Departmental
handbook
checklist
Key:



2013/14
Sections in orange are new/updated sections to the handbook.
Sections highlighted in yellow are areas with new/updated policy.
Sections in red font are sections that need the departments to add in their own policy.
This departmental handbook checklist is
maintained by the Academic Standards and
Partnerships Office.
No.
Item
UG
PG
Caveat
- A reminder about inadvertent
1
inaccuracies
and
that
University
documents
take
precedence
over
departmental documents
1
University of Essex Student Charter
Y
Y
Y
Option
students
Y
Y
Central text
Our Student Charter has been jointly developed by the University of Essex and the
University of Essex Students’ Union, as part of our ongoing commitment to create an
outstanding environment that offers the highest standards of teaching, research and
support in an international and multi-cultural community. To achieve this, and to
define the responsibilities and expectations of all members of this community, our
Student Charter states clear expectations for our students, from application through
to graduation and membership of our Essex alumni. This Student Charter represents
our commitment to developing a stimulating, diverse and safe environment for your
student experience.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/about/essex_student_charter/
Departmental Information
2
Welcome from the Head of Department
3
4
5
6
7
Y
Y
Y
Location and opening hours for
departmental general office(s), and
facilities for students inc location of
departmental common room, pigeon
holes and noticeboards
Y
Y
Y
Regulations for student use of
departmental (e.g. photocopying) facilities
Y
Y
Departmental web address
Y
Y
Details of departmental seminars, prizes,
societies, journals, etc.
Y
Y
Details of departmental policy on
communicating information to students
(e.g. via e-mail / notice-boards /
departmental or University pigeon holes,
etc.)
Y
Y
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Y
No.
8
9
Item
UG
PG
Calendar of year's main events in the
department (with details e.g. of StudentStaff Liaison Committee/Exam Board
meetings, reading weeks, etc.)
Y
Y
Departmental safety information (as
applicable. To include COSHH Risk
Assessment information.)
Y
Y
Y
Y
List of names of all academic, technical
and secretarial staff including details of
their office number, telephone number, email address and any administrative
functions they fulfil, departmental fax
number(s)
Y
Y
Details of how to contact staff (e.g. how to
find out their office hours, and how to
contact staff outside office hours or in
vacations)
Y
Y
Staff Information
10
Departmental management structure
(name and role of head of department,
director of undergraduate studies, degree
course directors etc.)
11
12
13
14
Details of who to contact regarding
specific queries/problems within the
department
Departmental practice in relation to
requesting references from staff.
Note Procedure:
http://www.essex.ac.uk/minute/apd/20032004/AppS04/Appendices.htm#appA
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Option
students
Y
Y
Y
Y
Central text
No.
15
Item
UG
PG
Option
students
Brief staff biographies with research
interests
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Central text
Student Support
16
Central text about service and disability
and details of departmental advising
system
Support services for students
The University has a co-ordinated network of support services designed to help students achieve their full potential and
get the most out of their studies. These are an important part of the overall student experience at the University of Essex.
Support services aim to be accessible and responsive to students’ needs. Detailed information on the wide range of
student support provision on offer, including contact information, can be found on the web pages:
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/ or www.essex.ac.uk/support/
If details of specific central support services, such as Student Support, Residents’ Support Network, Counselling,
Nightline, SU Advice Centre are included in departmental handbook, please take text from
www.essex.ac.uk/support
Support within the Department/School
<insert details of departmental support arrangements/ adviser system >
Disabled Students
If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty or long term medical condition we encourage you to tell the Disability
Team in Student Support so that individual arrangements can be made.
