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Section 6: Programme Progression and Award

About this section

The process of determining awards is the responsibility of the parent school and is separate from the process of agreeing module marks (although in some cases, the two processes take place consecutively).

6.1a Definitions

Progression refers to a structured process undertaken by the School that determines whether you have met the requirements to continue to the next stage of your programme. This is usually only relevant for undergraduate students and takes place at the end of each year of study.
Classification refers to identifying the type of qualification and classification of award that you will receive on completion of the programme.

6.1b University Progression and Award Regulations

The criteria for progression/award are determined by the University’s regulations set out in the Academic Regulations, as well as by individual programme rules set out in the programme specification.

The programme specification identifies the modules within any given programme of study which must be passed in order to allow progression/award. The Progression and Awards Board is required to implement decisions in accordance with the Academic Regulations and the programme specification.

The School does not have discretion to vary the rules for individual students at the Progression and Awards Board.

6.1c Ad Hoc and Ad Personam Programmes

If there are exceptional circumstances, the School may consider varying the programme rules for a cohort of students (an ad hoc programme) or for an individual student (an ad personam programme). For example, the required combination of modules could be amended, or particular programme rules waived. This decision is taken in advance and is based on the circumstances affecting the group or individual. The decision is not taken by the Progression and Awards Board.

Any ad hoc or ad personam programme must be approved in advance by the Faculty Taught Student Education Committee or by the Pro Dean for Student Education acting on the Committee’s behalf. Once the ad hoc or ad personam programme is approved, this new programme is the one which will be applied by the Progression and Awards Board in considering your results. The School will provide you with a copy of the approved programme which supplements the published programme specification.

6.2 Progression and Awards Boards and Related Committees

6.2a School Special Circumstances Committee

The School Special Circumstances Committee is responsible for assessing all applications for mitigating circumstances and making recommendations to the Progression and Awards Board on any adjustment that the Board should make to accommodate those circumstances. Anonymous minutes of the School Special Circumstances Committee are taken, along with a summary of the recommendations made, to the Progression and Awards Board.

This Committee comprises of a Director of Student Support (Chair); one academic representative from each Department and Student Support Officers.

The Committee meets regularly throughout the academic year, including after examination periods and prior to Assessment and Progression and Awards Boards.

6.2b Progression and Awards Board

The Progression and Awards Board has responsibility for approving module marks, making decisions about progression, and for deciding the award you will receive and, where relevant, its classification.

The School adopts the standard Terms of Reference and Membership for Progression and Awards Boards.

6.2c Consideration of Progression and Awards

In the majority of cases, the Progression and Awards Board makes straightforward decisions based on credit requirements and the classification average. The classification rules are detailed in the University’s Academic Regulations.

For students who commenced their programme at the University prior to academic year 2022/23, the classification algorithm as specified in the Rules for Award: 2023 – 24 (iteration A) applies. This allows for academic discretion for borderline cases. In these cases the Business School awards board will implement Undergraduate borderline discretion as follows:

All Students within a 0.05% can be raised using the rule based approach:

Rule 1 – At least 60 credits of final year credits are in the higher class
Rule 2 – At least 120 credits of year 2 & 3 credits are in the higher class
Rule 3 – At least 100 credits of year 2 & 3 compulsory and optional credits for the programme are in the higher class. In making the judgement, any one result of 49, 59 or 69 may be interpreted as if it belonged to the higher class.

In cases of mitigating circumstances, the Board receives recommendations from the School Special Circumstances Committee, and may apply Special Circumstances discretion. This procedure applies to all students, where relevant, regardless of the date studies commenced.

The Progression and Awards Boards meet in June and September for Undergraduate programmes, and in November for Taught Postgraduate programmes.

6.2d Referral to the University Special Cases Committee

The Progression and Awards Board can only exercise its powers within the context of the University’s rules and regulations, and in particular, the Academic Regulations and the programme specification. However, if following these procedures would lead to a perverse or unfair judgement, the School may make an application to the University Special Cases Committee to make exceptions to the rules. If the School does this, you will be informed, giving the reason.

The School must present a case to the Committee; you cannot apply yourself.

6.3 Undergraduate Progression

To progress to the next year of an undergraduate Honours programme, you must:

  • obtain a minimum of 100 credits in the current programme year;
  • pass all of those modules listed as ‘pass for progression’ in the programme specification; and
  • meet any other criteria listed in the programme specification.

Furthermore, students must obtain an average grade of 40 or better (averaged over at least 120 credits in the programme).

Students on four year programmes (Industrial or International variants) must pass their industrial or international placement as specified in the relevant module handbook. If a student were to fail their industrial or placement year they would be transferred back to the three year variant of the relevant programme.

6.4 Classification Procedures

This section describes the main classification rules for the principal types of qualifications. This is a summary only and the full details of the procedure for all types of qualification are published in full in the Academic Regulations.

6.4a Classification System

The University operates a unified institutional degree, diploma and certificate awarding/classification system for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes. The classification system is based on averaging and is designed to be consistent with the national Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications.

6.4b Classification Average

Modules are marked against a 0-100 marking scale. Module marks are converted to a 0.0 to 100.0 Classification Average scale expressed to one decimal place and rounded accordingly.

For more information, see the Academic Regulations.

A Classification Calculator is also available which will allow you to estimate your final degree classification.

6.4c Bachelor’s Degrees with Classified Honours

Details about degree classification for Bachelor’s degree with classified honours are available on the Classification website page.

6.4d Undergraduate Classification Thresholds

Details about classification thresholds for Bachelor’s degrees with classified honours are available in the Academic Regulations.

6.4e Taught Postgraduate Awards

Taught postgraduate awards are classified by credit-weighted average grades across all modules studied as part of the programme.

6.4f Taught Postgraduate Classification Thresholds

Details about classification thresholds for taught postgraduate degrees are available in the Academic Regulations.

6.4g Treatment of Supernumerary Modules (Prescribed)

If a programme prescribes that students must study more than 120 credits (undergraduate) or 180 credits (taught postgraduate) in any one programme year, the credit-weighted average over the full number of credits will be used for progression and classification purposes.

6.4h Treatment of Supernumerary Modules (Optional)

If students choose to take more than 120 credits (undergraduate) or 180 credits (taught postgraduate) in any one programme year, neither the credits nor the grades for the additional modules will be taken into account in determining progression or classification.

You must decide at the point of enrolment which modules will count towards progression and classification; you cannot ask later for only a selection of the best results to be considered.

6.4i Advanced Standing

Credit imported as part of accreditation of prior learning contributes towards the credit requirements for the award but does not contribute to the classification average. Where, however, you are re-entering University of Leeds programme under the provisions of Sections 5.33 of the Academic Regulations, your marks as well as your credit will be imported and will contribute to the classification where applicable.

6.4j Treatment of International Programme Year

For students undertaking a four-year undergraduate degree programme which includes a year abroad, successful completion is determined on a merit/pass/fail basis, and marks do not contribute to the classification of your degree. The form of assessment is described in the programme catalogue.

Further information on the Industrial Year can be found on the Business School Study Abroad page.

6.4k Treatment of Industrial Programme Year

For students undertaking a four-year undergraduate degree programme which includes a year in industry, successful completion is determined on a merit/pass/fail basis, and marks do not contribute to the classification of your degree. The form of assessment is described in the programme catalogue.

Further information on the Industrial Year can be found on the Business School Work Placement page.

6.5 Special Circumstances Discretion

The Progression and Awards Board will consider applications for mitigating circumstances and decide what action to take. This is not confined to borderline cases. The Board will usually accept the recommendations of the School Special Circumstances Committee (SSCC). The basis and process for decisions will be recorded in the SSCC minutes. Module marks will not be changed, regardless of the outcome, with the exception that where penalties for late submission have been applied, the School may choose to waive those penalties and restore the original mark.

6.6 Publication of Degree Classifications

The dates on which degree classifications are published apply across the University. These dates are published each year by the Programmes and Assessment Team. The School will not publish your classification, provide written confirmation of it nor discuss it with you prior to the official publication.

6.7 Diploma Supplement

The Diploma Supplement provides you with a formal description of the nature, level, context and status of studies undertaken for a particular qualification. The University issues this in addition to your degree certificate.

6.8 Graduation

Graduation ceremonies are held in July and December. Degree certificates are not issued during the ceremonies and will be sent out by post shortly afterwards. The University will provide you with full details nearer the time.