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SMS MSc Student Handbook 2017/18

18. Progression and Graduation

Borderline Policy

Examination boards may use a borderline policy when making recommendations for degree classifications. The following criteria are used, according to the Assessment Handbook 2017-18, section 6.81:

  1. Students with College marks within one per cent of a borderline (except at the pass/fail border) shall be determined to fall within the "zone of consideration".
  2. Students with College marks within 1.5 per cent of a borderline and with significant extenuating circumstances not taken into account elsewhere may be determined to fall within the zone of consideration. However, if this approach is taken then the extenuating circumstances may not also be used as a reason to raise the classification itself.
  3. All students falling within a zone of consideration shall be considered as possible cases for application of the borderline policy.
  4. Students falling within the zone of consideration and with at least half of their credits with marks at the level of the upper classification (or higher), shall be raised to the higher classification. The credits at the higher level may include the dissertation or project, but this is not a requirement. Where a student studies on a part-time basis, all modules shall be used in the borderline policy.
  5. Students falling within the one per cent zone of consideration and not meeting the requirements of point 4, but with significant extenuating circumstances not taken into account elsewhere, shall be raised to the higher classification provided the examination board is confident that – without the effect of the extenuating circumstances – the student would have achieved the higher classification.

For information on eligibility for awards, academic requirements for awards,  and classification of awards, please see the Academic Regulations 2017-18, ss.5.72-5.79 [inclusive].  Please read the QMUL Code of Practice for Assessment and Feedback here: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/media/arcs/policyzone/Code-of-Practice-on-Assessment-and-Feedback_amended-2016.01.18.pdf.  See here for information on graduation: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/graduation/.

Please note that there are some special regulations for the MSc Mathematics programme, the principal difference being that resits are not capped at 50%.  Please see ss. 6.35-6.38 [inclusive].