You can drop-in during Student Support opening hours or email disab(@essex.ac.uk)
Contact details for Student Support on all campuses is on the web: www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/contact/details
You can find out more on the Student Support Disability and Dyslexia web pages at:
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/disab/home.shtm
The department has a Departmental Disability Liaison Officer (DDLO). Their details and more about the role are available
at: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/disab/ddlo.shtm
International students
Student Support also provides international students with information and advice on living and working in the UK and
arranges some social events. Visit our website for more information: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/intstuds/intintro.shtm
The Students' Union provides additional support networks for you as an international student and has information on their
website: http://www.essexstudent.com/
UK Immigration
Immigration advice and services are regulated in the UK. Student Support and the Students’ Union Advice Centre at the
Colchester Campus have trained, experienced advisers who are authorised to give UK immigration advice to University of
Essex students. More information is available on our website: http://www.essex.ac.uk/immigration/
If you are a citizen of a country that is not part of the European Economic Area or Switzerland it is likely that you will
require a visa to enter or remain in the UK to study. The type of visa you need to apply for will depend on your personal
circumstances, proposed study and where you are applying from. Tier 4 is the tier of the Points Based Immigration
System that applies to those wishing to come to the UK from outside the European Economic Area to study. Tier 4
replaced the old student immigration rules on the 31 March 2009. It is very important that you make yourself aware of the
requirements for obtaining and maintaining a Tier 4 visa and keep up to date with any changes to the Immigration Rules
and Policy Guidance. See our website for further information: http://www.essex.ac.uk/immigration
17
Information on the arrangements for
students offered a resit examination to
seek support (ASC.M.517/00)
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Y
Student Feedback Mechanisms
18
Details of the number of Student Staff
Liaison Committees in the department
(e.g. are there separate ones for
graduates/undergraduates?), their nature
and function and when they meet, and
procedures for electing student reps. In
completing this the department should
take due regard of the Student
Representative Policy (please see
weblink below for revised policy which
was updated in May 2013)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Details of arrangements for eliciting
student feedback on departmental
modules and other aspects of the
Department (e.g. end-of-year
questionnaire, etc.)
Y
Y
Details of where students can find
information about departmental action
taken in response to
SSS/NSS/SSLC/SAMT/PTES
Y
Y
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/studen
t_representation/Default.asp
19
Details of student representation at
departmental meetings and on
departmental committees. Please note
the new Student Staff liaison
Committee. See link for details
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/student
_representation/sslc.asp
20
21
Learning and Teaching
22
Details of departmental procedures for
monitoring progress for outside options or
first-year students
23
List of degree courses taught by the
Department (including joint courses)
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Y
Y
24
25
26
27
28
29
29
Aims and objectives of departmental
modules and degree courses
Y
Y
Y
Details of skills expected to be acquired
by students, and professional
accreditation (where relevant)
Y
Y
Y
Summary outline of syllabuses for all
departmental single/joint degree/dual
award courses
Y
List of all undergraduate departmental
modules in the current year and details of
pre and co-requisites for each module
and where to obtain timetable information
Y
Details of credit accumulation/transfer,
accredited prior learning, and accredited
prior experiential learning (where
applicable)
Y
Y
Programme Specifications and
information about where to find module
maps (NB module maps are not part of
the online programme specification
database at present and need to be
provided to students in hard copy and/or
via the department online resources)
Y
Y
Details of departmental module enrolment
procedures and University procedures
Y
Y
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
30
Details of procedures for changing
modules/degree courses
Y
Y
Please see the link
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs
/regs/reg.shtm
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs
/regs/higher.shtm#4.29
31
32
33
Departmental arrangements for year
abroad
Y
Information about Study Abroad
opportunities (advice on text available
from the Study Abroad Office)
Y
Y
Departmental policy on recording
lectures/classes
Y
Y
Y
University policy on personal recording of
teaching event, supervisory meeting , oral
examination or other formal meeting or
committee.
Y
Y
Y
Outline of different methods of teaching
employed in the department and their
objectives (e.g. the nature and function of
classes/lectures etc, and tutorials and
laboratory practical where applicable).
