This guide is intended for all students studying a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) course at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2023-24. This includes taught Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip), Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

There are two sets of regulations depending on the date you registered with the University. All Postgraduate Taught students are on the Regulations for Taught Awards; however, if you commenced your studies before September 2019 there is a set of regulations within the Regulations for Taught Awards which are specific only to you and certain regulations which don’t apply to you. These are clearly signposted.

Section 4 of this guide provides information on reassessment for Postgraduate Taught students who started their course of study from September 2019.

If you started your course of prior to September 2019 you are on the Outgoing Regulations and this document sets out the regulations for your progression and reassessment.

If you are unsure which regulations you are on, please see Section 6 before reading further.

Students registered on a research degree, such as an MPhil, PhD, EdD, DClinPsychol or Master’s by Research should consult your research degree documentation. This guide does not cover Postgraduate Research.

Students studying for an Integrated Master’s degree should consult the Guide to Undergraduate Assessment and Award Processes.

Why is this guide important to you?

All courses are governed by University regulations and processes that are designed to ensure that courses are structured, delivered and assessed in a fair, consistent and transparent way.

Understanding these regulations and processes will help ensure you have a positive learning experience and the best opportunity to succeed.

This guide provides key information about how assessment is carried out, the formal steps involved in making a final award and the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework that governs Postgraduate Taught courses.

Using this guide

It is your responsibility to be aware of, and understand, the content within this guide.

Reading this guide as a whole will help you understand the regulations for assessment and awards. You will also find certain sections relevant at particular times of the year, for example, as you prepare for assessments.

Please refer to your Course/Module Handbook for specific information on your assessments. If there is anything that you are not sure about, or if you would like advice or support, contact your Course Team who will link you with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) (your Course Team can confirm who this is if you are unsure). Alternatively, you can email any queries to i-zone@canterbury.ac.uk.

Glossary of terms and definitions

To help you navigate this document, we have created a glossary of terms that can be accessed in Section 11. Each section also contains definitions relevant to what you are reading. Just click on the highlighted words to show the definition.

Section 1: this section will tell you about expectations of Postgraduate Taught study, what your learning involves, types of courses and credit requirements, regulations for Individual Study.

What are the expectations of Postgraduate Taught Study?

As a Postgraduate Taught student, you are making the transition to becoming a subject expert. In doing so you will have the opportunity to develop more in-depth command and understanding of subject knowledge and skills. You will be expected to engage in research and structured enquiry to a greater extent than at Undergraduate study. You will be producing more insightful work within your discipline.

Some Postgraduate qualifications lead to eligibility to apply for a particular professional registration or employment. You will be told about this in the course information.

Regardless of the type of Postgraduate Taught course, we expect you to develop an increasingly critical view and application of the areas you are studying. Across all Postgraduate courses, there is an expectation that you will undertake more self-directed and independent study. Your timetable will depend on your course.

Throughout your Postgraduate studies, you will be part of the Postgraduate academic community. We would expect you to continue to develop your transferable skills and graduate attributes. Particularly important are critical thinking, writing skills, analytical skills and the ability to reflect on your own learning journey.

What am I expected to learn?

Each Postgraduate Taught course has been designed to enable you to gain specific knowledge and skills that meet the course learning outcomes as detailed in your Course Handbook.

There are set learning outcomes that you must achieve to complete your modules in order to progress through your course and achieve an award or credits.

Throughout your modules, you will undertake regular assessment activities that will test your achievement of the learning outcomes. Assessment can be both summative and formative, and you can learn more in Section 2.

Fig.1 shows how all modules are constructed. You can see how the learning outcomes relate to the final assessment and your learning and teaching activities.

Fig.1: Building blocks of modules

What activities will make up my learning?

A variety of activities will be used in class, on Blackboard (the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)) and through other digital and physical means, to support your development of the knowledge, skills and attributes that allow you to meet the requirements of your course.

Fig.2: Possible learning activities

Some of these activities will occur in many of your modules, while others will be specific to one or two modules, whose titles will reflect the nature of the learning. For example, an Individual study module will consist of independent learning with guidance from a supervisor. Learning related to the workplace may occur in a number of different forms and be embedded in many of your modules. In some courses, you may have a placement or a work-based learning module where you attend a workplace for a significant portion of your learning.

How many credits do I need to achieve my Postgraduate Taught award?

