Academic Secretariat
UCD Registry
I want to request a Derogation
Academic Regulations governing all programmes offered by the University may be accessed at
http://www.ucd.ie/registry/academicsecretariat/docs/academic_r.pdf.
Curriculum design and development: UCD Teaching and Learning provide resources and support for curriculum
development and design (see http://www.ucd.ie/teaching/resources/programmedesigndevelopment/).
Derogation requests must first be approved by the relevant Programme/Graduate School Board before submission for
University Programme Board approval.
1. I want to request a
derogation
4. University Approval
(UUPB/UGPB)
NOTE: Submit to
Academic Secretariat by
the deadline
2. Is it a Module
Derogation or
Programme
Derogation?
3. Local Approval
Relevant Programme
Board or Graduate Board
For further support in
identifying and requesting a
derogation, contact:
programmes@ucd.ie
1. You will need a derogation if the module or programme contains
characteristics that differ from the norm set down by the Academic
Regulations.
2. Derogations can be requested for Modules and Programmes. Types of
derogation might include Irregular Credit Value or No Elective Places. If
you think you need a derogation for your module or programme, please
scroll down for more information.
3. The derogation request must be submitted on the relevant form (C1,
C2 or C3) and then approved by your Programme/Graduate School
Board.
4. Derogation requests are submitted to Academic Secretariat for
consideration by the University Undergraduate Programmes Board
(UUPB) or University Graduate Programmes Board (UGPB).
5. Academic Secretariat will communicate the decisions of the University
Boards.
5. Communicating
University Committee
decisions
6. Recording approved
derogations on CMS
6 Approved derogations are recorded on the Curriculum Management
System. Where UUPB/UGPB raises queries regarding a request or
where a request is not approved, Academic Secretariat will contact
the relevant Programme or Graduate Board following the meeting.
Derogations – Approval Process and Implementation
Academic Secretariat
UCD Registry
To seek approval for a derogation, you will need to complete the relevant form (see below ), provide a full academic rationale for the request
and submit it to your Programme Board/Graduate School Board.
Having received Programme Board/Graduate School Board approval, the form is submitted to Academic Secretariat for the consideration of
UUPB or UGPB. Derogation requests relating to modules or programmes which are at undergraduate level (modules at UCD level 0-4 and
programmes at NFQ level 7-8) will be considered by the UUPB. Derogation requests relating to modules or programmes which are at
graduate level (modules at UCD level 4 or above and programmes at NFQ level 9-10) will be considered by the UGPB.
When derogation requests are approved by UUPB/UGPB:
Academic Secretariat will contact the relevant Programme or Graduate Board to inform them that the request has been approved. Approved
derogations are recorded in the Curriculum Management System and they can be viewed via Infoview reports CMS007 (by module), CMS013
(by major) and CMS014 (by programme).
When derogation requests are not approved by UUPB/UGPB:
Academic Secretariat will contact the relevant Programme or Graduate Board to inform them of the outcome and provide them with
feedback from UUPB/UGPB.
For all queries regarding derogations, please contact: programmes@ucd.ie
Relevant forms (these are available online at http://www.ucd.ie/registry/academicsecretariat/progsd.htm)
• C.1 Module Derogation Request Form
• C.2 Programme Derogation Request Form
• C.3 Remove/Change a Derogation Form
The following pages provide information on the different types of module and programme derogation at both undergraduate and graduate
level.
Undergraduate Module Derogations
Issue
Derogation required
Academic Regulation
Credit value of module is greater than 5 ECTS
credits.
Irregular Credit Value
Reg 1.3 An undergraduate module size of 5 ECTS credits is standard across the
University.
The module will take place outside either the
Autumn or Spring semester.
Year Long Module
OR
Module Outside Semester
OR
Module in Summer term
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will normally be based on two
teaching semesters (Autumn and Spring) per academic session. The teaching,
learning and assessment activities associated with a module will normally be
completed during one formal semester.
No electives places are available
No Elective Places
Reg 3.9.4 All undergraduate modules must offer a number of elective places to
students from programmes other than the programme(s) for which the module
may be core.
The end-of-semester written assessment
is longer than 2 hours
Assessment – Irregular Length
Reg 4.3 The maximum duration of a formal end-of semester written examination
for a module of less than 10 ECTS is 2 hours. The maximum duration of a formal
end-of semester written examination for a module of 10 ECTS credits or greater is
3 hours.
Component(s) in my module must be
passed separately
Must Pass Components
Reg 4.7 Where different components of assessment within a module (coursework,
continuous assessment and final assessment) contribute to the final grade, the
module will not normally require that any one of these components must be
passed separately.
The module must be passed (i.e. cannot
be compensated)
Not Passable by Compensation
Reg 5.7 Compensation will apply within all stages of UCD undergraduate and
graduate taught programmes.
The assessment will take place after the
Programme Examination Board.
