Intellectual Property Specialist Student Handbook 2026/27

17.3. Exit Award and Condoned Failure

Exit Awards

An exit award is an award at a lower level than that for which a student initially registered. An exit award may be recommended where a student meets the requirements for the lower level award and where the student has either withdrawn or been deregistered. Where a student has been deregistered, the nature of the deregistration will be considered when determining whether or not to recommend an exit award.

1. Students who fail to achieve their intended award may qualify for an exit award where sufficient credits have been passed, and a classification mark has been achieved.
2. For a Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert), students must pass 60 credits with a classification mark of 50% or higher (up to 15 credits may be condoned, with a mark of 40-49).
3. Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip), students must pass 120 credits with a classification mark of 50% or higher (up to 30 credits may be condoned, with a mark of 40-49).
4. The exit award will be automatically applied where the student does not pass at the final attempt if they pass the required number of credits.

For more information on Queen Mary’s Academic Regulations, please visit this webpage: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/policy/.

For full details, please refer to the Academic Regulations 2026–27.

Condoned Failure

Condoned failure allows a student to progress or qualify for an award despite failing a limited number of credits, provided specific conditions are met.

MSc Awards

Failure may be condoned in up to 30 credits where all of the following conditions are met:

• The module mark for each failed module is 40.0 or higher; and, 
• The credit-weighted average across all modules including the failed module(s) is 50.0 or higher; and,
• The failed module is not designated as ‘core’ (must be passed outright) in the programme regulations.

PgCert in Intellectual Property Law and Trade Mark Law and Practice

Failure may be condoned in up to 15 credits where all of the following conditions are met:

• The module mark for each failed module is 45.0 or higher; and, 
• The credit-weighted average mark across all modules, including the failed module(s), is 50.0 or higher; and,
• The failed module is not designated as ‘core’ (must be passed outright) in the programme regulations.