Your final degree classification

Unlike undergraduate degrees, postgraduate awards are not classified i.e. you do not receive a 1st, 2:1, 2:2 or 3rd classification. Some postgraduate degrees may be awarded with Distinction, or with Merit. The exact criteria are given below. 

For the purpose of calculations for the award of merits and distinctions, where a reassessment is taken, the module mark following reassessment (capped at 50) will be used. 

Masters award criteria

Distinction

To be recommended for a Masters with distinction you must achieve the following:

• • A rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 70% over all modules

  • A mark of at least 70% in your SIP

Merit

To be recommended for a Masters with merit you must achieve the following:

• • A rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 60% over all modules

  • A mark of at least 60% in your SIP

Postgraduate diploma award criteria

Distinction

To be recommended for a PGDip with distinction you must achieve a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 70% over all modules.

Merit

To be recommended for a PGDip with merit you must achieve a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 60% over all modules.

For information on calculating your award calculation, see the Student Guide to the University’s Rules for Progression and Award in Postgraduate Programmes.

Apprenticeship grade 

For the apprenticeship route, the Integrated Master’s degree will be classified in line with the University degree regulations. The End Point Assessment (EPA) will represent 20 credits towards the final degree classification.

When an apprentice fails the EPA, they will not be awarded the integrated Master’s Degree in Advanced Clinical Practice. Each assessment in the EPA will be graded as Pass, Merit, Distinction or Fail. Grading is awarded based on the achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Integrated Degree Apprenticeship standard for Advanced Clinical Practitioner. Both assessment components must achieve a pass in order to pass the apprenticeship. The open book examination and presentation of practice carry an equal weighting in contributing to the overall apprenticeship grade. Both assessments must be achieved in the same grade for the higher grade to be awarded.

Graduation ceremony

If you are eligible to graduate you will receive an online invitation to graduate from the University Graduation Office. It is important that you ensure that you have recorded a current non-university email address on your e:Vision account, prior to completing the programme, for this purpose.

Detailed information about the full graduation process, including how to register for graduation or how to graduate in absentia is available on the Graduation webpages.  

You should respond to the graduation invitation even if you do not wish to attend to ensure that the Graduation Office sends your certificate and academic transcript to the correct address.

Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation

This course is accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice (nhs.uk). Students who successfully complete the full masters qualification will be eligible for recognition by the Centre. 

Please be aware that this is only available to those students who have successfully completed the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme and not to those who have exited the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma.