calculate your final year average, but you may be required to pass all courses or specific courses for accreditation. You will get clear information from your School about the requirements for your programme.

Our commitment to 3rd year non-finalist MSci and MEng undergraduate students is that they will not be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. We are offering two ways in which this will be implemented: a Safety Net (sometimes called a 'no detriment' policy) and a Best 90 policy. These will ensure that, as far as we can, the impact of the last months of disruption is minimised, although please note that our regulations require that you must pass 90 credits in your final year to be able to graduate. 

Safety Net: The safety net is a pledge that when your final degree percentage is calculated your marks for the third stage will not lower your final classification.  We will calculate your final degree mark using our standard algorithm, which for the MSci and MEng double weights your third and final year averages, and we will also calculate an average using the stage averages from your 2nd and final years alone (your final year would be double weighted).  Whichever is the highest will be used to award your degree classification. 

Best 90:  Because of the exceptional circumstances, we will also calculate the overall percentage for your third year based on the best 90 credits out of 120 credits that you are taking.  This means that the lowest marks (for example for one 30 credit course, or two 15 credit courses) will not be used to calculate your third year percentage. Only your best work will count and any lower marks will be taken out of the calculation. We will also suspend the requirement to achieve a weighted stage average of 55% in the third year to progress to the final year of the MSci or MEng.

The two policies combined will provide you with assurance that the turbulent circumstances of the past few weeks will be factored into your degree result. The safety net guarantees that your second year performance will not pull your final degree result down; the changes to the calculation we employ will ensure that only your best work will be used to calculate your second year mark, and is an incentive for you to do well this year, including your remaining assessments. 

You may be required to pass certain mandatory courses or courses that are requirements for externally accredited degrees.

Our commitment to all students is that you will not be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. We are offering two ways in which this will be implemented; a Safety Net (sometimes called a 'no detriment' policy) and a Best 90 policy. These will ensure that, as far as we can, the impact of the last months of disruption is minimised, although please note that our regulations require that you must pass 90 credits in order to progress to your next year of study. 

Safety Net - Bachelors Degrees: The safety net is a pledge that when your final degree percentage is calculated your mark for the second year cannot lower your final classification.  We will calculate your final degree mark using our standard algorithm, which double weights your final year, and we will also calculate an average for your third year alone.  Whichever is the highest will be used to award your degree classification. 

Safety Net - MSci and MEng students: The safety net is a pledge that when your final degree percentage is calculated your mark for the second year cannot lower your final classification.  We will calculate your final degree mark using our standard algorithm, which double weights your third and final year averages, and we will also calculate an average excluding your second year average.  Whichever is the highest will be used to award your degree classification.

Best 90 - Bachelors Degrees:  Because of the exceptional circumstances, we will also calculate the overall percentage for your second year based on the best 90 credits out of 120 credits that you are taking.  This means that the lowest marks (for example for one 30 credit course, or two 15 credit courses) will not be used to calculate your second year percentage. Only your best work will count and any lower marks will be taken out of the calculation.

Best 90 - MSci and MEng students:  Because of the exceptional circumstances, we will also calculate the overall percentage for your second year based on the best 90 credits out of 120 credits that you are taking.  This means that the lowest marks (for example for one 30 credit course, or two 15 credit courses) will not be used to calculate your second year percentage. Only your best work will count and any lower marks will be taken out of the calculation. We will also suspend the requirement to achieve a stage average of 50% in the second year to progress to your third year of the MSci. MEng students will still need to meet this threshold; it cannot be suspended for MEng students due to IET accreditation requirements.

The two policies combined will provide you with assurance that the turbulent circumstances of the past few weeks will be factored into your degree result. The safety net guarantees that your second year performance will not pull your final degree result down; the changes to the calculation we employ will ensure that only your best work will be used to calculate your second year mark, and is an incentive for you to do well this year, including your remaining assessments.

You may be required to pass certain mandatory courses or courses that are requirements for externally accredited degrees.

Our commitment to all students is that you will not be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic. We are offering two ways; a ‘Safety Net’ (sometimes called a 'no detriment' policy) and a Best Credits policy.  These will ensure that, as far as we can, the impact of the last weeks of disruption is minimised. 

