Regulations for awards (taught courses): Section 2
SECTION 2: The Structure of Courses, Modules and Credit
2.1 Terminology of credit per level of study
| Level |
FHEQ Level |
Descriptor |
|---|---|---|
|
P (undergraduate) |
3 | Pre-foundation level [eg IFY/ Foundation Year] |
| F (undergraduate) | 4 | Foundation level [eg CertHE/HNC] |
| I (undergraduate) | 5 | Intermediate level [eg DipHE/FD/HND] |
| S (undergraduate) | Supervised Work Experience | |
| H (undergraduate) | 6 | Honours level [eg BA (Hons)/BSc (Hons)/LLB (Hons)] |
| M (postgraduate) | 7 | Master’s level [eg MA/MSc/Integrated Master’s degrees] |
| D (postgraduate) | 8 | Doctoral level [eg PhD/Professional Doctorate] |
2.2 The accreditation system within approved courses of study
2.2.1. The University’s awards are normally gained through the accumulation of credits within approved courses of study and each award is defined in terms of the number and levels of credit which are required to attain it. Credit submitted as part of one award may not normally be re-presented as credit towards another award at the same level.
2.2.2. The University’s academic courses are built up from modules. Each 10 credit points awarded at either undergraduate or postgraduate level corresponds to 100 hours of learning experience.
2.2.3. Excluding S level modules, a module on a taught undergraduate course may not be less than 20 credits or greater than 40 credits. A module on a postgraduate course may not be less than 15 credits and should not be greater than 60 credits. The normal multiplier for the size of an undergraduate module is 10 credits and for a postgraduate module is 15 credits, however this may vary depending on the type of provision.
2.2.4. Requests for credit values that vary from the expected value at either undergraduate or postgraduate levels should be submitted through the validation process with a rationale for why the variance is appropriate. The request will be subject to approval via the validation procedure.
2.2.5. Each module normally attracts credits at a defined level. The University’s scheme for the accumulation and transfer of credit embraces the following levels:
| Level | Description | Equivalent to |
|---|---|---|
| P | Pre-foundation | ‘Access’ level |
| F | Foundation level | First year full-time degree |
| I | Intermediate level | Post-foundation study |
| S | Supervised work experience | Sandwich year |
| H | Honours level | Post-intermediate study at honours degree level |
| M | Postgraduate level | Post-honours degree level. |
2.2.6. The standard model for undergraduate courses is as follows:
- 120 Foundation level credits;
- 120 Intermediate level credits;
- 120 Honours level credits.
2.2.7. In the case of supervised work experience (S) level credits, a minimum of a 36-week period of supervised work experience is rated at 120 credits.
2.2.8. The standard model for postgraduate courses is as follows:
- 180 M level credits in one academic year for full-time students;
- 90 M level credits per academic year, unless stated otherwise in the programme specification document for two-year part-time students.
2.3 Sandwich Degrees
2.3.1. A designated sandwich course leads to an award ‘in the sandwich mode’, where the word 'sandwich' is stated on the award certificate. A course of study approved as leading to a degree or a degree with honours in the sandwich mode must include between 36 and 48 weeks of Full-time Supervised Work Experience in addition to the period required for the full-time award.
2.3.2. The period of supervised work experience forms a compulsory element of the course of studies. Its learning outcomes must be specified and related to the learning outcomes of the whole course. The performance of students must be assessed and satisfactory completion and performance in the period of supervised work experience must be a requirement for the award.
2.4 Degree Apprenticeships
2.4.1. An enrolled University of Huddersfield student studying a degree apprenticeship course will be subject to the regulations for awards for taught students. Degree Apprenticeships are defined as work based courses combining both higher and vocational education and academic learning. Students receive a salary from their employer and tuition fees are met from funding generated by the apprenticeship levy.
2.4.2. Apprenticeships must be aligned with ‘apprenticeships standards’ which have been developed by groups of employers and define the knowledge, skills and behaviours required in order to be competent in a specific occupation. The course includes an End Point Assessment which is a final independent assessment of competence (the format of which may vary according to apprenticeship standard). See section 6.6 for details on when an apprenticeship is classified.
