Chapter 8 - Progression

8 - Progression

8.1 Condonement Principles
8.2 Pre-undergraduate Programmes - Progression Principles
8.3 Pre-undergraduate Programmes - Condonement
8.4 Undergraduate Programmes - Progression Principles
8.5 Undergraduate Programmes - Condonement
8.6 Taught Postgraduate Programmes - Progression Principles
8.7 Taught Postgraduate Programmes - Condonement

Progression
1. Condonement Principles
  1. Condonement is the process that allows students to be awarded credit in order to allow for progression or award, despite failing to achieve a pass mark for a module ¹.
  2. Programme specifications must make it clear which modules are condonable (condonement rules are relative to the programme of study).
  3. Students are not entitled to reassessment on a condoned credit.
  4. Condonement should only be applied in order to allow for progression or award.
2. Pre-undergraduate Programmes – Progression Principles
  1. In order for a student to progress to the next stage or to the classification of the award, the Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must confirm that they have passed their current stage. In order to progress, students must have satisfied both of the following conditions:
    1. Registered for and participated in modules amounting to at least the normal total credit value as specified in the Tables of Main Higher Education Awards in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
    2. Achieved a credit weighted stage mean of 40.00%. This is applicable to both the main programme award and any exit awards and should be calculated on the basis of credit passed in line with Chapter 9 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
3. Pre-undergraduate Condonement
  1. If a student is eligible for condonement, a Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must award credit to an undergraduate student, to permit progression or award, despite failure to achieve a pass mark. To allow condonement the Committee must satisfy itself that all of the following conditions apply:
    1. The total credit failed in a stage does not exceed a quarter of the total required for the stage.
    2. The student has achieved a credit weighted stage mean of 40.00%.
    3. None of the condoned credits are stipulated as non-condonable in the Programme Specification.
  2. Condoned credit must be recorded as a “condoned fail” on the students record.
  3. Failure of more than a quarter of the total required for the stage implies that the student is failing the programme. In the following instances, the Committee must refer the decision to the Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee, which will in turn refer to Chapter 11 on Consequences of Failure in Assessments;
    1. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and does not meet the above criteria for condonement;
    2. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and also has outstanding deferred assessments, such that the total credit not passed is more than a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and therefore it cannot be condoned.
  4. Where failure cannot be condoned in a stage, please refer to Chapter 11.2.2 for guidance.
4. Undergraduate Programmes – Progression Principles ⁷
  1. In order for a student to progress to the next stage or to classification of the award, the Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must confirm that they have passed their current stage. In order to progress, students must have satisfied both of the following conditions:
    1. Registered for and participated in modules amounting to at least the normal credit value per stage as specified in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
    2. Achieved a credit weighted stage mean of at least 40.00% (or at least 50.00% in the final Master's level stage). This is applicable to both the main programme award and any exit awards, and should be calculated on the basis of credit passed in line with Chapter 9 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
5. Undergraduate Condonement ⁷
  1. If a student is eligible for condonement, a Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must award credit to an undergraduate student, to permit progression or award, despite failure to achieve a pass mark. To allow condonement the Committee must satisfy itself that all of the following conditions apply:
    1. The total credit failed in a stage does not exceed a quarter of the total credit requirement for the stage as defined in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
    2. The failed modules must have a mark of between 0 and 39% (or 0 and 49% for Master's-level modules taken as part of an integrated Master's programme). ²
    3. The student has achieved a credit weighted stage mean of 40.00% ⁶ (or 50.00% for Masters-level modules taken as part of an integrated Master's programme). This is applicable to both the main programme award and any exit awards, and should be calculated on the basis of credit passed in line with Chapter 9 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
    4. None of the condoned credits are stipulated as non-condonable in the Programme Specification.
  2. Condoned credit must be recorded as a “condoned fail” on the student’s record.
  3. Failure of more than a quarter of the total credit required for the stage implies that the student is failing the programme and therefore the student should be referred in all failed assessments where referral is possible.
  4. In the following instances, the Committee must refer the decision to the Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee, which will in turn refer to Chapter 11 on Consequences of Failure in Assessments;
    1. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and does not meet the above criteria for condonement;
    2. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and also has outstanding deferred assessments, such that the total credit not passed is more than a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and therefore it cannot be condoned.
  5. Where failure cannot be condoned in a stage, please refer to Chapter 11.2.2 for guidance.
6. Taught Postgraduate Programmes – Progression Principles ^3 4 and ⁵
  1. It is recognised that for the majority of taught postgraduate programmes, all study takes place at one academic level. These programmes are considered to consist of one academic stage, even if study runs across multiple years. Therefore condonement will only be applied at the point of awarding.
  2. In order for a student to progress to the next stage or to classification of the award, the Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must confirm that they have passed their current stage. In order to progress, students must have satisfied both of the following conditions:
    1. Registered for and participated in modules amounting to at least the normal credit value per stage as specified in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
    2. Achieved a credit weighted stage mean of 50.00%. This is applicable to both the main programme award and any exit awards, and should be calculated on the basis of credit passed in line with Chapter 9 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
7. Postgraduate Condonement ^3 4 and ⁵
  1. If a student is eligible for condonement, a Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must award credit to a taught postgraduate student, to permit progression to the award, despite failure to achieve a pass mark.
  2. To allow a condonement, the Committee must satisfy itself that all of the following conditions apply:
    1. The total credit failed does not exceed a quarter of the total credit required for the award.
    2. The failed modules must have a mark of between 0 and 49.00% ².
    3. The student has achieved a credit weighted stage mean of at least 50.00%.
    4. None of the condoned credits are stipulated as non-condonable in the Programme Specification.
  3. Condoned credit must be recorded as a “condoned fail” on the students record.
  4. Failure of more than a quarter of the total required credit for the stage implies that the student is failing the programme and therefore the student should be referred in all failed assessments where referral is possible.
  5. In the following instances, the Committee must refer the decision to the Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee, which will in turn refer to Chapter 11 on Consequences of Failure in Assessments;
    1. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and does not meet the above criteria for condonement;
    2. Where a student has failure in up to a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and also has outstanding deferred assessments, such that the total credit not passed is more than a quarter of the total credit required for the stage and therefore it cannot be condoned.
  6. Where failure cannot be condoned in a stage, please refer to Chapter 11.2.2 for guidance.
    
