Chapter 9 - Classification of Awards

9 - Classification of awards

9.1 Pre-undergraduate, Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes Awarding Principles
9.2 Pre-undergraduate and Undergraduate Programme Stage Weighting
9.3 Rules for Classification of Non-Honours Direct Entry Undergraduate Awards
9.4 Rules for Classification of Bachelors and Integrated Masters Degrees
9.5 Rules for Classification of Foundation Certificates
9.6 Rules for Classification of Foundation Degrees
9.7 Rules for Classification of Graduate Awards
9.8 Taught Postgraduate Programme Stage Weighting
9.9 Rules for Classification of Taught Postgraduate Awards
9.10 Unclassified Undergraduate Awards
9.11 Unclassified Taught Postgraduate Awards
9.12 Aegrotat Pass and Aegrotat Awards for Taught Programmes of Study

Classification of Awards

Pre-undergraduate, Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes Awarding Principles
1. This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Credit and Qualifications Framework. The Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee will recommend that Senate grant the award and classify that award in accordance with the following principles:
  1. The award of a degree of the University is dependent on the successful completion of a programme which complies with the credit requirements detailed in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
  2. Awards are determined by the Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee based on the overall level of performance as indicated by the marks submitted to the Committee.
  3. All students must be treated equitably in the calculation of marks and classification and awards.
  4. Overall module marks will be calculated in SITS as integers; the final credit weighted marks will be calculated in SITS to two decimal places (rounding of final credit weighted marks at the level of the programme must not occur). Awards are then classified on the basis of the rules set out in the tables below.
  5. Following the principles of condonement set out in 8.1, condonement should only be implemented where the credits are contributing towards an award.
2. As an alternative to referral, or as a consequence of failure in referral, a lesser award can be made. To award a lesser award the following conditions must be met:
  1. This must be in accordance with the level and credit requirements of awards as specified in the Credit and Qualifications Framework. In relation to this, the condonement rules of the lesser award should apply.
  2. The student must have completed any compulsory modules for the lesser award.

Pre-undergraduate and Undergraduate Programme Stage Weighting

The weighting of stages must contribute to the final weighted mark as follows:

One year Bachelors programmes, Graduate Diplomas, Graduate Certificates and Foundation Certificates	The credit-weighted mean of the stage
Two year Foundation Degree programmes	The credit-weighted mean of the first and second stages weighted 1:1
Two year Bachelors programmes	The credit-weighted mean of the first and second stages weighted 1:2
Three year Bachelors programmes	The credit-weighted mean of the second and third stages weighted 1:2
Four and five year undergraduate part-time Bachelors Degree Apprenticeship programmes	The credit-weighted mean of the RQF level five and RQF level six modules weighted 1:2
Four year undergraduate Bachelors programmes with year out in stage 2 *	The credit-weighted mean of the second, third and fourth stages weighted 1:4:8
Four year undergraduate Bachelors programmes with year out in stage 3 *	The credit-weighted mean of the second, third and fourth stages weighted 2:1:4
Four year undergraduate Bachelors programmes with year out in stage 4 *	The credit-weighted mean of the second, third and fourth stages weighted 2:4:1
Four year programmes (integrated masters programmes)	The credit-weighted mean of the second, third and fourth stages weighted 2:3:4
Five year programmes (integrated masters programmes) with year out in stage 3 *	The credit-weighted mean of the second, third, fourth and fifth stages weighted 2:1:4:6

* The term “year out” here includes a year abroad and other forms of study outside the University, such as industrial placements.

Rules for Classification of Non-Honours Direct Entry Undergraduate Awards

This section presents the conventions used to determine the classification of those non-honours undergraduate programmes offered as direct entry, rather than as exit awards*, including the Ordinary Degree and INTO CertHE.

*Exit awards are those qualifications which may be awarded on completion of an intermediate point of studies in a longer programme of study (when a student leaves the programme) but for which the student has not registered at the outset.

