What happens if I fail a module?

If you fail a module, don’t panic! In many cases there will still be an opportunity to achieve the credit required for award either through compensation or reassessment (see below).

Compensation

For Level 7 modules the pass mark for module assessments is 50%. However, if your mark for a module is in the 40–49% range, you may still be able to get the credits for the module if your performance in other modules is good enough to compensate. In other words, a ‘marginal’ failure in one module may be compensated by achievement in others.

There is, however, a limit to the amount of credit for which you can be compensated. To be eligible for compensation, you must meet the University’s compensation criteria for your award.

This means that a decision about whether a failed module can be compensated can only be reached when marks for all of the modules in your programme are available. For full details, please see the Student Guide to Rules for Progression and Award in Postgraduate Programmes.

If you fail one or more modules (i.e. achieve a module mark of below 50%) you may still receive the credit for the failed module and progress into the next stage or award provided that:

• You have no more than 40 credits worth of marks between 40-49%

• You have no module marks lower than 40%

• Your rounded credit-weighted mean mark over all taught modules (including failed modules) is at least 50

Reassessment

If you get a module mark below 40, or if you have too many modules with failing marks to be allowed to compensate them all, you will have to be reassessed.

However, there is a limit to the number of credits in which you can be reassessed. You will be entitled to reassessment provided you have failed no more than 60 credits across the whole programme.

Most but not all modules can be reassessed. Any non-reassessable assessments will be clearly signposted at module level. If you fail a module that has been defined to be ‘non-reassessable’ and the failure cannot be compensated, you will not be able to meet the requirements of the programme. However, you may be eligible for a lower exit award.

The mark obtained for the reassessment will be capped at 50. You can only be reassessed in a module once, without valid exceptional circumstances being upheld. If you also fail the reassessment and the failure cannot be compensated, you will not be able to meet the requirements of the programme. However, you may be eligible for a lower exit award.

There is also a limit on the number of credits you can fail at first attempt.

If you are required to retake a credit-bearing non-compensatable pass/fail assessment component this will count towards the number of credits you have been reassessed in, even if you pass an accompanying academic assessment at first attempt.

For further information on reassessment, see the Student Guide to Rules for Progression and Award in Postgraduate Programmes.

Reassessment period

Following the Board of Examiners meeting at the end of Semester 2 your module mark profile will be reviewed. Following the application of the University’s compensation and reassessment rules you will then be notified about your reassessment requirements. All reassessments take place in the ‘reassessment period’ which is in August. Exact dates can be found on your programme Assessment Schedule. You should discuss this with your supervisor.