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Degree Rules - 2011/12

This is a summary of the rules for degree awards.
More details can be found in the University document Rules forAwards, and
in the document ‘How your degree is classified’  (includes exercises).

Credit Rules   -   Classification Average   -  Degree Classes   -   Borderline Cases
Levels and Years of Study
Students should note that the University makes a clear distinction between levels of study and years of study.  Years are defined as the academic year of a programme – e.g. Year 1, Year 2 etc.  Levels are defined as the level of a module – e.g. MATH1012 is a level 1 module; MATH2015 is a level 2 module.  Students must ensure that they have gained not only the sufficient number of credits to progress between years (made up of one or more levels of modules), but also the correct number of credits at each level of study.  Credits with a higher level value can count ‘backwards’ towards lower level credits, but this cannot be done in reverse.


Credit Rules

The credit rules below refer to the credits you need to have passed by the end of your studies; they do NOT refer to how many credits you need to enrol on at each level. The number of credits you need to enrol on in each year at each level are explained in the Programme Catalogue where you will find any further requirements specific to your programme.

To obtain an Honours BSc Degree in Mathematics, Mathematics & Statistics, Statistics, Mathematical Studies, Mathematics with Finance, or Actuarial Mathematics, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed
  • at least 280 credits in total, of which
  • at least 180 credits are at level 2 and 3, and
  • at least 80 credits are at level 3, and
  • your overall classification average must be at least 4.0. 
(Higher level credit can replace lower level credit, but cannot be counted twice.)
IMPORTANT !!!  Your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in over years 2 and 3, not only the ones you have passed.


To obtain an Honours BSc Degree in Biology & Mathematics, Biology & Statistics, Economics & Mathematics, Economics & Statistics, Geography & Mathematics (& BA), Geography & Statistics, Management & Mathematics, or Mathematics & Music, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed
  • at least 300 credits in total, of which
  • at least 200 creditsare at level 2 and 3, and
  • at least 100 credits are at level 3, and
  • your overall classifcation average must be at least 4.0.

(Higher level credit can replace lower level credit, but cannot be counted twice.)
IMPORTANT !!!  Your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in over years 2 and 3, not only the ones you have passed.

Special Requirement for JH programmes. For all Joint Honours programmes, to obtain an Honours degree, you must have passed in each of the two subjects at least 80 credits of level 2 and 3 modules with at least 40 credits at level 3.
For JH students having entered the programme in 2010 or earlier:
  • For the Mathematics component of JH degrees, in addition to the regular MATH modules, EDUC3060 can count towards this JH requirement for Mathematics.
  • For the Statistics component of JH degrees, in addition to the regular modules in Statistics, the following modules can count towards this JH Statistics requirement: MATH2090, MATH2210, MATH2391, MATH2431.

To obtain an Ordinary BSc Degree in Mathematics, Mathematics & Statistics, Statistics, Mathematical Studies, Mathematics with Finance, Actuarial Mathematics, Biology & Mathematics, Geography & Mathematics, or Mathematics & Music, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed
  • at least 240 credits in total, with
  • at least 80 credits passed in each Year 1 and Year 2,
  • at least 160 credits passed at level 2 and 3, and with
  • at least 60 credits are at level 3, and
  • your overall classification average across 200 credits in Year 2 and 3 must be at least 4.0.
(Higher level credit can replace lower level credit, but cannot be counted twice.)
IMPORTANT !!!  Your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in over years 2 and 3, not only the ones you have passed.

There is no ordinary degree award for BSc Economics & Mathematics and BSc Management & Mathematics.

Note that students on the Honours programme who only qualify for an ordinary degree have the right to resit failed exams the following year. They have to inform the University by 4th of July 2012 if they want to waive their right to resits and obtain the Ordinary Degree.

 
For students who entered University in 2007 or later, to obtain an MMath, BSc Degree in Mathematics or Statistics, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed

  • at least 400 credits in total, of which
  • at least 100 credits are at level 1,
  • at least 100 credits are at level 2,
  • at least 100 credits are at level 3,
  • at least 100 credits are at level 5/M, and
  • for student entering the progamme in 2009/10 and after, the average over 120 level 5/M credits must be at least 50%, and
  • your overall classification average must be at least 4.0.
(Higher level credit can replace lower level credit, but cannot be counted twice.)
IMPORTANT !!!  Note that your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in over years 2, 3, and 4, not only the ones you have passed.

 
For students who entered University in 2006 or earlier, to obtain an MMath Degree in Mathematics or Statistics, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed

  • at least 400 credits, of which
  • at least 100 credits are at level 1,
  • at least 100 credits are at level 2,
  • at least 100 credits are at level 3, and
  • at least 80 credits are at level 5, and
  • your overall classification average must be at least 4.0.