Y
Y
Y
http://listenagain.essex.ac.uk/
34
35
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Academic Conduct:
A student may not make a personal recording of a teaching event, supervisory
meeting, oral examination or other formal meeting or committee which considers the
student’s academic progress or performance without the permission of all other
individuals present. If this permission is granted, the recording may be made for the
personal use of the student only, in support of their studies and learning. The
recording must not be made publicly available or shared for other purposes without
the consent of those present. Disabled students who have difficulty with note-taking
are encouraged to contact Student Support for further information on when recording
is permissible and other access strategies.
36
What students in the department
can/can't expect of their teachers and
what departmental staff expect of their
students
Y
Y
Y
Assessment
37
38
Rules of Assessment
UG – annex 1 including relevant weblink
Please take care to note changes to the
Rules of Assessment which might apply
to students in various stages of their
course.
PG – annex 2 including relevant weblink
Details of departmental methods of
assessment, their aims and objectives.
This must be in line with University policy,
as detailed at
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/university_
policies/default.asp#Exams_and_assess
ment
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
For departments with 4-year degree courses the handbook should also indicate
which model the course belongs to.
Y
Y
Y
39
A rationale for the department’s approach
to marking including whether or not a
system of anonymous marking operates
within the department.
(slight change to the wording in the
central text)
Y
Y
Please select the appropriate template For Departments with regards to anonymous marking
Operating anonymous marking
Rationale
This Department operates a system of anonymous marking. Anonymous marking is the ‘marking of
students’ submitted work without their identity being revealed to the person carrying out the marking at the
time the work is marked, so that the assessment is unbiased.’ (www.qaa.ac.uk) Anonymity helps to ensure
that conscious or unconscious prejudice does not affect marks, and that each piece of work will be judged
on its merits and not in relation to the marker’s other impressions of the student. Anonymity should not
prevent students discussing work they have done with their teachers, although systems for permitting this
may vary depending on the nature of the exercise and other factors’.
How the system operates (please adapt for departmental procedure)
You will have been allocated a 4 digit student number at the beginning of the academic year. This number
(your anonymous student number), is different from your student registration number, which is retained
throughout your degree, and is to be used for the submission of all coursework. It is important that this
number is kept confidential.
Students should submit all coursework by using the on-line submission of coursework system. Students
should then print a watermarked hard copy, which is to be submitted to the Departmental office for
marking. The coversheet and essay will contain your anonymous student number. You will need to bring
your student number with you when collecting your essay.
 The front cover of the coursework must have the following information:

Title of Essay

Name of degree scheme

Academic year

Anonymous student number ONLY (no name) should be indicated on the essay coversheet

Any additional forms (student support coversheets / extenuating lateness forms etc) should
contain your student number only, and not your name.
Students with Student Support coversheets should advise Student Support that the work is to be handed
into a Department that operates anonymised marking of coursework. Student Support will issue you with a
coversheet with your anonymous student number on.
Should you require more detailed feedback on essays submitted please contact Departmental
administrative staff, who will send the essay back to the marker requesting more detailed feedback.
Not operating anonymous marking
Rationale (please adapt for departmental procedure)
This Department does not operate a system of anonymous marking. The main reason for not adopting
anonymised marking of coursework is that the department believes that marking provides an important
point of contact with the student, through which individualised and personal forms of encouragement and
involvement can be fostered. The Department believes that the quality of formative feedback is enhanced
when the marker knows the student, and current work can be seen in the context of earlier assignments
and classroom interactions. The comments we provide in coursework seek to encourage some students
that they have done well and other students that they could do better. The Department takes great care to
mark fairly and effectively and we feel strongly that our ability to do this is improved through knowing our
students.
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
40
Details of departmental deadlines for
coursework assignments and when
marked work will be available for
collection.
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Note a policy to publish the date marked
work will be available was approved by
Senate in June 2011 (based on University
policy to provide feedback on assessed
work within four weeks).