Safety Net:  The Safety Net means that where possible we will use your academic performance to date to create a baseline for your degree calculation. It guarantees that your final degree classification will not drop below that baseline. As with our undergraduate students we will be basing the safety net on cases where you have completed at least a third of your current modules (60 credits). This will include any work with submission deadlines before 02 March 2020.  For part-time students who are in their first year, the Safety Net policy will mean that you will not receive an overall average for Year 1 that is lower than your Year 2 marks. 

Where you have missing component marks for modules that you cannot finish due to their teaching method then we will scale the components that you have scores for in order to reach your module score. Where entire modules, such as field work, have not been able to be completed then we will discount that module from your overall average. 

Best Credits: The policy means that we will calculate a mark that will be based on the best results you have received from at least 150 credits out of the 180 credits that you are taking. This means that you will be able to discount modules up to a credit value of 30; our programmes have different credit weightings so for some students this will mean discounting a module worth 20 credits, and for others a module worth 30 credits.  You will not be able to split module scores to make up exactly 30 credits.  The policy means that your lowest marks will not be used to calculate your final year mark. However, we will still expect you to pass each module (pass mark 50%) and units that are mandatory for the programme or for professional body accreditation you will not be able available for discount. 

To determine your degree result, we will compare your Safety Net mark with the figure we calculate under the Best 150 policy. If your classification outcome calculated under the Best 150 policy is higher than your Safety Net baseline, then you will be awarded the higher classification. If your classification outcome calculated under the Best 150 policy is lower than your Safety Net baseline, you will be awarded the classification based on the Safety Net baseline i.e. your degree classification can only go up from the Safety Net baseline, not down. 

Yes, the same policies will apply to all students irrespective of how your course modules are being assessed.  We know that all students have been affected by the pandemic, even if they were not due to take exams and these arrangements will ensure that no-one will be academically disadvantaged as a result.

We consider that from Monday 02 March 2020 students started to be impacted by coronavirus.  This means that the Safety Net calculation for this academic year will be based on assessments submitted to prior to this date.

If you were impacted by the coronavirus prior to Monday 02 March 2020 you can submit an Extenuating Circumstances application for assessments that had a submission deadline before Monday 02 March 2020. Please see Extensions & Extenuating Circumstances for further information.

The expectation is that all assessed work from earlier in the year will be included in the Safety Net, although Exam Boards will also be reviewing any impact of disruptions earlier in the year on assessments, and may make adjustments to ensure that there is no detriment to the Safety Net.

Please click here for our guide on how the Safety Net will be calculated for finalist students.

We are not able to provide you with your Safety Net average calculation yet as the marking and moderation processes are ongoing and final marks will not be available until these are completed in July.  All marks have to be checked and confirmed by External Examiners. This process is at the heart of our system, and for obvious reasons is particularly important this year.  For that reason we cannot give you a confirmed Safety Net classification at this stage.  Remember that UG students have to pass 90 credits in order to graduate.  

This will be calculated on the basis of completed course modules; this means that the lowest marks will not be used to calculate your year percentage. So for example one 30 credit course module might not be included, or two 15 credit modules – other combinations are possible if for example you have a mixture of 15 and 30 credit units.

You should continue to attempt all of your assessments this year, unless choosing to defer Term 3 assessments (for more information on deferring click here). We very strongly advise that you complete all remaining assessments.  If you choose not to undertake your assessments you are reducing your options.  For example, if you are then ill and unable to complete an assessment you may not be able to meet the requirement to pass 90 credits to progress or be awarded your degree and you will need to complete a ‘First Sit’ attempt in the summer or next year.

Please be aware that our hope is that we will be able to support students in completing First Sits later in the summer, given the ongoing impacts of the pandemic we cannot guarantee that we will be able to run assessments at this time.  If we unable to provide an assessment period this summer the next opportunity to compete these may be April 2021.

Unfortunately not; progressing to the next year of study is conditional on students passing 90 credits.  This is important in ensuring that students have demonstrated that they meet the learning outcomes for the year of study and don’t then struggle in the following year. You would therefore have to complete the ‘First Sit’ attempt in the summer or next year before being able to progress.

