6.1 Mitigating circumstances
a) A mitigating circumstances claim may be submitted where a student:
i. fails to submit coursework or submits coursework late; or ii. does not participate in assessment and/or examination(s).
52 b) The procedures for processing mitigating circumstances are described in Section 11 of the Handbook of Academic Regulations. You can also you read the WIUT Mitigating Circumstances policy on the University Intranet at http://intranet.wiut.uz/98
c) Where mitigating circumstances are accepted as valid, the Subject Board may offer the student a deferral in all or part of the assessment for a module.
d) Where mitigating circumstances are accepted as valid for a student who would otherwise have been eligible for a named award, the Conferment Board may decide:
i. that an award be conferred if it is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of achievement in the affected modules. This includes the award of merits, distinctions and honours classifications, providing that the Board agrees that there is sufficient evidence to make a fair estimate of the student’s performance;
ii. the award of third class honours to students enrolled on honours degrees where the Board is satisfied that a degree with honours has been achieved but there is otherwise insufficient evidence to determine the final classification;
iii. an aegrotat award in other cases where it is not possible to judge the standard of award that would have been achieved on the basis of the work available, but the Board nonetheless believes that the requirements of the award would have been completed successfully.
e) It is the responsibility of each student to obtain from the Registrar’s office details of the form, content and timing of any deferred assessment.
f) Assessed work submitted as a deferral will receive the actual marks achieved unless another element of the same module is being re-assessed when the overall mark will be capped at the pass mark.
g) The time limits for the completion of deferrals shall be the same as that for module reassessments.
6.2 Penalties for late submission of coursework
The University operates a two-tier penalty system for late submission of coursework and in-module assessment. This regulation applies to all students registered for an award irrespective of their level of study. All University coursework deadlines are scheduled between Monday and Thursday inclusive. Where possible, the submission day will coincide with the day the module classes are normally taught. However, the University does not allow submission deadlines to be set for Fridays.
If you submit your coursework late but within 24 hours of the specified deadline, 10% of the overall marks available for that element of assessment (i.e. 10%) will be deducted, as a penalty for late submission, except for work which obtains a mark in the range 40 – 49%, in which case the mark will be capped at the pass mark (40%).
If you submit your coursework late, but within 24 hours of the specified deadline, the mark will be capped at the pass mark (40%).
If you submit your coursework more than 24 hours or more than one working day after the specified deadline you will be given a mark of zero for the work in question.
Late work and any claim of Mitigating Circumstances relating to coursework must be submitted at the earliest opportunity to ensure as far as possible that the work can still be marked. You will normally have the right to submit coursework 10 working days after the original deadline. Once the work of other students has been marked and returned, late submissions of that same piece of work cannot be assessed.
53 6.3 What to do if you fail
All module results, once approved by an Assessment Board, are published on SRS Web. If you have failed a module and/or your module status on SRS Webs states refer, retake or condoned credit you should contact your Faculty Registry Office for advice on what to do next. A list of the commonly used assessment and regulatory terms is available in Appendix 2 of this handbook
It is important to be aware that the University has regulations and procedures in place in the case of failure in both a module and in individual module elements. Regulations governing module failure are detailed in Section 17: Modular Framework for Undergraduate Courses available at
westminster.ac.uk/academic-regulations.
6.4 Suspending from the course
The University allows a student to suspend from their course for a period of one academic year.
If you think you need to suspend your studies you are advised to contact the Registrar’s office and speak to a Student Adviser or the Students’ Union before making any final decision. You need to make yourself aware of any financial implications your decision might have and bear in mind the maximum periods of registration for the course. It is then your responsibility to:
a. Discuss the suspension with your Course Leader or Personal Tutor b. Inform the Academic Registrar’s office of your decision in writing
c. Contact the Course Leader and Academic Registrar’s Office 6-8 time weeks prior to the enrolment period.
Please see contact the Registrars office for full details of the regulations on suspension, which gives information on liability for fees and implications for any deferred or referred assessments.
University regulations governing suspension of studies are detailed within Section 17 of the Handbook of Academic Regulations: westminster.ac.uk/academic-regulations.
6.5 Withdrawing from the course
If you decide to withdraw from the course please speak to your Course leader or a student advisor before making a final decision. Once you have decided to leave the course, it is your responsibility to inform the Academic Registrars Office in writing of your decision.
You should be aware that if you withdraw from the course you may be liable for the payment of the full tuition fee for that semester/academic year.
University regulations governing suspension of studies are detailed within Section 17 of the Handbook of Academic Regulations: westminster.ac.uk/academic-regulations.
6.6 Changing course
If you want to change your course for another within the University, you must discuss this request with both your current Course Leader. It is also recommended that you speak to a Academic Advisor.
