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CSM Student and staff handbook
3.1 Credit accumulation and transfer
3.2 Condonment
3.3 Credit and progression for BSc and BEng degrees
3.4 Assessment and Awards for BSc and BEng degrees
3.5 Credit and progression for MGeol and MEng degrees
3.6 Assessment and Awards for MGeol and MEng degrees
3 CSM degree programmes
The BSc and BEng programmes at CSM are 3 year programmes of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level (6) (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The MGeol and MEng programmes at CSM are 4 year programmes of study at NQF level 7. Each academic year is referred to as a stage. The procedures outlined below are governed by the University’s Undergraduate Assessment Procedures as published on the following web page: http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/ugexams2.htm.
3.1 Credit accumulation and transfer
Each programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. Modules are assigned either 15, 30 or 60 credits. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
A degree is awarded when a student has accumulated the required number of credits. The class of the degree is based on a weighted average of the marks received for each module. There is no automatic right to repeat a stage, or other period of study; each case is considered on its individual merits by the Dean.
3.2 Condonement
The process that allows you to pass a ‘stage’ should you fail to achieve the required number of credits for that stage is called condonement. You must achieve 120 credits in each stage of the programme. You must have achieved an average mark of at least 40% (Stages 1-3) or 50% (Stage 4) across the 120 credits of assessment including the marks for any failed and condoned modules. You will not be allowed reassessment in the condoned credit. Up to 30 credits of failure can be condoned in a stage. However, you must pass the 'non-condonable' modules in bold in Section 9.4. The pass mark for these modules in Stages 1-3 is 40% and 50% in Stage 4. In the case of failure in more than 30 credits of potentially condonable modules, condonement will be applied to the 30 failing credits with the highest marks.
3.3 Credit and progression for BSc and BEng degrees
Each programme consists of 360 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally, no more than 75 credits are allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at level 1, and must take at least 90 credits at level 3. The pass mark for award of credit in an individual module is 40%.
You can progress to the next stage (or in the final year, to proceed to the award of an honours degree) once at least 90 credits have been passed in a stage (see condonement below), and provided that an average of at least 40% has been achieved over the 120 credits of assessment for that stage.
Reassessment: Referred and deferred examinations
See Section 3.2.
3.4 Assessment and Awards for BSc and BEng degrees
Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit-weighted average marks for stages 2 and 3 combined in the ratio 1:2 respectively.
3.5 Credit and progression for MGeol and MEng degrees
Our integrated masters programmes consist of 480 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally not more than 60 credits would be allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at level 4, and must take at least 210 credits at level 6 or higher of which at least 120 must be at level 7 (Year 4). The pass mark for award of credit in an individual UG module is 40%. The pass mark for award of credit in a Year 4 module is 50%.
In general, you progress to the next stage or, in your final year proceed to the award of an honours degree, once at least 90 credits have been passed with a stage average of at least 40% (Stages 1-3) or 50% (Stage 4); all non-condonable modules must be passed (see ‘Condonement’ below). However, there are additional requirements for progressing to Stage 3.
Reassessment: Referred and deferred examinations
See Section 3.2.
Progression to Stage 3
In order to progress to Stage 3 of CSM’s integrated masters programmes, you must achieve an average ≥60% in stages 1 and 2 (weighted 40% Stage 1 + 60% Stage 2). If you do not reach this threshold, but have a stage 2 average of at least 40%, you may progress to stage 3 of the relevant BSc or BEng programme.
3.6 Assessment and Awards for MGeol and MEng degrees
Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit weighted average marks for stages 2, 3 and 4 combined in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively.