1
Assessment Regulations for
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering Degree
With Honours
[BEng (Hons)] Programmes
Issued by the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee in the School of Engineering, CBU
March 2014 Edition
2014
2
CONTENTS
PREAMBLE: APPLICABILITY OF THE REGULATIONS
4
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS, LECTURERS AND EXAMINERS
5
Glossary Terms
5
Additional Terms
9
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION IN THE ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
11
1.1 Duration of Study
11
1.2 Attendance Requirements and Submission of Assessed Work
11
1.3 Penalties for the Late Submission of Assessed Work
12
1.4 Penalties for Exceeding Specified Word Limits in Written Assignments
13
1.5 The Use of Unfair Means
14
1.6 Course Assessment and its Contribution to Pathway and Programmes
15
1.6.1 Credit, Learning Time, Assessment Norms and Pass Marks
15
1.6.2 Course Load, Extra and Repeated Courses
16
1.6.3 Pre-requisite Courses
17
1.6.4 Designation of the Level of Courses
17
1.6.5 Designation of the Type of Courses
17
1.6.6 Elective Courses
17
1.6.7 Admission to Courses
17
1.6.8 Changing Course
17
1.6.9 Withdraw from Courses
17
2.0 GENERAL PRINCIPLES ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE
BENG (HONS) PROGRAMMES
18
2.1 School-Level Assessment Boards for Undergraduate BEng (Hons) Awards
18
2.2 Forms of Assessment
18
2.3 Assessment Criteria and Marks
18
3.0 ASSESSMENT, PROGRESSION AND AWARD
21
3.1 Examiners
21
3.2 Assessment of Taught BEng(Hons) Degree Programmes
21
3
3.3 Conduct of Assessment – Other Forms of Examinations
23
3.4 Determination of Results of Assessment
23
3.5 Failure in Assessment
24
4.0 PROGRESSION AND AWARD BENG (HONS) DEGREE
26
4.1 Progression
26
4.2 Appeals
31
4.3 Award of Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours (BEng(Hons))
32
5.0 MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
37
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PREAMBLE: APPLICABILITY OF THE REGULATIONS
(i)
These Assessment Regulations, which conform to and are to be interpreted within the
Copperbelt University and School of Engineering’s Academic Regulations on the Assessment of
Students, apply to all undergraduate BEng (Hons) programmes, including any constituent
pathways and courses, which lead to a Copperbelt University award at Year 5 in the Framework
for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). The regulations encompass those eligible
programmes of study which cross the boundaries of individual Schools, Research Centres and
Central Services (hereafter referred to as Schools), or which are developed by individual
students through regulations, as well as any elective courses from other programmes of study
which are not themselves subject to these regulations but which are taken as part of a
programme which is encompassed by them.
(ii)
All students entering the School of Engineering through the School of Mathematics and Natural
Sciences with required qualifications will register for BEng (Hons) Degree only through the
Direct Route that takes Five years for Full-Time (FT) and Six years for Evening. Those who
have acceptable credits from their prior learning (APL or APCL) will register for BEng (Hons)
Degree through Diploma Graduate Route that takes Four years for Full-Time (FT) and Five
years for Evening if a student meets the criteria to entre at Year 2.
(iii)
Any BEng (Hons) programme of study which wish to depart from these regulations in any way
must apply to have their own specific variations from these regulations considered by the
School of Engineering Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee through its normal
procedures of validation preparation to be presented to the Academic Development Committee
(ADC). Supplementary Assessment Regulations (conforming to the University’s Academic
Regulations on the Assessment of Students) will then define the variations from the
Assessment Regulations given below. In considering such variations the Academic
Development Committee or equivalent body, in accordance with the University Academic
policy, will not accept any deviation from the structural requirements of the Assessment
Regulations for Undergraduate BEng (Hons) Programmes (i.e. equivalencies to the standard
numbers of courses and their credit ratings) and will wish to see all programmes of study
operating regulations which facilitate student choice wherever possible, both within the area
concerned and from the wider range of elective provision offered within the University’s BEng
(Hons) programmes. Further, it will wish to be convinced that the rationale for the variations
sought is justifiable in the light of the Copperbelt University's stated goal of operating all cognate
programmes within a common regulatory framework of undergraduate Honours Degrees.
(iv)
All BEng (Hons) programmes under these Assessment Regulations will be introduced to the
Copperbelt University in a pilot mode within the School of Engineering for a number of
academic years before rolling the Bachelor with Honours Degree Programmes to other Schools
and Centres of the Copperbelt University.
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INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS, LECTURERS AND EXAMINERS
Glossary of Terms
(i) APEL
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning. The process through which learning achieved outside
Copperbelt University education or training systems is assessed and, as appropriate, recognised for
academic purposes.
(ii) APCL
Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning. The process through which previously assessed and
certificated learning is considered and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes.
(iii) Assessment
The process by which the University establishes whether or not students have achieved the learning
outcomes required for the award of credit or of a Certificate, Diploma or Degree and determines the
appropriate classification of such awards.
(iv) Average Method
One of the methods by which the classification of an award may be determined, based on the
average mark obtained by the student over all courses comprising the programme of study or over
all the courses taken in specified stages of the programme.
(v) Aegrotat Pass
The process by which credit may be awarded for failed courses where there is evidence that failure
was due to illness or other mitigating circumstances and that programme learning outcomes have
been achieved.
(vi) Award
A qualification given to a student following successful completion of a programme of study.
(vii) Classification
Signifies the level of achievement of a student who receives an award. This is classified as Honours
degrees and may be awarded with Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude; while
others who do not meet Honours classification can be awarded Degrees classified as Meritorious,
Credit and Pass.
(viii) Compensation or Compensatory Pass
The process by which credit may be awarded for a narrowly failed course on the basis of good
performance in other courses and achievement of programme learning outcomes.
(ix) Credit
A measure of volume of learning. The Copperbelt University defines one credit as corresponding to
approximately Fourteen hours and twenty minutes (14h 20 min) of learning time i.e. including all
taught or supervised classes and all private study and research. Each course corresponds to a
specified number of credits.
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(x) Credit Transfer
The process by which students are exempted from part of a programme of study on the basis of
previously acquired credit, either through undertaking formally assessed learning at the same or
another institution or via accreditation of prior learning or accreditation of prior experiential learning.
(xi) Deferral
Permission to undertake assessment at a later date than is normal and as for the first time following
absence or failure to submit or failure. Deferral can only be permitted where there is evidence of
illness or other mitigating circumstances.
(xii) Fail
A student will be deemed to have failed a course if he/she does not provide evidence via
assessment that he/she has achieved the learning outcomes specified for the course. A student will
be deemed to have failed a programme of study, or a stage of a programme of study, if he/she does
not obtain all the required credits for the programme or stage.
(xiii) Fallback Award
A qualification which may be awarded to a student who meets the requirements for this award but
does not meet the requirements for the award for which he/she is registered. NOTE: The Honours
Degree Programmes at the Copperbelt University have NO Fallback Awards.
(xix) Honours
The Degree classification system used by CBU School of Engineering for its undergraduate
programmes. Honours Degrees are awarded with Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum
Laude according to the student’s level of performance.
(xx) Intermission
Interruption of study for a prescribed period of time. Intermission must be formally applied for and
permission granted.
(xxi) Learning Outcomes
Statements of what a student is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after
successful completion of the learning process concerned.
(xxii) Level
An indicator of relative difficulty, complexity, depth of study and learner autonomy. Each course is at
a specified level.
(xxiii) Level Descriptor
A statement which describes the characteristics of teaching and learning at that level.
(xxiv) Course
A self contained component of a programme or programmes of study with defined Learning
Outcomes, Teaching and Learning Methods and Assessment requirements.
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(xxv) Clear Pass
A student will be deemed to have Clear Passed a course if he/she has demonstrated achievement
of the Learning Outcomes of the course. A student will be deemed to have Clear Passed a
programme of study, or a stage of a programme of study, if he/she has obtained all the required
credits necessary for the programme or stage.
(xxvi) Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of reproducing in work submitted for assessment material derived from work
authored by another person, or by the student themselves in other work, without clearly
acknowledging the source.
(xxvii) Preponderance Method
One of the methods by which the classification of an award may be determined based on the
average mark obtained and the number of credits for which the marks obtained are in a particular
classification.
(xxviii) Programme of Study
A schedule of courses and a set of Learning Outcomes approved as leading to the award of the
Degree with Honours.
(xxix) Programme Specification
A detailed description of a programme of study prepared in accordance with an agreed template and
providing information about the programme of study to students, lecturers and other interested
parties.
(xxx) Proceed
Permission to continue under the same programme (Full time/Evening) despite not having clear
pass.
(xxxi) Proceed and Repeat
Permission to continue under the same programme despite not having clear pass. This is on
condition that the student repeats the failed course in the next academic year.
(xxxii) Proceed and Carry
Permission to continue under the same programme despite not having clear pass. This is on
condition that the student does not register for courses for which pre-requites have not been cleared.
(xxxiii) Progression
Permission to proceed from one stage of a programme of study to the next stage.
(xxxiv) Part-Time
Permission by the Board of Examiners to allow a student who has failed three courses to continue
on this mode of study called Part-Time.
(xxxv) Referral and Deferral
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Referral is the opportunity to undertake further assessment following failure of a course or courses.
Deferral is the opportunity to undertake missed assessment following illness or other reasonable
causes.
(xxxvi) Re-Admit
Permission to allow a student who has been away on study leave for whatever reason to re-register.
(xxxvii) Not Registered
Recorded when a student does not enroll at the beginning of the academic year.
(xxxviii) Repeat Course
The opportunity to take for a second time a course or courses which have been failed.
(xxxix) Repeat Year
The opportunity given by the Examboard to allow a student to repeat a year of study.
(xxxx) Re-Sitting Only
The opportunity given by Examboard to allow a student to re-sit examination only without pursuing
studies under any programme.
(xxxxi) Stage
Programmes of study are divided into a number of stages and students must achieve specified
requirements in each stage except the final stage before being permitted to progress to the next
stage.
(xxxxii) Suspension
A student is temporarily not permitted to pursue the programme of study for disciplinary reasons.
(xxxxiii) Validation
The process by which the University permits the Academic Development Committee devise and
deliver programmes of study leading to awards of the University. The University retains responsibility
for approval and quality assurance of such programmes except in the case of accredited institutions
to the University.
(xxxxiv) Viva Voce Examination
An interview of a student by examiner or examiners intended to assist examiners in determining the
outcome of assessment.
(xxxxv) Withdraw with Permission
Permission given to student by the examboard or university authority to take a study leave for a
specified period.
(xxxxv) Withdraw without Permission
This is where a student has gone on study leave or absconded for a specified period of time without
permission.
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Additional Terms
(i) Change of School
Permission is given to the student by the Senate to change an academic faculty.
(ii) Continuous Assessment (CA) Rule
This is a mode of appraisal that requires submission of student work on continuous basis prior to
examination. Students are not allow to sit for Sessional Examination if they have not cleared the CA.
(iii) Deceased
This is recorded when a student has passed away during a specific academic year.
(iv) Expelled
This is recorded when a student has been permanently excluded from the university by the Senate
for various disciplinary reasons.
(iv) Exclude School
This is recorded when a student has been excluded from the school by the examboard for not
attaining the requirements laid down by the school. This can happen for instance when a student
has failed four or more courses in an academic year.
(v) Exclude University
This is recorded when a student has been permanently excluded from further study at the University
by the Senate.
(vi) Graduate
This is recorded when a student has undergone the entire programme and achieved the necessary
number of credits (360 credits) that make him/her becomes eligible to be awarded Honours with
Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude degree. If he/she has not met the Honours
grading classification the student is awarded Degrees classified as Meritorious, Credit and Pass
according to his/her level of performance.
(vii) Incomplete
This is recorded when a student has not completed a course or part of the programme in a specific
academic year.
(viii) Maximum Duration of Study
This is the maximum period allocated to a programme of study in which a student is allowed to
complete. It is calculated by adding two years to the duration of formal learning.
(ix) No Examination Taken
This is recorded when a student did not sit for final examination only.
(x) To Full Time
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This is recorded when a student is returning to full-time.
(v) Assessment regulations
The rules governing assessment of a programme of study including marking scheme, pass
mark, requirements for progression to subsequent levels or stages of a programme and
award and classification requirements (for instance in terms of credits to be achieved and
specific marks to be attained).
(vi) Credit value
The number of credits, at a particular level assigned to a body of learning. The number of
credits is based on the estimated notional learning hours (where one credit represents 14
notional hours and 20 minutes of learning).
(vii) Credit accumulation
A process of achieving credits over time in relation to a planned programme of study.
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1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION IN THE ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
1.1 Duration of Study
(expressed in academic years)
1.1.1 The normal planned weighted duration of the CBU Degree with Honours is 5 years of full-time
study (or its Evening equivalent) through Direct Route or 4 years through Diploma Graduate Route to
Year 5.
1.1.2 The maximum period of registration is normally approximately 5 years of the normal
planned
duration plus 2 years. Board of Examiners may, having regard for the standard of the
award and the
programme objectives and regulations, use discretion to allow a student to be
assessed beyond the
maximum period of registration. The maximum period of registration will normally
include
any
sabbatical periods taken out by a student.
1.2 Attendance Requirements and Submission of Assessed Work
1.2.1 In order to progress and achieve the award for which they are registered, students must attend the
classes for each individual course regularly and in accordance with any compulsory attendance
requirements defined for such courses. Assessment Boards will respect any such compulsory
attendance requirements for individual courses in making decisions on student progression and will also
have regard to the general attendance requirements of the University. The general attendance
requirements of the University are specified in the University’s Attendance Policy QA(TA) 15.
Failure to abide by this requirement may result in failure in individual courses and/or failure of a stage of
the programme for which they are registered.
1.2.2 It is a requirement for all students to submit and/or attend for the assessment of each component
of course assessment at the dates and times prescribed. Failure to submit and/or attend without good
reason, supported by written evidence, will result in the student being deemed unsatisfactory in the
particular component of assessment and a mark of zero will be recorded. It is a student’s responsibility
to provide written evidence according to the University’s procedures for the submission of Mitigating
Circumstances.
1.2.3 Attendance should be recorded for all elements of a programme. Students who have attendance
problems should be reported to the appropriate lecturer as defined in the programme handbook for
appropriate follow-up action. Students should be warned verbally at first and then if they still persist with
low attendance they should be informed in writing and any sponsoring body informed. Students who do
not respond to the written warning may be recommended for expulsion from their programme by a
Board of Examiner on academic grounds.
1.2.4 Students who fail to give formal notice in writing by the specified date of their intention to withdraw
from their programme or its elements and who do not complete assessments will normally be deemed to
have failed the programme or its specific elements.
1.2.5 Students must formally request permission from their Section Head if they wish temporarily to
suspend their studies.
1.2.6 If students (by reason of absence, non-submission of work, or poor performance) do not satisfy
Departmental/School Board of Examiners in the assessment for any courses and it is established to the
satisfaction of the Board that this was due to proven illness or other circumstances found valid on
production of evidence, then the Board shall use its discretion to ensure that the students are not
disadvantaged or advantaged as a result.
1.2.7 In the case of coursework assessments, Section Heads have, in cases of proven illness or other
mitigating circumstances found valid on production of evidence by the student, discretion to allow the
assessments to be submitted late and for them to be marked as if submitted on time. The cases shall
then be submitted to the Lecturer responsible for Quality in the School of Engineering or any other
School/Centre who shall monitor and regulate the circumstances in which short term extensions are
12
granted. The maximum extension to be granted under these circumstances are five (5) working days.
Any request for an extension to a submission deadline must normally be made by the student, and
decided upon by the Section Head, before the original submission date.
1.2.8 Requests for extensions for periods longer than 5 days must be made using the Mitigating
Circumstances procedures.
1.2.9 Should a student submit coursework beyond 5 days after the original submission date then in
order to be accepted it will need to be accompanied by an application for mitigating circumstances. In
cases where the application is successful, the normal outcome will be a “defer” decision.
1.2.10 In exercising its discretion a Departmental/School Board of Examiners may decide to allow
students to be assessed as for the first time and to vary the form of assessment to be used. A Board
may also, provided that there is sufficient evidence to support its judgment, deem students to have
passed and, at the award level, ascribe a mark or grade to the course(s).
1.2.11 Students, by reason of special educational need proven by acceptable evidence, may be
assessed by methods other than those approved for the programme, subject to the operation of the
University’s published arrangements for such circumstances.
1.3 Penalties for the Late Submission of Assessed Work
1.3.1 Students who fail to submit assessments by the prescribed date without an extension being
granted or without accepted Mitigating Circumstances, shall be subject to the following penalties.
Students who have had a request for an extension granted by the appropriate authority who fail to
submit assessments by the negotiated date shall also be subject to the following penalties.
Notification of these penalties should be included in the programme handbook for the courses which the
students are studying. Departmental/School Board of Examiners will accept assessment marks which
have had approved penalties applied to them.
Up to 5 calendar days late
= 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a
pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark
for the assignment.
Up to 10 calendar days late
= 20 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a
pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark
for the assignment.
More than 10 calendar days late
= 0 marks awarded.
1.3.2 All assessed work should be submitted as defined in the programme handbook. Extensions may
be granted by Section Heads but only in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with 1.2.7 above.
Coursework not submitted will be recorded as failed, except under the circumstances noted in 1.2.2 and
1.2.6.
1.3.3 Cases of persistent late submission should be brought to the attention of the Departmental/School
Board of Examiners which shall exercise its discretion to determine the student's final results.
1.3.4 Where assessments are graded Pass/Fail only they will not be accepted beyond the deadline date
for submission and will be recorded as a Fail. Students may request an extension to the original
published deadline date as described in 1.2.7 above.
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1.4 Penalties for Exceeding Specified Word Limits in Written Assignments
1.4.1 Course Lecturers may choose to specify a maximum word limit for a written assignment (a
penalty applies for exceeding this, see 1.4.5 below),
OR to specify an indicative word length for a written assignment (a penalty applies for exceeding this,
see 1.4.6 below),
OR to specify a guide to the word length of a written assignment (no penalty applies for exceeding
this),
OR not to provide any guidance on the number of words in a written assignment.
1.4.2 Where a maximum word limit or an indicative word length is specified for a written assignment,
students shall be informed in the assignment brief of the requirement and of the penalty system to be
applied if they exceed the specified number of words in the written assignment.
1.4.3 Where a maximum word limit or an indicative word length is specified for a written assignment,
students shall include the number of words at the end of the assignment.
1.4.4 Any specified maximum word limit or indicative word length of a written assignment shall not
include references cited in the text, rubric associated with tables, figures, diagrams etc, appendices and
reference lists at the end of the assignment but will include any direct quotations.
1.4.5 Students who exceed a specified maximum word limit for a written assignment shall be subject
to the following penalty system.
A line will be drawn across the assignment at the point of the maximum word limit and the assignment
will be marked only up to that line.
1.4.6 Students who exceed a specified indicative word length for a written assignment shall be subject
to the following penalty system.
Up to 10% over the specified indicative word length = no penalty
10% – 20% over the specified indicative word length = 5 marks subtracted but if the
assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the
pass mark for the assignment.
More than 20% over the indicative word length =10 marks subtracted but if the
assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be the pass mark for
the assignment.
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1.5 The Use of Unfair Means
Cases of suspected use of unfair means (for example, cheating or plagiarism) shall be investigated
according to University regulations. Where the case is proven, a School Board of Examiner (where
necessary acting upon the advice of an appropriate Course Results Board), shall exercise its discretion
in relation to the seriousness of the academic misdemeanour and in accordance with University
Regulations on the use of Unfair Means in Assessment.
PENALTIES FOR USE OF UNFAIR MEANS
OFFENCE
ACTION
PENALTY
(a) Where there is evidence of an attempt of
cheating in an examination by a candidate
Chief Invigilator in consultation with other Invigilators
should confiscate the unwanted materials from the
candidate.
Sternly warn the candidate(s) of their conduct
and send them out of examination hall.
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
(b) Continuing to write an answer after the
Chief Invigilator has announced the expiry of
time.
Transmit candidates’ scripts for marking but record on
script that student continued writing after expiry of time.
(c) Tearing off any part of the answer book or
attempts to remove from the examination room
a written answer book, blank answer book or
any part thereof.
Immediate expulsion of the candidate(s) from the
examination hall.
(d) If he/she aids or attempts to aid another
candidate or obtains or attempts to obtain aid
from another candidate or communicate with
another candidate.
Immediate expulsion of the candidate(s) from the
examination hall and recommends to the Registrar for
disqualification in course or other written/unwritten
courses.
Suspension of the candidate for specific
period of time.
(e) Bringing into examination hall any written
printed or other unauthorized materials.
Immediate expulsion of the candidate(s) from the
examination hall and recommends to the Registrar for
disqualification in course or other written/unwritten
courses.
Dismissal or expulsion of the candidate from
the examination hall.
Immediate expulsion of the
examination hall
Expulsion from the University.
(f) Bringing into examination hall pre-written
answers for the course(s) being examined.
Reduction of grace to the next lower grade.
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
Reduction of grace to the next lower grade.
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
candidate(s) from the
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
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(g) Disorderly conduct likely to disturb other
candidates.
Immediate expulsion of the candidate(s) from the
examination hall.
Nullification of the candidate’s result in the
course being examined at the material time
and suspension from subsequent exams in a
particular year.
(h) Discovery of alleged plagiarisms (e.g.)
Thesis project reports etc collusion i.e. the
representation of another’s work or ideas as
one’s
own
without
appropriate
acknowledgement of referencing, where the
owner of the work knows of the situation and
both work towards the deceit of a third party
(while in plagiarism the owner of the work does
not knowingly allow the use of his or her work.
Refer to the Dean of School for consideration and
recommendation to the Registrar to write for
disqualification in the course
Expulsion from the University.
(i) Obtaining Examination Papers ahead of its
authorized released.
Immediate suspension and barring from writing any
examinations in that Term/Sessional exam.
Expulsion from the University.
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
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(j) The use of unauthorized books notes,
electronic aids, pre-written material or other
materials in an examination.
Immediate expulsion of the candidate(s) from the
Examination Hall.
Expulsion from the University.
REPORT ON FORM QA(TA)29
15
The University has a responsibility to ensure that the standards of its awards are maintained and that
its qualifications are not achieved through the use of unfair means. The regulations on the Use of
Unfair Means in Assessment cover not only students who deliberately set out to cheat, e.g. by taking
unauthorised material into exams, but also those who do not follow normal academic rules, e.g. by not
acknowledging the ideas of others through proper referencing.
Unfair means includes plagiarism (giving the impression that you have written or thought something
when you have borrowed it from someone else), collusion (working collaboratively with another
student and then submitting the work as all your own work), and cheating in examinations.
Students should familiarise themselves at the earliest opportunity with the University’s Unfair Means
Regulations which are available from the Registrar’s Office.
If a student needs to complete Repeat/Defer work he/she needs to consult with the Section Head.
Alternatively, where the repeat/deferral is an exam there will be a standard file attached, advising which
exam session the repeat/deferral exam will take place and a reminder that he/she should consult the
exam timetable.
The Awards Ceremonies usually take place at a specified period in the Academic Calendar Year.
Invitations to the ceremonies will be sent to finalists beginning a month prior to the occasion.
1.6 Course Assessment and its Contribution to Pathways and Programmes
1.6.1 Credit, Learning Time, Assessment Norms and Pass Marks
(i)
Throughout all undergraduate BEng (Hons) programmes:
• One credit is associated with 14 hours 20 minutes of notional learning time.
• The distribution of the total notional learning time for a course is part of the course
specification and it is equivalent to 200 hours.
• The distribution of the total notional learning time for a programme is part of the
programme handbook and it is equivalent to 1720 hours, e.g. as shown below
Scheduled learning and
teaching activities
Programme Year
1
2
3
(Y1) (Y2 )
(Y 3)
582
522
(34%) (30%)
4
(Y 4)
492
(29%)
5
(Y 5)
522
(30%)
6
7
-
-
-
-
Guided independent
study
-
1138
(66%)
1198
(70%)
1228
(71%)
1198
(70%)
Placement/study abroad
-
-
-
-
-
1720
1720
1720
1720
TOTAL HOURS/YEAR
(ii)
-
-
The assessment norms for courses carrying equal credit should be comparable within
and across courses and should take into account the total learning time associated with
the credit value of the course. The precise requirements for individual courses will be
defined in the programme handbook and will take into account the particular conventions
of individual courses.
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(iii)
Assessment and progression will be based upon the marks achieved in an array of
courses studied by the student including, for an Honours Degree, a dissertation, project
or other course requiring a student to engage in independent inquiry under supervision.
Each course may be assessed by a defined combination of examination and coursework
assessment, examination only, or coursework assessment only which will be approved
by the Academic Development Committee (ADC).
(iv)
All courses are either Core or Elective and have either 24 credit value for Standard
Course (Full) or 12 credit value for Non-Standard Course (Half). The programme has
one double full course, the Individual Final Year Project that has 48 credit values and
is required for the assimilation and integration of all learned topics and materials. BEng
Honours Degree cannot be awarded without passing the Individual Final Year Project.
(v)
The overall Pass Mark for all courses is Fifty percent (50%). The mark awarded will be
made up, where specified, of the weighted average of the examination and coursework
assessment marks.
(vi)
Normally, students will be expected to have achieved an overall course mark of 50
percent, with no item defined in the assessment pattern for the course having a mark
below 50 percent, in order to be awarded the credit for a course.
(vii)
Exceptions to the regulations on pass marks must be expressly applied for and approved
as part of the variations contained within any Supplementary Assessment Regulations
proposed at the time of validation of a course, although Boards of Examiners may in any
case use their discretion to exceptionally allow compensation between course
assessments in individual cases.
1.6.2 Course Load, Extra and Repeated Courses
(i)
Students may be allowed to take courses over and above the number prescribed for their
award. These courses will be known as extra courses. Students may be allowed worth up
to 72 credits (24 credits at each of Years 3, 4 and 5). However, normally, full-time
students will not be allowed to take courses worth more than 72 credits per year and parttime students no more than 100 credits per year, distributed no more unevenly across
years. These total limitations shall apply to students whether they are taking extra
courses, as defined, and/or repeating courses.
(ii)
Where students do take extra courses and complete the assessments, the marks for any
core courses must be included in the calculation of the award. Otherwise the courses in
which the student has received the highest marks will count towards any degree
classification, provided that any specific requirements of the programme are met in terms
of successful completion of core courses, prerequisites and other mandatory elements.
(iii)
All courses which a student wishes to take as extra courses will NOT count towards the
Degree classification.
(iv)
All courses that are repeated by the student will be awarded the appropriate absolute
marks then capped at 50%.
17
1.6.3 Pre-requisite courses
Where a course is defined as a pre-requisite course, students must normally pass such a course before
being allowed to proceed to take any linked further course(s). Exceptions may be allowed at the
discretion of a Departmental/School Board of Examiners, on the advice of the Lecturer(s) for the linked
further course(s). This is known as Proceed and Carry.
1.6.4 Designation of the Level of Courses
Courses may be designated as Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5, as per the integrated credit
framework being developed at CBU and that meets the world standard such as the Higher Education
levels correspond to Levels for instance in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ UK) published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA - UK). Please note that this
is in the absence of the Zambia Higher Education Authority that has yet to be created.
1.6.5 Designation of the Type of Courses
Courses may be designated as Core (compulsory) or Elective within a specific programme.
1.6.6 Elective Courses
(i)
Students may take an agreed number of electives as part of their programme of study but
shall be subject to any specific requirements and mandatory curricula for their awards
which are laid down in the regulations for their programme.
(ii)
Students whose programme of study includes a course taken as an Elective from another
programme of study will have such a course assessed by the appropriate course Lecturer
concerned and this assessment will be verified by the subject external examiner.
(iii)
The results of an elective course will be transmitted from the host course Results Board
to the Departmental/School Board of Examiners ultimately responsible for the student's
overall programme of study and be subject to that Board's assessment regulations on
progression and reassessment.
1.6.7 Admission to Courses
Admission to individual courses will be at the discretion of the relevant programme authorities based
upon academic grounds, and upon the minimum and maximum permissible student numbers allowable,
as determined from year to year by the School concerned.
1.6.8 Changing Courses
A student may only change courses with the agreement of the Section Head and Course Lecturers. Any
such changes after a course commences may only take place in exceptional circumstances and
normally within the first two weeks of the course commencing, failing which the change will not be
permitted and the original course will remain on the student's record.
1.6.9 Withdrawal from Courses
A student may normally only withdraw from a course within the first two weeks of the course
commencing and with the approval of the Course Lecturer and Section Head. Withdrawal without
permission and/or beyond this point without good reason will be recorded as a failure in the Course
(including any project or dissertation course).
18
2.0 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE
BENG (HONS) PROGRAMMES
2.1 School-level Assessment Boards for Undergraduate BEng (Hons) Awards
The School Board of Examiners is the final board for the determination of awards and progression
respectively for those programmes which fall within their jurisdiction. It constitutes the final tier for
receiving results from the Departmental Board of Examiners which contribute to those programmes of
study falling within their jurisdiction. The School Board of Examiners will receive the grades and marks
and make decisions on progression, failure, referral (including repeat), deferral, exclusion or awards as
appropriate. In making their judgments they will consider the decisions of The Departmental Board of
Examiners concerning the academic standards attained by students on their specific programmes and
the courses of which they are made up.
2 .2 Forms of Assessment
The School Board of Examiners will accept the forms of assessment which are approved for individual
courses and which are specified in the relevant programme and/or course specifications as approved by
the Academic Development Committee (ADC) or equivalent body through validation.
2.3 Assessment Criteria and Marks
The generic assessment criteria used by all Board of Examiners will be those which are defined in the
University’s Academic Regulations on the Assessment of Students and which will be adopted at School
level. Where non-percentage forms of grading are in use, for example letter grades or points, they
should be converted to percentages for presentation to the Departmental/School Board of Examiners.
All recommendations coming to all Board of Examiners should be formulated in accordance with these
criteria and expressed in the form of a numerical mark as follows:
19
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING DEGREE WITH HONOURS
GRADE
A+
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
RANGE
≥ 86%
76% - 85%
68% - 75%
62% - 67%
56% - 61%
50% - 55%
40% - 49%
≤39%
CBU GRADE POINT
EQUIVALENT
FULL
HALF
COURSE COURSE
5
2.5
4
2
3
1.5
2
1
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
CBU HONOURS DEGREE
CLASSIFICATION**
POINT
DEGREE
CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFICATION
71 – 75
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
61 - 70
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
53 – 60
CUM LAUDE
38 – 52.5
MERITORIOUS
23 – 37.5
CREDIT
0 – 22.5
PASS
0
BARE FAIL
0
DEFINITE FAIL
GRADE
DEFINITION
Exceptional Quality
Exceptional Quality
Very Good Quality
Good Quality
Satisfactory Quality
Ordinary Pass
Bare Fail
Definite Fail
UK
EQUIVALENT
DEGREE
CLASSIFICATION
First Class
First Class
Second Class Upper Division
Second Class Lower Division
Third Class
Pass
Bare Fail
Definite Fail
USA
EQUIVALENT
GRADE POINT
AVERAGE
3.81 – 4.0
3.69 – 3.8
3.5 – 3.68
3.0 – 3.49
2.5 – 2.99
2 – 2.49
0
0
** (i) To be eligible for the CBU Honours Degree Classification, a student has to accumulate a total of 360 credits at
YEAR 3 (120 Credits), YEAR 4 (120 Credits), YEAR 5 ( 120 Credits)
(ii) Then the Point Classification is calculated and Degree Classification awarded by applying the CBU Grade Point Equivalent
For Fifteen (15) courses at YEAR 3 (5 FULL COURSES), YEAR 4 (5 FULL COURSES) AND YEAR 5 (5 FULL COURSES).
20
2.3.1 The Simplified definitions of the criteria are:
Grade A/A+
Work of Exceptional Quality
Virtually all of the relevant information/skills accurately deployed. Excellent and
exceptional grasp of theoretical, conceptual, analytical and practical elements. Very
effective integration of theory, practice and information, in relation to the objectives of the
assessment. Substantial evidence of originality and creativity as appropriate to the
subject.
Grade B+
Work of Very Good Quality
Most of the relevant information/skills accurately deployed. Very good grasp of
theoretical, conceptual, analytical, practical elements. Effective integration of theory,
practice and information, in relation to the objectives of the assessment. Significant
evidence of originality and creativity as appropriate to a subject.
Grade B
Work of Good Quality
Some of the relevant information/skills accurately deployed. Reasonable to good grasp
of theoretical, conceptual, analytical and practical elements. Fair integration of theory,
practice and information, in relation to the objectives of the assessment. Some evidence
of originality and creativity as appropriate to the subject.
Grade C+
Work of Satisfactory Quality
Some omissions in the deployment of information/skills. Adequate grasp of theoretical,
conceptual, analytical and practical elements. Limited integration of theory, practice and
information, in relation to the objectives of the assessment. Limited evidence of originality
and creativity as appropriate to the subject.
Grade D+
Bare Fail
Deficiencies or omissions in information, skills, theoretical, conceptual, practical elements.
Limited integration of these in relation to the assessed work’s objectives. Some relevant
content and marginal evidence of skills, knowledge or creativity, which could, in the light
of overall performance, constitute the basis for a pass Class in the examiners’ judgement.
Grade D
Definite Fail
Little evidence of the information, skills, theoretical, conceptual, analytical, creative or
practical elements relevant to the assessment. Mainly irrelevant and/or incorrect
information provided. Scant evidence of understanding of the requirements of the
assessment.