2.5 Master’s with Advanced Professional Practice
2.5.1. Students studying for a Master’s degree which includes a placement component are expected to complete 240 credits at postgraduate level, of which the final 60 credits are awarded for the placement component. If the placement component is passed, ‘Advanced Professional Practice’ is added in brackets after the course title on the award documentation. Normally the placement component can only be taken once the 180 M level credits have been achieved. If a student does not pass the placement component, but has passed the other 180 M level credits, they will be awarded a Masters Degree without the advanced professional practice component.
2.6 Credit requirements for awards
2.6.1. The following awards are available through credit accumulation:
| Award Title | Description |
|---|---|
| University Certificate |
The minimum requirement is 60 credits at F level. |
| Certificate of Higher Education | The minimum requirement is 120 credits F level. |
| Certificate in Education |
Associated with a course designed to cover the theory and practice of teaching and for which the minimum requirement is 120 credits at F level.
|
| Certificate in Professional Studies | Associated with a course designed to cover specialist areas of the allied health professions for which the minimum requirement is 60 credits at H level. |
| Diploma of Higher Education | The minimum requirement is 240 credits of which at least 120 must be I and/or H level |
| Foundation Degree | The minimum requirement is 240 credits of which at least 120 must be I level, and include a minimum of 60 credits located in work-based learning (S level). |
| Bachelor’s Degree (Non-Honours) | The minimum requirement is 300 credits of which no more than 120 credits should be at F level and at least 60 should be at H level. With the exception of students who have received their prior relevant credits from this University, for the award of a degree as an interim award of a standalone top-up degree, a minimum of 100 credits at H level is required. For the award of a degree in the sandwich mode there is an additional requirement of sufficient S level credits to satisfy 2.3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree with Honours |
The minimum requirement is normally 360 credits of which no more than 120 credits should be at F level and at least 120 credits should be at H. For the award of an honours degree in the sandwich mode there is an additional requirement of sufficient S level credits to satisfy 2.3. |
| Graduate Certificate | The minimum requirement is 40 credits at H level. |
| Graduate Diploma | The minimum requirement is 80 credits at H level. |
| Integrated Master’s Degree | The minimum requirement is 480 credits of which no more than 120 credits should be at F level, and at least 120 credits at H and 120 credits at M level. For an award to be made in the sandwich mode there is an additional requirement of sufficient S level credits to satisfy 2.3. The award of an Integrated Master’s Degree normally requires an overall average mark of at least 50% in H level modules to progress to M level modules. Normally, H and/or M level modules total between 120 and 180 credits of the value of the award. |
| Professional Graduate Certificate in Education | The minimum requirement is 120 credits at least 20 of which must be at H level. |
| Diploma in Professional Studies | Reserved for courses of study related to specific professions and designed to build on professional experience and for which the minimum requirement is 120 credits at I level. |
| Master of Architecture (RIBA Part 2) | Reserved for a postgraduate course designed to meet the requirements of the architectural profession, which requires 240M level credits: Master of Architecture (RIBA Part 2) |
| Postgraduate Certificate in Education | The minimum requirement is 60 credits at M level. |
| Postgraduate Certificate in Education (with Qualified Teacher Status) | The minimum requirement is 120 credits of which at least 60 must be at M level. |
| Certificate in Management Studies | Reserved for a course designed to meet the requirements for entry to a postgraduate certificate or diploma in management or management studies. |
| Postgraduate Certificate | The minimum requirement is 60 credits at M level. |
| Diploma in Management Studies | The minimum requirement is 105 credits at M level. |
| Postgraduate Diploma | The minimum requirement is 120 credits at M level. |
| Postgraduate Master’s Degree | The Minimum requirement is 180 credits at M level. |
2.6.2. A Certificate of achievement may be provided for a course of study which is validated by the University and is formally assessed, but which does not lead to an award of the University.
