Coventry University College
Academic Regulations
Contents
1.1Introduction
1.2Undergraduate credit framework
1.3Admission
1.4Enrolment and registration
1.4.2Mode of Attendance
1.4.3Interruption of Studies
1.4.4Withdrawal from Course
1.4.5Change of Course
1.4.6Duration of Registration
1.4.7 Attendance Requirements
1.4.8Concurrent and Consecutive Registration
1.5Progression
1.5.2HNC/HND
1.6Assessment
1.7Reassessment by Resit
1.8Repeating periods of study
1.9Deferrals for extenuating circumstances
1.10Conditions of award
1.11Award and classification
1.11.1Classification Calculation
1.11.2Merit and Distinction
1.11.3Upgrading to Honours
1.11.4Modification of Results
2Non-completion of awards and posthumous awards
4Posthumous awards
5Assessment Boards
5.2Chairing an Assessment Board
5.3Membership of an Assessment Board
5.4Authority of an Assessment Board
5.5Scope of Discretion
5.6Assessment Board records
6External Examiners
7Conferment of Awards
Rules for Examinations
The following govern the conduct of Examinations:
Submission of work for assessment
Definition of cheating
Suspected cheating detected during or after an examination
Cheating in relation to assessed or other coursework
Role of Academic Conduct Officer (ACO)
Role of an Academic Conduct Panel (ACP)
Procedures of the Panel
Cases of admitted guilt
Students’ right of appeal
12 Confiscated materials
13 Acceptance of the above responsibilities
14 The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) and Action following a Recommendation from the OIA
1 Purpose and scope
2Circumstances and grounds for requesting a review
3 Procedures for requesting and conducting a review
Constitution and Terms of Reference for the Assessments Review Group
Constitution
Terms of Reference
Circumstances and grounds for lodging an appeal
Procedures for lodging an appeal
Constitution and Terms of Reference for an Assessments Appeals Committee
Constitution
Terms of Reference
Responsibilities of students seeking a review or lodging an appeal
Students are responsible for:
Right of appeal and their limitation
General Items
Appendix 1 – Policy and procedure on attendance monitoring – students
Appendix 2 – Extenuating circumstances – Requests for extensions and deferrals of assessment
Appendix 3 – Procedures and information guide – Plagiarism and malpractice: Responsibilities of Students
Appendix 4 – Procedures and information guide – Procedures for reviewing award decision and considering appeals by students
Appendix 5 – Academic Dress
Appendix 6 – Quality Enhancement Framework
Appendix 7 – Standards for academic awards
1Regulations for Coventry University College
1.1Introduction
These Regulations apply to all courses offered at Coventry University College leading to a Coventry University undergraduate award with effect from September 2012, and must be referenced in all course definitive documentation, together with any specific requirements in respect of particular named courses or as otherwise required.
1.2Undergraduate credit framework
1.2.1All courses leading to the award of a degree shall normally be named and all shall
be designed on a framework of 120 credits (4 modules or equivalent) per academic year.
1.2.2For courses at undergraduate level, a standard size module shall represent 300
hours of notional total student effort and carry 30 credits.
1.2.3Modules may be delivered in 30 and 60 credit units.
1.2.4Each module shall be assigned a single designated level (as mapped against the
appropriate NICAT level descriptor):
Level Z corresponds broadly to pre-first year degree level.
Level 1 corresponds broadly to stage 1 of a three year full-time honours degree and the level 4 qualification aim of HNC.
Level 2 corresponds broadly to stage 2 of a three year full-time honours degree and the level 5 qualification aim of HND.
Level 3 corresponds broadly to the final stage of a three year full-time honours degree.
1.2.5Each module shall be assessed according to the College’s Assessment Policy.
1.2.6A scheme of staged awards shall be available, subject to the standards of
The College’s awards concerned having been reached.
1.2.7Each module credit value shall be divided in half to determine its European
Credit Transfer (ECT) rating (e.g. a 30 credit module equates to 15 ECTs credits).
