Academic Regulations

Regulations relating to Academic Affairs

Administration of Teaching

6.1.
Lectures and classes will begin on the hour. To enable students to move from one to the next, lectures and classes shall end not later than ten minutes to any hour.

6.2.
Availability of optional modules may be subject to student demand and timetabling constraints. Every effort is made to timetable optional modules in such a way that clashes are minimised. However, where a student is enrolled for two modules with a timetable clash between lectures, the student is required to change one of the conflicting modules. Students may request special permission from the Executive Dean or his/her deputy to be exempted from this requirement. Each request will be judged on its merits.

Administration of Examinations (see the Examinations website)

6.3.
The main examination period shall take place in May/June. Examinations for specific groups of students may take place at other times. Resit examinations shall normally take place in the first full week of September.

6.4.
Students must comply with the requirements of the Examinations Office in relation to examination entry. Alterations to examination entry after the published deadline will be made at the discretion of the Registrar and Secretary and may be subject to a fine.

6.5
The result of any examination taken by a student who is in debt to the University will not receive formal recognition by the University, unless otherwise determined by the Registrar and Secretary after consideration of individual circumstances.

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6.6.
Attendance at all examinations associated with the approved programme of study is compulsory and any student who fails to present himself or herself for such an examination at the time and place published by the Registrar and Secretary, except when prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause, will be deemed to have failed in that part of the examination. Misreading of the examination timetable will not be regarded as 'sufficient cause'.

6.7.
Invigilators shall have the power to remove any candidate from the examination room for good cause.

6.8.
No candidate will be admitted to the examination room later than 55 minutes after the start of any examination of more than one hour's duration. No candidate will be permitted to leave the examination room permanently during the first 55 minutes or during the last 30 minutes of an examination of more than one hour's duration. For examinations with a duration of up to one hour candidates will be admitted to the examination room up to 10 minutes after the start of the examination and will be permitted to leave the examination room permanently only with the permission of the invigilator.

6.9.
Where a candidate is unable for good cause to attend a written examination in the place arranged for the examination permission may be given by the Registrar and Secretary for the examination to be held elsewhere, provided that it is simultaneous and invigilated.

6.10.
Project or other work which is part of an examination must be submitted by the required date, otherwise such work may be left out of account in the assessment of the examination result.

Assessment

6.11
Modules may be assessed by coursework or by examination or by a combination of both. Coursework may include class tests, project work, field work and laboratory work and other appropriate forms of assessment. The detailed methods and rules of assessment for individual modules are available from Departmental Offices or their equivalent.

6.12.
Students are examined at the end of each year of their course and must satisfy the examiners before being permitted to proceed. Examinations for groups of students on specified modules or courses may take place at times other than the main examination period in May/June.

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6.13.
Students who do not satisfy the examiners in the examinations may be permitted to re-sit specified examinations, to undertake a repeat period of study, full-time or part-time, or be required to leave the University.

6.14.
In degree courses of three years’ duration, the final class of degree will normally be based upon the assessment of the second and final years of study. In degree courses of four years’ duration, the assessment of the third year of study may be taken into account in assessing the final class of degree. The detailed rules of assessment for the award of first degrees are approved by the Senate and are available from the Registry.

Academic Progress

6.15.
Students will be permitted to proceed with their programmes of study only if their progress is satisfactory.

6.16.
The progress of each student shall be reviewed at regular intervals during the academic year by academic departments. Where necessary Heads of Department or, in the case of students following joint degrees, the Director of the course, shall inform the Executive Dean or his/her deputy of any student whose progress gives cause for concern. The Executive Dean or his/her deputy may refer a student to the Progress Committee, which shall be appointed annually by the Board. In such cases the Progress Committee shall act on behalf of the Board and may require a student whose progress is unsatisfactory to withdraw from the University. First and Second Year Boards of Examiners may also require a student whose progress is unsatisfactory to withdraw from the University. A student who is required to withdraw from the University on the grounds of unsatisfactory progress has the right of appeal in accordance with the procedures approved by the Senate.

6.17.
Heads of Department or, in the case of students following joint degrees, the Director of the course, shall inform the Executive Dean or his/her deputy of any student whose performance suggests that prima facie the student will be unable to meet the requirements for obtaining a pass at the end of the year. The cases of such students will normally be dealt with by the Executive Dean or his/her deputy who will normally write to the students to warn them of the gravity of their situation and the likelihood that they will fail the year or the award for which they are registered.

6.18.
A student who is prevented by ill health or other serious impediment from meeting the normal requirements of his or her programme of study for more than six consecutive weeks, may not, except with the permission of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, count that term as part of the requirements of the programme of study for which he/she is registered.

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Cheating

(see also the Academic Offences Procedures)

6.19.

1. It is an academic offence for a student to engage in unfair academic practices or to cheat in any examination, or in any other submitted part of his or her University work, whether or not such work is formally assessed. A student may be found guilty of an academic offence whether or not there has been intention to deceive; that is, a judgement that negligence has occurred is sufficient to determine guilt.
    

2. Academic offences include:

1. Plagiarism, that is, using or copying the work of others (whether written, printed or in any other form) without proper acknowledgement in any assignment, examination or other assessed work.

2. Repeating work previously submitted for another assignment without full acknowledgement of the extent to which that previous work has been used.

3. Falsifying data or evidence.

4. Submitting a fraudulent claim of extenuating circumstances.

5. Assisting another student to commit an academic offence.

6. Submitting written work produced collaboratively unless this is explicitly allowed.

7. Copying the work of another candidate or otherwise communicating with another candidate in an examination.

8. Introducing any written, printed or electronically stored information into an examination other than material expressly permitted in the instructions for that examination.

9. Defacing or interfering with exam script booklets.

This list is not exhaustive.

3. Allegations of academic offences shall be dealt with in accordance with procedures determined by the Senate. Previous offences shall be taken into account.

6.20.
In submitting any piece of work (eg dissertation, thesis, essay or report) a student shall acknowledge any assistance received or any use of the work of others.

Award and Conferment of Degrees

6.21.
A candidate who has fulfilled the requirements of the prescribed programme of study and has satisfied the examiners for the degree of Foundation Degree in Arts or Foundation Degree in Science shall be eligible for conferment of the degree in one of the following classes:

Pass
Merit
Distinction

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6.22.
A candidate who has fulfilled the requirements of the prescribed programme of study and has satisfied the examiners for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering for Bachelor of Laws (Ordinary) shall be eligible for conferment of the degree. These awards are unclassified.

6.23
A candidate who has fulfilled the requirements of the prescribed programme of study and has satisfied the examiners for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Laws with Honours shall be eligible for conferment of the degree in one of the following classes:

Class I
Class II Division i
Class II Division ii
Class III

6.24.
Candidates who do not satisfy the examiners in the final examinations of the final year of study for the degree may be re-assessed in accordance with the rules of assessment for Undergraduate awards. Marks will be capped excepted where a candidate is repeating the year. Candidates will be required to undertake the appropriate registration and pay the fee determined by the University. Students who are not fully registered shall not be permitted in the intervening year to receive instruction or supervision at the University of Essex. Students who are given the opportunity to be re-assessed shall be subject to the Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations of the University at any time they are present in the University.

The following conditions apply only to candidates under the rules of assessment which applied before 2007-08: Candidates who satisfy the examiners in the final examinations for the degree of Bachelor at the second attempt shall be eligible for conferment an Honours degree at the Third Class level only and course level marks will be capped at the pass mark, unless the Board of Examiners has specified otherwise, normally in cases where candidates are being re-assessed for the purpose of demonstrating achievement of all programme learning outcomes or where extenuating circumstances have been taken into account.

6.25.
In the case of illness or other sufficient cause affecting a candidate for an honours degree and occurring after the Sunday of the sixth week of the Spring term (ie week 21) of the candidate’s final year course of study but before the end of the final examinations, the candidate may on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners concerned and at least one external examiner be eligible for conferment of an aegrotat degree. Candidates who were required to be examined during the January examination period in their final year, and who were affected by illness or other sufficient cause which occurred during this period, and which was not an ongoing problem, may also be considered for an aegrotat degree. Candidates who have conferred on them an aegrotat degree may present themselves for examination for the honours degree at the next available opportunity which will normally be within one year . Such candidates shall be required to register partially and to pay an appropriate fee as determined from time to time by the University. They shall be subject to the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University at any time they are present in the University. It shall be open to the examiners to recommend conferment of an Honours degree under conditions prescribed in Regulation 6.23. to candidates who present themselves for examination under this Regulation.

6.26.

1. The Chair of a Board of Examiners may suspend any particular decision of the Board where:

1. the decision contravenes either a University regulation, policy, or procedure;

2. the decision, in the judgement of the Chair, leads to unfairness or inconsistency.

2. In signing the grids at the conclusion of the Board meeting, the Chair shall indicate next to his/her signature that he/she has not approved the decision relating to the relevant candidate number(s).
    

3. The Chair shall then refer the decision to a sub-Committee of Senate by notifying the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The sub-committee shall be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor or his/her nominee, and shall consist of not fewer than three further members of Senate who are also senior members of academic staff. Where possible, the members should be chosen from disciplines cognate with that in the case under consideration. The sub-committee shall review the facts of the case and taken an independent and final decision. Any decision open to the original Board of Examiners shall be available to the sub-Committee. The sub-committee may wish to view the grids of other students in order to ensure consistency.
    

4. The decision of the sub-committee shall not require the agreement of external examiners but the external examiner shall be informed of the decisions.

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6.27.
No student, past student, or other person may represent himself or herself as a graduate of the University of Essex until such time as a degree of the University has been conferred.

6.28.
Except with the special permission of the Senate no degree of the University shall be conferred upon, or certificate or diploma of the University granted to, a person who is in debt to the University in respect of that qualification (see also Regulation 6.5).

6.29.
Students who are eligible for conferment of degrees may have them conferred upon them either at a congregation for the conferment of degrees or in absentia.

6.30.
Students attending a congregation of the University for the conferment of a degree or otherwise shall be required to wear dress suitable to the occasion.

Intellectual Property Rights

(see also Guidelines on the Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights in Students' Work)

6.31.
Intellectual property rights generated by a student in the course of his/her study lie with the student, except in specific cases relating to commercial exploitation where agreement has been reached between the University and the Student or where otherwise covered by an existing agreement between the student and his/her sponsoring body.