Each course consists of modules that together have a total value of credits as set out in FIG.3. Modules typically have a value of 20, 40 (or occasionally 10) credits. MA and MSc awards often include a dissertation or Individual Study which will be 40 or 60 credits.

You must always check that you are studying the correct amount of credits. If you are not sure, refer to your Course/Module Handbook or talk to your Course team including your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) as soon as possible.

There are a number of Postgraduate Taught awards available. Your award will be based on the course that you are studying and the type of award that you registered to complete.

Fig.3: Postgraduate taught awards

If you do not achieve a pass in all the required credits on your first attempt, you will normally be entitled to further reassessment attempts in order to give you the opportunity to achieve a pass.

For further information on reassessment, see Section 3. If you registered on your course prior to September 2019 see the Outgoing Regulations.

You may receive an award at a lower level than for which you registered. If you have not fully passed your course, you may have achieved sufficient credits for an interim award. For example, if you registered for and are studying for a MA but do not achieve the full 180 credits and leave the course with 60 credits, you would be eligible to receive a PGCert. When you exit a course, you will receive a transcript of any credits achieved and, if you are eligible, any interim award.

How is my Postgraduate Taught course and academic year structured?

Course Structure

Your course is made up of a series of modules (usually of 20 credits each) which allow you to achieve the set learning outcomes (see sections 1.1 and 1.3). In some courses, all modules are core whilst in others, you have a mixture of core and optional modules. Core modules are those that the University has deemed essential to the achievement of the learning outcomes of the course, which means that all students on the course need to study them. Optional modules allow you to focus on a preferred area within your domain of study, or to discover a new topic. If your course offers optional modules, then at set points you will be required to select your preferred modules.

Academic Year Structure

Your course may be delivered over one or more academic years. Some University courses operate on a semester academic calendar where each year is divided into two semesters. Some operate on a trimester or term-based academic calendar where each year is divided into three trimesters or terms. Some academic calendars also include additional weeks designed to provide you with time away from your studies to support your academic learning and personal development. Your Course/Module Handbook will clarify which academic calendar your course is on. You can view all the academic calendars here.

What are the rules for Dissertations or Individual Study?

A Master's degree will usually include a dissertation or Individual Study module of 40 or 60 credits at Level 7. Where a Master's degree includes both sizes, you will be permitted to take a maximum of 60 credits on such modules.

Section 2: This section will tell you about Postgraduate taught assessment and the marking process, including what assessment involves, when and how you are assessed and given feedback, how your assessment activities are submitted, how your assessment activities are marked, the requirements for passing modules (pass threshold), and what happens if you do not meet the pass requirements (pass threshold)

What does assessment involve?

You can expect to be assessed in each module of your course.

During assessment, you are tested on your ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that have been set out in the learning outcomes for a module.

See Fig1 in 1.2 to understand more about how learning outcomes relate to your final assessment.

There are two types of assessment you will encounter: formative and summative:

• Formative assessment can take place throughout your module. It might take the same form as the summative assessment or test specific knowledge e.g. it could be an online or in-class quiz or questions in a seminar or tutorial. You may be given a mark for this assessment, but it will not contribute to your overall module mark.

Formative assessment provides you with feedback and an opportunity for you to see how well you are doing and what you need to do to improve in advance of your summative assessment(s).

• Summative assessment(s) - following this assessment, you will receive a mark that comprises or contributes to your overall module mark. The mark is based on set marking criteria, which can be found in your Course/Module Handbook. What that mark means and how it is agreed is covered in 2.8.

What form does an assessment take?

Your learning is assessed in a number of ways so that you, and the University, can be sure that you are gaining the required skills, knowledge and marks to enable you to progress and achieve your desired award. The main categories are Examinations, Practicals, Coursework, and Set Exercises.

Fig.4: Four main ways your work may be assessed

Depending on the assessment activity, you could be assessed as an individual or as part of a group. The assessment could occur in a placement or work-based learning setting.

Whatever form the assessment takes, the key thing is that it must allow you to demonstrate the learning outcomes of the module. You must make sure that you understand the learning outcomes and are clear about what is expected of you.

Information and guidance about the learning outcomes and the assessments you will be required to complete for your modules are available in your Course/Module Handbook and via your Module Tutor.

If I have a placement, how will I be assessed?

Assessment of placement is as important as any other assessment activity you may undertake. It allows your course to assess a number of things, for example:

• How you have applied knowledge and theory in different settings
• What activities you have done and the learning you have gained from them
• How you have experienced a placement and reflected upon it

Your assessment may also include an assessment of practice competencies or standards.

