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Graduate Studies

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Assessment and Progression Regulations

The following regulations apply in all courses of study leading to the award of a Masters degree or Postgraduate Diploma. Graduate students must obtain credit for each academic year of their course by satisfactory completion of course requirements as laid down in the relevant course handbook.

To qualify for the relevant postgraduate award, students must, as a minimum:

  1. achieve an overall pass mark which is normally the credit-weighted average mark for all taught modules taken, and
  2. achieve a pass mark in all modules designated as non-compensatable in the course handbook, and
  3. In the case of a Masters degree, achieve a pass mark in the research element or dissertation

Additional requirements for specific courses are laid down in the relevant course handbook.

Students failing to pass individual taught modules may present for supplemental examination or re-submit required work if and as provided for in the course regulations. Students who, following the supplemental examination or re-assessment, have failed to pass the requisite taught modules as provided for in the course regulations above will be deemed to have failed the course, and may apply to the relevant school for permission to repeat it.

Students on a Masters course who do not achieve a pass mark in the research element or dissertation, will be deemed to have failed the course, and may apply to the relevant school for permission to repeat it. Alternatively, and where this is provided for in the Course regulations, such students may be awarded an associated Postgraduate Diploma.

In order to qualify for the award of Masters with Distinction students must have not failed any component during the period of study and must as a minimum, either:

  1. achieve a final overall average mark for the course of at least 70% and a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation or research element, or
  2. achieve a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation or research element, and achieve at least 68% in the unrounded overall average mark for the taught modules, where modules amounting to at least half of the credits attaching to the taught modules (normally 30 credits) each have a mark of at least 70%, or
  3. in courses in which the modules are assigned grades only, achieve a distinction in the dissertation or research element and distinctions in modules amounting to at least half of the required credit for the taught element of the course.

In order to qualify for the award of Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction students must not have failed any component during the period of study and must as a minimum either

  1. achieve an overall credit-weighted average mark of at least 70% across all modules, or
  2. achieve at least 68% in the overall credit-weighted average mark and achieve a minimum mark of 70% in individual modules which together amount to at least half of the required credits for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma associated with the student’s registered course or
  3. in courses in which the modules are assigned grades only, achieve the grade of distinction in individual modules which amount to at least half of the required credit for the Postgraduate Diploma.

Regulations and Resources

If you have any questions please contact the Administrative Officer in Graduate Studies or check for answers on our FAQ page.