Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science Assessment Regulations

G1

The Pass mark for modules will be set at 40%. Credits will be awarded only to candidates who pass a module and meet the requirements below. In some cases, the Faculty/School may set a higher pass mark for modules or components of modules. This information shall be made available in the Faculty/School handbook.

G2

To comply with professional guidelines, each module within the programmes leading to an academic award and professional registration may have multiple assessment components. All components must be passed. The average mark for the module shall be arrived at using a nationally agreed formula. If a student fails any assessment component, the module will be deemed to have been failed irrespective of the overall average and credit will not be awarded.

G3

In order to progress from one level to another a candidate must accumulate 120 credits by passing modules with a mark of 40% or better in each module.

G4

Candidates must satisfy engagement and assessment requirements of all modules totalling at least 120 credit points.  

G5

To comply with Professional Body regulations and national guidelines, compensation and toleration of failures in modules in professional programmes offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science will not be allowed.

G6

Each assessment component for a module(s) is deemed by the Faculty/School to be “core” (i.e. must be passed before a candidate can progress from one Level to another).

G7

A full-time student will be required to complete a level of study within a maximum of two academic sessions, subject to the degree time limits.

G8

Students who choose not to attempt to redeem a failed module will be awarded a mark of 0% and will not normally be offered a further attempt.

G9

Students who fail to pass one or more components of a module shall be required to redeem the failure(s). The marks for candidates at Levels 5 and 6 who satisfy the assessors in individual assessment components at retrieval shall be capped at 40% in the particular assessment component. The marks for candidates at Levels 3 and 4 shall not be capped.

However, upon retrieval of the assessment component(s), the overall average mark for the module to be used for degree classification purposes will be dependent on the following points:

• If the overall average mark for the module calculated on the basis of the marks attained at the first attempt for each assessment component is greater than 40%, that mark will be used for degree classification purposes. That is, the retrieval of a failed assessment component(s) will  allow the student to be awarded credit only for that module and will not affect the original overall average mark.
• If the overall average mark for the module is less than 40% following the first attempt at the individual assessment component, the amended overall average, which will have been raised as a result of passing the failed components, will be capped at 40%.

G10

Candidates who have qualified to proceed from one Level of Study to another shall not be allowed to elect to repeat any module which has been passed in order to improve their performance.

G11

It is recognised that some candidates will not be able to attend examinations or submit coursework on the agreed date e.g. due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. Such cases shall be considered in accordance with the University’s Policy on Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessment. In the case of those candidates who are unable to attend examinations due to extenuating circumstances, a claim for deferral must be submitted to the Home Faculty/School either in advance of the examination date or within five days of the examination taking place. Applications for deferrals must be considered and supported by the relevant Faculty/School and submitted to Academic Services for approval. Requests for consideration of extenuating circumstances affecting coursework shall be considered in accordance with the established procedures in operation in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science/School of Health and Social Care. These procedures shall be made available to students on an annual basis.

Students and staff are advised to consult the University Policy on Extenuating Circumstances.

G12

Progression decisions for part-time candidates may be taken by the University Progression and Awards Board before the results of a full portfolio of modules are known.

G13

The University Progression and Awards Board would not be expected to allow a candidate to progress to the next Level of Study unless they had satisfied the minimum criteria.

G14

Candidates who fail to complete a level of study will be awarded an academic decision of Required to Withdraw from the University. 

Candidates who are 'Required to Withdraw from the University' will be given no further attempts to redeem failures. Candidates will not be eligible to transfer credits to another programme of study at Swansea University and their studies will be terminated. Normally, a candidate with a decision of 'Required to Withdraw from the University' shall not be readmitted to that same programme of study or to a cognate programme without the approval of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

Depending on the number of credits attained, such students may be eligible for an exit qualification. The University Progression and Awards Board will be responsible for considering the number of credits attained and, if appropriate, awarding the relevant exit qualification.

Specific Regulations for:

BSc Nursing (Adult)

BSc Nursing (Child)

BSc Nursing (Mental Health)

BSc Nursing Part-Time (Adult)

BSc Nursing Part-Time (Child)

BSc Nursing Part-Time (Mental Health)

BMid Midwifery - long programme

BSc Paramedic Science

BSc Paramedic Science for Emergency Medical Technicians

DipHE Paramedic Science for Emergency Medical Technicians

BSc Occupational Therapy (full- and part-time)

S1

The University Progression and Awards Board may decide to permit students who fail components of the final module pursued at a level of study to carry those failures into the next level of study, on the understanding that those failures are redeemed within the first 6-8 weeks of the next level. This ruling applies only to the final module and does not apply in cases of extenuating circumstances or sickness for any other module (in such cases the normal progression regulations will apply).

S2

Candidates shall normally be permitted up to two attempts to redeem failures in any assessment component of a module provided that this can be achieved within two academic sessions and within the time limit for the degree. The first attempt at redeeming the failure will normally be offered as close to the original assessment date as possible (normally within 8 to 10 weeks).

S3

In the case of failure in a practice component of the BSc Occupational Therapy programme, candidates shall be permitted only one attempt to redeem the failure, normally during the same academic session. Candidates will undertake the full practice placement in order to submit the practice assessment(s).

S4

Students studying the BSc Occupational Therapy who fail to pass two consecutive practice modules at the first attempt will be withdrawn from the programme.

S5

A second attempt at redeeming a failure in any assessment component may be offered on the recommendation of the University Progression and Awards Board (with the exception of the BSc Occupational Therapy programme. Candidates redeeming failures at the second attempt shall be regarded as “external candidates” and their bursary award shall be suspended. Once it has been determined that a candidate has successfully redeemed the failure and completed the level of study, they will be permitted to resume their studies at a point deemed appropriate by the Faculty/School.

S6

"External candidates" shall be required to enrol with the University and pay external candidate fees, as appropriate. Such candidates will not be permitted to attend lectures, receive tuition or have access to University facilities. External candidates will be expected to attend the University (or other such designated venues as may be required) only to undertake examinations or submit assessments as required.

S7

In exceptional circumstances, which must be independently evidenced, a third attempt at redeeming failures can be permitted at the discretion of the University Progression and Awards Board. This shall be permitted only if it can be achieved within two academic sessions and within the time limit for the degree. Such students shall remain recorded as external candidates and their bursary award shall be suspended.

S8

Decisions on a candidate’s progression from one level of study to another shall be taken by the University Progression and Awards Board at the end of the level in accordance with the following guidelines:

Specific Regulations for:

BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)

BSc Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology)

BSc Healthcare Science (Neurophysiology)

BSc Healthcare Science (Respiratory and Sleep Physiology)

BSc Healthcare Science (Radiation Physics)  

BSc Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics)

BSc Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering)

BSc Healthcare Science (Nuclear Medicine)

BSc Social Work

S1

Candidates shall normally be permitted up to two attempts to redeem failures in any assessment component of a module provided that this can be achieved within two academic sessions and within the time limit for the degree. The first attempt at redeeming the failure will usually take place at the next scheduled assessment point (normally during the Supplementary Examination Period).

S2

A second attempt at redeeming a failure in any assessment component may be offered on the recommendation of the University Progression and Awards Board. Candidates redeeming failures at the second attempt shall be regarded as “external candidates” and their bursary award shall be suspended.

Once it has been determined that a candidate has successfully redeemed the failure and completed the level of study, they will be permitted to resume their studies at a point deemed appropriate by the Faculty/School, if applicable.

S3

In the case of failure in a practice component of the BSc Social Work programme, candidates shall be permitted only one attempt to redeem the failure as an external candidate at the next scheduled opportunity during the next academic session. Because placements are coordinated and scheduled with the placement providers, an opportunity to redeem a failure in the practice component will not be available during the supplementary examination period.

S4

In exceptional circumstances, which must be independently evidenced, a third attempt at redeeming failures can be permitted at the discretion of the University Progression and Awards Board. This shall be permitted only if it can be achieved within two academic sessions and within the time limit for the degree. Such students shall remain recorded as "external candidates" and their bursary award shall be suspended.

S5

"External candidates" shall be required to enrol with the University and pay external candidate fees, as appropriate. Such candidates will not be permitted to attend lectures, receive tuition or have access to University facilities. External candidates will be expected to attend the University (or other such designated venues as may be required) only to undertake examinations or submit assessments as required.

S6

Decisions on the progression of a candidate from one level of study to another shall be taken by the University Progression and Awards Board at the end of the level, in accordance with the following guidelines:

S7

Decisions on the progression of a candidate who had been required to redeem failures or awarded a deferral (capped or uncapped) by the End of Level Progression Board shall be taken by the Supplementary Progression and Awards Board, in accordance with the following guidelines: