Introduction to Keele, its Structures and Regulatory Framework

1. Introduction to Keele, its Structures and Regulatory Framework Dorothea Ross-Simpson Head of Governance and Quality Assurance

2. Contents 1. Overview of the University and its main courses 2. Curriculum Structures 3. Progression Rules 4. Reassessment 5. Extenuation and Appeals 7. How to find out more about our Regulations

3. Keele University: Key facts The University • Established in 1949 • about 10.000 students, with around 80% undergraduate • Most undergraduates are full-time and 18-21 Key Performance Indicators* • 2nd for overall student satisfaction in the NSS • 3rd for Graduate Employment in the DLHE • 29th in Sunday Times University League Table of UK universities * excluding specialist institutions

4. Overview of Main Undergraduate Courses BA/BSc Dual Honours • Taken by over 50% of undergraduates. • Over 40 “principal subjects” & well over 500 combinations. • Major/minor specialisation possible at point of entry. BA/BSc Single Honours • Now 32 programmes and growing demand. • Often shared modules with Dual Honours subjects. • Many professional programmes such as Social Work

5. Overview of Main Undergraduate Courses (cont.) Integrated Masters (4 year undergraduate programme) • Example: MPharm (over 200 students) and MGeoscience Medical degree MBChB (5 year undergraduate programme ) • Year 1 at Level 4, Year 2 at Level 5 and Years 3-5 at Level 6 • Unclassified award Intercalated Degrees • Undergraduates may suspend their medical degree for a period of 12 months to undertake either a Bachelors degree after Year 2 or Bachelors/Masters degree after Year 4

6. Undergraduate Electives • Many programmes offer the opportunity to take free standing electives at every level of study. • Language electives most popular. In 2011/12, 911 students enrolled on an elective language module as part of their approved programme of study • International students whose first language isn’t English are automatically allocated an English Language for Academic Purposes module

7. Main Postgraduate Programmes Taught MA/MSc courses • over 80 programmes [including some free-standing PG Certs/Diplomas], many with professional accreditation • 60 credit dissertation MRes Programmes • attached to Research Institutes but often share taught modules (ie research methods) with MA/MScs in Schools. • 90 credit dissertation

8. MA/MSc Programmes (Level 7) Key regulations Standard awards / awards “with Merit” / awards “with Distinction”. Awards based on number of modules passed with a “Distinction” grade [70+],“Merit” grade [60+] or a Pass [50-59]. No formal progression from taught modules to dissertation.

9. Undergraduate ‘New’ Degree Structure Students normally take: • Four 15-credit modules per semester, 120 credits per year at every level of study • Depending on the subject(s), between 60-120 credits per year will be compulsory The rest can be taken from subject-specific or freestanding electives.

10. Dual Honours Examples: English (45 credits) + History (45 credits) = min. 90 credits subject-specific per year Biology (60 credits) + Forensic Science (60 credits) = 120 credits compulsory core per year Single Honours Examples: Business Economics Single Honours = 90 credits compulsory core Biomedical Sciences = 120 credits compulsory core

11. Re-assessment of Failed Modules • a student who has failed one or more core module within a course is entitled to one reassessment opportunity with marks capped at 40% (undergraduate) and 50% (postgraduate). • a student who has failed any elective module on two occasions shall not be permitted to be re-assessed in that module but may be offered the facility of pursuing one or more alternative elective modules

12. Condonement and Compensation(applies only to new students currently at Level 4) • Condonement: the University allows condonement of up to 30 credits of marginal fails (defined as marks between 30 and 38) (with a maximum of 15 credits of marginal fails at Level 4 or 5) • Compensation: special compensation rule introduced in 2013, only for Mathematics and Physiotherapy.

13. Considering Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) Short Term Assignment Extensions • EC for extensions up to 10 days (UG) and 28 days (PGT) managed by School • Discipline EC Panels review the ECs and feed decisions into Subject Exam Boards Examinations Absence and Long Term Assignment Extensions: • Currently all examination absences have to be approved by SCEACE* • All longer-term assignment extensions counting for 50% or greater to a module mark have to be approved by SCEACE • Schools feed outcomes into Subject Exam Boards * Sub-Committee for Examination Absences and Coursework Extensions

14. Appeals A student may appeal against : (i) the mark awarded for any unit of assessment; (ii) the overall outcome of a programme of study; (iii) failure at any stage of the programme of study; (iv) the decision of Exam Boards. Appeals may only be made on the following grounds: (i) procedural irregularity in the conduct of the assessment; (ii) extenuating circumstances, providing that these circumstances were not known by the Board of Examiners at the time it made its decision.

15. Programme Regulations (currently held locally) • Where programmes deviate from the University’s Regulations, there will be approved additional course regulations which may cover issues such as: ◊ how the courses are structured; ◊ progression from one stage of a course to the next; ◊ what students must do in order to complete a course; ◊ specific entry or progression requirements; ◊ whether, in addition to the main award, the programme leads to accreditation by a professional body;

16. How to Find out More • Full regulations at http://www.keele.ac.uk/regulations/. All University regulations are be available from this page, including: Reg 1A Modular Bachelors Degrees Reg 2A Modular Postgraduate Courses Reg 8 General Examination and Assessment Regulation, including anonymous marking, double marking, extenuating circumstances, disclosure of marks Reg 9 Boards of Examiners