Extenuating circumstances (ECs) are events that affect your performance in assessments which are unforeseen, unpreventable and out of your control. Our Extenuating circumstances procedure is intended to support students with these exceptional, short-term circumstances. Please find more details via the link below:

Extenuating circumstance procedure

Raise an 'EC claim' here

Find out the key dates here.

We publish all assessment results electronically via the Blue Castle website, unless a school or department has advised of other arrangements. You need to make sure there's enough space in your University inbox to receive the email with your results. You will need your University username and password to access the system. 

Progression

To progress from one year of your course to the next, you need to meet both the University academic progression regulations plus any additional supplementary regulations on your course.  

Relevant University regulations can be found on the academic regulations webpage. Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The progression information can be found under the “Completion of stage” section.

Degree classification information including borderlines

You can find information on how our degrees are classified on the degree classification webpage. Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The progression information can be found under the “Other Undergraduate Awards” or “Taught Postgraduate Awards” section (depending on which is relevant).

Resits

A student who, at the first attempt, has not satisfactorily completed a stage (other than the final stage) has a right to one re-assessment in each failed module in order to satisfy progression requirements.  The form of reassessment will normally be the same as the first attempt and will normally be taken in the August/September resit period.

The resit mark is used for progression purposes only; it is the original mark that will be used for degree classification purposes. For example, an undergraduate student may achieve 38 at the first attempt, but 63 on re-assessment. It is the original mark of 38 that will be used when calculating the weighted average to determine the final award classification.

Relevant University regulations for reassessment can be found on the Academic regulations webpage. Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The resit information can be found under the “Reassessment” section.

There is an additional charge for resits. It is a one-off charge no matter how many resits are being taken in the reassessment period. The fee is currently £80 for an undergraduate student and £130 for a postgraduate student.              

First sit

One of the possible outcomes from an extenuating circumstances claim is a “first sit”. That means you can take another attempt at the assessment. This is a new first attempt (and therefore different from a resit) and the new marks will be used for degree classification purposes, unless your new mark is lower in which case your original mark will stand.

First sits will usually be offered in the reassessment period at the end of the academic year.

A number of students decide to not take the first sit offered to them and we will ask you to confirm this to us so we can update our records accordingly.

Can I appeal a decision?

If you are considering making an academic appeal, you should read the separate appeals guidance carefully.  This advice supplements, but does not replace, the formal policy of the University.

Academic appeals procedure