Please be aware that our hope is that we will be able to support students in completing First Sits later in the summer, given the ongoing impacts of the pandemic we cannot guarantee that we will be able to run assessments at this time.  If we are unable to provide an assessment period this summer the next opportunity to complete these may be April 2021.

Yes, the Best 90 policy will apply across all modules so Joint students could have this applied to an uneven split of credits. 

The raising of classifications will still apply for students but only working on the basis of the Best 90 Policy.  The Safety Net is designed to give a guaranteed degree classification that you cannot fall below, but does not allow you to demonstrate sustained final year performance in completed modules.  We will still raise students who are within 2% of a classification boundary under the Best 90 Policy and achieve 60 credits in the higher class.  This is another reason why we strongly advise you to complete all remaining assessments if you are able to do so. 

We are consulting with students, staff and other universities on the best ways that we can present the complicated circumstances and calculations involved in these exceptional circumstances on your transcripts. 

Yes, the Best 90 policy will apply across all course modules taken that contribute to the year of study.  This includes those completed prior to the coronavirus outbreak in this academic year and for second stage part-time students, those taken in the previous academic year.

Departments have looked at coursework deadlines for the Term 3 and are making adjustments to support students and ensure their workload is balanced across the Term. 

As for other undergraduate finalists we will not use your lowest 30 credits in calculating your degree average.  You will still need to pass 90 credits this year in order to graduate.

How marks will appear on student transcripts this year is still under development and further information will be available soon.  However, we will make sure that transcripts reflect student achievement and include additional information where this has been used to calculate a students’ final degree average, for example the Safety Net or Best Credits calculation.

Yes, the same policies will apply to all students irrespective of how your course modules are being assessed.  We know that all students have been affected by the pandemic, even if they were not due to take exams and these arrangements will ensure that no-one will be academically disadvantaged as a result.

We consider that from Monday 02 March 2020 students started to be impacted by coronavirus.  This means that the Safety Net calculation for this academic year will be based on assessments submitted to prior to this date.  If you were impacted by the coronavirus prior to Monday 02 March 2020 you can submit an Extenuating Circumstances application for assessments that had a submission deadline before Monday 02 March 2020. Please see Extensions & Extenuating Circumstances for further information.

The expectation is that all assessed work from earlier in the year will be included in the Safety Net, although Exam Boards will also be reviewing any impact of disruptions earlier in the year on assessments, and may make adjustments to ensure that there is no detriment to the Safety Net.  

We are not able to provide you with your Safety Net average calculation yet as the marking and moderation processes are ongoing and final marks will not be available until these are completed in July. All marks have to be checked and confirmed by External Examiners. This process is at the heart of our system, and for obvious reasons is particularly important this year. For that reason we cannot give you a confirmed Safety Net classification at this stage.  Remember you will need to pass all your courses in order to graduate. 

Yes, this information will be made available to students when the results are released.  We are consulting with students, staff and other universities on the best ways that we can present the complicated circumstances and calculations involved in these exceptional circumstances on your transcripts. 

In line with the policies the College will calculate the averages for each student using both approaches and the calculation that gives the best degree classification will be used. This will give students the best possible outcome, helping to ensure that no-one will be academically disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic.

You should continue to attempt all of your assessments this year, unless choosing to defer Term 3 assessments (for more information on deferring click here). The Best Credits policy means that your lowest marks will not be used to calculate your final year mark. However, we will still expect you to pass each module (pass mark 50%) and units that are mandatory for the programme or for professional body accreditation you will not be able available for discount.

Yes, the Best Credits policy will apply across all course modules taken that contribute to your degree. This includes those completed prior to the coronavirus outbreak in this academic year and for second stage part-time students, those taken in the previous academic year.

Departments have looked at coursework deadlines for the Term 3 and are making adjustments to support students and ensure their workload is balanced across the Term.

How marks will appear on student transcripts this year is still under development and further information will be available soon. However, we will make sure that transcripts reflect a student's  achievement and include additional information where this has been used to calculate a students’ final degree average, for example the Safety Net or Best Credits calculation.