Your responsibilities
What you need to know about the regulations
Recently we made some changes to our regulations, and it's important that you understand what they are and what they might mean for you. The changes will allow you to:
- be clear on your responsibility for your own learning experience
- enhance the skills that'll be vital for your future career
- help you keep on track with your studies so you can progress through your course at the right pace, and not have to worry about catching up or paying extra to retake modules
- not be disadvantaged by the extra work that comes with repeating or having to study extra modules.
You can find the 2012/13 regulations at 3Rs (Rights, Responsibilities and Regulations) but here's a summary of the most important points for you.
» Attempting assessments first time
You have to submit work for all the assessments (coursework and exams) for each of the modules you're registered on. For a full time student this is 120 credits. You'll need to pass at least 100 credits in a stage to progress to the next. If you don't, you'll have to return part time to complete the stage.
Why?
We want you to be successful and to take responsibility for your own learning and achievement. Attempting your assessments, on time, first time will help keep you on track to complete your course when you expect to.
» Referrals
We won't normally offer referrals on any assessment that hasn't been attempted the first time.
Why?
We want you to attempt all your assessments first time, on time. Referrals should be supportive in giving you a second chance at something you've possibly narrowly failed first time. If it's coursework, you'll get feedback from the first attempt to help you with the referral work. If it's an exam, you'll have had an experience of what the exam was like first time to plan and revise for the referral.
You can't get that from not attempting it at all. Referrals are capped at 40%, but that's a pass mark, and if your module is made up of a couple of pieces of coursework, or coursework and an exam, it's only the referred piece that gets 40%.
» Retaking whole modules
You'll only be entitled to a full retake of a module once, and you can only retake one 20 credit module alongside your next level of study. Any more, and you'll have to retake them as a part time student.
Why?
We want you to keep on track with your study. Having to retake a whole module means considerably more work for you in your next year of study. Our referral policy supports students to achieve and you should take advantage of this to give yourself the best chance of continuing full time with a reasonable workload.
» Accumulating credits each year
We expect you to gain at least 40 credits in an academic year if you're a full time student. If you don't, your registration on your course could be terminated.
Why?
We want you to keep on track with your studies, and to show that you're committed to getting the best from your learning experience at Derby. Of course, there might be a reason why you've not been able to achieve 40 credits, so it's important that you access all the support you can if you think that you're not going to be able to do this.
» The way we work out degree classifications
We've made the way our degree classifications are worked out simpler. We'll still work it out on the average of 20% of stage 2, and the average 80% of stage 3. If the classification comes out very close to the average needed for a higher classification, we'll take account how many credits you've achieved at a particular grade at level 6.
Why?
We want to bring the way we work out our classifications more into line with other Universities, and make it simpler to understand.
» Intercalation (Authorised Break from Study)
We're changing the name of intercalation to 'Authorised Break from Study'. If you need a complete break from your studies, you can discuss this with your tutor. A break from study can be for one semester up to a full year.
Why?
Feedback from students showed that not everyone understood what intercalation was, so we've decided to make the title clearer for everyone.
» EEC (Exceptional extenuating circumstances)
If you find that you cannot complete your coursework or attend an examination due to exceptional, unforeseen and unpreventable circumstances, you should use the EEC system. You need to hand in the signed EEC form with your unfinished coursework, or prior to your examination. Your claim will be considered by a panel. If it is approved, you may be offered the chance to resubmit the work, if not, your original submission will be marked. If you have a support plan which identifies the need for extensions, and your need is related to your disability, you should use the Assessed Extended Deadline (AED) system instead.
Why?
We must be sure that everyone is treated fairly, so consideration of cases by a panel will make sure only valid claims are approved. Remember you can hand in a piece of coursework up to seven days late, although the maximum mark you could get for it is 40%. That's still a pass grade.
» New for 2012/13 Compensation for marginal failure in undergraduate programmes
A pass mark is 40%. If you just fail to pass a module - with a mark of 35-39%, the module may be considered for compensation. This means that good performance over the rest of the level of study compensates for a marginal failure in one module. Only one module may be compensated per level, and you must have achieved an average of 40% over the whole level to be eligible for compensation. If it is a core or pre-requisite module, compensation may not be offered. Compensated modules are awarded credit, but the original mark remains.
Why?
We want you to progress through your course without having to face unnecessary barriers. Compensation gives a little flexibility for a marginal fail.
Get in touch
Our staff are aware of these changes, and can explain what they might mean to you. There's lot of other people who can give you advice about them if you need it too.
Assessment and Awards Unit
Programme Advisory Service
Study Skills Advisors
Student Wellbeing Service
You can view our contact details page for information on how to contact these and other useful departments.
There is also an online guide which will give you more details on assessments.
As always, you can always talk to your Student Liaison Officer for your faculty who'll be happy to help, and if they can't help you directly, then they'll be able to direct you to someone who can.
