APPENDIX 4
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES,
UCL SCHEMES OF AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREES
Following the decision by the College Board of Examiners (endorsed by Academic
Committee) that the Faculty of Engineering Sciences must follow a modified Faculty
version of the College’s “default” Scheme for the Award of Honours for its
undergraduate degree programmes for all students first registering in September 2005,
the following two schemes (A-B) have been approved by the Faculty Undergraduate
Degree Committee and submitted to the College Board of Examiners for approval.
NOTES:
Scheme A is suitable for all three-year degree programmes, scheme B is suitable for all
four-year degree programmes, including all four-year degree programmes with a year
abroad.
In section 2 of each scheme the phrase “satisfied the examiners in courses” is used to
indicate that each course has achieved at least the minimum pass mark at 40%.
In several places in the schemes, reference is made to “local rules”. The Department of
Mechanical Engineering’s local rules are noted in this document in italicized text. This is
added to enable departments to specify separately the particular requirements they may
have for their degrees, e.g. students must pass named compulsory courses. It will also
enable departments to make adjustments to the way their degree programmes operate
without the need for constant alteration of the SHS Faculty scheme of award. All that will
be required in future, is for departments to report to the Faculty Undergraduate Degree
Committee their current particular requirements, and to notify the Faculty
Undergraduate Degree Committee of any subsequent alterations to them that they may
wish to make. Students must be informed of these requirements in departmental
literature.
“LOCAL RULES” PERTAINING TO THE HARMONISED SCHEMES OF AWARD
Following the adoption of the Faculty’s harmonised scheme of award, it will be
necessary for each degree programme to specify separately which elements are
compulsory, must be passed, etc. So that this information can be presented in a uniform
way, it is proposed that the scheme which follows the Faculty schemes be completed by
all degree programme organisers. Additionally, students need to have clear guidelines
concerning what is expected of them during their Year Abroad: since this is also, in
effect, “local rules” relating to the scheme of award, a section should be included in the
relevant scheme to cover that as well. The scheme can then be used in departmental
literature alongside the relevant scheme of award, and also be used to inform the
Faculty Undergraduate Degree Committee what departments’ “local rules” are, as well
as providing a mechanism for notifying the Committee of any changes to them a
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department may subsequently wish to make. “Local rules” should always follow the
student’s year of admission to a degree programme, unless there has been a
significant interruption in their studies.
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SCHEME A. THREE-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES
1. PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Students registered for the degree are required to undertake a programme of study
comprising courses to the value of 4.0 course units in each year; the courses taken will be
subject to local departmental rules and guidelines, as appropriate.
In order to proceed to the second year of the programme, all students must have passed
a minimum of 3.5 course units. In order to proceed to the third and final year of the
programme, all students must have passed a minimum of 7.0 course units. In each
year, students must have passed any courses deemed compulsory for progression,
subject to local rules.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, no course units are deemed compulsory for
progression.
With reference to UCL Section 2 General Regulations 10.2.iv the Department of
Mechanical Engineering defines ‘Being Complete for Coursework’ as:
In the case of course-units/components where an unseen written examination represents
the major part of the assessment, a candidate must submit a minimum of 50% of the
coursework to avoid receiving a ‘Not Complete’ result for this part of the assessment.
Furthermore, the coursework submitted should be deemed to be of a suitable standard
for assessment, otherwise it may be discounted. In the event that the threshold is not
reached, the results for the component will be ‘incomplete’ regardless of the mark
obtained. Otherwise, the threshold criteria are met and the candidate is declared
‘complete’ on the component.
In course-unit/components predominantly or wholly assessed on coursework submissions the
minimum requirement to avoid a ‘Not Complete’ result is 75% of the assigned coursework, or
higher as specified by the course tutor(s). Furthermore, the coursework submitted should be
deemed to be of a suitable standard for assessment, otherwise it may be discounted.
If the coursework component represents less than 20% there is still a requirement to
submit a minimum of 50% of the coursework to avoid receiving a ‘Not Complete’ result for
that part of the assessment.
The pass mark for each course unit is 40%.
2. AWARD OF DEGREE
To be awarded an honours degree, a student must have completed courses to the
value of 12.0 course units, and satisfied the examiners in courses to a minimum value of
11.0 course units, fulfilling all attendance and coursework requirements, submitting
all written work prescribed for assessment purposes and taking all parts of any
examination in those courses.
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To be awarded a degree with honours in the field of study for which the student is
registered, the student must have taken and passed any course units deemed
compulsory for such an award, according to local rules.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the following course units are deemed
compulsory for such an award:
BEng / MEng Mechanical Engineering
i. MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
ii. MECH3002 Project
iii. MECH3010 Design
BEng / MEng Engineering with Business Finance
i. MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
ii. MECH3002 Project
iii. AC211 Managerial Accounting
The Field of Study of the award is normally changed to Engineering Studies for any
candidate who does not pass either of the above prerequisites.
3. CLASSIFICATION OF HONOURS
The class of honours degree shall be determined by the relevant Board of Examiners on
the basis of the results obtained in all 12.0 course units.
Classification will be based in the first instance on a consideration of the average of the
marks from the 12.0 units of assessment. The units are to be weighted 1 : 3 : 5, as
follows:
a) Year 1: 1
b) Year 2: 3
c) Year 3: 5
Marks for retaken or substitute course units will be included in the calculation for the
mark of the year in which that course unit was first attempted, rather than in the year it
was actually taken, if that is different.
4. CONSIDERATION OF BORDERLINES
Candidates whose average mark falls close to a class boundary (with “close” being
defined according to local rules) may be considered for raising to the higher class. Such
consideration will be at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.
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In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‘close to a class boundary is aligned with
the Portico definitions:
Award Classification Boundaries
Name
Borderline First
Borderline 2:1
Borderline 2:2
Min
69
59
49
Max
69.99
59.99
49.99
Reference may be made to the grading of extenuating circumstances agreed in an
appropriate pre-meeting of a special committee in cases where there are good reasons
for supposing a candidate’s performance may have been adversely affected by illness,
bereavement or similar circumstances. The committee’s decisions will be based on
available medical certificates and related documentation. Full details of any such
circumstances MUST be submitted by candidates well IN ADVANCE of the final Board
of Examiners Meeting and in any case before the end of the summer term in order for
them to be considered.
5. APPLICATION OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may exercise discretion in the application of
this Faculty Scheme. The general Regulations of the College and of the University are
assumed to apply in conjunction with the above Scheme, as are the local rules and
guidelines produced by the relevant department(s).
6.
EXTRA-MURAL YEAR (EMY)
Students may choose to spend one year in industry between their penultimate and their
final year, thus adding one year (Extra-Mural Year, or EMY) to the overall length of their
degree. Their placement must be approved by their Department and by the Faculty
Teaching Committee, which will make sure that adequate, identifiable supervision and
training are provided by the host company, that adequate supervision is provided by the
student’s home department, and that the student’s plan of work for the year is related to
his/her field of study and of adequate level.
Upon completion of his/her placement, the student will complete a report, which shall
be submitted to the host company for approval and to the student’s home
department for assessment. The grade allocated to the report will be worth 1.0 course unit
and the unit will be weighted at final year level, i.e. 5.
In order to graduate, students who have been on EMY will need to have taken and passed
one more unit, i.e. to have taken 13 course units instead of 12 and to have passed 12
course units instead of 11.
7. TRANSFER BETWEEN THE BENG ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL
WITH FINANCE) AND BENG ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL)
Students may transfer from the BEng Engineering (Mechanical with Finance) to the
BEng Engineering (Mechanical) and vice versa up until the end of the first term of the
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first year providing that i) the departmental tutor approves the transfer, ii) there are still
spaces on the programme, iii) if they are an international student, that their visa will
allow them to study the other programme iv) their entry qualifications are equivalent to
or above that required by the programme they wish to transfer to.
8. TRANSFER BETWEEN OTHER UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING
PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES
Candidates wishing to transfer to other undergraduate engineering programmes in the
Faculty of Engineering sciences may do so up until the end of the first term of the first
year providing that i) the proposed new department agrees to the transfer ii) there are
still spaces on the programme, iii) if they are an international student, that their visa
will allow them to study the other programme, iv) their entry qualifications are
equivalent to or above that required by the programme they wish to transfer to.
9.
