Plymouth University
Certification of Awards and Supplementary Certification
1.CERTIFICATION – CURRENT STUDENTS
1.1CERTIFICATE OF AWARD
The Certificate of Award granted under the University’s Regulations will record:
aThe name of the University of Plymouth and where appropriate of the partner institution at which the student was registered;
bthe student's name;
cthe award;
dthe title of the programme;
ean approved endorsement, where appropriate, that:
the programme of study was in the sandwich mode;
the award is made with distinction in one or more spoken elements for a foreign language course.
fthe certificate will bear the signature of the Vice-Chancellor and the University Secretary and Registrar
gThe certificate will be produced by the Registry (Examinations and Awards Office).
1.2SUPPLEMENTARY CERTIFICATION
1.2.1Transcript
1.2.1.1A Transcript will be issued to all students who successfully complete any elements of an approved programme of study by the parent Faculty or School or approved partner institution, after each Assessment Board meeting.
1.2.1.2The Transcript will indicate:
athe name of the student;
bthe academic year of study to which the Transcript refers and date of issue;
cthe elements of study successfully completed, with details of level and mark/grade achieved, together with the Credit points awarded.
dThe Transcript will incorporate a brief explanation of the University's Credit System scheme and may be used to negotiate admission with credit to another approved programme of study either within the University or at another institution of higher education.
1.2.1.3Transcripts will be produced by Faculty Offices and will be signed, on behalf of the University by the University Secretary and Registrar or their approved nominee - normally the relevant Faculty Business Manager.
1.2.2Certificate of Industrial/Professional Experience
Students who satisfactorily complete either an optional or required period of industrial/professional experience receive Certificates of Industrial/Professional Experience. The required period of placement will be specified in the definitive programme documentation. The Certificate is only available on programmes requiring a minimum placement period of 12 uninterrupted weeks.
2.CERTIFICATION – FORMER STUDENTS
2.1DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF AWARD
A student who has lost a certificate of award should contact the Awards Office of the Registry for the appropriate form of application for a duplicate.
2.2TRANSCRIPTS (Historical)
Official (historical) transcripts are produced by the Examinations Office of the Registry for former students applying for entry to, for example, postgraduate courses, or for exemption from the requirements of professional bodies. Transcripts will be signed by the Academic Registrar.
3.SHORT COURSES AND CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE
3.1Faculties or Schools may issue, at their discretion a Certificate of Attendance or a Certificate of Completion of a short course. The wording appearing on such certificates of short course completion will normally record
aThe full name of the student
bThe fact that he/she has completed the named programme of study
cSubjects studied
dDates attended/duration of the programme of study
eThe date of completion or production of the certificate
3.2The certificate may be signed by the Programme Manager, the Head of School or the Dean of Faculty as appropriate. Under no circumstances may the certificate imply that the student has gained a named award, hence the word 'certificate', if used, may not appear alone. The word 'certificate' must always be followed by 'of attendance' or 'of completion of [programme]'. In the case of a student completing as a short course a module which forms part of a named award programme, the certificate may not imply that the student has partially satisfied the criteria for the named award.
3.3The issuing Faculty or School must keep a record of certificates issued and the University's Examinations Officer (Academic Registrar) will be responsible for periodic monitoring of the issue of certificates of short course completion/attendance to ensure adherence to the standards set out above.
- CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
4.1With effect from 2003/4 Facultiesor Schools may award a Certificate of Achievement for [1]
- students successfully completing the Earn and Learn Scheme, Volunteering Scheme or the Students' Union Course Rep Training
- students studying modules worth at least 20 credits outwith an award (provided that the module assessments were successfully completed)
4.2The Certificate of Achievement will normally record
aThe full name of the student
bThe fact that he/she has successfully completed the Earn and Learn Scheme/Volunteering Scheme/Course Rep Training/Modules
cDetails of modules/what has been studied
dDates attended/duration of training
eThe date of completion or production of the certificate
Under no circumstances may the certificate imply that the student has gained a named award, hence the word 'certificate' must always be followed by 'of achievement'.
4.3The Certificate of Achievement may be signed by the Head of School or the Dean of Faculty as appropriate.
4.4The issuing Faculty or School must keep a record of certificates issued and the University's Examinations Officer (Academic Registrar) will be responsible for periodic monitoring of the issue of certificates of achievement to ensure adherence to the standards set out above.
Approved by the Academic Board 13 December 1993, with minor amendments
August 1995, July 1997, July 1999, October 2001; September 2002;
Minor corrections October 2003, October 2006
1
Plymouth University Academic Regulations and Notes for Guidance - Taught Programmes (2011/12 Edition v.1)
[1]Note: the award of the Certificate of Achievement for students failing to quality for an award has been removed from these regulations. (Note: A Certificate of Achievement is available for those students who have failed to complete an HNC/HND programme, but this document is produced by the Registry – see “Regulatory Framework for Undergraduate Awards”)