It is then your responsibility to ensure that you have obtained the full agreement from both your current and the new Course Leader and completed the standard form, which is available from the Academic Registrars office. This process must be completed before changing course. There is no guarantee that once you have been accepted onto one course at the University that you will be able to transfer to another.
54 Please contact the Academic Registrars office for further information.
6.7 Complaints procedure
The University is committed to providing a good quality service to students. However, it is acknowledged that there may be times when individuals may experience a quality of academic or service delivery which they feel falls short of the standard reasonable expected by the University.
In such cases, you may feel that it is necessary to make a written submission setting out your concerns. You will find information on the procedure for making complaints on the Academic Services Department website: http://intranet.wiut.uz/100
7 Course regulations
7.1 How your degree is classified
The University normally determines the classification of undergraduate degree in accordance with the following mark and credit ranges:
First: An average of 70% or above in the best 105 credits at Credit Level 6, with an average of 60% or above in the next best 105 credits at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
Upper Second: An average of 60% or above in the best 105 credits at Credit Level 6, with an average of 50% or above in the next best 105 credits at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
Lower Second: An average of 50% or above in the best 105 credits at Credit Level 6, with an average of 40% or above in the next best 105 credits at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
Third: An average of 40% or above in the best 210 credits at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
The University of Westminster Student Records System automatically calculates the recommended Degree classification of the report for the Conferment Board’s. However, the final Degree classification agreed through the assessment process is a matter of academic judgement, following and consultation with the External Examiners for the course, as appropriate.
7.2 Intermediate awards
Students who are unable or do not wish to complete the BA (Hons) Business Administration, may be eligible to claim an intermediate award as described below. If a student plans (for whatever reason) to leave the course for which they are registered and therefore wants to claim an intermediate award, they must notify the relevant Academic Registrars office in writing. The University will then confer any intermediate award for which they are eligible at the next available opportunity. A student shall not normally be allowed to claim more than one award within the same undergraduate course scheme.
7.2.1 BA in Business Administration
To be eligible for the award of an unclassified Degree, a student must have:
a) obtained at least 300 credits including:
- a minimum of 120 credits at level 4 or higher, including 75 credits passed and at least a condoned credits in each of the remaining modules worth 45 credits; and
- passed a minimum of 120 credits at Level 5 or higher; and
55 - passed a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6 or higher.
a) satisfied the requirements contained within any course specific regulations for the relevant course scheme
b) The University may award:
- a Non-Honours degree with Merit to a student whose marks average at least 60%
across the best 150 credits passed at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
- a Non-Honours degree with Distinction to a student whose marks average at least 70% across the best 150 credits at Credit Levels 5 and 6.
7.2.2 Diploma of Higher Education in Business Administration
To be eligible for the award of a Diploma of Higher Education, a student must have:
To be eligible for the award of a Diploma of Higher Education, a student must have:
b) obtained at least 240 credits including:
- a minimum of 120 credits at level 4 or higher, including 75 credits passed and at least a condoned credits in each of the remaining modules worth 45 credits;
- passed a minimum of 120 credits at Level 5 or higher; and
c) satisfied the requirements contained within any course specific regulations for the relevant course scheme.
d) The University may award:
- a Diploma in Higher Education with Merit to a student whose marks average at least 60% across the best 105 credits at Credit Level 5 or higher.
- a Diploma of Higher Education with Distinction to a student whose marks average at least 70% across the best 105 credits at Credit Level 5 or higher.
7.2.3 Certificate of Higher Education in Business Administration
To qualify for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education, a student must have:
e) a minimum of 120 credits at level 4 or higher, including 75 credits passed and at least a condoned credits in each of the remaining modules worth 45 credits;
f) satisfied the requirements contained within any course specific regulations for the relevant course scheme.
g) The University may award:
- a Certificate of Higher Education with Merit to a student whose marks average at least 60% across the best 105 credits;
- a Certificate of Higher Education with Distinction to a student whose marks average at least 70% across the best 105 credits;
56
7.3 Maximum periods of registration
The University normally expects a student to complete their award within the following maximum periods of registration (in years) including any period of suspension of studies.
Full-time Study Part-time Study
Cert HE 3 5
Dip HE 5 6
Degree 6 8
Honours degree 6 8
Degree/Honours degree including placement / year abroad
7 9
If a student is following a mixed mode programme of (part-time and full-time study) the maximum period of registration will apply as if they were studying part time.
7.4 Exclusion from the programme of study on academic grounds
In certain circumstances, usually where students have failed a significant proportion of modules attempted, a student may be excluded from their course on academic grounds. Please refer to the Modular Framework for Undergraduate Courses published in the current Handbook of Academic Regulations for further details. This is available on the Academic Services Department website westminster.ac.uk/academic-regulations.