See:
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/univer
sity_policies/default.asp#Exams_and_
assessment
41
Details of departmental marking scale,
and criteria for the award of marks,
taking regard of University policy that a
formal marking schedule or marking
criteria will be available for all
examinations and coursework beyond
level 4, which indicates the requirements
to achieve each grade classification.
Please be aware of the new marking
policy that has just gone through
Senate 2013
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/universi
ty_policies/examination_and_assessm
ent/marking_policy/default.asp
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
42
Outline of University regulations in
relation to academic offences (with,
where appropriate, a note on departmentspecific problems or practices)
Y
Y
Academic Offences
One of the most serious of all academic offences is to make it seem that the work of others is your own.
This, and any other form of academic offence, is taken very seriously by the University and the penalties
are severe. For example, this can mean receiving a mark of zero for a piece of work, or in certain
circumstances being required to withdraw from the University. In the case of many Masters degrees, the
rules of assessment are such that a mark of zero on a single assignment means that you will fail the
degree. Therefore it is not in your interest to commit an academic offence in any of your submitted work or
in any test or in any examination.
Students are required to reference their sources properly, and failure to do so can lead to an allegation of
an academic offence. When submitting any piece of work (e.g. essay, report, dissertation, or thesis) you
will be required to acknowledge any assistance received or any use of the work of others.
What do we mean by an academic offence in examinations and coursework? An academic offence in
examinations includes copying the work of another student or communicating with another student in an
examination; and introducing any written, printed or electronically stored information into an examination,
other than material expressly permitted in the instructions for that examination.
An academic offence in coursework includes using the work of others (whether written, printed or some
other form) without acknowledgement, whether this has been the result of negligence or of intention to
deceive. It is therefore very important that you learn how to reference your work properly, and that you
familiarise yourself with your departmental guidelines on referencing. If, after having read the guidelines,
you are still unclear about referencing, you must talk to your tutor before you submit your assignment.
Ignorance of the regulations will not be accepted as a defence against an allegation of an academic
offence or negligence in referencing.
You may also be accused of an academic offence if you repeat work previously submitted for an assessed
assignment without full acknowledgement of the extent to which that previous work has been used; in
other words, if you hand in the same or a very similar essay to one that you have already submitted.
You should note that it is also an offence for a student knowingly to assist another student to commit an
academic offence, whether in an examination, or in any other piece of work. Sometimes students who
have been working together end up submitting almost identical work and are accused of an academic
offence. While we do not want to dissuade you from working with or discussing your work with another
student, you must be careful that you do not collaborate too closely, and it would be wise to seek advice
from your tutors on the limits of collaboration before you submit your work.
Details of the University's Regulations relating to these and other academic offences and the procedure for
dealing with allegations of academic offences are published in the University Regulations, Policies and
Procedures booklet and can be found on the University web site at
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs/regs/offpro.shtm Further guidance on how you can avoid
plagiarism is also available online at www.essex.ac.uk/plagiarism and includes definitions of plagiarism,
an online test and some common mistakes.
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
43
Details of University procedures relating
to extenuating circumstances
Y
Y
University procedures relating to extenuating circumstances for
performance
Extenuating circumstances are formally defined as “circumstances beyond
the student’s control which cause the student to perform less well in his or
her coursework or examinations than he or she might otherwise have been
expected to do (on the basis of other work). In general, extenuating
circumstances will be of a medical or personal nature affecting the student
for any significant period of time and/or during the examination period.”
Boards of Examiners will consider extenuating circumstances ONLY if they
are reported in advance of the examiners’ meeting. Students who wish to
report extenuating circumstances must complete an Extenuating
Circumstances Form (see links below). There are guidelines to accompany
the extenuating circumstances form and these explain what kind of
documentation you need to support your claim. The form must be returned to
the Registry by the published deadline. Students who do not submit a form in
advance will not be able to appeal against the decision of a Board of
Examiners or Examinations Committee on grounds of extenuating
circumstances later.
