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HomeAbout the UniversityGovernance and managementGovernance documentsOrdinances and RegulationsRegulation 5: Regulations on assessments

Regulation 5: Regulations on assessments

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Assessment regulations relating to taught students
5.3 Assessment regulations for undergraduate awards prior to the new modular scheme - Category 1 students
5.4 Assessment regulations for awards relating to taught postgraduate programmes prior to the new modular scheme - Category 1 students
5.5 General assessment requirements
5.6 Exceptional circumstances affecting assessment
5.7 Academic misconduct
5.8 Granting of awards

5.1 Introduction

Detailed assessment policies and procedures for all taught programmes are specified in the
University policies on assessment and associated procedures.

Specific programme requirements relating to assessment are as approved by the University
Education Committee on the recommendation of the Board of Studies concerned.

Modifications will be approved by the Faculty Learning and Teaching Groups or Boards of
Studies, as appropriate. Requirements for individual programmes are detailed in programme
specifications.

5.2 Assessment regulations relating to taught students

(a) Every module is summatively assessed using the appropriate mark scale. Credit for the
module is awarded on passing a module’s assessment(s). In defined circumstances, credit
may be awarded for failed module(s) where the failure is compensated by achievement in
other modules. Mark scales and requirements for the award of credit are set out in the
University policies on assessment and associated procedures.

(b) Stage requirements must be met before a student is permitted to progress to the next
stage.

(c) Where a student has failed modules as a result of failed or missed assessments, and no
exceptional circumstances claim has been accepted (see Regulation 5.6), and the stage
requirements cannot be met, defined re-assessment opportunities are permitted on one
occasion only. Re-assessment is defined as an opportunity to redeem failure for the award of credit to meet progression or award requirements. Re-assessment opportunities at each
stage of every award are defined in the University policies on assessment and associated
procedures.

(d) Re-assessment opportunities may not be offered for some modules. Such modules must
be clearly identified in programme specifications, as approved by the University Education
Committee.

(e) Compensation may not be available in relation to some modules (for example, to meet
the requirements of professional, statutory or regulatory bodies). Such modules must be
clearly identified in programme specifications, as approved by the University Education
Committee.

(f) Rules governing the assessment of learning that forms part of a programme of study but
that takes place outside the University’s jurisdiction (for example, study abroad and work
placements) are set out in the University policies on assessment and associated procedures.

(g) Where a student cannot meet stage requirements through defined re-assessment
opportunities and no exceptional circumstances claim has been accepted, (see Regulation
5.6), s/he will be deemed to have failed their intended award. In such cases a student may
be eligible for an alternative award.

(h) Candidates for progression and awards will be considered by a Board of Examiners (see
Ordinance 6) on the completion of assessments for each stage. Boards of Examiners may
make one of the following recommendations:

(1) that the candidate be granted the intended award, having met the requirements as
specified in the award and programme specification;
(2) in the case of bachelors’ honours and integrated masters’ awards, the final award
will be classified by the Board of Examiners in accordance with the scheme for
classification as set out in the University policies on assessment and associated
procedures. All other undergraduate awards are unclassified and awarded on a
pass/fail basis;
(3) in the case of taught masters’ degrees and postgraduate diplomas, the final award
may be granted with merit or distinction, in accordance with criteria set out in the
University policies on assessment and associated procedures. All other taught
postgraduate awards are awarded on a pass/fail basis;
(4) that the candidate be allowed to progress to the following stage of their intended
award;
(5) that the candidate be allowed to progress to the following stage of a lesser or
alternate award;

(6) that the candidate be granted a lower volume award, having failed to meet the
requirements for the intended award but met the requirements for a lower volume
award;
(7) that the candidate be granted re-assessment opportunities for the final stage of the
programme as specified in the University policies on assessment and associated
procedures;
(8) where exceptional circumstances (see Regulation 5.6) apply, a range of options is
available to the Board of Examiners including allowing the student to sit some or all
assessments in a stage ‘as if for the first time’, or the granting of an aegrotat award. Full details are available in the University policies on assessment and associated procedures;
(9) that no award be made.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To specify in programme specifications modules for which compensation and/or re-
    assessment opportunities are not available, subject to the approval of University Education Committee.

5.3 Assessment regulations for undergraduate awards prior to the new modular scheme - Category 1 students

There is no longer a separate set of regulations for undergraduate programmes commenced prior to 2010/11. 

In order to avoid changing the numbering of regulations 5 to 13 and to all documents that refer to them, we note in the publication of the regulations that there is no Regulation 5.3. Previous versions of the Regulations are available from the archive.

5.4 Assessment regulations for awards relating to taught postgraduate programmes prior to the new modular scheme - Category 1 students

There is no longer a separate set of regulations for postgraduate programmes commenced prior to 2011/2 (or programmes in the electronics department prior to 2012/13, which adopted modularisation in that year).

In order to avoid changing the numbering of regulations 5 to 13 and to all documents that refer to them, we note in the publication of the regulations that there is no Regulation 5.4. Previous versions of the Regulations are available from the archive.

5.5 General assessment requirements

(a) Students will be permitted to enter for University assessments only if they have fulfilled all
other award and programme requirements to the satisfaction of the relevant Board of
Studies.

(b) With the approval of Senate, prior learning and achievement relevant to the programme
concerned may be recognised through the award of credit. Parameters and procedures for
this are specified in the Policy on the Recognition of Prior Learning.

(c) Students on taught programmes must submit all assessed work relating to their
programmes of study at the required location, date and time

(d) Attendance at required examinations is compulsory and any student who fails to present
himself/herself for an examination at the time and place published by Registry Services,
except when prevented from doing so by illness or other good cause, will be deemed to have
failed but may be given a reassessment opportunity. Misreading of the examination
timetable will not be regarded as ‘good cause’.

(e) Students must follow all other examination requirements as set out in the University
policies on assessment and associated procedures, including providing the necessary
identification and following the instructions of examination invigilators. Any student not
complying with examination requirements may be deemed to have failed the assessment.

(f) Where an examination is not being taken simultaneously by all candidates, arrangements
shall be made to ensure that there is no communication between candidates during the
relevant period.

(g) Students who fail a University assessment with no exceptional circumstances (see Regulation 5.6), and are permitted to undertake re-assessment are required to pay a re-
assessment fee as specified in the University policies on assessment and associated procedures.

(h) All materials submitted for assessment or forming part of an assessment process
become the property of the University on receipt. The University may pass copies of
assessment materials to third parties, but in so doing undertakes not to prejudice the rights,
freedoms and legitimate interests of the student in accordance with relevant legislation.

(i) The intellectual property contained in assessment materials remains with the originator,
except where the provisions of Regulation 12.2 apply.

(j) Exceptions to examination arrangements: The Standing Committee for Assessment may
give permission for exceptions to examination arrangements in individual cases where there
is good cause. Where exceptions are approved, the same examination procedures (for
example, in relation to invigilation) will apply.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • Additional assessment regulations for students are set out in the University policies
    on assessment and associated procedures.

5.6 Exceptional circumstances affecting assessment

Students are expected to attend scheduled examinations and submit assessments at the required time and date. If a student is unable to meet these requirements for good cause and would like this to be taken into account, they will need to submit an exceptional circumstances affecting assessment claim, in advance of the assessment date wherever possible, with supporting evidence in accordance with the Exceptional Circumstances Affecting Assessment Policy. This procedure should also be followed in cases where a student has met the requirements for attendance at examinations and/or submission of assessments but the work has been affected by exceptional circumstances.

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • To make decisions on recommendations made by Exceptional Circumstances Affecting Assessment Committees in accordance with the Exceptional Circumstances Affecting Assessment Policy.

5.7 Academic misconduct

The University is committed to developing high standards of academic practice among its students and to safeguarding the standards of its academic awards. It regards any form of academic misconduct as a very serious matter.

(a) All students on taught programmes are required to complete successfully the online University Academic Integrity Tutorial before the end of the first stage or year of their programme of study as specified in Regulation 6.5(c).

(b) Plagiarism detection software packages may be used at the University's discretion to detect unfair practice in student submissions. As part of the academic community, students accept that work they submit for assessment may be submitted to these software packages. Further information relating to how such software is used can be found in the University's Data Protection Statement, the Academic Integrity website and departmental handbooks.

(c) Procedures for investigating academic misconduct and the penalties applied where it has been committed are contained in Academic Misconduct: Policies, Guidelines and Procedures for all programmes of study.

(d) Students must not, at any stage of their programme:

(1) Plagiarise ie, present ideas, material, or scholarships sources form the work of another individual, group or entity, without sufficient acknowledgment

(2) Collude ie, participate in a process whereby two or more students work together- without official approval- and share ideas, solutions or material in work submitted for assessment

(3) Cheat ie, fail to comply with the rules of closed assessments (eg by accessing unauthorised material in a closed assessment)

(4) Commission or incorporate unauthorised material ie, seek to gain advantage by incorporating material in work submitted for assessment that has been improved by, or commissioned, purchased or obtained from, a third party (eg family members, essay mill, or other students not taking the same assessment)

(5) Fabricate ie, seek to gain advantage by incorporating falsified or fabricated material or data in work submitted for assessment or publication

(6) Personate ie, one, or both of, a) produce work for another student with the reasonable expectation that the incorporation of that work is intended to deceive an examiner, b) appear as another student in an assessment(s)

(7) Deceive the University as regards assessment for example, present fabricated or misleading evidence to gain advantage in assessment arrangements (eg adjustments for disabilities or exceptional circumstances affecting assessment claims) or in making research proposals

(8) Participate in unethical research behaviour ie, unethical behaviour in the undertaking of research or in seeking funding, including the failure to obtain appropriate permission to conduct research, unauthorised use of information which was acquired confidentially, failure to acknowledge work conducting in collaboration, fraud, or misuse of research funds or equipment

Powers of Boards of Studies

  • The powers of Boards of Studies and examiners in relation to the marking of assessments and the application of any further penalties are set out in Academic Misconduct: Policies, guidelines and procedures for all programmes of study.
  • To make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor for the termination of a student’s enrolment or candidature for award in cases of severe or repeated cases of academic misconduct.

5.8 Granting of awards

(a) No student may represent him or herself as holding an award of the University of York until such time as that award has been granted to him or her.

(b) Before the receipt of an award parchment, all students are required to make suitable arrangements with the Finance Department for the clearing of all tuition fee debts.

(c) Graduands will be presented for their degrees either in person, or in absentia, at a Congregation for the conferment of degrees. They are required to notify the University whether they intend to attend the Congregation.

(d) Students attending a Congregation of the University for the conferment of degrees or granting of other awards are required to wear the dress prescribed for the occasion.