TRANSFER TO MENG
BEng candidates wishing to change their registration to MEng must attain the same
academic criterion as continuing MEng candidates at the end of their second year, i.e.
they must achieve an aggregate mark equivalent to a lower second class honours
performance or better. Normally, requests for this change in registration are made before
the start of the third year, since specific academic routes must be followed by MEng
students. However, the final date to affect such a transfer is the end of the second term in
the third year, provided the courses taken by the candidate in the third year are consistent
with the MEng preferred routes. BEng candidates failing to meet the criterion specified
above will not be permitted to change to the MEng programme at a later date,
irrespective of their third year performance.
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SCHEME B. FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES
1. PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Students registered for the degree are required to undertake a programme of study
comprising courses to the value of 4.0 course units in each year; the courses taken will be
subject to local departmental rules and guidelines, as appropriate.
In order to proceed to the second year of the programme, all students must have passed
a minimum of 3.5 course units. In order to proceed to the third of the programme, all
students must have passed a minimum of 7.0 course units. In order to proceed to the
final year, all students must have passed a minimum of 11.0 course units. In each year,
students must have passed any courses deemed compulsory for progression, subject to
local rules.
The pass mark for each course unit is 40%, with the exception of M-level modules
where the pass mark is 50%.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, no course units are deemed compulsory for
progression. However, MEng candidates at the end of their second year must attain an
aggregate mark equivalent to a lower second class honours performance or better to
continue on this programme. The registration of candidates failing to meet this criterion
will be amended to BEng by the Department. In such instances, candidates will not be
permitted to change back to the MEng programme, irrespective of their third year
performance.
MEng candidates at the end of the third year must pass at least 11.0 units to proceed
to the final year. These passes, normally, must include the following prescribed courses:
BEng / MEng Mechanical Engineering



MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
MECH3002 Project
MECH3010 Design
BEng / MEng Engineering with Business Finance



MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
MECH3002 Project
AC211 Managerial Accounting
Failure to reach the minimum requirements, given above, will normally result in a change of
registration of the candidate to BEng, whereupon, the candidate may be considered for this
award. The Field of Study of the award is normally changed to Engineering Studies for any
candidate who does not pass either of the above prerequisites.
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With reference to UCL Section 2 General Regulations 10.2.iv the Department of
Mechanical Engineering defines ‘Being Complete for Coursework’ as:
In the case of course-units/components where an unseen written examination represents
the major part of the assessment, a candidate must submit a minimum of 50% of the
coursework to avoid receiving a ‘Not Complete’ result for this part of the assessment.
Furthermore, the coursework submitted should be deemed to be of a suitable standard
for assessment, otherwise it may be discounted. In the event that the threshold is not
reached, the results for the component will be ‘incomplete’ regardless of the mark
obtained. Otherwise, the threshold criteria are met and the candidate is declared
‘complete’ on the component.
In course-unit/components predominantly or wholly assessed on coursework submissions the
minimum requirement to avoid a ‘Not Complete’ result is 75% of the assigned coursework, or
higher as specified by the course tutor(s). Furthermore, the coursework submitted should be
deemed to be of a suitable standard for assessment, otherwise it may be discounted.
If the coursework component represents less than 20% there is still a requirement to
submit a minimum of 50% of the coursework to avoid receiving a ‘Not Complete’ result for
that part of the assessment.
2. AWARD OF DEGREE
To be awarded an honours degree, a student must have completed courses to the
value of 16.0 course units, and satisfied the examiners in courses to a minimum value of
14.5 course units, fulfilling all attendance and coursework requirements, submitting
all written work prescribed for assessment purposes and taking all parts of any
examination in those courses.
To be awarded a degree with honours in the field of study for which the student is
registered, the student must have taken and passed any course units deemed
compulsory for such an award, according to local rules.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the following course units are deemed
compulsory for such an award:
BEng / MEng Mechanical Engineering



MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
MECH3002 Project
MECH3010 Design
BEng / MEng Engineering with Business Finance


MECH1010 Modelling & Analysis I or MECH2007 Modelling & Analysis II
MECH3002 Project
8

AC211 Managerial Accounting
Failure to reach the minimum requirements, given above, will normally result in a change of
registration of the candidate to BEng (see section one).
Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in 14.5 or more course units, but who
have nevertheless passed a minimum of 13.0 course units, including at least two at
advanced level and two in their final year, together with any deemed compulsory
according to local rules, may be awarded an Ordinary Degree in their registered field of
study. Students who are eligible for the award of an Ordinary Degree under these
requirements, but who have not satisfied the examiners in one or more courses deemed
compulsory, will be awarded an Ordinary Degree in a different field of study, to be
determined by the Board of Examiners.
3. CLASSIFICATION OF HONOURS
The class of honours degree shall be determined by the relevant Board of Examiners on
the basis of the results obtained in all 16.0 course units.
Classification will be based in the first instance on a consideration of the average of the
marks from the 16.0 units of assessment. The units are to be weighted 1 : 3 : 5 : 5 , as
follows:
e)
f)
g)
h)
Year
Year
Year
Year
1: 1
2: 3
3: 5
4: 5
The year abroad will be taken in either year 3 or year 4, depending on local rules, and
will have a value of 4.0 course units with a weighting of 5.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering the year abroad is taken in year three.
Marks for retaken or substitute course units will be included in the calculation for the
mark of the year in which that course unit was first attempted, rather than in the year it
was actually taken, if different.
4.
CONSIDERATION OF BORDERLINES
Candidates whose average mark falls close to a class boundary (with “close” being
defined according to local rules) may be considered for raising to the higher class. Such
consideration will be at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.
In the Department of Mechanical Engineering ‘close’ to a class boundary is aligned with
the Portico definitions:
Award Classification Boundaries
Name
Borderline First
Borderline 2:1
Min
69
59
Max
69.99
59.99
9
Borderline 2:2
49
49.99
Reports of academic performance may be taken into account.
Reference may be made to the grading of extenuating circumstances agreed in an
appropriate pre-meeting of a special committee in cases where there are good reasons
for supposing a candidate’s performance may have been adversely affected by illness,
bereavement or similar circumstances. The committee’s decisions will be based on
available medical certificates and related documentation. Full details of any such
circumstances MUST be submitted by candidates well IN ADVANCE of the final Board
of Examiners Meeting and in any case before the end of the summer term in order for
them to be considered.
5.
APPLICATION OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may exercise discretion in the application of
this Scheme. The general Regulations of the College and of the University are assumed to
apply in conjunction with the above Scheme, as are the local rules and guidelines
produced by the relevant Department(s).
6.
EXTRA-MURAL YEAR (EMY)
Students may choose to spend one year in industry between their penultimate and their
final year, thus adding one year (Extra-Mural Year, or EMY) to the overall length of their
degree. Their placement must be approved by their Department and by the Faculty
Teaching Committee, which will make sure that adequate, identifiable supervision and
training are provided by the host company, that adequate supervision is provided by the
student’s home department, and that the student’s plan of work for the year is related to
his/her field of study and of adequate level.
Upon completion of his/her placement, the student will complete a report, which shall
be submitted to the host company for approval and to the student’s home
department for assessment. The grade allocated to the report will be worth 1.0 course unit
and the unit will be weighted at final year level, i.e. 5.
In order to graduate, students who have been on EMY will need to have taken and passed
one more unit, i.e. to have taken 17 course units instead of 16 and to have passed 15.5
course units instead of 14.5.
7. TRANSFER BETWEEN THE BENG ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL
WITH FINANCE) AND BENG ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL)
Students may transfer from the BEng Engineering (Mechanical with Finance) to the
BEng Engineering (Mechanical) and vice versa up until the end of the first term of the
first year providing that i) the Departmental Tutor approves the transfer, ii) there are
still spaces on the programme, iii) if they are an international student, that their visa
will allow them to study the other programme, iv) their entry qualifications are
equivalent to or above that required by the programme they wish to transfer to.
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8. TRANSFER BETWEEN OTHER UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING
PROGRAMMES IN THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES
Candidates wishing to transfer to other undergraduate engineering programmes in the
Faculty of Engineering sciences may do so up until the end of the first term of the first
year providing that i) the proposed new department agrees to the transfer, ii) there are
still spaces on the programme, iii) if they are an international student, that their visa
will allow them to study the other programme, iv) their entry qualifications are
equivalent to or above that required by the programme they wish to transfer to.
Last updated 25th September 2014
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