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

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION (PG CERT)
Pass 50%+	Complete satisfactorily the requirements of the award on which a student is registered, and pass modules to the value of 60 credits at Level 7

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN HIGHER EDUCATION (PG DIP)
Pass 50% - 59%	Complete satisfactorily the requirements of the award on which a student is registered, and pass modules to the value of 120 credits at Level 7.
Merit 60% - 69%	For the Postgraduate Diploma (except where there is advanced standing of more than 40 credits), where a student passes the award and does not achieve a Distinction, but achieves a Merit or higher in the best 80 credits the award of Merit will be made. For the Postgraduate Diploma where there is advanced standing of more than 40 credits (and there are no arrangements to import marks), where a student passes the award and does not achieve a Distinction in the best 60 credits, but achieves a Merit or higher in the best 60 credits the award of Merit will be made.
Distinction 70% and above	For the Postgraduate Diploma (except where there is advanced standing of more than 40 credits), where a student passes the award and achieves a Distinction in the best 80 credits the award of Distinction will be made. For the Postgraduate Diploma where there is advanced standing of more than 40 credits (and there are no arrangements to import marks), where a student passes the award and achieves a Distinction in the best 60 credits the award of Distinction will be made.
MA/MSc/MMUS/MBA/MCh/MEd/MTL
Pass 50% - 59%	Pass at least 180 credits at Level 7. Pass an extended module/dissertation at Level 7.
Merit 60% - 69%	A student must achieve a Merit in the best 120 credits OR achieve a Merit in the 60 credits that comprise (a) the Dissertation, Individual Study or equivalent OR (b) both a 40 credit Dissertation, Individual Study and 20 credit Research Methods module or their equivalent.
Distinction 70% and above	A student must achieve a Distinction in the best 120 credits OR achieve a Distinction in the 60 credits that comprise (a) the Dissertation, Individual Study or equivalent OR (b) both a 40 credit Dissertation, Individual Study and 20 credit Research Methods module or their equivalent.
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (PGCE)
Pass 50% - 59% (for those who started their PGCE *before* September 2024)	Pass modules to the value of 60 credits, or which 40 credits must be passed at Level 7, and the remainder may be passed at Level 6. Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
Distinction 70% and above (for those who started their PGCE *before* September 2024)	Where a student passes the award and achieves an average mark of at least 70% across the best two modules at Level 7, where neither of these modules has a module mark of lower than 60%, the award of Distinction will be made.
Pass 50% - 59% (for those who started their PGCE *after* September 2024)	Pass modules to the value of 60 credits, of which 30 credits must be passed at Level 7, and the remainder may be passed at Level 6 Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
Merit 60-69% (for those who started their PGCE *after* September 2024)	Achieve an average mark of between 60-69% across the 60 credits of the award at Level 7, where no module has a module mark lower than 50%. Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
Distinction 70% and above (for those who started their PGCE *after* September 2024)	Achieve an average mark of at least 70% across the 60 credits of the award at Level 7, where no module has a module mark lower than 60%. Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (ProfGCE)
Pass (for those who started their ProfGCE *before* September 2024)	Pass modules to the value of 60 credits, of which at least 40 credits must be passed at Level 6, and the remainder must be passed a least at Level 6. Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
Pass (for those who started their ProfGCE *after* September 2024)	Pass modules to the value of 60 credits, of which at least 30 credits must be passed at Level 6, and the remainder must be passed at least at Level 6 Complete successfully any required professional placement, including the submission of the requisite evidence to support the professional placement, whether such evidence is required before, during or after the completion of the placement.
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION (PGDE)
Pass 50% - 59%	Pass modules to the value of 120 credits all of which must be at Level 7.
Merit 60% - 69%	For the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (except where there is advanced standing of 60 credits), where a student passes the award and does not achieve a Distinction, but achieves a Merit or higher in the best 90 credits the award of Merit will be made. For the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, where there is advanced standing of 60 credits (and there are no arrangements to import marks), where a student passes the award and does not achieve a Distinction in the best 60 credits, but achieves a Merit or higher in the best 60 credits the award of Merit will be made.
Distinction 70% and above	For the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (except where there is advanced standing of 60 credits), where a student passes the award and achieves a Distinction in the best 90 credits the award of Distinction will be made. For the Postgraduate Diploma in Education where there is advanced standing of 60 credits (and there are no arrangements to import marks), where a student passes the award and achieves a Distinction in the best 60 credits the award of Distinction will be made.