Assessment and Marking Processes

You are likely to encounter a wide variety of methods of assessment. You may have written assessments, formal examinations with both seen and unseen questions, and presentations, all contributing to your final mark. Details of questions and modes of assessment are posted on Blackboard.

To avoid the possibility of bias, almost all assessments are treated anonymously at the point of marking. You are thus required to enter your anonymous registration number on assignments and examination papers, and not your name. Your University registration number can be found on your U-card.

All work undergoes a robust procedure to ensure marks are fair and feedback is appropriate:

• Work is marked by one or more markers, then another member of academic staff acts as a moderator – to ensure the marks awarded accurately reflect the standard and level of the work expected for that grade, at this university. If a moderator is dissatisfied or has concerns with the marking or feedback, they can remark all the work on the module. 

• A brief report from the marker and moderator accompanies samples of student's work, which are sent to the External Examiner as the penultimate part of our departmental process. The External Examiner is an experienced academic at an independent university. As part of their role they ensure that the marks and feedback are of a standard equal to what would be awarded for that work at any other university in the UK. If the External Examiner is unhappy with the marks or comments they may refer the work back for reconsideration with a recommendation. 

• The department would then act on the recommendation of the External Examiner and communicate with them to confirm what action has been taken, the rationale and outcome.

• Marks are then considered by the Student Welfare and Examination Board (which considers any mitigation, Extenuating Circumstances or penalties that must be applied).

• Finally the marks go to our Examination Board – which includes the External Examiner. The External Examiner feeds back to the programme team, comments on the programme and work they have seen over the academic year (these comments form part of the External Examiner Report). The confirmed results from the Examination Board are recorded on central systems, and then Faculty sits to confirm all results.

• The External Examiner provides a Report at the end of each academic year. This report goes centrally to the University’s Learning & Teaching Services. The Report is shared with members of the programme team, the Director of Learning and Teaching and the Department’s Teaching Committee. The Head of Department provides a formal response to the External Examiner Report. The Dean of the Faculty also fully considers and formally signs-off all External Examiner reports.

• The External Examiner Reports are shared with the Student Representatives, who sit on the Department’s Student-Staff Committee.

In light of the robust procedures to ensure marking is fair and consistent, the University does not allow the appeal of marks based on dissatisfaction with the mark. Academic appeals may be raised if a student feels the above process has not been adhered to, there are as yet unreported extenuating circumstances to consider, or if a student feels there was failure in their supervision.  For further information see the Complaints and Appeals web page here: