You can view the full General Regulations via the University Calendar: www.shef.ac.uk/calendar
Award of Credits
To be awarded credits for a module you must achieve at least a pass grade in the examination. If you do not achieve at least a pass grade you will not be awarded the credits for that module and this might affect your academic progress.
Progression from First Year to Second Year
If you are awarded 120 credits in the first year examinations you will proceed into the second year. You may be able to proceed into the second year if you fail your ‘unrestricted’ module, but you must score a grade of at least 30 in this module. If you fail any of the core MBB modules, you must re-sit and pass the appropriate examination(s) in August.
Progression from Second Year to Third Year
If you are awarded 120 credits in the second year examinations you will proceed into the third year. You may be able to proceed into the third year if you are awarded at least 100 credits. This means that you may be able to fail a module in second year and still proceed into the third year, but this will have consequences for your degree classification (see below). You will need to seek advice concerning your situation if you are in this position. It is definitely advantageous for you to re-sit the examinations in all the modules you have failed, and you MUST resit any modules with an outcome of ‘NC’. If you are awarded fewer than 100 credits you are required to re-take the examinations in the failed modules and obtain sufficient credits to satisfy the requirements stated above. Failure in a module that is a pre-requisite for a third year core module will also mean that you must re-take and pass the examination.
Progression from Second Year to Third Year MBiolSci
In addition to the criteria outlined in ****link***** , if you are registered for an MBiolSci degree, you must normally achieve a weighted mean grade of at least 64.5 in the second year in order to proceed to the third year of the MBiolSci. If you are awarded a lower grade, you will normally have to transfer to a BSc degree.
Progression From Third Year to Fourth Year
If you are registered for an MBiolSci degree, and have achieved a mark of >64.5 at level 2, then you must normally achieve a total of 120 credits in the third year to progress to fourth year. If you do not satisfy both these criteria, you will not normally be permitted to proceed. In this case, if you have satisfied the conditions for the award of a BSc degree, you will be awarded the BSc degree.
If you are registered for a BSc degree and have achieved a mark of >59.5 at level 2 and a grade of >59.5 for the Autumn semester exams of level 3, then you can transfer on to the MBiolSci degree programme. You must normally also achieve a total of 120 credits in the third year to progress to fourth year.
If you fail a module at Level 1 or 2
If you have resit attempts remaining, you can apply to resit in August. The maximum mark you can obtain for the resit is 40.
If you fail a module in your final year
If you have resit attempts remaining, you can apply to resit during the next academic year, subject to departmental approval. Resitting a final year module will mean your degree is classified without honours.
If you are Not Assessed (NA) for a module
You can resit in August or apply to repeat the module during the following academic year, subject to departmental approval.
An NA outcome does not count as an attempt at that module’s assessment(s).
If you need to repeat a year - either internally (with tuition) or externally (assessments only) - you must complete the Application to Repeat a Period of Study at: www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/change-of-status/repeat
If you fail your resits
If you fail a resit at Level 1 but you achieve a grade of 30 or above in your first or second attempt, you may be offered a conceded pass. It is at the examiners’ discretion as to whether you progress to Level 2 without passing the module.
If you fail a maximum of 20 credits at Level 2, either as a first or second attempt, it is at your department’s discretion whether they offer you a conceded pass. If you are unable to progress after a maximum of two attempts at each Level 2 module, we will deem you to have failed your degree.