Undergraduate Reassessment

University Regulation XX sets out the minimum credit and module mark requirements for Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree programmes – ordinarily, to pass each year, or Part, students need at least 100 credits and to have no module with an overall mark of less than 30%.  Module weight converts to credit when an overall module mark of at least 40% (also known as the pass mark) is achieved.

Some programmes, especially Undergraduate Master’s degrees (e.g. MEng or MChem) and Foundation degrees, have additional requirements.  These will be listed in the Programme Specification.  Where a Programme Specification indicates students are required to achieve a minimum module mark in specified modules and you fail to achieve this, you will be required to do reassessment in these modules in an attempt to achieve the required mark. 

Where a Programme Specification indicates students are required to achieve a minimum average Part Mark and you fail to achieve this, you will be required to do reassessment in some or all modules in which you have a module mark below this Part Mark, in an attempt to achieve the required mark.

In summary, to progress to the next Part of your Bachelor’s degree programme (BA, BEng, BSc), or to graduate, you must:

• Pass at least 100 credits with a mark of at least 40%
• Have no module marks lower than 30%, even if you have achieved 100 credits or more
• Achieve credit in certain modules, if stated in your Programme Specification

To progress to the next Part of your Undergraduate Master’s programme (e.g. MEng, MChem), or to graduate, you may also be required to:

• Achieve a minimum average Part mark, if stated in your Programme Specification

To progress to the next Part of your Foundation programme, you may also be required to meet specific requirements stated in your Programme Specification.

You cannot progress to the next Part, or graduate if you are a finalist, until you have passed your current Part.  This means that you cannot do reassessments in modules from one Part whilst studying modules in the next Part of your degree programme or whilst on your Placement Year (Part I).

If you have failed to pass your current Part then you:

• MUST do reassessment in any module in which you have achieved an overall module mark of less than 30%
• MAY NEED to do reassessment in any module in which you have achieved an overall module mark of 30-39%
• MUST do reassessment in any module in which you have failed to meet any minimum module mark requirement (other than 30%) indicated in your Programme Specification
• MAY NEED to do reassessment in some or all modules in which the overall module mark is less than any minimum average Part Mark requirement indicated in your Programme Specification

If you are considering withdrawing from your programme, it is important that you first discuss your options with your School. You may wish to consider transferring to another programme or taking a leave of absence before making a final decision.  

In the first instance, you should contact either your Personal Academic Tutor or School administration team.  If, having considered other options, you decide to withdraw permanently, you will need to complete a withdrawal form and send it to your School administration team.

You are advised to discuss the implications of withdrawal with the Student Advice and Support Service to understand how your change of status will affect your funding or support, or your immigration status if you are a Tier 4 student. 

Lesser Awards

If you have successfully completed at least one Part of your programme and met the requirements in Regulation XX, you will receive a lesser award:

• Completion of Part B - Diploma of Higher Education
• Completion of Part A – Certificate of Higher Education
• Completion of Part F – Certificate in Foundation Studies or Certificate in International Foundation Studies

Your School will be able to advise you on the timescales for the award to be made.

You can only take resits if you have failed your current Part.  If you meet your programme’s minimum credit and module mark requirements, then you will automatically progress to the next Part of your programme.  Where your programme allows you to carry a certain number of failed modules (usually up to 20-credits worth with module marks between 30-39%), you cannot choose to do reassessment in these modules in order to improve your overall Part Mark. For example, if you have achieved 100 credits and also have a 20 credit module in which you have achieved 30%, you have passed your Part and do not have the option to resit the 20 credit module.

The only exception to this is if you have submitted a Mitigating Circumstances (MC) claim and have been given the opportunity to undertake a repeat attempt.  See Q5.

I haven’t failed the module or the Part

You do not have to take reassessment as you have already passed the Part.  By choosing not to take the assessment again, you are simply declining the opportunity to try to improve your position and your mark from the original assessment will still stand.  If you were to retake the assessment and achieve a lower score, the existing mark would be reinstated.

I have failed the module or the Part

This depends on your individual situation, e.g. whether your programme requires you to pass certain modules, and/or achieve a particular mark.  If you have failed a module in which you have been given a repeat attempt, the guidance provided in your reassessment registration form will tell you whether you MUST take this or you MAY take it if you wish.

You may also have some modules that you have failed, and that you need to resit (as second attempts) alongside repeat attempts.

You cannot ask for your work to be remarked or challenge the academic judgement of the examiners.  However, if you believe that there has been an administrative error in the recording or calculation of your marks, you should discuss the matter with your School in the first instance. This will not prejudice your right to appeal at a later date.

