Online Taught Masters Degrees Assessment Regulations

4.1.1 Presentation of Marks

The Faculty Award and Progression Boards shall be presented with all marks of assessment for modules taken so far. 

4.1.2 Presentation of Marks for Award

The full set of results for each student considered at the University Progression and Awards Board, shall be presented to the examiners. The result profile of the relevant students will normally include:

• The results of the taught modules.
• The results of the piece(s) of directed independent learning.

4.1.3 Progression Decisions

Progression decisions will be taken as specified in the general regulations – see G3. 

4.1.4 Anonymous Marking

Please refer to the University's Assessment, Marking and Feedback policy.

4.1.5 Disclosure of Identity

Please refer to the University's Assessment, Marking and Feedback policy.

4.1.6 Disclosure of Results

A distinction should be drawn between provisional marks and confirmed marks.

Please refer to the University’s Accuracy of Published Marks Procedure.

4.1.7 Appeals Against Decisions

Students who fail to qualify to proceed may request that the decision of the Board be reviewed in accordance with the University’s Appeals and/or Accuracy of Published Marks Procedure.

Online programmes may be studied on a full or part-time basis. 

The programme structure consists of modules totalling 180 credits at Level 7 of the FHEQ, with 120 credits of taught modules (including any RPL credits) and Directed Independent Learning, worth 60 credits.

G1

The pass mark for modules will be set at 50%. Credits will be awarded to  students who pass a module (compensation regulations apply).

G2

Students who accumulate 180 credits may qualify for the award of a degree. The overall degree classification shall be calculated based on the mean average of module marks, that are weighted according to their credit value, across the whole programme.

G3

Examining Boards will normally meet after each assessment period during the programme to ensure students’ progress is monitored.

Progression is determined as the Examining Board's review of a student's ‘current’ position after each assessment period.

The decision as to whether a student has met the requirements to proceed on the programme will be taken at an Examining Board.

Students who fail to qualify to proceed at the initial attempt will normally be permitted to redeem failures by submitting supplementary assessments or re-submitted revised assessed work, as defined by the programme.

Supplementary assessment opportunities may only be awarded by the Examining Board and will normally be offered at the next available submission point. 

Full-time students may proceed to the next taught module(s) on their programme carrying a maximum of 40 failed credits to be redeemed at the next available assessment point. 

Part-time students may proceed to the next taught module(s) on their programme carrying a maximum of 20 failed credits to be redeemed at the next available assessment point. 

Students that successfully redeem failure of all credits, at their second attempt may continue their studies. 

Students who fail any module at the second attempt and are eligible for compensation (see G7), may continue their studies at the discretion of the Examining board.

Students who fail any module at the second attempt and are not eligible for compensation (G7) will not be eligible for a master’s award but shall be permitted to continue to attain taught credit to be considered for an exit award.

Faculties/Schools shall make this information available to students in the Programme Handbook.

Award decisions for all full-time students will be taken at the end of the final trimester or earlier in the case of exit awards.

Award decisions for part-time students will be taken at the end of the final trimester in Year 2 (two-year programme) and Year 3 (three-year programme) or earlier in the case of exit awards.

Board	Period (*Indicative)	Decision/Outcome
1	Sept-Dec	Progression/Supplementary/Award/Exit Award
2	Jan-Apr	Progression/Supplementary/Award/Exit Award
3	May-Aug	Progression/Supplementary/Award/Exit Award

G4

Faculties/Schools may identify ‘core’ modules as appropriate for individual programmes, which must be passed with a mark of at least 50% before a  student can progress. The ‘core’ modules for each programme must be clearly identified in Faculty/School handbooks or other Faculty/School literature and on the University’s assessment software.

Faculties/Schools should note that compensated failures cannot be awarded for ‘core’ modules.  Students' performance in ‘core’ modules must be monitored by Faculties/Schools.

A module containing the piece/pieces of directed independent learning, by its very nature, shall be regarded as being a ‘core’ module, and a pass mark of 50% will be applied uniformly.

G5

At the discretion of the Examining Board, the following students will be eligible for taught module reassessments:

• Full-time students who have failed a taught module at the first attempt and have not completed all taught credits.
• Part-time students who have failed a taught module at the first attempt and have not completed all taught credits.
• Students who have failed a taught module at the first attempt when the full profile of taught module marks are considered by the Examining board and where the student is not eligible for compensation.

G6

Students, who satisfy the examiners at an attempt to redeem a failure, shall only be eligible for a mark up to the capped threshold of 50% in each such module, irrespective of their actual level of performance.

The University Progression and Awards Board shall refer to the capped/best mark in determining the overall average for award.

G7

Students may compensate in up to 30 credits at the discretion of the Examining Board provided that all of the following conditions are met:

• The overall average for the taught modules is at least 50%;
• The modules in which they have failed have not previously been identified as ‘core’ modules for the particular programmes (see general assessment rule G4);
• The overall mark in ANY module in the student profile is not less than 40%.* The credits for such modules shall be referred to as compensated failures (these shall appear as F grades on the student’s transcript);
• The module is not contributing to the 60 credits of directed independent learning.

* An overall taught module mark below 40% in any module in the student profile means that compensation is not permitted.

G8

Students who are part-way through their programme, who fail to redeem a failed module at the second attempt (compensation applies) and/or fail to submit their directed independent learning assessment by the submission deadline will not be eligible for a master’s award but shall be permitted to continue to attain taught credit to be considered for an exit award. 

Where there are one or more assessment components in respect of the directed independent learning module, students who have submitted at least one assessment component by the deadline and fail to obtain an overall module pass mark, will normally be permitted to resubmit all failed components in accordance with the appropriate time limit.

G9

Students who are at the end of their programme who fail to redeem a failed module at the second attempt (compensation applies) will be required to withdraw from the University. Such students shall have no further opportunity to complete their programme of study, and shall only be eligible to be considered for an exit qualification.  Students who are required to withdraw from the University will be given no further attempts to redeem their modules and will not be eligible to transfer credits to another programme of study at Swansea University, and their studies will be terminated. Normally, such  students shall not be re-admitted to that same programme of study, or to a cognate programme, without the approval of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

G10

In exceptional circumstances, and in accordance with the University’s Policy on Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessment, students who fail to redeem their module(s) during the designated redemption  period because of extenuating circumstances or who fail the module at the first opportunity during the redemption  period (i.e. as a deferral) may submit evidence of such circumstances to their Faculty/School for consideration. At the discretion of the University Progression and Awards Board, such  students may be permitted one further opportunity to be reassessed. The reassessment(s) shall normally take place at the next assessment(s) point for the modules concerned in the next academic year and such students are required to enrol as external students.

Students who are offered exceptional further and final opportunities to be reassessed in taught modules outside the Policy on Extenuating Circumstances (for example, as a result of an Academic and Appeal or Final review case outcome) are also required to enrol as external students to undertake such reassessments.

G11

A student who is to be re-examined in set projects or other forms of taught module assessment shall not be permitted to re-submit modified versions of their original work, but shall be required to submit for assessment new work on different topics from those which originally failed to satisfy the examiners.

G12

Students shall not be allowed to elect to repeat any module which has been passed, or to redeem a failure which has been compensated in order to improve their performance.

G13

A student who is absent for the whole or part of a written examination (or who fails to submit set projects or coursework by the required date(s)) will be deemed to have failed the module(s) in question. In the case of  students who are unable to attend/participate in examinations due to extenuating circumstances, a claim for deferral must be submitted to the Home Faculty/School either in advance of the examination date or within five working days of the examination taking place. Applications for deferrals must be signed by the relevant Faculty/School and submitted to Education Services for approval. Students granted deferrals will be required to sit the examinations at the next scheduled examination point for the module(s) concerned.   

G14

Students, who achieve an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99% for the whole programme, shall be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree with merit.

G15

Students, who achieve an overall average mark of not less than 70% for the whole programme, shall be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree with distinction.     

G16

Students must not expect as of right that they will be allowed to undertake supplementary assessments, or be allowed to continue. The Examining Board may take into account other circumstances relating to the  student’s case before taking any progression decision. 

G17

Faculties/Schools which are subject to professional accreditation can apply stricter progression rules provided that the applications of such rules are required by the Professional Accreditation Body as a condition for accreditation of the programme. The stricter rule shall be applied for accreditation purposes only. Students should be notified in Faculty/School Handbooks of any additional requirements.

G18

Students who do not complete the programme and/or withdraw from the University may, depending on the number of credits accumulated, be entitled to an exit qualification. 

G19

Exit qualifications awarded to students with compensated failures should be named.

G20

Students exiting with a Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma shall be eligible for the appropriate award “with Merit” where they have passed the requisite number of taught credits and have attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99% for the award in question.

G21

Students exiting with a Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma shall be eligible for the appropriate award “with Distinction” where they pursued the requisite number of taught credits and have attained an overall mark of 70% for the award in question.

Postgraduate Certificate	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea.
Postgraduate Certificate with Merit	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99%.
Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of 70% or higher.
Postgraduate Diploma	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*), a minimum of 80 credits to have been Passed/compensated at Swansea.
Postgraduate Diploma with Merit	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*), a minimum of 80 credits to have been passed/compensated at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99%.
Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*),a minimum of 80 credits to have been passed/compensated at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of 70% or higher.