Students needing any advice about the reporting of problems should see a
member of departmental staff involved in student support, or contact Registry
or the Student Support Office.
The Guidelines for reporting extenuating circumstances and extenuating
circumstances forms are available on the University web site at
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/extenug.html for undergraduate
students and http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/extenpg.htm for
postgraduate students.
University procedures relating to extenuating circumstances for late
submission of coursework
Separate guidelines are available for undergraduates regarding claiming
extenuating circumstances for late submission of coursework. These are
available
via
the
Registry
webpages.
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/crswk_pol.htm
Guidelines for postgraduates regarding claiming extenuating circumstances
for departments who operate a marks penalty, for late submission of
coursework
are
available
via
the
Registry
webpages.
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/crswk_polPG.htm
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
44
University policy on marks penalties for
UG students.
Y
Y
Y
For UG students only
Course Deadline Policy
There is a single policy at the University of Essex for the late submission of
coursework in Undergraduate courses: All coursework submitted after the deadline
will receive a mark of zero. No extensions will be granted. A student submitting
coursework late will have the University’s and department’s arrangements for late
submission drawn to their attention.
The policy states that the mark of zero shall stand unless you submit satisfactory
evidence of extenuating circumstances that indicate that you were unable to submit
the work by the deadline. More information about extenuating circumstances relating
to late submission of coursework is available via the Registry webpages at the
following URL http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/crswk_pol.htm
For PG students only
Insert details of departmental policy on late submission (PGT only). New procedure
from July 2010.
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/crswk_polPG.htm
45
Departmental mechanism for submitting
assignments & collecting them when
marked
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Y
Y
46
Departmental arrangements for students
to hand back coursework at the end of the
year so that it can be made available to
external examiners
Y
Y
Y
<insert departmental policy>
Who and what are external examiners?
External examiners are part of the Quality Assurance process for Universities.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions,
but may be from industry, business or the profession depending what is appropriate
for the course. External Examiners come to give an impartial view of the course and
independent advice. Some of the areas External Examiners will look at include
whether:
 the programme meets its stated aims
 the assessments and types of assessment in modules are appropriate and of
comparable standard to other institutions
 the marking has been applied fairly on assignments and the marking
scheme/grading criteria have been properly and consistently applied
 The assessment process complies with the University of Essex Rules of
Assessment
 The curriculum remains current.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) review institutions
approximately every 6 years. The QAA have created the UK Quality Code, which
providers of UK higher education are required to meet. Part of the code addresses
external examining. The QAA require all institutions to publish External Examiner
names, their position and the institution they come from to all students. You can see
External Examiner names on the module descriptors. External Examiner reports will
also be discussed in detail at the Staff Student Liaison meeting, so if you want more
information on their reports talk to your course rep or speak to your head of
department.
External Examiners are in place to make an independent overview of processes,
please do not contact them directly. If you have any concerns please Academic
Standards and Partnerships at academicstandards@essex.ac.uk
47
Statement about extent of feedback to be
given to students on coursework including
how to request a meeting to discuss
feedback.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/universi
ty_policies/examination_and_assessm
ent/assessment_feedback.asp
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Y
Y
48
49
50
51
52
Departmental procedures for challenging
a disputed coursework mark. Please note
the marking policy approved by Senate
2013
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/universi
ty_policies/examination_and_assessm
ent/marking_policy/default.asp
Y
Y
Y
Departmental guidelines on writing
assignments
Y
Y
Y
Departmental guidelines on dissertations
(e.g. supervisory arrangements for
Masters students, advice, deadlines,
penalties)
Y
Y
Y
Details of departmental examination
arrangements, advice on preparing for
exams and on sources of help with exams
in the Department and University
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Departmental arrangements for providing
access to examination scripts/ access to
a copy (or a summary) of the examiners’
comments including marks for individual
questions.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/university_
policies/default.asp#Exams_and_assess
ment
53
Details of departmental code of ethics
and information about the University’s
Fitness for Practice policies (where
relevant). Departments where Fitness to
Practice is relevant should also include
information about departmental
procedures relating to their Professional
Suitability Group.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/Document
s/University_policies/fitness_to_practice.p
df
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
54
55
Tips on essay-writing and referencing
A statement about the circumstances in
which scaling of marks for an examination
paper and coursework may be used
(where applicable), which must be in line
with University policy that a run of
apparently aberrant marks should never
form the basis for a decision to scale
without reconsideration of all affected
candidates’ work.
Y
Y
Y
Y
Departmental decisions on scaled marks
must be taken in advance of all relevant
meetings of Boards of Examiners.
(Particular care should be exercised in
respect of joint schemes to ensure that
scaling is applied equally to all students
on a particular module).
56
57
Departmental Guidelines on the
preparation of a thesis
Y
Departmental arrangements relating to
the appointment of GTAs and
Demonstrators
Y
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs/re
gs/gstudents.shtm
Careers and opportunities
58
Departmental careers guidelines (and
how they match departmental objectives)
Y
Y
Name of link person in the Department
and in the Careers Centre
Y
Y
Details of opportunities for postgraduate
work in the Department
Y
Y
Details of postgraduate degree course
opportunities at the University
Y
http://www.essex.ac.uk/careers/
59
60
61
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
Y
Annex 1
Rules of Assessment – Central Text for UG Student Handbooks
Undergraduate Rules of Assessment
The Undergraduate Rules of Assessment apply to all students across the University. Rules of
Assessment are used to determine whether you can progress from one year of study/stage to the
next, and also your degree classification in your final year of study.
The rules of assessment and frequently asked questions are published here:
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/rules.htm
Your first-year results do not affect your degree classification, which is based on second and finalyear results. If you are studying on a four-year course with a year abroad, the marks from the study
abroad year should only be used to improve your degree classification. Calculation of degree
classification at the Final Year Examination Board will therefore be undertaken both with and without
the study abroad year, and the highest classification result will be the one awarded.
The Rules of Assessment permit a limited amount of condoning of failed credits, where students are
allowed to proceed to the next stage or complete their degree with failed credits. There are a
maximum number of credits that can be condoned and ‘core’ modules cannot be condoned. You
should see the Programme Specification for your course to see which modules are ‘core’, and refer to
the Rules of Assessment for your course for any specific requirements. All modules within your
course are assigned the one of the following statuses:
o Core – must be taken and must be passed;
o Compulsory – must be taken, but some condonement of fails may be possible;
o Optional – you have a choice of which module to take from a designated list. Some
condonement of fails may be possible.
You can view Programme Specifications online at http://www.essex.ac.uk/programmespecs/ and the
relevant Programme Specification for your course and stage of study will be available to you when
you log onto either myEssex or eNROL.
University of Essex awards are subject to a maximum period of study, within which an award must be
achieved. The maximum period of study is set from the date when a student is first admitted to an
undergraduate programme and changes of course, repeat years and periods of intermission are
normally included within the maximum period. Transfers of programme are still included in the original
maximum period unless they involve moving to or from a 4-year course. Full details of the maximum
period of study permitted for University awards can be found in the section of the Rules of
Assessment entitled, ‘Framework for University of Essex courses’.
Departments to add specific information which they wish to draw to students’ attention to coursebased variations
Exit awards
If you are unsuccessful in achieving the number of credits required for the qualification for which you
are registered, the Board of Examiners will consider whether you have sufficient credits to be
awarded a lower award.
If you need further information, please see your - (departmental detail, e,g, Department Administrator
or Undergraduate Administrator, or talk to your Course Director)
Please note - Department Administrators please check with your Faculty Administrator when altering
the suggested text.
