What happens if you fail your module

Condonement

Condonement is the process that allows a student to pass a stage, or progress to award, despite failing to achieve the full credits in the stage. 

Please refer to the appropriate programme specification to find out which modules can and cannot be condoned.

Credit is awarded for condoned marks. Marks are retained in their original form for profiling and averaging purposes, and in any final classification of an award.  They are also recorded on the student transcript in their original form.

Students are NOT given the opportunity of reassessment in a condoned module.

Condonement for Undergraduate students

To allow condonement, the Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must satisfy itself that all of the following conditions apply:

a) The total credit failed in a stage does not exceed 30 credits.

b) The student has achieved a stage mean of 40% (or 50% for integrated Masters stage 4*).

c) None of the condoned credits are stipulated as non-condonable in the Programme Specification.

Condonement for undergraduate students is detailed in Section 8.2 of the University's Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes.

* 50% stage 4 mean is applicable for MEng student cohorts commencing in the 2012/13 academic year onwards, and for other integrated masters cohorts entering in the 2013/14 academic year onwards.

Condonement for Postgraduate Taught students

To allow a condonement, the Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee must satisfy itself that all of the following conditions apply:

a) The total credit failed does not exceed 45 credits or, for the Postgraduate Diploma 30 credits or, for the Postgraduate Certificate 20 credits.

b) The student has achieved a credit weighted stage mean of 50%.

c) None of the condoned credits are from core/compulsory modules and are stipulated as non-condonable in the Programme Specification.

Condonement for postgraduate taught students is explained in Section 8.4 of the University's Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes.

Referral

Where the failure is of a module which is exempt from the condonement process, a student will normally be referred; that is, offered the opportunity to redo the assessment or take an examination (for a mark capped at the pass mark), without the requirement for repeat attendance.

Re-assessment procedures and consequences of failure in referred or deferred assessments are as set out in Chapter 11 of the University’s Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes.

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred assessments will normally be by assignment. If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred assessment will normally be by examination. Any examination set for referral should be of the same style and of the same scope, in terms of difficulty and syllabus coverage, even though part of the original module assessment may have included a test on material not covered in the formal examination.

Students will be notified of failure to progress and the requirement to submit assessments in the referred/deferred period through iExeter after the Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee. Students are required to attend referred or deferred exams on campus unless a successful application to sit exams overseas is approved.