G22

Students who fail to submit their directed independent learning assessment by the deadline will not be eligible for a Master’s award but shall be permitted to continue to be considered for an exit award. No resubmission will be given.

Where there are one or more assessment components in respect of the directed independent learning module, students who have submitted at least one assessment component by the deadline and fail to obtain an overall module pass mark, will normally be permitted to resubmit all failed components in accordance with the appropriate time limit.

G23

Students who submit their piece/pieces of directed independent learning by the deadline and who fail to obtain a pass mark may be permitted to resubmit in accordance with the appropriate time-limit. Resubmission will be capped at 50%.

Mode of Study
FULL TIME	normally* 3 months (after the official University publication of results).
PART TIME	normally* 6 months (after the official University publication of results).

*Where Directed Independent Learning totals 60 credits but is divided over more than one module e.g. 20 credits plus 40 credits, Faculties may impose shorter, more proportionate submission periods.  Details should be made clear to students in the programme handbook.

G24

Students who are unable to meet their submission deadline may apply for an extension to their submission deadline in accordance with the University’s regulations.

G25

The University reserves the right to charge a re-examination fee in respect of the re-submission.

4.6.1 Specific Rules for awarding credit at the end of the programme 

S1 

The Pass mark shall be 50%. 

S2 

Students who accumulate 180 credits may qualify for the award of a degree. The overall degree classification shall be calculated based on the mean average of module marks, that are weighted according to their credit value, across the whole programme. 

S3

Students who achieve an overall average mark of not less than 60-69.99% for the whole programme shall be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree with merit.

S4

Students who achieve an overall average mark of 70% or more for the whole programme shall be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree with distinction.

S5

Students may, at their second attempt, compensate in up to 30 credits at the discretion of the Examination Board provided that all of the following conditions are met:

• The overall average for the taught modules is at least 50%;
• The modules in which they have failed have not previously been identified as ‘core’ modules for the particular programmes (see general assessment rule G4);
• The overall mark in ANY module in the student profile is not less than 40%.* The credits for such modules shall be referred to as compensated failures (these shall appear as F grades on the student’s transcript);
• The module is not contributing to the 60 credits of directed independent learning;

* An overall taught module mark below 40% in any module in the student profile means that compensation is not permitted.

S6

Students who do not meet the requirements of S2 (compensation applies) will fail to qualify for the award. At the discretion of the Examination Board, the  student will normally be required to undertake supplementary assessments in all failed first attempts at a module for a capped mark of 50%. Students who choose not to re-sit a failed module will be awarded a mark of 0%.

S7

Students who fail to submit their directed independent learning assessment or approved equivalent by the deadline will not be eligible for a Master’s award but shall be permitted to continue to be considered for an exit award. No resubmission opportunity will be permitted.

Where there are one or more assessment components in respect of the directed independent learning module, students who have submitted at least one assessment component by the deadline and fail to obtain an overall module pass mark, will normally be permitted to resubmit all failed components in accordance with the appropriate time limit.

S8

Students who fail the directed independent learning or approved equivalent and who are permitted to resubmit will be subject to the following periods of time in which to resubmit. Resubmission will be capped at 50%.

Mode of Study	Resubmission
FULL-TIME	normally* 3 months (after the official publication of results).
PART-TIME	normally* 6 months (after the official publication of results)

*Where Directed Independent Learning totals 60 credits but is divided over more than one module e.g. 20 credits plus 40 credits, Faculties may impose shorter, more proportionate submission periods.  Details should be made clear to students in the programme handbook.

S9

Students who fail the dissertation/directed independent learning assessment or approved equivalent at the second attempt and/or fail a taught module at the second attempt (compensation applies) will be required to withdraw from the University. Such students may be considered for an appropriate exit award, subject to Professional Body requirements.

Postgraduate Certificate	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea.
Postgraduate Certificate with Merit	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99%.
Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction	Passed 60 credits (with 50% or more), a minimum of 40 credits to have been pursued at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of 70% or higher.
Postgraduate Diploma	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*), a minimum of 80 credits to have been Passed/compensated at Swansea.
Postgraduate Diploma with Merit	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*), a minimum of 80 credits to have been passed/compensated at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99%.
Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction	Pursued 120 credits (30 credits of compensated failures permitted*),a minimum of 80 credits to have been passed/compensated at Swansea. Attained an overall average mark of 70% or higher.

*Programmes may adopt stricter compensation regulations due to Professional Body/Sponsorship Body requirements.

S10

All students who are required to withdraw from the University have the right of appeal in accordance with the University’s Accuracy of Published Marks and/or Appeals Procedure.