Study by Credit Accumulation Undergraduate [to be used by departments who offer this method of
study]
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
The study of individual modules over a period of time, in which the credits obtained are accumulated
and used towards approved university award in a manner that differs from full-time and part-time
awards. Please insert contact details for department, professional accreditation, Maximum period of
study and any variations to rules of assessment.
Annex 2
Rules of Assessment – Central Text for PG Student Handbooks
Postgraduate Rules of Assessment
The Postgraduate Rules of Assessment cover Masters degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas,
Postgraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates. Rules of Assessment are
used to determine the award of credit for each module and the overall award of the qualification.
The full Rules of Assessment and frequently asked questions are published at
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/pgtrulesmenu.htm
You should ensure that you are familiar with the Rules of Assessment for the course you are studying.
In some cases, Senate has approved variations to the standard University Rules for specific courses.
The standard number of credits for postgraduate/graduate courses is as follows:
o
o
o
o
Masters degree: 180 credits
Diploma: 120 credits
Certificate: 60 credits
Integrated Masters degree: 480 credits (includes 120 credits at masters’ level)
Masters Degrees, PG Diplomas and PG Certs
The pass mark for all postgraduate modules is 50 per cent. Credit is awarded for passing the module
and a certain amount of credit must be achieved for you to be awarded the qualification
(degree/diploma/certificate). The Rules of Assessment are also used to determine the award of
Masters degrees with Distinction and Merit.
The rules provide limited opportunity for second attempts (resits/resubmissions) at failed modules:
there are a maximum number of credits that can be reassessed. If you are successful at the second
attempt your mark will be capped at the pass mark (50). The Rules of Assessment also permit a
limited amount of condoning of failed credits: there are a maximum number of credits that can be
condoned; you must achieve a module mark of at least 40; and an overall weighted average of 50 per
cent for the taught modules. ‘Core’ modules cannot be condoned. You should see the Programme
Specification for your course to see which modules are ‘core’.
All modules within your course are assigned the one of the following statuses:
o Core – must be taken and must be passed;
o Compulsory – must be taken, but some condonement of fails may be possible;
o Optional – you have a choice of which module to take from a designated list. Some
condonement of fails may be possible.
You can view Programme Specifications online at http://www.essex.ac.uk/programmespecs/ and the
relevant Programme Specification for your course and stage of study will be available to you when
you log onto either myEssex or eNROL.
Graduate Diplomas and Certificates
To be used for the academic year 2013/14
The pass mark for all graduate modules is 40 per cent. There are opportunities for second attempts
and the condonement of failed credits as described above. For Graduate diplomas and certificates,
you must achieve a module mark of at least 35; and an overall weighted average of 40 per cent for
taught modules.
The full Rules of Assessment are published at
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/pgtrulesmenu.htm
Exit awards
If you are unsuccessful in achieving the number of credits required for the qualification for which you
are registered, the Board of Examiners will consider whether you have sufficient credits to be
awarded a lower award.
If you need further information, please see your - (departmental detail, e,g, Department Administrator,
or talk to your Course Director)
Please note - Department Administrators please check with your Faculty Administrator when altering
the suggested text.
Study by Credit Accumulation [to be used by departments who offer this method of study]
It is also possible to achieve postgraduate awards via credit accumulation study, where you register
on one or more stand-alone credit-bearing modules, and accumulate academic credit. Academic
credit is awarded upon successful completion of each module. If you have been admitted to one or
more individual modules, you may decide to use the credit towards a postgraduate award, such as a
Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters. You could apply to register for the
award provided the relevant set of modules for the award had been taken.
The maximum period for completion of studies using credit accumulation is six years (normally five
years to complete all taught elements and a further one year to complete the dissertation (or
equivalent)). The maximum period of study would be measured from the point at which you first
registered for a module that contributed to the award.
Further information about study by credit accumulation can be found at
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/accumulation.htm
To be used for the academic year 2013/14