The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for Distinction	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Merit	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Overall pass mark	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 40.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 40.00%

Rules for Classification of Bachelors and Integrated Masters Degrees

This section presents the conventions used to determine classification of undergraduate Bachelors and Integrated Masters awards. The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for First Class Honours	A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% of stage weighted credits with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Upper Second Class Honours	A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% of stage weighted credits with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Qualifies for Lower Second Class Honours	A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 49.50% or A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 48.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% of stage weighted credits with a module mark greater than or equal to 50%
Qualifies for Third Class Honours	A final weighted mark greater than or equal to 40.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is a final weighted mark of 40.00%

Rules for Classification of Foundation Certificates

This section presents the conventions used to determine classification of Foundation Certificates. The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for Distinction	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Merit	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Overall pass mark	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 40.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 40.00%

Rules for Classification of Foundation Degrees

This section presents the conventions used to determine classification of Foundation Degrees. The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for Distinction	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Merit	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Overall pass mark	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 40.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 40.00%

Rules for Classification of Graduate Awards

This section presents the conventions used to determine classification of the award of graduate taught degrees of Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Ordinary Degrees for direct entry. The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for Distinction award	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Merit award	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Overall pass mark	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 40.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 40.00%

Taught Postgraduate Programme Stage Weighting

The weighting of all stages must contribute to the final weighted mark as follows:

One stage taught postgraduate programmes	The credit-weighted mean of the stage
Two stage taught postgraduate programmes (Master of Fine Arts)	The credit-weighted mean of the first and second stages weighted 1:1

Rules for Classification of Taught Postgraduate Awards

This section presents the conventions used to determine classification of the award of taught postgraduate degrees of Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate. The rules are applied in descending order.

Qualifies for Distinction award	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 68.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 70%
Qualifies for Merit award	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 58.00% and modules to the value of at least 50% with a module mark greater than or equal to 60%
Overall pass mark	A final credit-weighted mark greater than or equal to 50.00%
Pass/ Fail threshold for the programme	The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 50.00%

Unclassified Undergraduate Awards
1. This section details those undergraduate awards that are unclassified (i.e. those awards that operate on a simple pass/fail basis). The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 40.00%.
  1. CertHE (Certificate of Higher Education) (RQF4, 120 credits)
  2. DipHE (Diploma of Higher Education) (RQF5, 240 credits)
  3. Ordinary Degrees (RQF6, 300 (3 year) or 420 (4 year) credits)
Unclassified Taught Postgraduate Awards
1. This section details those taught postgraduate awards that are unclassified (i.e those awards that operate on a simple pass/fail basis). The pass/ fail threshold for the programme is an average of 50.00%.
  1. CAS (Certificate in Advanced Study) (RQF 7, 30 credits)
  2. PGCE (Professional Graduate Certificate of Education) (RQF6, 60 credits)
  3. PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) (RQF7, 60 credits)
  4. PGCE (Post Compulsory Education) - Exeter College (RQF7, 120 credits)
  5. PCAP (Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice) (RQF7, 60 credits)
  6. MClinRes (Master of Clinical Research) (RQF7, 300 credits)
  7. MClinPrac (Master of Clinical Practice) (RQF7, 300 credits)
  8. MClinPrac(Res) (Master of Clinical Practice (Research)) (RQF7 300 credits)
  9. MPPClinPrac (Master of Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Clinical Practice) (RQF7, 210 credits)
  10. MPPClinPrac(CT) (Master of Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Clinical Practice (Clinical Training)) (RQF7, 390 credits)
  11. MEd PBER (Master of Education Practise-Based Educational Research) (RQF7, 180 credits)
  12. PCIP (Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing) (RQF7, 45 credits)
Aegrotat Pass and Aegrotat Awards for Taught Programmes of Study
1. Where a student is prevented by illness or exceptional personal circumstances from taking a deferred assessment at any stage they may request that an Aegrotat pass or, at the final stage, the award of an unclassified Aegrotat degree may be considered under the terms of Ordinance 16.