1.3Admission
1.3.1All courses shall normally provide for entry at various levels with the maximum valid credit being given for appropriate prior knowledge and skills and previous learning, subject to the College’s general requirements (see 4.1). However, for each award there is a minimum requirement for which neither general nor specific credit shall be given. Credit shall not be given for more than two-thirds of an overall programme.
1.4Enrolment and registration
1.4.1General
Students are required to enrol at the College and register for a course in accordance with the arrangements notified. Course definitive documentation shall specify which modules a student must take or choosefrom. All module choicesare subject to timetable and resource constraints as well as to academic constraints imposed by regulations. The College reserves the absolute right to withdraw a module on resource grounds provided that other modules are available to enable students to complete the course on which they are registered. Under such circumstances, the students involved shall be required to choose an alternative.
1.4.2Mode of Attendance
a)A full-time student shall normally register for a maximum of 120 credits (4
single modules or equivalent) in an academic session, including any repeat modules, but may register for an absolute maximum of 150 credits to redeem failure in a previously failed module only (i.e.: one 30 credit module), where progression and reassessment regulations allow. Students who do not require certification as either full-time or part-timemay register forany number of modules up to the 120 credit limit. However, the mode of attendance shall normally be defined as below (1.4.2b).
b)Any student registered for fewer than 120credits shall normally be eligible for certification as part-time; this excludes modules registered for resit or deferred assessment, but includes modules being repeated.
c)Any change in the mode of attendance from part-time to full-time or vice versa must be notified by the student at enrolment; the student must notifythe College of changes at other times. Changes shall normally only be effective from the date of such notification and with the agreement of the College.
1.4.3Interruption of Studies
Students may apply to interrupt their studies for a maximum period of twelveconsecutivemonths under the procedure notified. The period of interruption shall be included withinthe maximum registration period for the award. A student returning from a period of interruption of studies shall be subject to the Regulations that apply to the cohort beingjoined. Marks attained up to the point of interruption shall stand.
1.4.4Withdrawal from Course
a)Where a student indicates a desire to withdraw from a course, the date of withdrawal shall be taken as the date on which the Director (or nominee) signs the form; retrospective withdrawal dates shall not be accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the College of the withdrawal through the procedure notified. All marks attained up to the time of withdrawal shall stand, and the student may re-enrol for the course in later years if appropriate.
b)The College reserves the right to require a student to withdraw where the student has not fully engaged with the course. Examples (not exhaustive) of not fully engaging include: repeated non-attendance at teaching sessions and/or not taking part in formal or informalassessments and not responding to requests sent by the College to explain such non-attendance.
c)A student may submit an appeal, within ten working days of the date of the letter confirming the withdrawal, on the basis of material irregularity or if there is significant new evidence of mitigation against the student’s non-engagement. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Director (or nominee), who must be satisfied that the conditions are met. The student may be required to sign a learning agreement giving a written undertaking as to their future engagement. The decision of the Director (or nominee) is final.
1.4.5Change of Course
All changes of course and/or named award require the prior approval of theappropriate Heads).
1.4.6Duration of Registration
a)The maximum duration of registration on any of the College’s
undergraduate awards, including periods of suspension and
interruption of studies, is eight years. A student is therefore normally required to enrol for a minimum of two modules in each academic year.
b)Regulations for an individual course may not impose separate maximum lengths of duration of study, except where a Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body (or other external agency) places a limiton the total period of study for a particular award; such constraints must be clearly stated in the course definitive documentation.
c)Where a course ends its period of approval and is not reapproved, students
who have not yet completed the course shall normally be required to
terminate their studies at that point or to transfer to another course for
which their modules taken so far make them eligible.
d)A student entering the College with advanced standing or who is given
accreditation for prior learning shall have their maximum duration of
registration adjusted accordingly.
e)Students may not normally register for more modules than are required for
the award on which they are enrolled. Modules taken on other courses prior
to transfer to the current course may be ignored for this purpose as long as
they are not being used as credits (specific or general) on the current course.