21
3.0 ASSESSMENT, PROGRESSION AND AWARD
3.1 Examiners
3.1.1 General
3.1.1.1 Registered Students shall be examined by external and internal examiners.
3.1.2 Internal Examiners
(a)
Heads of Principal Academic Units (Head of Departments) or their nominees shall be
responsible for the appointment of internal examiners.
(b) For taught programmes the procedures for the appointment, including eligibility criteria, and
role of internal examiners shall be as specified in the Assessment Protocols approved by
Senate or under delegated authority from time to time.
(c)
Where there are taught elements of research degree programmes the Assessment
Protocols shall apply to such elements with respect to internal examiners.
(d)
For research degree programmes the procedures for the appointment, including eligibility
criteria, and role of internal examiners shall be as specified in Code of Practice for
Assessment of Research Degree Theses.
3.1.3 External Examiners
(a)
The Senate shall have responsibility for and oversight of the appointment of External
Examiners.
(b)
No University award with taught elements shall be awarded without the participation in the
examining process of at least one examiner external to this University acting as a full
member of the relevant Board of Examiners. Exceptions to this requirement shall be
granted by the Senate.
(c)
For taught programmes of study the procedures for the appointment, including eligibility
criteria, and role of External Examiners shall be as specified in Code of Practice on
External Examining (Taught Provision).
(d) For research degree programmes the procedures for the appointment, including eligibility
criteria, and role of External Examiners shall be as specified in the Code of Practice for
Assessment of Research Degree Theses.
3.2 Assessment of Taught BEng (Hons) Degree Programmes
3.2.1 General
(a) All courses must be assessed. The purpose of assessment is to measure the achievement of
the intended learning outcomes. The form(s) of assessment for any course shall be appropriate
for this purpose.
(b) Assessment of courses shall be consistent with the principles specified in the Code of Practice
on the Assessment of Taught Programmes and courses.
(c) Assessment should not be excessive. In the case of Undergraduate programmes, in normal
circumstances there should be no more than six formal written examinations of three hours’
duration or equivalent for each 120 credits of the programme.
22
(d) Linked courses may be assessed by means of combined assessment, e.g. a single examination
paper, essay or project.
(e) The timing of assessment shall be as follows:
(i) In the case of undergraduate programmes, courses must normally be assessed
within the University Session in which they are taken and may be assessed within the
term in which they are taken.
(ii) In the case of research degree programmes with taught elements, courses must
normally be assessed within 12 months of being commenced, unless otherwise
specified in the appropriate course description and approved by the Senate or a
delegated authority.
(f) The assessment of each course shall generate a single mark between 0 and 100 except in cases
specified by the Senate or a delegated authority where the mark shall be pass or fail. Linked
courses shall produce a single mark.
(g) A Registered Student who does not attempt a required element of a course’s assessment by
failing to attend a required examination without adequate cause or failing to complete other
assessed work shall be awarded a mark of 0 for that element (or fail where appropriate). Note
also the requirements in respect of Academic duty in relation to assessment and Reasonable
diligence below.
(h) A course shall be passed if the Registered Student has demonstrated the achievement of the
course’s specified learning outcomes.
(i) The pass mark for Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 courses is 50% . There may be exceptions to this where it
is required by external bodies. Such exceptions shall be agreed by the Senate or a delegated
authority.
(j) Marks awarded for each course will be provisional until confirmed by the relevant Board of
Examiners. Subject to this provision, Registered Students shall be given informal guidance with
regard to their academic performance in accordance with relevant University Codes of Practice.
(k) In order to obtain credit in a course a Registered Student must have gained at least the specified
pass mark for the course and completed any other requirements to the satisfaction of the Board of
Examiners.
(l) Credit may be awarded only for successful completion of the stated learning outcomes of the
course. On undergraduate programmes only, where the positive aspects of the overall
performance within the course outweigh the area of failure, ‘compensation’ of a weak
achievement by a strong performance elsewhere should be allowed only in relation to
assessments within a single course, or between assessments across linked courses which share
an integrated assessment, which leads to a single mark.
(m) Course marks will be expressed on a Registered Student’s official transcript both as a numerical
value between 0 and 100 where such marks are generated and letter Grading. Otherwise marks
shall be expressed as “pass’ or ‘fail’.
(n) Credit weighted mean mark (hereafter referred to as the weighted mean mark) of a set of courses
means the sum of the products of the marks attained in each course and the credit values of the
course, divided by the sum total of the credit values of the courses required.
23
3.3 Conduct of Assessment – Other Forms of Examinations
3.3.1 The Senate or a delegated authority shall have responsibility for ensuring the conduct of all other
forms of examination other than written examinations (e.g. oral and practical examinations;
examination by dissertation, project work and continuous assessment) is fair and is consistent with
the requirements of the Assessment Protocols. Such conduct shall be approved in consultation
with External Examiners.
3.4 Determination of Results of Assessment
(a) The results of courses shall be determined by Boards of Examiners appointed for the
purpose. Boards of Examiners shall comprise internal and external duly appointed.
(b) Boards of Examiners shall use the results of courses to make decisions or
recommendations on final Awards and progression.
(c) The Senate or a delegated authority shall have responsibility for establishing codes of
practice for the composition and conduct of Boards of Examiners meetings. The codes of
practice shall be as specified in the Assessment Protocols.
(d) There shall be provision for Boards of Examiners to take account of the effect of any illness
or other serious adverse circumstances, i.e. mitigating circumstances, on Registered
Students’ academic performance via the mechanism of mitigating circumstances panels as
defined in the Assessment Protocols. Such circumstances shall include where Registered
Students are prevented by illness or other sufficient cause from attending examinations or
completing assessments.
(e) It is the responsibility of the individual Registered Student to bring to the attention of the
relevant Boards of Examiners, via the mitigating circumstances procedures, any such
circumstances he or she wishes to have taken into account before the meeting of the
relevant Board of Examiners takes place.
(f) Procedures adopted by Boards of Examiners to consider mitigating circumstances and
make consequent decisions shall be fair, equitable and transparent and shall be subject to
the scrutiny of the Senate or a delegated authority.
(g) Where a Board of Examiners accepts that mitigating circumstances have affected
academic performance, the board shall normally award a classification or recommend a
progress decision consistent with the performance which, on the evidence available to it, the
Board reasonably judges the Registered Student would have achieved if performance had
not been affected by extenuating circumstances.
(h) In exceptional circumstances, where a Board of Examiners considers that a Registered
Student is unable to complete the requirements of his or her programme due to serious
illness, death or other significant cause, the Board may recommend the award of an aegrotat
degree. This recommendation replaces any decision to award a lower alternative qualification
for which the Registered Student may have obtained sufficient credit.
Such recommendations must be made in accordance with the Code of Practice on the
Assessment of Taught courses and shall be subject to the approval of the
Departmental/School Boards of Examiners. An aegrotat degree should be a Pass.
Degrees which are subject to fitness to practice requirements shall not be awarded as
aegrotat degrees.
(i) In exceptional circumstances, where a Registered Student has died having fully completed
the requirements of their programme of study but has not graduated or been formally
awarded the qualification, Boards of Examiners may recommend the posthumous award of
the qualification, subject to the approval of the Departmental/School Boards of Examiners.
24
(j) Marks shall not normally be adjusted in the light of mitigating circumstances and the
mark(s) determined by the Board of Examiners will therefore reflect precisely the Registered
Student's actual performance irrespective of those circumstances.
(k) A confidential written record shall be kept of any decisions or recommendations made in the
light of mitigating circumstances and of cases where the mark achieved has been affected
by such factors. Such information shall be made available to the Board of Examiners in
subsequent years where this is relevant to the determination of the degree classification or
other decisions to be taken by the board in relation to the Registered Student concerned.
(l) Boards of Examiners shall have delegated authority from Senate, to make final Award and
progress decisions within Regulations.
(m) Boards of Examiners shall have delegated authority from Senate, to make final Award and
progress decisions notwithstanding Regulations where such decisions have been made on
the basis of mitigating circumstances.
(n) Where mitigating circumstances are not involved, notwithstanding Regulations on final
award and progress, the Departmental/School Boards of Examiners may pass
recommendations and decisions to the Departmental/School Boards of Examiners which
shall have delegated authority to make the Final decision.
(o) Where a programme is under the authority of more than one Board of Examiners, the Senate
shall, where necessary, make final decisions on individual cases.
(p) Decisions made in accordance with this Regulation shall be final, unless a subsequent error
in the record or incorrect application of regulations is identified. In such circumstances, the
Chair of the Board of Examiners concerned shall have delegated authority, after consulting
with External Examiners (or one of their number appointed for the purpose by the Board), to
make a revised determination of the result, final Award and/or progress decision in question.