Students can appeal against the decision of a Programme Board at the end of the academic year.  If you think that you meet one or more of the grounds for appeal set out in Regulation XIV, you may wish to seek advice and assistance from LSU Advice who are based in the Students’ Union.

If you have failed to pass the Part and you need to undertake reassessment, you will usually be able to carry forward individual assessment component marks of 40% and above, and only do reassessment in the failed component(s).  Your reassessment form will tell you what marks you can and cannot carry forward, depending on whether you do your reassessments in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) or the next academic year (NAY) and whether you take them with or without attendance.  See Q10 and Q11. 

If you are resitting the module with attendance in the NAY, as opposed to taking a Repeat First or Second Attempt, you will be required to retake all components, regardless of the marks previously achieved. 

If you are resitting assessments or taking Repeat Second Attempts (i.e. they are as second and final attempts), and you are in Part B, C or D, then your module marks will be capped.  This means that regardless of the marks you achieve in the resit, the capped mark will be used to calculate your Part and degree marks. 

Module marks are normally capped at 40%, unless your Programme Specification requires you to:

• achieve a mark in specified modules that is greater than 40%, in which case the mark will be capped for these modules at the required mark; for example, you may achieve a mark of 52% in your resit, but the mark that will be used to calculate your degree mark will be capped at 40%.
• achieve a minimum overall average Part Mark, normally for Undergraduate Masters degrees, in which case any second attempt resit marks will be capped at that average mark (e.g. 55%)

Repeat First Attempts, Part F and Part A modules are not capped.

If you resit a module, both your first and second attempts will appear on your transcript.  Both the actual mark you achieve for the second attempt and the capped mark will be shown.

If you take a Repeat First Attempt, only the details of the attempt in which you achieve the highest mark will appear.

If you take a Repeat Second Attempt, only the details of the second attempt in which you achieve the highest mark will appear, but both the actual mark you achieve for this attempt and the capped mark will be shown. Your marks from your original first attempt will also appear.

Special Assessment Period (SAP)

The University provides a reassessment period each year in August/early September called the Special Assessment Period, or SAP. 

Dates for the SAP exams period are in the Student Handbook.  Coursework components can also normally be reassessed during August.  You will be provided with the details and deadlines for any SAP reassessment coursework shortly after you submit your reassessment registration form.  If you do not receive this information within two weeks, you should contact your School. If the type of assessment means that it is not possible to retake the component during SAP, this will be indicated in your reassessment guidance and also listed in the Module Specification. 

You can undertake a maximum of 60 credits of reassessments in the Special Assessment Period. 

SAP reassessments must be taken without attendance.

Next Academic Year (NAY)

The alternative to taking your reassessments in SAP is to do them in the next academic year (NAY). If you need or choose to take more than 60 credits of reassessments, you MUST take your reassessments in the NAY.  You would normally be expected to take your reassessments either entirely in SAP or entirely in the NAY; you cannot split them over both periods.

You cannot do reassessments in modules from one Part whilst studying modules in the next Part of your degree programme or doing your Placement Year (Part I) so, taking your reassessments in the NAY will normally mean you delay your graduation.  You should also consider the financial implications of extending your studies by a year.

Unlike taking your reassessments in SAP, you will normally have the option to take the module either WITH or WITHOUT attendance.  Some modules require students to take the module with attendance, for example modules with a group-work requirement, where there is practical work or project work. 

Attendance in this context means tuition.  If you are undertaking reassessment with attendance, you are expected to attend all timetabled classes/teaching events for the module, i.e. lectures, tutorials, labs, etc.

If you take reassessment without attendance, you will not normally be required, expected or allowed to attend any timetabled classes/teaching events, although there may be coursework assessments that require you to attend for practical sessions, class tests, presentations, etc.  You will need to attend and sit any exams.

Whilst undertaking reassessment without attendance, you will still be able to access University facilities such as Learn and the Library but you will have either no or very limited access to support from module tutors and will largely be expected to study on your own.

During SAP, the Pilkington Library is open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 21:00, with help and assistance available from library staff if required.  Quiet or silent study areas are available and it is also possible to book rooms and booths suitable for group working. The library also has 250 PCs available for use.

The Maths Learning Support Centre (MLSC) in the Schofield building is open during SAP for free one-to-one drop-in support with mathematics or statistics.  Specific opening dates and times are published on the MLSC website in the run-up to SAP. 

All 24/7 IT labs are available for use during SAP, except for those in the Wavy Top Building.  Information about labs, PC availability and access to particular pieces of software can be found on the IT Services website. Certain IT facilities within Schools are restricted to students of that School. If you require access to discipline-specific IT systems and software within your School, you should check availability with your School administration team

Short-term accommodation is available on campus during the summer.  Details can be found on the Student Accommodation Centre’s website.