Placement assessment may take place during or after your placement. It may be carried out by one of your tutors or by someone who works at your placement who has specific expertise in that area. Some placement assessments have a mark and some are pass/fail, depending on your module and course. Placement assessments may be subject to different reassessment regulations and it is important that you check your course regulations carefully.

When do my assessments take place?

Assessment is an ongoing process throughout your course.

Depending on the course and modules you undertake, assessment activities could be spread throughout each module. You may also be assessed at the end of a module, semester/trimester (depending on the academic calendar for your course). For Apprenticeship qualifications, there is an additional assessment point after completion of the academic qualification. This is called an End Point Assessment (EPA).

At the beginning of each semester/trimester, you will be provided with written details of the assessment activities and the methods of assessment and formal feedback that will be used. This will normally be provided in your Course/Module Handbook and on the Blackboard module site and information will include:

• Descriptions of each assessment activity
• Suggested reading lists
• A schedule of assessment activities including the completion and submission dates and the dates by which you will receive formal feedback
• Feedback methods

Where details of assessment activities are not available in your Course /Module Handbook or Blackboard, they will be confirmed to you in an alternative form.

Where your assessment includes examinations, your Course Team will notify you in advance of the formal arrangements.

It is important to ensure you know the dates for your course, including when your classes start and end, the specific times that you are required to attend the University and formal assessment and reassessment periods (you can learn more in the Student Engagement Policy). Assessment periods vary depending on the academic calendar your course follows, which is stated in your Course Handbook.

To learn more about your Academic calendar and accessing your personal student timetable, please speak with your Course Team and check the student webpages.

How do I submit assessment activities?

Your Course/Module Handbook will contain specific information about the process for submission of work and completion of assessment activities.

You will normally be asked to submit your coursework assessment activities through Turnitin. This online service also allows you to upload draft versions of your assessments prior to final submission, and is designed to help you and your tutors check your work for originality and help guard against plagiarism.

What happens if I am unable to complete my assessment activity on time?

It is important that you complete all your assessments on time. There are firm assessment submission deadlines with penalties for late submission of work unless you have been granted an extension or deferral.

Assessments usually have a deadline of 2pm on the day of the deadline published in the Module Handbook and Blackboard.

Late Penalties

In the case of late submission of coursework without an approved exceptional circumstance, the work will be penalised. The last submission of assessed work will only be permitted for a period of 2 working days (working days are defined as Monday to Friday). The penalty for late submission within the allowable period will be a flat 10% of the available marks. After 2 working days late, a mark of 0 will be recorded and the work will be considered a non-submission.

The deduction will reduce the mark to no less than the pass mark, where the work would otherwise have passed. 

The submission deadline is 2pm on the date due. The application of penalty starts after 2:01pm on the day of the published deadline. For example, for late assessments, a penalty of 10 percent will be applied from 2:01pm on the day of the published deadline until 2pm on the second working day. The calculation of “working days” is Monday to Friday.

The penalty may differ for assessments that are only marked as pass/fail and for assessments that must meet specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. In these cases, you will find details of the penalties in your Course/Module Handbook.

Failure to attend an examination without approved exceptional circumstances will automatically result in a mark of 0%.

Extensions and Deferrals

The University has a variety of mechanisms to support students who are experiencing issues when undertaking assessments. If you have a problem or concern, it is important to contact your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) as soon as possible to ensure you get the right support. Support is also available from the University’s Support Service, email: studentsupport@canterbury.ac.uk

Sometimes there may be circumstances that affect your ability to undertake an assessment. For short-term problems affecting you for up to 1-2 weeks, you may be eligible to apply for a self-certification extension or an evidence-based extension (or an alternative date if it is a timed assessment) through Exceptional Circumstances. To find out more about Exceptional Circumstances and access to the forms you need to complete to submit a request, view the Exceptional Circumstances webpages.

For medium and longer-term issues there are also support mechanisms in place for which you may be eligible.

Contact your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) for advice. Or View the Exceptional Circumstances webpages.

Following the formal dates set for confirming module results, if the University grants you an extension that sets a new submission or examination date this is called a deferral (read more in 2.8). Where your first attempt at an assessment is deferred, your marks will not be capped when you take that attempt. In most cases, you must complete your deferred assessments within the same academic year in which you first study the module. If not, you will lose a reassessment attempt (for more information, see 4.5. if you registered from Sept 2019, or the Outgoing Regulations if you registered prior to Sept 2019).

How will be given feedback on my assessments?

Feedback is provided in a number of forms and delivered in different ways. It could be verbal or written, online or paper; it can come from your Module Tutor or your fellow students depending on the type of assessment and the marking criteria (these can be found in your Course/Module Handbook).

The aim is to provide you with timely and useful feedback within 15 working days of the submission date. For certain modules and assessment activities such as dissertations, extended projects, Individual Study, formal examinations and work submitted after the deadline, there is an extended period for feedback.

How are assessments marked?

The marking process for your assessment activities is rigorous and thorough and is based on approved marking criteria as detailed in your Course/Module Handbook.

Marking is carried out by examiners approved by Canterbury Christ Church University and is then reviewed by subject specialists from other institutions (External Examiners) who are part of a formally convened body (a Board of Examiners) that is responsible for confirming students’ marks and progression and granting awards.

Fig.5: Key stages when marking your assessments

What is the pass mark?

The pass mark for a Postgraduate Taught module is 50%. In addition, in order to complete an award, your calculated average overall mark must be 50% or greater.

The mark you receive for each module studied is calculated based on what you receive for each individual assessment that you have completed. Each mark is given an assessment weighting and this is used to calculate your final mark for each module. There may be some professional modules where some or all of the assessments are pass/fail and no marks assigned.

There are some modules where you need to pass all assessments in the module, in order to meet specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. Where this is applicable, details will be provided in your Course/Module Handbook.

Fig.6: Examples of module mark calculations based on assessment weightings.

These examples illustrate the calculation of a module mark based on two assessments where one is coursework, while the other is an examination (the assessment weightings vary).

*If you meet certain criteria, this may be eligible for compensation (see 3.2 for more information).

Do I need to achieve a pass in every module?

Yes. You must normally achieve a pass (50% or greater) in each of your modules in order to achieve the required number of credits for your award.

To understand more about the number of credits required for your award see 1.5.

For modules studied from September 2019, if you do not achieve 50% or greater in a module you may be granted a compensated pass for a limited number of credits if you meet certain specific conditions.  You can learn more about compensation in 3.2.

What are the possible outcomes following the marking process?

At the end of a semester/trimester you will be given formal notification of the marking outcomes for the modules completed.

The possible outcomes are:

• passed modules and continue with your course
• did not pass a module(s) and undertake reassessment. The timing of this will be confirmed to you in writing. In most cases, you will continue with your new modules while preparing for reassessment
• did not pass a module(s) and you have exhausted your reassessment opportunities and are required to withdraw.

How will I find out my module results?

Details on how you will receive your results will be set out in your Course Handbook.

This section will tell you about the requirements to achieve an award, and compensation.

What must I do to achieve an Award?

Your course is made up of modules (learn more in Section 1).

You must normally pass all of your modules in order to achieve the intended award unless you are granted Compensation (learn more about compensation in 3.2). The decision about your achievement will be made by a Board of Examiners who make all decisions about students’ module marks and achievements, and have to adhere to the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework. A Progression and Award Board of Examiners will consider your total mark profile before confirming the decision about your achievement.

What is passing with compensation?

Compensation is available for a maximum of 20 credits on awards of 120 credits or greater i.e. PG Dip or above.

If you are unsure whether Compensation applies to your course or module studied, please consult your Course/Module Handbook, or speak to your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

Compensation is only applied after all reassessment opportunities have been offered and a Progression and Award Board of Examiners confirms that:

For an award of 120 credits you have met all of the following criteria:

• Passed modules to the value of at least 100 credits and
• Obtained a mark of at least 40% in any failed module up to 20 credits and
• Obtained an average mark of 50% or greater for all modules contributing to your award.

For an award of 180 credits you have met all of the following criteria:

• Passed modules to the value of at least 160 credits and
• Obtained a mark of at least 40% in any failed module up to 20 credits and
• Obtained an average mark of 50% or greater for all modules contributing to your award.

Compensation is only applied when the full profile of marks covering all credits for an award are available to the Progression and Award Board of Examiners and all reassessment opportunities have been taken.

The actual mark for the compensated module will be included on your Academic Summary and official transcripts with the letters ‘CP’ to denote a Compensated Pass.

You cannot be compensated for part of a module or for a 40 or 60-credit module.

Fig.8: Examples that illustrate when compensation does and does not apply (where applicable within a course)

This example is based on a PGDip made up of 120 credits.

Which Regulations am I on?

Before reading about reassessment, make sure you know which regulations apply to you.

There are two sets of regulations depending on the date that you registered with the University. All Postgraduate Taught students are on the Regulations for Taught Awards.

Section 4: This section will tell you about the types of reassessment available, the timing of reassessment, and reassessment with attendance (RWA).

The University recognised that Covid-19 had an impact your lives, your studies and potentially your assessments. As a result of the pandemic, and at key points since 23 March 2020, you may have experienced:

• changes in your teaching, learning and assessment and you may have undertaken these changes in the context of other significant challenges.
• Reduced ability to engage with assessment.

The University sought to respond in a compassionate, fair and transparent way, which supported student wellbeing and protected the integrity of your degree award to ensure your continued future success.

What is reassessment?

Reassessment provides you with a further opportunity to take and pass an assessment activity that you have attempted but not yet passed.

If you are granted a reassessment, this is known as a referral.  When you undertake reassessment, your mark for that reassessment activity will be capped at the pass mark (50%).

Under certain conditions, you may be granted an approved delay known as a deferral.  Where your first attempt at an assessment is deferred, your marks for that attempt will not be capped. In most cases, you must complete your deferred assessment within the same academic year in which you first studied the module.  If not, you will lose one of your two reassessment attempts.

There are two types of reassessment:

• Reassessment: a further attempt at completing and passing an assessment activity, normally by submitting an improved form of your original work or taking another examination with different questions on the same subject.
• Reassessment with Attendance (RWA): a further attempt at completing and passing assessment activities that require you to reattend and undertake reassessment in the modules that you have not yet passed, in the next academic year. This is to ensure you have sufficient learning to complete reassessment successfully.

What does reassessment involve?

The University's Regulation and Credit Framework governs how you are reassessed. Reassessment can take many forms and will depend on how you were assessed for your original assessment activity:

• If you have not achieved a pass in your coursework, you will normally be required to submit an improved form of your original work for your reassessment
• If you have not passed an examination, you will normally be required to take another examination but you will be required to complete different questions on the same subject

Other reassessments will be offered according to the type of assessment activity or according to an approved variation. Your Course/Module Handbook will set out the requirements for reassessment.

If I have a placement, how will I be reassessed?

Placement assessments may be subject to different reassessment rules and regulations (for example, whether or not you can re-attend a placement).

It is important that you check any Additional Course Regulations that apply to your course carefully.

The form of reassessment for your placement will vary based on the nature of your original placement assessment. For some reassessments, you may be able to improve your original assessment or undertake an alternative form of assessment. In some cases, you will only be able to be reassessed by re-attending a placement.

How many reassessment attempts do I have?

Students have the right to two reassessment attempts. The first reassessment attempt will normally take place in the same academic year and you will not be expected to re-attend the module.

The second reassessment attempt is dependent on the marks you achieve following your first attempt. If you have achieved a mark of 40-49%, your reassessment will take place in the next assessment period without attendance.

If you have achieved a module mark below 40%, you will need to take Reassessment with Attendance (RWA) in the following academic year (read more in 4.7).

Fig.9: Summary of Reassessment Opportunities

When do I take my reassessment?

You are required to undertake your first reassessment in the next formal assessment period of your academic calendar. This is normally at the end of the next trimester, semester or term, or, for modules in the final semester/trimester, in the reassessment period for your academic calendar. The specific dates for reassessment will be set out in your Course/Module Handbook or confirmed when your results are released.

Your second reassessment attempt, if required, will normally take place in the following academic year to your first reassessment attempt. The precise timing will be dependent on the outcome of your first reassessment (see 4.4).

FIG.10 and FIG.11 below illustrate the timing of your first reassessment in semesters and trimesters.

What is Reassessment with Attendance (RWA)?

After your first reassessment attempt, if your module mark is between 0-39%, the final assessment attempt (reassessment) must be taken as Reassessment with Attendance. This means a final attempt at completing and passing the assessment activities, requiring you to re-attend (in the following academic year) those modules that you have not yet passed.

How does Reassessment with Attendance work if my original module has changed?

Course teams make regular enhancements to your modules to ensure that your course remains current, aligns with recent research and provides you the best learning support. To minimise disruption to your experience, there are regulations to support how Reassessment with Attendance should be undertaken when a module has changed.

Most changes fall into three broad categories, summarised in Fig.12 below. Occasionally a module will be replaced by a different module, in those circumstances you will be granted additional assessment attempts that will still be capped in line with reassessment regulations.

If you are undertaking Reassessment with Attendance, you are expected to meet with your course team to review and discuss what happens next.

FIG.12: How Reassessment With Attendance (RWA) works when there are changes to a module

What are the conditions for reassessment?

There are two important conditions relating to reassessment.

1. reassessment must be taken on the specified date(s).
2. the University Regulations state in 13.18 of the Regulations for Taught Awards:

‘Where a component of assessment has not been passed after the first opportunity for reassessment, a student has a right to a second reassessment opportunity in all referred components of assessment, only where:

• the regulations in 13.44 (related to placement reassessment) do not apply.

What mark will I receive if I have to undertake reassessment?

If you undertake reassessment, your mark for that reassessment activity is capped at the pass mark. This includes any deferred reassessment attempts. However, please note that for a deferral your first assessment attempt is not capped.

Fig.13: Examples to show how capping is applied to reassessment.

In all examples, there are two assessments each worth 50% of the total module mark

*In the case where a student is disadvantaged by the assessment level cap (i.e. when the student fails all components of assessment in a module and does not pass some components after reassessment), the reassessment cap will be applied at module level.

In 2019-20, the University put in place a ‘No Detriment Policy’ to ensure that the outcome you received for academic year 2019-20 would take into account any impact the Covid-19 pandemic may have had on your assessed work.

For those of you who continued your Postgraduate Taught studies from the 2019-20 academic year and are eligible to achieve an award, the No Detriment calculation applied in 2019-20 will be taken into account as part of your award classification.

You can read more on the No Detriment Policy and how it was applied below.

For those of you who registered before September 2019, please visit the Outgoing Regulations for more information about the reassessment regulations that apply to you.

This section sets out the different University regulations that govern Postgraduate Taught courses to help you understand why the regulations are relevant, which regulations apply to you and where to learn more about the regulations.

What are the University Regulations and why do I need to know?

The University’s Regulation and Credit Framework governs all courses and awards. This ensures each course and award is structured, delivered and assessed fairly, consistently and transparently.

The Regulation and Credit Framework covers a number of areas including – General, Taught Awards, Research Awards and Additional Course Regulations.

Some of the most important information for you right now is likely to be the detail relating to assessment outlined below.

It is important to familiarise yourself with the Postgraduate Taught assessment regulations that apply to your learning, so that you understand:

• How and when your work is assessed
• Your entitlement to reassessment opportunities
• The timing of reassessment
• The requirements for passing assessment activities and modules (pass threshold)
• The conditions relating to reassessment

The University has different Regulations that govern Postgraduate Taught assessment:

• those for Postgraduate Taught students who registered at the University prior to September 2019 (see the Outgoing Regulations for more information)
• and those for Postgraduate Taught students who registered at the University from September 2019 (see Section 4 for more information)

Where the regulations differ, this is made clear in the Regulations for Taught Awards.

Which assessment regulations apply to me?

The Postgraduate Taught assessment regulations were reviewed in 2018-19 in consultation with students and a number of changes were introduced in order to benefit Postgraduate Taught students. To support continuity of learning, limited changes apply to students who registered on their Postgraduate Taught Course of study prior to September 2019.

The differences in regulations are clearly indicated in the Regulations for Taught Awards.

This section details the Postgraduate Taught awards that can be awarded by Canterbury Christ Church University and how they are classified, to help you understand the requirements for passing awards (pass thresholds) and the outcome you could achieve at the end of your course, and how the classifications for awards are calculated.

What types of Postgraduate Taught Awards and classifications are there?

The University offers a range of Postgraduate Taught awards, which are classified in different ways. In all cases, classifications are based on the criteria set out in the University’s Regulation and Credit Framework.

Except for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), the classification operates in the following way for Postgraduate Taught Awards:

Each module is graded Fail/Pass/Merit/Distinction based on a rounded mark. The award is then classified by taking into account the number of Pass/Merit/Distinction marks you have achieved. For the PGCE and PGDE, once you have achieved a pass in all the credits for your award your final classification is calculated using your raw module marks.

Under no circumstances does an examiner or Board of Examiners have discretion to change individual marks.

Fig.15: The regulations for postgraduate taught awards and classification

What happens if you cannot complete your award?