1.4.7 Attendance Requirements
For all modules attendance is mandatory. All periods of absence must be covered by contemporaneous, written and authenticated certification. In cases where a student’s absence exceeds 20% of the formal learning sessions for an individual module,the Director may decide that the student may be required to withdraw from the course.
(Please see Appendix 1)
1.4.8Concurrent and Consecutive Registration
A student may not be permitted to register for more than one course at the College and/or at Coventry University concurrently. A student may be concurrently eligible for two awards on a single programme only where that is part of the normal course structure.
1.5Progression
1.5.1 To progress from one stage of a course to a subsequent stage, whether by
full-time or part-time study, a student must pass all modules required by the
previous stage, which includes meeting any pre-requisite or any other
requirement set out in the course definitive documentation.
1.5.2Students who fail to attain sufficient modules to progress as set out in 1.5.1 may, at the discretion of the Programme Assessment Board:
a)be transferred onto a new course subject to eligibility and availability; or
b)be required to repeat the stage, in whole or part, which may include proceeding on a further period of study at the same stage; or
c)be recommended to withdraw from the course; or
d)have their course terminated.
1.5.2HNC/HND
A student transferring to a degree course from a related HNC or HND course may be granted exemptions for up to two-thirds of the degree course, depending on the subject match and the approved course regulations in place.
1.6Assessment
1.6.1In order to confer credit, all modules shall be assessed by formal written examination and/or coursework.
1.6.2Every module shall be assessed according to the College’s Assessment Strategy.
1.6.3a)A student shall be deemed to have passed a module on obtaining an overall module mark of 40% or more, subject to any criteria notified as to how the mark is to be calculated (e.g. by specifying the relative weighting of any components). Marks between 39.5 and 40 inclusive shall be regarded as 40% for these purposes.
b)In modules with more than one component, there may be provision for a compensation band to enable good performance on one component to offset poor performance in another component. In such cases, the minimum component mark required is 35%, and such criteria must be specified in the approved module descriptor. Compensatable failure between module components is normally only permitted when there is an overlap of assessment of intended learning outcomes across the module.
1.6.4A student who, whilst registered on a course at the College, is required or permitted to take other supporting modules not directly contributing to that course may not use those modules towards a concurrent or retrospective eligibility for another award; this does not preclude the student from using these modules subsequently for accreditation of prior learning (APL) as part of an application to another course.
1.6.5Modules passed as part of one College award may not be used as credits towards another College award at the same level if they amount to more than one third of the new course, other than as credits towards the first stage. Modules passed on one course may not be taken again as part of a further course. A College award cannot be used to gain entry with advanced standing to more than one College award. Modules cannot be used in more than one course for the calculation of an honours degree classification mark or for Merit or Distinction.
1.6.6The scope of discretion available to Programme Assessment Boards is set out in 4.5.
1.6.7Students who fail to submit work for assessment or attend examinations shall be deemed to have been absent from the assessments concerned and to have failed them accordingly.
1.6.8When a student cannot, through disability, be fairly assessed by the methods prescribed for the module concerned, the Subject Assessment Board may agree to vary those as deemed appropriate, bearing in mind the intended learning outcomes of the module and the need to assess each candidate on equal terms with other candidates. In addition, special arrangements can be made via the College Registry for sheltered conditions under which formal written examinations may be undertaken. In determining the nature of any variation in methods of assessments, full account must be taken of theCollege’s policies in respect of students with disabilities.
1.7Reassessment by Resit
1.7.1A student shall be reassessed by resit without re-registration in any failed module
that has not specified an attendance requirement or minimum mark, where an
attempt in all components has been made or a deferral granted. Where an attempt has not been made (a mark of absent has been awarded) or a deferral granted,a
student will not be permitted to resit and may be required to withdraw from their course.
1.7.2The resit must normally be carried out by the same combination of written examination, coursework etc as in the first attempt.
1.7.3If an attempt has been made and a module is failed (by achieving a mark below 40%)then the module must be reassessed. Any module component failed at the first attempt and failed at the second attempt shall carry the higher component mark of the two attempts.
1.7.4Reassessment by resit of a module shall be restricted to one attempt. This must normally be completed within the resit period associated with the academic block in which the module was studied and failed.
1.7.5A student shall not be permitted to be reassessed by resit in any module that has received a pass mark, or in a component that has received a mark of 40% or above.
1.7.6Any module component failed at the first attempt and failed at the second attempt shall carry the higher component mark of the two attempts. Any module failed at the first attempt and passed at the second attempt shall carry the higher of 40% or the original module mark concerned, unless the original attempt has been nullified by the process notified. Deferred first assessments shall be treated as a first attempt.
1.8Repeating periods of study
1.8.1A student who has not succeeded in redeeming previous failure via reassessment by resit may register, at the discretion of the Programme Assessment Board, to repeat the module(s) at the next available opportunity during the student’s next enrolment period (and normally complete within one year of the original failure).
1.8.2Complete reassessment in all components shall be required with the original marks not being taken forward or recombined with the repeat marks. In repeating a module, the student shall be eligible for reassessment by resit as set out in 1.7 above. This is subject to the module or an equivalent still being offered by the College. Students may not repeat a module to improve marks in a previously
passed module.
1.8.3Any reassessment required during the repeat period of study shall not be considered as deferred unless a student makes a submission and is granted a deferral under the extenuating circumstances procedure notified.
1.8.4Only one repeat opportunity shall be permitted for any module.
1.8.5Students may not repeat a module to improve marks in a previously passed module.
1.9Deferrals for extenuating circumstances
1.9.1Students who submit work for assessment or who sign the examinations attendance slip are declaring themselves fit to be assessed and no subsequent claim for extenuating circumstances shall normally be accepted.
1.9.2Any student has the right to draw the attention of the College to personal extenuating circumstances which seriously impair his/her ability to undertake an assessment, and to request an extension or deferral of the assessment. Requests for deferral on grounds of extenuating circumstances may only be made using the procedure notified, and must be accompanied by verifiable and current third party evidence.
(Please see Appendix 2)
1.9.3Deferred first assessments shall be treated as a first attempt.
1.9.4The deferral procedure is not an appropriate measure in respect of permanent or long-term conditions or situations. Students experiencing special long term difficulties arising from changes in their personal, medical or work circumstances may apply or be advised to interrupt their studies for up to 12 consecutive months according to the procedure notified. The period of interruption shall be included within the maximum registration period for the award. A student returning from a period of interruption of studies shall be subject to the Regulations that apply to the cohort being joined. Marks obtained up to the point of interruption shall stand.
1.9.5Work submitted after the specified deadline shall be awarded a mark of 0% or a fail grade as appropriate.
1.9.6Students who fail to submit work for assessment or attend examinations shall be deemed to have failed the assessments concerned and shall be recorded as absent.
1.10Conditions of award
1.10.1After the results of module assessments have been confirmed, an individual student shall automatically be entitled to the award achieved on the criteria listed in the Regulations, subject to satisfying any specific requirements of the course on which the student is registered.
1.10.2To be eligible for consideration for any particular award, a student must have
satisfied the following requirements by the end of the course (including any
additional constraints imposed by a Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body or
other external agency):
Academic AwardTHIS IS NOT A CASCADE OF AWARDS / Minimum credits to be passed
Total / Level Z** / Levels 1 or above / Levels 2or above / Level 3
or above
Degree with Honours / 360 / 120 / plus / 120 / plus / 120
Unclassified Degree / 300 / 120 / plus / 90 / plus / 90
HND / 240 / 120 / plus / 120
HNC / 120 / 120
Foundation Certificate / 120 / 120
1.10.3 The difference between total credit specified at a particular level and the total minimum credit may be met by modules at any level.