2.6.3 If a registered student does not achieve more than 50 credits on their designated course, they will be issued a 'Confirmation of Credit on Exit' (CoCoE) in the form of a transcript only.
2.6.4. With the exception of the Bachelor’s degree with honours, any of the University’s taught awards may be conferred with Distinction or with Merit.
2.6.5. The Bachelor’s degree with honours and the Integrated Master’s Degree, unless stated otherwise in the PSD or by a PSRB, is awarded with a classification, namely First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class, or Third Class.
2.6.6. In determining eligibility for all awards of the University, credits at a higher level can, where appropriate, be substituted for credits at a lower level.
2.7 Registration for modules
2.7.1. Full-time undergraduate students will normally register for tuition in no more than 120 credit points each year. This does not apply to those registered on an accelerated degree. Full-time postgraduate students will normally register for tuition in no more than 180 credits.
2.7.2. Full-time students shall normally be progressed from one stage to the next provided 90 credit points have been recorded in the earlier stage.
2.7.3. In exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Course Assessment Meeting (CAM), an undergraduate student may be registered for tuition in 160 credit points.
2.7.4. Part-time undergraduate students will normally register for tuition in no more than 80 credit points per academic session. Ratification of more than 80 credits at the CAM will not be permitted, except at the explicit and recorded discretion of the CAM.
2.7.5. Part-time postgraduate students will normally register for tuition in no more than 90 credit points per academic session.
2.7.6. The responsibility for ensuring that module choices have been made and correctly recorded rests with the student. In addition, the responsibility to ensure they have registered to the full amount of credits and modules required for their year of study, full-time or part-time also rests with the student.
2.7.7. The Academic Administration timetable details when continuing and new students must record their module choices for the upcoming academic session.
2.7.8. A student may be allowed to change their module choices up to the end of the third week of their current academic session. However, to make such exceptional module changes, the student will need to obtain the express permission of the course leader and module leader and will need to complete all the necessary tasks to secure the new module registration. Students must note that any agreed change(s) can only be accommodated within the timetable slot(s) as originally allocated.
2.7.9. A student is entitled to be assessed only in those modules on which they are formally enrolled. If a student changes modules without seeking approval and/or without changing registration, any work in connection with such module(s) will not be formally assessed.
2.7.10. If a student fails to confirm their recorded module choices, the student will only be assessed in those modules which have been registered.
2.7.11. If a student enrols for a module which is subsequently not taken, the Course Assessment Meeting will record a fail in that module.
2.8 Changes to modules within a course
2.8.1. For taught students, module assessment requirements may change from year to year. A student who is undertaking a module for a second time in full, with attendance should normally expect to be assessed using the current academic year module specification and criteria. However, in cases where it is not practicable for students to be reassessed using the same assessment requirements as applied to the new cohort, the CAM may, at its discretion, make such special arrangements as it deems appropriate.
2.8.2. A taught student who is undertaking a module for the second time, but trailed into the subsequent academic year without attendance, should normally expect to be assessed using the same evidence and criteria which were current at the original point of first assessment. However, the appropriate CAM may, at its discretion and with the student's consent, make such special arrangement as it deems appropriate in cases where it is not practicable for students to be reassessed using the same assessment requirements as at the first attempt.
2.8.3 If a module has changed and is being taken for the first time, but deferred and trailed into the subsequent academic year, the student may be given the exceptional opportunity to change to a substituted module, if permissible for their course. The student would be expected to attend this in full and this would be classed as their first attempt. Students must provide written consent to change to the substitute module.
2.9 Graded and non-graded modules including professional practice
2.9.1. Each module must have the status either of being graded or non-graded.
2.9.2. All Honours level modules contributing to a classified award must be graded. A maximum of 40 Intermediate level credits may be ungraded. An exceptions to this regulation must be agreed with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning).
2.9.3. Students who obtain the minimum pass mark or more on a graded module will be deemed to have passed that module and learning outcomes, unless additional criteria have been explicitly approved as part of the validated module specification.