(q) Chairs of Boards of Examiners shall be responsible for ensuring that suitably certified and
formatted lists of course marks, progress and final Award decisions are available for entry
onto the University’s central record by any deadlines set by the Senate.
3.5 Failure in Assessment
(a) Subject to sub-clause (c) below, all Registered Students who fail a course shall have one
opportunity to retrieve the failure, either by re-assessment. Such opportunity shall be
normally provided and taken within one year of the initial failure except when, for reasons of
frequency of course delivery, the Senate or a delegated authority has agreed otherwise.
(b) Where a student fails a course due to the failure of an internal hurdle, the mark shall be
capped at 1 mark below the pass mark for that course. If the student passes the course at
re-assessment stage, the mark will be capped at the pass mark, as per (j).
(c) Boards of Examiners shall determine whether a Registered Student shall be reassessed in or
repeat a failed course. In normal circumstances Boards of Examiners will require
reassessment unless repetition of the course is specifically justified (due to the nature of the
course or the Registered Student’s academic circumstances).
(d) The following applies where Registered Students are to be re-assessed in a course:
(i) The Registered Student is required to complete such further assessment as specified
by the Board of Examiners so as to demonstrate achievement of the stated learning
outcomes.
(ii) The further assessment shall be taken at the next available opportunity.
25
(iii) Re-assessment of a course as defined within these regulations does not carry
additional tuition fee liability.
(iv) Unjustified absence from the deferred examination or failure to submit required
coursework will be counted as failure in the assessment/ re-assessment and a mark
of 0 shall be awarded.
(v) The Registered Student may be designated as a Part-Time Student in which
case he or she shall, subject to (i) – (iv) above, remain subject to University
Legislation.
(vi) The Registered Student is required to attend all teaching sessions and to complete all
the assessment requirements associated with the course in order to achieve the
stated learning outcomes.
(vii) The course should normally be repeated within one year of the initial failure.
(viii) Repeating a course as defined within these Regulations renders a Registered
Student liable to an additional tuition fee liability. This is a proportion of the standard
tuition fee, depending on the number of credits to be repeated and whether the
Registered Student is classified as Home or International.
(f) The nature of some courses (e.g. laboratory-based courses) means that retrieval of failure
can only be by means of repetition. Such courses should be designated ‘repeat only’ in
course descriptions.
(g) Undergraduate Registered Students shall normally be required to take the opportunities
permitted to them to retrieve failure in all failed courses, irrespective of whether successful
completion of the course or courses is defined as a requirement for progression or for the
award of the qualification.
(h) With the agreement of the relevant Head of Principal Academic Unit (HOD) or nominee a
Registered Student required to be reassessed in or repeat a course may be allowed to
choose a substitute course subject to programme requirements and availability. In such
cases, the Registered Student shall be required to attend the course in full and complete all
the assessments. In such cases there will be an additional tuition fee liability. The Registered
Student shall be permitted one attempt at the substituted course.
(i) Registered Students may not normally be reassessed in or repeat any course for which they
have obtained credit. If they do the Marks will be capped at 50%.
(j) Following an attempt to retrieve failure (via reassessment) the mark used for calculating a
Registered Student’s weighted mean mark and progress or final degree classification shall be:
(i) The pass mark for that course if the Registered Student passes the course.
(ii) The higher of the two fail marks if the Registered Student fails the course.
(j) Notwithstanding this clause the mark achieved following an attempt to retrieve failure of a
course will be recorded on a Registered Student’s transcript.
(k) Where a Board of Examiners accepts that a Registered Student’s failure in a course is as a
result of mitigating circumstances (as set out in Determination of the results of assessment,
above) then an additional attempt to retrieve the failure may be granted. The additional attempt
shall be normally of the same status as the attempt affected by the mitigating circumstances,
that is either first or reassessment attempt (i.e. sit or repeat). An additional attempt at a first
sitting may therefore be followed by a further reassessment attempt.
26
4.0 PROGRESSION AND AWARD OF BEng (HONS) DEGREE
4.1 Progression
Registered students are required to pass 132 Credits or equivalent at Year 1; 132 Credits at Year 2; 120
Credits at Year 3; 120 Credits at Year 4 and 120 Credits at Year 5. To progress the student must Clear
Pass a given stage or Year of the programme to subsequent stage.
4.1.1 Progression Rules
4.1.1.1 Progression
(a) To proceed to the next year of study, a candidate must pass ALL the courses taken during
the academic year of study.
(b) The Board of Examiners may permit a candidate who has failed in no more than one course
to proceed and repeat the failed in course along with the full load for the subsequent year;
except where the failed course is a pre-requisite to a higher course in which case the
candidate shall not be allowed to take a higher course for which a failed course is a
prerequisite.
(c) To complete a programme of study a candidate shall:
(i)
Attend at least 80% of such classes, tutorials, seminars, practical exercises or field
practicals as may be prescribed by the Board of Studies in consultation with the
Lecturer(s)concerned;
(ii) Perform to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies such prescribed practical, written and
other course work as shall be required;
(iii) Obtain an overall pass grade in all the courses.
4.1.1.2 Continuous Assessment (CA)
A student who fails to satisfy the requirements for continuous assessment shall not be allowed to
sit for the sessional examinations. The percentages for CA to the full course marks for all
programmes are 40% and examination 60% weighting.
4.1.1.3 Mitigating Circumstances (Regulations & FORM QA(TA) 17)
A candidate may submit FORM QA(TA) 17.1 within 7 days either way of the affected component
of assessment if there have been unforeseen personal difficulties which cause exceptional
interference with academic performance and which are over and above the difficulties
experienced in life.
The Mitigating Circumstances Committee will assess the candidate’s submission and make a
recommendation to the appropriate examboard to be considered in the final results.
4.1.1.4 Compensatory Pass
(a) A student who fails in a course with D+ shall be granted a pass grade, P, in the failed course,
subject to the following conditions;
(b) A candidate should not have failed in more than two (2) courses in an academic year.
27
(c) A candidate should not have failed in more than one (1) course in an academic year of three
courses.
(d) A candidate should be doing more than two (2) courses in an academic year.
(e) A candidate should have passed in the continuous Assessment component of the course
being considered for compensatory pass.
(f) If on full time study, the candidate must have obtained an average grade of C+ in (X-2)
number of courses passed, where X stand for the full load of courses in that particular year.
(g) If on part time study, the candidate must have obtained an average grade of C+ in the
courses passed.
(h) Up to a maximum of two compensatory passes may be given to a candidate in any particular
year.
4.1.1.5 Part-Time
The Board of Examiners shall refer a student to Part-Time studies in the following cases:
(a) Any student who has failed three courses.
(b) A full time student who fails (a) repeat course(s) shall go on Part-Time studies for the failed
course(s) only.
(c) A final year student who fails a repeat course(s) shall be allowed to repeat the course(s) in
the following year together with any final courses failed if he/she is within the maximum
period of study.
4.1.1.6 Deferred Examinations
(a) A candidate, who through illness or other reasonable cause is unable to present
himself/herself for an examination sessional or otherwise, may submit a Mitigating
Circumstances FORM QA(TA) 17.1 (See (3)). Such application shall be forwarded to the
Dean of School 7 days either way from the date of the Sessional examinations.
(b) The Mitigating Circumstances Committee through the Chair after consideration of any
application may permit the applicant to present himself/herself at a deferred examination if
the outcome is positive and acceptable. The results of deferred examination shall be treated
in a similar manner as those obtained at scheduled Sessional examinations.
(c) Candidates may consult the Mitigating Circumstances Regulations FORM QA(TA) 17
Regulations to see what is acceptable. It should be noted that misreading the examination
time-table and pressure of work shall not be considered reasonable cause for a deferred
examination. The said unwritten examination shall be written at the next set of Sessional
examinations.
28
4.1.1.7 Repeat Course
(a) Subject to regulations governing progression and Mitigating Circumstances Regulations
FORM QA(TA) 17, all courses failed with D+ and D must be repeated.
(b) A student who has failed a repeat course shall go on Part-time study to repeat the failed
course. In such cases the awarded marks will be capped at 50%. A student who fails
course(s) at Part-time shall be excluded.
(c) A final year student who fails a repeat course shall be allowed to proceed on Part-time and
complete the said course, subject to the rule requiring a student to complete his/her
programme of study within the maximum duration of study.
4.1.1.8 Exclusion
(a) A student who has failed in four or more courses in one academic year shall be excluded
from the School. This will mean that all Mitigating Circumstances Considerations have been
exhausted.