Assessment – Irregular Timing
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will normally be based on two
teaching semesters (Autumn and Spring) per academic session. The teaching,
learning and assessment activities associated with a module will normally be
completed during one formal semester.
and
4.1 Assessments for a module should be completed during or as soon as
practicable after completion of the module.
and
5.9 Resit assessments may be offered during an autumn examination period only
in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the relevant University
Programme Board.
Undergraduate Programme Derogations
Issue
Derogation required
Academic Regulation
Programme is greater than 60 ECTS credits
per annum.
Irregular Student Workload
Reg 2.3.1 The normal workload for a full-time
undergraduate student will be 60 ECTS credits in a standard
two-semester academic session.
Programme to have restricted or no elective
places made available OR an elective pattern
that differs from the norm.
Alternative Elective Provision
Reg 3.9.4 The University requires that each undergraduate
bachelors degree programme specifies credits to a
minimum of 30 ECTS as electives. This elective
requirement will normally offered as a minimum 10 credits
per stage.
Honours Calculation that differs from the
norm
Honours Calculation
Reg 6.2 Award GPA is calculated using one of the three
modes, as specified by the Programme Board: (1) final
stage only; (2) final and penultimate stages; or (3) final and
penultimate stages, stage-weighted.
Honours Classification that differs from the
norm
Honours Classification
Reg 6.3 The relevant Programme Examination Board will
classify the overall awards within all of the University’s
programmes according the bands set down by the
Academic Regulations.
Timing of Exam Boards
Irregular Timing of Exams and Exam Boards
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will
normally be based on two teaching semesters (Autumn and
Spring) per academic session. The teaching, learning and
assessment activities associated with a module will
normally be completed during one formal semester.
and
4.1 Assessments for a module should be completed during
or as soon as practicable after completion of the module.
and
5.9 Resit assessments may be offered during an autumn
examination period only in exceptional circumstances and
with the approval of the relevant University Programme
Board.
Graduate Taught/Graduate Research Module Derogations
Issue
Derogation required
Academic Regulation
Module Size
Irregular Credit Value
Reg 1.3 – Graduate Taught Modules (excluding research and dissertation
modules) may be delivered in sizes of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 or 20 ECTS credits.
Graduate dissertations and research shall bear credit in multiples of 5 ECTS
credits
The module will take place outside either
the Autumn or Spring semester.
Year Long Module
OR
Module Outside Semester
OR
Module in Summer term
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will normally be based
on two teaching semesters (Autumn and Spring) per academic session.
The teaching, learning and assessment activities associated with a module
will normally be completed during one formal semester.
Graduate taught programme research activity and dissertation work need
not be constrained by the dates of the formal teaching semesters.
The assessment will take place after the
Programme Examination Board.
Assessment – Irregular timing
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will normally be based
on two teaching semesters (Autumn and Spring) per academic session.
The teaching, learning and assessment activities associated with a module
will normally be completed during one formal semester.
and
Reg 4.1 Assessments for a module should be completed during or as soon
as practicable after completion of the module.
and
5.9 Resit assessments may be offered during an autumn examination
period only in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the
relevant University Programme Board.
The end-of-semester written assessment
is longer than 2 hours
Assessment – Irregular length
Reg 4.3 The maximum duration of a formal end-of semester written
examination for a module of less than 10 ECTS is 2 hours. The maximum
duration of a formal end-of semester written examination for a module of
10 ECTS credits or greater is 3 hours.
The components in my module must be
passed separately.
Must pass components
Reg 4.7 Where different components of assessment within a module
(coursework, continuous assessment and final assessment) contribute to
the final grade, the module will not normally require that any one of these
components must be passed separately.
The module must be passed (i.e. cannot
be compensated)
Not passable by compensation
Reg 5.7 Compensation will apply within all stages of UCD undergraduate
and graduate taught programmes.
Graduate Taught/Graduate Research Programme Derogations
Issue
Derogation required
Academic Regulation
Programme is longer than one stage
Programme offered over more than
one Stage
Reg 1.5 Graduate taught programmes will normally be completed in
one stage.
Honours Calculation that differs from the
norm.
Honours Calculation
Reg 6.2.5 When a student has successfully completed a programme,
an award GPA is calculated. The award GPA is the weighted average
of the grade-points awarded for the final successful attempt at those
modules which have been completed and passed to satisfy the credit
requirements of the programme, where the grade-point for each
module is weighted by the credit value of the module. Where the
programme is completed in two stages, the grades from both stages
contribute to the award GPA.
Honours Classification that differs from the
norm
Honours Classification
Reg 6.3 The relevant Programme Examination Board will classify the
overall awards within all of the University’s programmes according
the bands set down by the Academic Regulations.
Timing of Exam Boards
Irregular Timing of Exams and Exam
Boards
Reg 2.1 The taught programmes of the University will normally be
based on two teaching semesters (Autumn and Spring) per academic
session. The teaching, learning and assessment activities associated
with a module will normally be completed during one formal
semester.
and
Reg 4.1 Assessments for a module should be completed during or as
soon as practicable after completion of the module.
and
5.9 Resit assessments may be offered during an autumn examination
period only in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the
relevant University Programme Board.