(Higher level credit can replace lower level credit, but cannot be counted twice.)
IMPORTANT !!!  Note that your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in over years 2, 3, and 4, not only the ones you have passed.


To obtain an MSc Degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Statistics with Applications to Finance, Mathematics and Computer Science, or Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics, in addition to the specific programme requirements, you need to have passed

  • at least 150 credits in total, of which
  • at least 135 credits are at level 5.
  • Your overall classification average must be at least 5.0.
IMPORTANT !!!  Your classification average is computed over ALL modules you were enrolled in, not only the ones you have passed.

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Classification Average

A student’s classification average takes into account ALL modules taken in

  • Years 2 and 3 for the BSc degree
  • Years 2, 3, and 4 for the MMath, BSc degree
  • during the programme for the MSc degree.

in the following way:



Module marks on the 0 to 100 scale are
converted to marks on the 2.0 to 9.0
scale by a piecewise linear function as indicated.


 0 and AB
 is converted to
 2.0
(This does NOTapply to marks given as a penalty for plagiarism.)
30
 is converted to 3.0
80
 is converted to 8.0
100
 is converted to 9.0

For BSc and  MMath, BSc Degrees, the classification average is the better of the following two averages of all module marks on the 2.0 to 9.0 (plus 0) scale, weighted by the credits for each module: 

For the BSc  -  the better of
  • the 1:1 average, giving equal weight to Year 2 and Year 3 marks
  • the 1:2 average, giving single weight to Year 2 marks, and double weight to Year 3 marks.
(Note that for the BSc European, American, and Industrial, the Year abroad and in industry does not contribute towards the classification average.)

For the MMath or MMath,BSc -  the better of
  • the 1:1:1 average, giving equal weight to Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4 marks
  • the 1:2:2 average, giving single weight to Year 2 marks, and double weight to Year 3 and Year 4 marks.
For the MMath or MMath,BSc European and American -  the better of
  • the 1:1:1 average, giving equal weight to Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4 marks
  • the 1:1:2 average, giving single weight to Year 2 and Year 3 marks, and double weight to Year 4 marks.
(Note that marks from Special Skills modules always carry single weight, even when taken in the final year.)

For MSc Degrees, the classification average is the average of all module marks on the 2.0 to 9.0 (plus 0) scale, weighted by the credits for each module.

Important!
Your classification average will be calculated as a weighted average over all credits you are enrolled in (apart from supernumery modules).


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Degree Classes

The degree class is determined according to the following tables.

For BSc and  MMath, BSc Degrees:

Classification Average Degree Class
6.85 - 9.00 1
5.90 - 6.84 2.1
4.95 - 5.89 2.2
4.00 - 4.94 3



For MSc Degrees:
Classification Average Degree Class
7.00 - 9.00 Distinction
6.00 - 6.99
 Merit
5.00 - 5.99
 Pass


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Borderline Cases

Examiners’ Discretion

The final degree class is determined during an Examiners’ meeting including academic staff and external examiner(s). Examiners are empowered to use their discretion to raise a student’s degree class according to the following guidelines:

Borderline Discretion

If a student’s classification average is within

  • 0.05 of the threshold for the next higher degree class for BSc and MMath,BSc degrees,
  • 0.10 of the threshold for the next higher degree class for MSc degrees,

the examiners have the discretion to raise the student’s degree class, taking into account:

  • The external examiners’ comments on the student’s examination scripts and final year project or dissertation,
  • The student’s grade profile, including
  • the marks achieved at the higher level,
  • the number of credits achieved at the higher level,
  • the class averages and mark distributions of the modules taken,
  • the level of the modules taken,
  • the scaling applied to the student's module marks.

Final Year Discretion (This only applies to UG students who have entered the penultimate year of their programme in 2009 or earlier):
If a student’s final year average is at least 0.25 above the threshold for the next higher degree class, the examiners have the discretion to raise the student’s degree class, taking into account the same factors as above.


Special Circumstances the student experienced during their studies can be taken into consideration.

Important Note on Borderline and Special Circumstances Cases
The degree class should be an assessment of the performance and achievement of the student on the programme. Special circumstances are only taken into account if they indicate that the student’s performance in examinations (and assessed coursework) does not accurately reflect the student’s actual achievement. A degree class is NOT meant to be an assessment of the level of achievement of which the student might be capable in better circumstances. This means that the examiners are unlikely to award the student a higher degree class unless the student has shown sufficient achievement at that level.

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