MA marking and feedback

Work is assessed on a 100 point scale in line with the relevant marking criteria.

Assessed work, including dissertations, is considered anonymously by two internal examiners and shared with the external examiner. All marks remain provisional until the end of the course.

All assessed work will normally be marked and returned to you via Turnitin within three weeks of submission (excluding vacation time). Dissertation marks and feedback are available after the degree classifications are released in late November/early December.

All students receive written feedback on their assessments - for some modules, such as the core modules and dissertation, this will include feedback on formative work.

Feedback on your work is provided in various ways. You are encouraged to speak to tutors about your plans for your essays before you start working on them in detail (see preparing assessed work). Comments on your progress and how you might improve will often be given in this written feedback when your work is returned to you. We would also encourage you to meet with your tutors to go through your feedback in person and discuss your academic progress. You are welcome to attend student hours or contact your tutor(s) to arrange a feedback session at an alternative time.

Some tutors also use elements of peer-feedback and assessment in their teaching. All feedback is most effective as part of a dialogue, so if there are things you want clarified or areas on which you would like more guidance, please do not feel shy about asking your tutor. It may seem an obvious point to make, but make sure that you read the comments on your work, and don’t just look at the mark! Even a very good mark will normally be accompanied by suggestions for improvement and further development.

Feedback for most assessments is accessed through Turnitin:

• Accessing marks and feedback

Feedback for work not submitted through Turnitin i.e. engagement and participation work, work placement form, dissertation title and synopsis forms and the Research Presentation assessment will be emailed to you.

If you feel that a mark does not adequately reflect the merit of a piece of assessed work, you should speak either to your module tutor or to your personal tutor.

Summative coursework has been agreed by the first marker, moderator and external examiner, and so it is not possible to request a remark.

The University has an official Appeals procedure to handle student grievances. Details may be found in the University Calendar and on the University's Complaints and Appeals Procedure webpage. You may also find useful information in the University's Our Commitment statement.