(b) A student who has failed a repeat course(s) while on Part-time shall be excluded from the
school.
.
(c) A student who without permission of the Board of Studies fails to sit for examinations in any
academic year and without submitting Mitigating Circumstances FORM QA(TA) 17.1 shall be
excluded from School.
4.1.1.9 Re-admission Of Excluded Students
(a) Re-admission shall be restricted to higher levels of study i.e. third and Fourth year of study
for degree programmes of four years, fourth and filth years of study for degree programmes
of five year.
(b) Re-admission shall not be automatic but shall be on recommendation by the School after
taking into consideration the applicant’s previous academic performance.
(c) Such an excluded student shall be required to stay away for one academic year before next
re-admission.
(d) Applicants who had been away from School for more than two consecutive years may not
qualify for re-admission.
(e) A student excluded while on Part-time when re-admitted shall register for all previous year’s
courses.
(f)
Students excluded from the School in lower levels of study shall not be considered for readmission to the same school. However, such students may be considered for admission to
the other schools within the University.
4.1.1.10 Maximum Duration of Study
For a four (4) year Degree Programme with Diploma Graduate Route - six (6) years is the
maximum duration of study.
For a five (5) year Degree programme with Direct Route - seven (7) years is the maximum
duration of study.
For the purpose of computing the maximum period for a course of study, the years in which a
candidate withdrew from studies with permission shall not be counted.
29
4.1.1.11 Aegrotat Pass
A candidate who has been prevented by illness or injury from presenting himself/herself at any
examination in any paper, course or subject or who considers that his/her performance in any
examination in any paper, course or subject has been seriously impaired by illness or injury may
on application be granted by the Senate an aegrotat pass in such paper, course or subject
provided that:
(a) The illness or injury was reported in writing to the Registrar within one week of the last day
of the examination concerned.
(b) As soon as practicable after the illness is reported, the candidate furnishes the Registrar
with certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating that he/she examined the
candidate medically on a certain date and that in his/her opinion the candidate was unable
to present himself/herself for the examination or that in his/her opinion the candidate’s
performance in the examination was affected by the illness or injury.
(c) The nature of the illness or injury shall be sated in sufficient detail to make it clear that the
candidate was not responsible for his/her disability.
(d) The candidate’s responsible lecturers in the paper, course or subject of the examination in
question provided evidence that his work during the year was well above minimum pass
standard and that in their opinion the candidate was clearly worthy of a pass in that paper,
course or subject; or alternatively that the Senate is satisfied considering the quality of the
candidate’s work during the course of instruction and of the work completed in the current
examination that the candidate is clearly worthy of a pass in the paper, course or subject in
question.
4.1.2 Comment Codes
(e) Clear Pass
Recorded when a student has passed all the courses for which he/she is registered in any
year. The student may continue under the same study programme (i.e Full time/Evening).
The comment is specific to the year and made irrespective or pre-requisites or performance
in previous years.
(f)
Repeat Year
Recorded when a student is required to repeat that year of study as specified by the school
concerned. Awarded Marks to be capped at 50%.
(g) Proceed
Recorded when a student has not passed all the courses for which they have registered, but
are allowed to continue under the same study programme (Full-Time/Evening).
(h) Proceed and Repeat
Recorded when a student has not passed all the courses for which they have registered, but
are allowed to continue under the same study programme on condition that they repeat the
course they have failed in the next academic year. Awarded Marks to be capped at 50%.
(i)
Proceed and Carry
Recorded when a student may proceed to the next level of study but may not register for
courses for which pre-requisites have not been cleared. No Capping.
30
(j)
Part-Time
Recorded when students have to continue on Part-Time. Such a student must contact the
Academic office within two weeks of publication of results to indicate whether or not they
intend to register on part-time. Awarded Marks to be capped at 50%.
(k) Graduate
Graduate with Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours (360 Credits)
(l)
Summa Cum Laude
Magna Cum Laude
Cum Laude
Meritorious
Credit
Pass
Deferred Examination
Recorded when a student has been granted deferred examinations. After the candidate’s
Mitigating Circumstances submission have been accepted. No Capping
(m) Incomplete
Recorded when a student has not completed a course or part of the programme for the
specific year.
(n)
To Full-Time
Recorded when students are still to return to full-time (applicable to previous re-directed
students who have passed two standard courses with C+ or above).
(o)
Exclude School
Recorded by the Board of Examiners when a student has failed to complete the School’s
requirements as laid down by the Senate and therefore cannot complete his/her studies in
the present School.
(p)
Exclude University
Recorded when a student is excluded permanently from further study at the University.
(q)
Withdrawal without Permission
Recorded when a student has left the University without permission.
(r)
Withdrawal with Permission
Recorded when a student has been granted leave of absence from the University for one
academic year or part of an Academic year after successful Mitigating Circumstances
Submission. The student is eligible to re-enter the University in a subsequent year, provided
they fulfil the conditions stipulated when leave was granted, without applying for readmission. A student must inform the Academic Office two months before the opening of the
University in the year in which they intend to register.
(s)
Suspended
Recorded when a student has been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
.
31
(t)
Expelled
Recorded when a student has been permanently expelled from the University for disciplinary
reasons.
(u)
No Examination Taken
Recorded when a student did not sit for final examination in that particular course and in that
particular year.
(v)
Deceased
Recorded when a student has passed away during the Academic year.
(w) Re-Sitting Only
Recorded when a student is allowed to re-sit the examination only and not studying under
any study programme.
(x)
Not Registered
Recorded when a student does not register at the beginning of the Academic year. (This
comment will result in the current Academic year. being entered on the record as the year of
leaving).
(y)
Change School
Permission is given to the student by the Senate to change an academic faculty.
(z)
Re-admit
Recorded when a student has been allowed to register after being away from School.
4.2 Appeals
The University’s regulations set out a number of grounds on which you can ask for a review of
an assessment decision. These include:
•
•
•
illness or some other factor which affected your performance but which you were
unwilling or unable to divulge before the Board of Examiners made its decision;
a material administrative error, the assessments were not conducted in accordance with
the University’s regulations, or some other irregularity;
the decision of the Board of Examiners about the use of unfair means or the consequent
academic action is unreasonably severe.
The grounds do not include questioning the academic judgment of the Board of Examiners.
You can request a review of the Board of Examiners decision by writing to the Secretary to the
Senate or the Registrar, giving reasons and including supporting evidence within 14 days of
publication of the Board of Examiners’ decision.
If you would like advice on the Appeals procedure you may wish to contact your Student
Liaison Officer or the Students Union. The Students Union is situated in the Mingling Centre.
32
4.3 Award of Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours (BEng(Hons))
To be eligible for the award of a Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours (BEng(Hons)) a student
must accumulate the required number of credits within the specified maximum period of learning, i.e. the
normal planned duration plus 2 years.
Note that credits and course marks from Year 1 and Year 2 courses shall not contribute to the Award or
Classification of this Honours Degree.
4.3.1 Direct programme Route
Figure 1 shows the progression route for students who qualify to enter the School of Engineering. The
entry qualification for Engineering is stipulated in the University Policy document as accumulative points.
The students will register through the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences where they will be
required to clear pass Year 1 before entering Year 2 in the School of Engineering.
The normal duration for studies under this programme route is 5 years for Full-Time and 6 years for
Evening.
MEng
(240 Credits)
DIRECT ENTRY
ROUTE
YEAR 1
132 Credits
BEng (Hons)
(360 Credits)
YEAR 2
132 Credits
YEAR 3
120 Credits
YEAR 4
120 Credits
YEAR 5
120 Credits
DIPLOMA GRADUATE
ENTRY ROUTE
Figure 1. Bachelor Degree with Honours progression structure to Masters
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4.3.2 Diploma Graduate programme Route
Figure 1 also shows the progression route for students who have Diplomas and want to upgrade their
qualifications to Honours Degree. Such prospective students will enter the Honours degree progression
route at Year 2.
This is normally a 4 year Full Time and 5 year Evening route that requires students who are Diploma
Graduates (DG) to join the Direct Route Students at Year 2 (Y2) to BEng (Hons) Degree in Engineering.
The overall outcomes will be similar to those in 4.3.3.
4.3.3 Honours Classification
The class of Honours degree shall be decided in accordance with Rule ACM20 given in the summary as
follows:
(i)
HONOURS DEGREE UNDER RULE ACM20 comprises of 360 credits at the end of Year
5; including 120 credits at Year 3, 120 credits at Year 4 and 120 credits at Year 5. After
collecting 360 credits, the student becomes eligible For Honours Degree classification
that is calculated as given below:
BEng (Hons) Degree classification is calculated by taking five (5) full courses at each
Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 to make a total of 15 courses.
