2. Significant Changes to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for 2023/24

1. Student circumstances

Addition of a new policy on the submission and consideration of the impact of student circumstances upon assessment covering the submission and consideration of requests for: coursework extensions, self-certification of absence from assessment, deferral of assessment and exceptional circumstances (previously known as extenuating circumstances). (section 12)

2. Activities for the award of credit

Redefine the purpose of activities that are required for the award of credit in a unit whereby students must reasonably undertake or attempt the activity and introduce policy to scaffold how such activities are commonly managed and operated. (section 10.38-44)

3. Supplementary years with or without attendance

Clarification that where a student has not met the conditions for progression or award by the end of the year of study but is eligible for reassessment, it is the decision of the relevant exam board as to whether the supplementary year (SY) is with or without attendance, with faculty exam board oversight, based upon its academic judgement. (sections 8.2 and 8.14)

4. Students registered / studying concurrently on programmes

Addition of identified exceptions to the existing policy to permit a student who is registered full-time at Bristol to study concurrently and commence further study whilst waiting for the academic outcome of a programme. (sections 24.11 and 34.4)

5. Assessments that use a pass/fail marking scheme

6. Application of awarding 120cp in final year of undergraduate study

Amendment to the current clause that allows an exam board to award 120 credit points in the final year of an UG programme on the basis of a pass overall - that this should be employed where the exam board is satisfied that programme intended learning outcomes (ILOs) have been demonstrated by the student. (section 30.19)

7. Academic thresholds to progress onto study abroad and industrial placements

Change to the progression requirements onto a placement year within an undergraduate programme for new entrants to undergraduate programmes from 2023/24. (section 30.30-33)

8. Reviewing academic progress of students

Introduction of a policy point to ensure that schools have a process in place to review the academic progress and engagement of students who have not completed or passed assessment at relevant points during the year, given this is no longer a requirement of the mid-year examination board. (section 6.3)

9. Application of regulations

Clarification that the regulations and policy of the Taught Code for an academic year covers students taking assessment in the reassessment period and those who are submitting their dissertation in PGT programmes, but not students who will be re-taking units as part of a supplementary year. (section 1.7)

10. Mark in supplementary assessment

Clarification that when a student is permitted to take an assessment again without academic penalty to account for the impact of an exceptional circumstance, the mark from the most recent attempt of the assessment will supersede the original mark.  (section 12.38)

11. Create new sections on exit awards

Consolidation of existing content and establish new sub-section on ‘exit awards’ within sections 32 and 39 ‘Awards and classification’.

12. Standard setting as form of marking

Reference standard setting as a form of marking that is only available in programmes where there it is a professional accreditation requirement. (section 15.9)

13. Student name on the award certificate

Clarification that a student’s legal name will be used on transcripts, award certificates, and award verification letters. (section 23.11)

14. Eligibility for a Supplementary Year due to Exceptional Circumstances

Clarification of the wording that sets out the reasons by which an exam board can permit a student on an undergraduate programme to undertake a supplementary year. (sections 8.3 and 8.9)

15. Approval of changes to units within regulation

Updating of the regulatory clause on approving changes to the content, credit points and pre/co-requisites for units. (section 4.7)

16. Threshold to award higher classification in secondary rule

Clarification that the threshold of 50% of weighted unit marks being in the higher classification for a higher classification to be awarded under the secondary rule is absolute (i.e. it should not be rounded). (section 32.18)

17. Benchmarking and mark calibration

Move the previous guidance to support the marking and moderation process into the main body of the Taught Code as policy. (section 14)

Changes to the Annexes

Approved for introduction from 2024/25

1. Defining reassessment opportunities

Introduction of a common approach to defining and providing reassessment opportunities, based upon the principle that students should only be permitted to take the failed assessment components in the unit(s) that they have failed overall, with identified exceptions.

2. New institutional marking criteria

A new level-specific set of institutional marking criteria and updated section on its use.

3. Programme structure simplification

Introduction of a series of amendments to reflect the approved key changes in how programmes will be structured from 2024/25 (i.e. unit sizes, minimum credits required for award, requirement for a year of study in an UG programme).

Further information on these changes is available internally to staff.