When you get your degree, it is a classified degree, i.e. it is a First, Upper Second, Lower Second, Third Class Honours degree, or a Pass degree. What follows is an explanation of how the marks you get for each of your modules are translated into your final classification. There is important further information on examinations in the Student Guide with which you should become familiar.
All students must have passed at least 270 credits to be eligible for a degree. For students registered for a 4-year degree these 270 credits passed must not include the 120 credit Year Abroad Assessment module. Students transferring from another university into the second year of a Queen Mary degree programme must have passed at least 180 credits. For students who transferred into the second year of a languages degree programme that includes the compulsory Year Abroad, these 180 credits passed must not include the 120 credit Year Abroad Assessment module. Level 3 modules do not count towards these totals. In practice, most of you will have passed more than this.
When all the marks have been agreed, each student’s complete profile is scrutinised at a meeting of the appropriate departmental Sub-board (Comparative Literature, Film Studies, French, German, Iberian and Latin American Studies, Linguistics, or Russian). Where a student has two main subjects within the School, the Chairs of both Sub-boards discuss the case in detail and the student is then assigned for preliminary classification to one of the two Sub-boards. Combined Honours language students (a language with a non-language subject) are always classified by the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film. The Sub-boards’ recommendations are then considered by the Board of Examiners in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, whose final recommendation is then put to the College Degree Examination Board for approval.
The School of Languages, Linguistics and Film is the home department for all students registered in the School except for students registered on the following degree programmes: English Literature and Linguistics, and Film Studies and History. If you are registered on one of these degree programmes, you will be classified by the other School. However, this will be done in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Examiners of the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film.
Your overall performance is assessed using a calculation to determine your ‘mean’ mark, which will give you a percentage on the scale with which you are already familiar.
There is a College-wide classification mean for all students. This mean compulsorily includes the marks from all 360 credits (480 credits for four-year students) taken throughout your studies. If marks for fewer than 120 credits are recorded in any one year, the computer will make calculations by inserting marks of zero as appropriate.
The calculation is done as follows:
For students who started their degree before 2013
(year 1 average x 1) + (year 2 average x 2 ) + (final year average x 4) / 7
(year 1 average x 1) + (year 2 average x 2) + (year abroad average x 1) + (final year average x 4) / 9
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For Students starting from 2013 onward |
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Award |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
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3-year degree |
10% (1) |
30% (3) |
60% (6) |
- |
|
4-year degree (with Year Abroad) |
9.09% (1) |
27.3% (3) |
9.09% (1) |
54.5% (6) |
A mean mark in the middle of the range will immediately be awarded the appropriate class of degree (e.g., 65% will be an Upper Second). However the College’s regulations allow for a degree of flexibility. If your mean is just below a borderline, your case is examined in detail.
Positive factors will be looked for, such as the range and level of the modules taken, and elements of ‘higher class’ performance within your profile. This includes the number of modules that have a higher class mark and how many of these modules are at level 6. If you have had unspent extenuating circumstances (that is extenuating circumstances for which you were not offered a first sit or re-take – see section 4.2 EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES) they will be brought to the attention of the Examination Board who has the discretion to recommend a higher class of degree if it sees fit. Please note that the presence of extenuating circumstances does not automatically mean that you will be awarded a higher class of degree. External Examiners attend the classification meeting and their judgement on the borderline cases, which are fully discussed, is considered very important.
The Queen Mary Academic Credit Framework applies to all students who entered the College in 2008 or later. The QMACF states that students’ degree titles are determined by the title of their programme of study and this will only differ where there is an approved alternative exit title for that degree programme. If your interests change in the course of your studies, you should change programme to reflect this. You should discuss the possibility with your Adviser as soon as possible. If you have taken modules outside of the subject named in your degree programme these modules will be listed on your transcript but will not be named in your degree title unless you actively change your degree programme by submitting a change of programme form. You will only be able to do this if you fulfil all the programme requirements for your new degree programme. You should always discuss any changes with your Adviser.
Final Year language students who entered the College before 2012 and who meet the overall requirements to graduate, but fail to pass the core final year language module will be awarded the approved alternative degree exit title including ‘French Studies’, ‘German Studies’, ‘Spanish Studies’ or ‘Russian Studies’ as appropriate. All other students must pass all core modules before they can be classified.
Students who are already enrolled, or due to enrol before the end of 2013, can choose whether to graduate with a degree certificate that says Queen Mary University of London, or a degree certificate that only says the University of London. Previously, students could only graduate with a degree certificate that said University of London.
Students who enrol from 2014 will automatically receive a degree certificate that says Queen Mary University of London when they graduate.
There are some exceptions – more information is in the answers to the frequently asked questions on the website: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/graduation/your-degree-award/index.html