There could be a range of reasons why you are unable to complete your award as planned.

If you do not achieve an overall pass, a Progression and Award Board of Examiners will offer you a set number of reassessment opportunities in line with the University's Regulation and Credit Framework. In some instances, these may require you to re-attend a module (see Sections 4 and 5 for reassessment options and eligibility based on your year of registration with the University).

If you think you are unable to continue because of personal reasons or difficult circumstances, you should seek advice and talk through your options for taking a break from your studies with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and the student wellbeing services. If you decide to take a break (formally known as an interrupt) or withdraw, you must meet certain conditions, including deadline dates for making changes. You will need to confirm your decision by completing a change of study request by visiting the changes to study webpage.

In some cases, it may be necessary to withdraw from your studies before achieving your intended award. In these circumstances, you would receive a transcript of the modules studied/credits achieved and you may be eligible for an interim award. For example, if you leave an MSc or MA after completing 60 credits, you may be eligible to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert); if you leave after completing 120 credits, you may be eligible to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip).

It’s important that you complete your assessments (including exams) on time, and there is a wide range of support available to help you to do so. However, if you experience unexpected short-term personal difficulties, you may be able to request a coursework extension or a further chance to take an exam or time-constrained assessment.

If you are experiencing a short term (1-2 weeks), unexpected and unavoidable disruption to your studies (e.g. you have been ill or have difficult personal circumstances), which means that you have missed or are likely to miss an assessment/reassessment deadline, you may be able to request an extension or another opportunity for that assessment. Exceptional Circumstances can be used for both coursework and examinations/time-specific assessments.

Extensions or further opportunities granted through Exceptional Circumstances are not an automatic right. For an Exceptional Circumstances request to be approved you must have:

• an acceptable reason
• apply on time
• not have exhausted your request opportunities, and
• provide evidence if required.

The Exceptional Circumstances procedures include three ways you can apply for support if you experience a short-term issue (self-certification, an evidenced-based extension, and impaired performance).

If you are experiencing a medium-term or long-term personal difficulty (not related to disability), you may be eligible for additional support via a:

• Temporary Learning Agreement (TLA), designed to help you manage your learning, so that you can successfully complete your level or stage of study within your current academic year.

If you have evidence of a recognised disability and/or long-term serious medical or psychological condition that’s been diagnosed by a medical professional, you’re likely to be entitled to a as part of an overall support package. A learning or placement support plan is tailor-made plan for any student with a recognised disability and/or long term or serious medical or psychological condition. The plans set out specific support and arrangements to help you succeed:

• Learning Support Plan (LSP), depending on your circumstances.

To ensure you are able to benefit from any support, you are encouraged to talk to a member of your course team/Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and also someone from the Student Support, Health and Wellbeing team, find out more on Support Services.

This section outlines the procedures the University has in place to enable you to make appeals and complaints.

There may be circumstances where you feel you have grounds to appeal against the decision-making process of a University body.

Before making an academic appeal, you need to be clear whether you have grounds for appealing and ensure that you follow the appeals process.

It is also important to know that you are expected to submit an academic appeal within 10 working days from the official publication of results by the awarding body; the late application may mean the University is unable to consider your request. You should therefore ensure that you read through the academic appeals procedure and raise any concerns at the earliest point with the Early Resolution & Case Handling Team.

If you feel you want to make an appeal, support and guidance is available from the Students’ Union Advice Centre.

The student complaints procedure provides you with an opportunity to raise, individually or collectively, matters of proper concern.

Most complaints can be resolved informally. Please raise the matter initially, as soon as possible, with either the member of staff concerned or that person’s immediate supervisor or manager. If after these steps you do not believe the issue has been resolved, a formal complaints process can be followed.

If you would like support in considering how to take forward any concerns you have, you can speak first to your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), a member of your Course Team or your Student Representative. Support is also available from the Student Wellbeing Services, find out more on Support Services.

For further information about University regulations, procedures and support, visit the following web pages:

Assessment procedures including University procedures and regulations:

• Regulation and Credit Framework

Student procedures:

• Appeals
• Exceptional Circumstances
• Temporary Learning Agreements (TLA)
• Learning Support Plan (LSP)
• Complaints
• Academic Misconduct

Other useful links:

• Apprenticeships
• i-zone FAQs
• Policy Zone
• Study Support
• Supporting you to Succeed
• Students’ Union Advice Centre