Each Course has point Grading of A+ = 5, A = 4, B+ = 3, B = 2, C+ = 1 and C = 0.
The year average point grading is calculated and then multiplied by 3 years to get the
Point Classification given in bands as follows:
GRADE
A+
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
RANGE
≥ 86%
76% - 85%
68% - 75%
62% - 67%
56% - 61%
50% - 55%
40% - 49%
≤39%
CBU GRADE POINT
EQUIVALENT
FULL
HALF
COURSE
COURSE
5
2.5
4
2
3
1.5
2
1
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
CBU HONOURS DEGREE
CLASSIFICATION**
POINT
DEGREE
CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFICATION
71 – 75
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
61 - 70
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
53 – 60
CUM LAUDE
38 – 52.5
MERITORIOUS
23 – 37.5
CREDIT
0 – 22.5
PASS
0
BARE FAIL
0
DEFINITE FAIL
GRADE
DEFINITION
Exceptional Quality
Exceptional Quality
Very Good Quality
Good Quality
Satisfactory Quality
Ordinary Pass
Bare Fail
Definite Fail
Then the CBU Honours Degree Classification is awarded according to the accumulated
Point Classification.
In addition, where a student has achieved an average that falls unequivocally into one
of the following bands of Point Classification: 22.51 – 22.99, 37.51 – 37.99, 52.51 –
52.99; 60.10 – 60.99; 70.10 - 70.99; and a student has achieved marks clearly in an
Honours classification category higher than their average for courses worth at least
120 credits, then a student shall be awarded an Honours degree in the classification
category one higher than that indicated by their average.
34
FIGURE 2. GUIDANCE ON STUDENT STATUS, PROGRESSION DECISIONS AND AWARD
35
4.3.4 Re-assessment Conditions
Preamble
The School Board of Examiners will make recommendations on the re-assessment and progression of
students and on eligibility for interim and final awards. In making recommendations and decisions about
re-assessment the following regulations will apply. The various forms of re-assessment and the
conditions under which they are normally applied are outlined below :
4.3.4.1 Final Awards: Degree with Honours
(i)
Students who do not satisfy the School Board of Examiners that they have passed the
required courses to be eligible for the award of Honours Degree, may at the Board’s
discretion, be reassessed in course(s) at Year 5 in which unsatisfactory performance has
been recorded. The re-assessment of any course(s) (or its specific assessment
components) must take place within two years of the original assessment. A maximum of
50% marks will be awarded to any re-assessed component of assessment within a
course.
(ii)
Normally, following an initial unsatisfactory performance in a course, a Board of
Examiners may decide that a student be referred in that course, to be reassessed in the
specific assessment(s) in which unsatisfactory performance has been recorded.
(iii)
Alternatively, where a student's unsatisfactory performance is deemed to warrant it an
Assessment Board may decide on one or more of the following courses of action:
that the student must re-sit Only all of the assessment(s) for any or all of the
assessed courses at Year 5 which contribute to the final award within a specified
period and with the limitation of obtaining the maximum of Meritorious Degree
Classification where applicable;
that the student must repeat any or all of the courses up to a maximum of 48
credits at Year 5 and their assessments within a specified period, with attendance,
and with the limitation of obtaining the maximum of Meritorious Degree Classification
where applicable;
that the student must be deferred in any or all the courses at Year 5 upon the
acceptance of mitigating circumstance submission. The assessment must be
completed within a specified period and with no capping in the final classification.
(iv)
Where a student has not satisfied a Board of Examiners in their initial re-assessment for
any deferred, re-sit only or repeated course(s), a Board at its discretion may decide to
permit a final reassessment opportunity within the following limits: deferred courses may
be subject to a final refer or repeat decision; re-sit only and repeated courses may be
subject to a final refer decision. The class of Honours which may be obtained will be
limited to a maximum of Merit, where applicable.
(v)
Where an Honours Degree student has not satisfied the School Board of Examiners in
his/her final re-assessment opportunity, the examboard may decide that the student must
fail the course(s) and move to Part-Time. Where substitution of the failed course(s) to
aegrotat is not possible, the student must fail and be excluded from school.
(vi)
Where an Honours Degree student has not accumulated 360 credits according to 4.3.3
and is subject to a finish decision, The School Board of Examiners may decide to
recommend that the student be assessed under 4.3.4.1 (v).
36
4.3.5 Viva Voce Assessment
External examiners have the right to examine any candidate by viva voce in addition to the
assessments specified in the programme regulations. The viva voce may be used:
(i)
to determine difficult or borderline cases, such additional assessment being used only to
raise and not to lower a candidate's marks;
(ii)
as an alternative or additional assessment where valid reasons for poor performance
have been established.
37
5.0 MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
(Detailed guidance and procedures are published separately)
5.1 Mitigating circumstances will consist of those personal difficulties which cause exceptional
interference with academic performance and which are over and above the normal
difficulties experienced in life. They will be submitted by a student, supported by acceptable
documentary evidence, and may be taken into account by Assessment Boards in
determining the progression of students, the recommending of awards and the
classification of qualifications.
5.2
No student shall be put in a position of unfair advantage over other students; the aim is to
enable all students to be assessed on equal terms.
5.3. All work submitted by students for assessment shall be marked and graded on its merits
without consideration of any mitigating circumstances known to the marker.
5.4 Mitigating circumstances will not be used by the Departmental/School Board of Examiners to
alter students’ marks and/or grades.
5.5 Students must submit mitigating circumstances according to the separate written procedures
and by the deadlines given therein.
5.6 Mitigating circumstances judged to be acceptable by Mitigating Circumstances Panels will
be considered by Board of Examiners under the following circumstances and according to
University and programme regulations:
5.6.1 In determining whether a student may progress to the next stage of their
programme.
5.6.2 In determining whether a student may be offered an award, whether aegrotat or
otherwise.
5.6.3 In determining the classification of a student’s award where the student is
borderline and/or there are conflicting classifications in the profile of the students maths
and grades.
5.6.4 In determining whether a student’s assessment should be deferred to a subsequent
occasion as if for the first time and without penalty.
5.7 Normally, mitigating circumstances will not be taken into account where the circumstances
have already been allowed for (for example by virtue of special assessment arrangements).
Special assessment arrangements should be pre-arranged in cases of known disability and
in all cases should be agreed before any examination period begins.
5.8 Mitigating circumstances submitted beyond the specified deadline should normally only be
considered if the student was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to submit them prior to
the deadline.
5.9
Mitigating circumstances will be scrutinized by the Mitigating Circumstances Panel, noting
the documentary evidence submitted, and a summary of accepted cases made available to
the School Board of Examiners. Access to the original evidence is restricted to the Chair,
Secretary and External Examiners unless the student declares otherwise.
5.10 Only mitigating circumstances submitted directly by the student according to the procedures
will be recorded and considered by the Mitigating Circumstances Panel and, if accepted,
passed to the Board Examiners. Lecturers and other staff should advise students
accordingly.
38
5.11 The School Board of Examiners will consider a student’s full profile of mitigating
circumstances as relevant to the stage in question and which have not previously been taken
into consideration. Original evidence should be available for inspection by the Chair and
External Examiners if they so desire.
5.12 A note should be made in the minutes of the School Board of Examiners and a record
included for entry onto the student record system of the Board’s consideration of mitigating
circumstances and of the outcome of that consideration.
5.13 The key factors to be taken into account by the School Board of Examiners will be:
5.13.1 Whether acceptable documentary evidence has been submitted.
5.13.2 Whether the student has performed unexpectedly poorly in a given course(s).
5.13.3 Whether there is a significant difference between the student’s performance in the
period in question and their previous or later performance.
5.13.4 Whether poor performance correlates with the evidence provided.
5.14 Possible outcomes of the School Board of Examiners’ consideration include:
5.14.1 Whether, where it is not possible because of the severity of the mitigating
circumstances for the student to undertake further assessment, an aegrotat award
may be offered under the regulations in appropriate course.
5.14.2 Whether the School Board of Examiners has sufficient evidence of a
student’s performance to be able to permit their progression to the next stage of a
programme or to make an award (classified as appropriate), as permitted under
the regulations.
5.14.3 Whether a student may be deferred in the assessments found to be
affected by mitigating circumstances and assessed on a subsequent occasion as
if for the first time and without penalty.
5.14.4 Whether, from the evidence available and on the balance of probabilities,
there has in the School Board of Examiners’ judgment been no material adverse
impact on a student’s performance, in which case the original mark(s) and/or
grade(s) should be confirmed and a progression or award decision made
accordingly.