    ¹ Please refer to Chapter 11 - Consequence of Failure in Assessment for further guidance regarding referrals.
    ² For programmes within Computer Science, Engineering, Renewable Energy and Camborne School of Mines that are accredited by the Engineering Council, please see the Special Provisions information for further guidance regarding condonement regulations.
    ³ For most online programmes, condonement is considered by the relevant Assessment, Progression and Award Committee (APAC) either at the final award APAC or when a student has failed a module, having been referred. A student who has failed more than the permitted maximum number of condoned modules will not be permitted to continue studying for the award, unless repeat study is possible. If they have met the requirements for any exit award or lesser award permitted within the programme, this shall be awarded. Students must complete, at the next available opportunity, any deferred assessments. Also see Chapter 11, Consequence of Failure in Assessment for further notes on referral/deferral.
    ⁴For Nursing programmes offered by the Medical School, please see the Special Provisions information for further guidance.
    ⁵ For Degree Apprenticeship programmes, please see the Special Provisions information for further guidance.
    ⁶ For INTO Foundation, International Year One and Graduate Diploma programmes, the student must achieve a credit weighted stage mean in accordance with the progression requirements set out in the INTO University of Exeter progression webpages https://www.exeter.ac.uk/into/.
    ⁷For study abroad (excluding work placements abroad or in the UK) please refer to Chapter 19 of the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook, the rules of which recognise the unique nature of programmes that include study abroad.