No, you can only take 60 credits of reassessments in the Special Assessment Period. If you need more than 60 credits, then you MUST do your reassessments in the next academic year (NAY), see Q10.

If you are an international student and have returned home for the summer, the University may allow you to take examinations in your home country.  This would normally be at a British Council Office or at a comparative local University and you will need to pay an additional fee to them to cover the invigilation and their costs.  You should contact your School administration team as soon as possible to discuss whether this is possible.

UK/EU students will be expected to take reassessments in Loughborough.

You must submit your reassessment form by the following deadlines:

• Thursday 27 July 2023 following the summer Programme and Review Boards at the end of Semester 2
• Wednesday 4 October 2023 following SAP 2023

If you do not submit your form by the deadline, it may not be possible to take the reassessments you have selected, or take them in the period you have chosen.  You may also be charged a late registration fee of £100 unless there were circumstances beyond your control. 

If you have passed the Part but offered Repeat Attempts, you will be deemed to have declined your reassessment rights and rolled forward into the next Part of your programme if you do not respond by the deadline. 

It is not possible to reschedule exams or coursework deadlines because of holidays, placement interviews or summer jobs. If you are an elite athlete with sporting commitments, or your reassessments are affected by religious observance, contact your School for further information on the options available you to and the implications for your studies.

If your ability to undertake reassessment is affected by circumstances beyond your control, for example illness or bereavement, you should follow the normal Mitigating Circumstances process. You may also wish to seek advice and assistance from LSU Advice who are based in the Students’ Union and are available outside of term time.

If you fail modules or are awarded Repeat First or Second Attempts following a successful MC claim, you will be advised of your reassessment options after Semester 2 or the SAP of the academic year in which you have taken the assessment. You will then be able to choose whether to take reassessments in SAP or the NAY as normal. You will not need to wait until you have completed the whole Part.

Students are normally expected to complete all first attempts before resitting modules. However, if you are in this situation, to avoid delaying the completion of your programme by a year, you may choose to undertake the Repeat First Attempt (RFA) at the same time as resitting other assessment components within the same module.  If you do so, the overall module mark will be capped (unless it is a Part F or Part A module) and you will be charged the appropriate resit fee. If, after reassessment, you have still not met the criteria to pass the Part, you will have the opportunity to resit the components in which you were given a RFA.  

If you opt to undertake the resits only, you are effectively declining your opportunity to take the RFA.  You will not have another opportunity to take the RFA if you fail your resit. 

If you are in this situation, you are advised to discuss your reassessment options with your School. 

You should speak to your School about taking a LOA; if this is agreed there may be various options for the timing of your reassessments.

One option might be to consider taking your reassessments in SAP before taking a LOA. However, if you are taking a LOA for health reasons then this may be a reason to defer your reassessments until after you return from a LOA, to allow you time to recover. However, this may further delay your graduation by up to two years.

Deferring your reassessments will extend the time between reassessment and your original attendance on a module, which may make it harder to pass. You may wish to consider taking reassessments WITH attendance on your return.

You should be aware that not all modules may be still available when you return.

If you have previously been assessed by Student Wellbeing and Inclusion (SWAI) and you are entitled to adjustments such as extra time, access to a computer, or rest breaks, these will still be available for any reassessment you take during SAP. 

Any exam adjustments should be reflected in your SAP exam timetable. Adjustments relating to coursework reassessment will be communicated to you by your School administration team when they confirm the reassessment instructions. If you do not receive notification of the adjustments you are expecting, please contact your School administration team.

If you have not yet had a Student Wellbeing and Inclusion (SWAI) assessment, but you believe you have a disabling physical or mental health difficulty or long-term health condition that is likely to impact on your assessments, you should have your needs assessed by SWAI. You must ensure your assessment is completed by the deadline so that any adjustments can be implemented in time for SAP. Deadlines for each exam period are updated at the start of that Semester.

If you miss this deadline, you should still email SWAI at studentinclusion@lboro.ac.uk to request a needs assessment, attaching any supporting evidence to your email.  Where possible, you will be offered an assessment and the implementation of any adjustments will be considered after this. However, it cannot be guaranteed that the adjustments will be implemented before your exam or coursework deadline. Therefore, you should assume that your assessments will take place in their current format unless you are informed otherwise.  If, as a result of not obtaining any adjustments, you experience difficulties with your assessments due to your disability/mental health condition, you should submit a Mitigating Circumstances claim.

If you experience circumstances in SAP or the NAY such as illness or bereavement that negatively affect your performance in your reassessment, you can make a Mitigating Circumstances claim. All claims must be supported by independent evidence such as a medical certificate, hospital report, police incident report, etc. and must be received by the published deadline.

If you are unsure about submitting a claim, please talk to your Personal Academic Tutor or your School administration team.

Reassessments in Special Assessment Period (SAP)

SAP Programme Boards usually meet during the third week of September each year.  Your results will normally be available two working days after the SAP Board for your programme has met to consider your results.  After SAP, if you have any further reassessments, you will be notified shortly after you receive your results.

Reassessments in the Next Academic Year (NAY)

Semester 1

You will receive email notification of the date on which your results will be available to view via MyResults.  This will typically be during week 3 of Semester 2, in the following order:

1. Monday – Postgraduate Taught and Undergraduate Parts C and D modules
2. Tuesday – Part B modules
3. Wednesday – Parts A and F modules

The Student Office will send out notification of the exact dates in February.

Semester 2

Your results will be available on MyResults two working days after the Programme Board has met to consider your results.

You will receive email notification prior to the start of the Semester 2 exam period advising you of the date of your Programme Board and therefore when you will be able to view your results and information on any reassessment options.

If you are taking Repeat First Attempts, the highest of the two module marks will stand. 

If you are taking Repeat Second Attempts, the highest of the two second attempt module marks will stand. 

If you are taking resits, the resit mark will stand, even if it is lower than your first attempt at the module.  You should think carefully about resitting a module which you could carry forward, as you could end up failing if you do worse. Speak to your School administrator if you need additional support to think through the implications of resitting modules.

If you are taking resits or Repeat Second Attempts (RSA) and you fail to gain either the required credit and/or minimum module mark again, your studies may be terminated.

Unless you have Mitigating Circumstances, you are only allowed two attempts at a module.

If you need to undertake reassessments in your final year then, regrettably, you will not be able to graduate with your cohort in July. If you take your reassessments in SAP then you can choose to graduate at the winter degree ceremony in December, or the following July. If you do your reassessments in the NAY, then the next available opportunity for you to graduate will be the following July.

If you have already started your placement but you haven’t passed the previous Part and now need to register for reassessment, you should contact your School’s Placement Officer and inform your placement provider as soon as you receive your results.  

If you are eligible for reassessment in SAP, you should advise your placement provider that you must do your reassessments and pass in SAP in order to progress.  See paragraph 4.10 of the University’s Student Placement Charter.

If, during the recruitment process, your placement provider specified that marks must be achieved above a certain threshold in individual modules, you are obliged to inform your employer if you have failed to attain these.  If you don’t, you may be in breach of their employment contract.

If you successfully take your reassessments in SAP then it may still be possible to complete enough weeks of your Part I placement after the SAP to qualify for the placement award.

If you have secured a placement and/or started your placement but do not have the option to take reassessment during SAP (e.g. because you do not meet the minimum 60 credits required), you cannot progress to Part I and you will need to register for your reassessments in the next academic year (NAY), either with or without attendance.  Normally, the effect of this will be that you cannot proceed to Part I and you will remain on your previous Part until you have completed your reassessments.  In exceptional circumstances (e.g. if the placement provider/employer is not prepared to defer the placement), it may be possible for your School to request that the University’s regulations are waived to either allow you to proceed to Part I and complete reassessment concurrently with Part I, or to defer reassessment until the academic year following completion of Part I.  You will need to contact your School Administrator as soon as possible to discuss what options might be available.

If you wish to take reassessment in additional eligible modules and there is still time to register (i.e. teaching has not started, coursework deadlines or exams have not passed), you should contact your School as soon as possible.   Bear in mind that very late registration for an exam could mean that your exam timetable exceeds the usual restrictions on the number of exams in a day or week. You may also be charged a late registration fee.

If you decide not to take reassessment in a module, you cannot change your mind following unsuccessful reassessment in other modules. For example, if you are entitled to be reassessed in three modules in SAP and you choose to only be reassessed in two of them, you will not be able to retake the third module in the next academic year.

If you are taking Repeat First Attempts (RFA) or Repeat Second Attempts (RSA) awarded after an MC claim, you will not be charged tuition or reassessment fees. 

If you take resits without attendance, you will be charged a reassessment fee based on the credit weighting of the module. UK/EU and international students are charged the same fees for reassessment without attendance. 

If you take resits with attendance, you will be charged the relevant tuition fees for the module, based on the number of credits being taken. For example, a UK undergraduate resitting 60 credits would be charged 50% of the standard tuition fee of £9,250 (£4,625). You will also need to factor in the cost of accommodation. 

If you are in receipt of a student loan for tuition and/or maintenance from a UK funding body, you should consider the financial implications of reassessment with attendance. Funding is normally limited to the ordinary length of your programme plus one year.  You may wish to discuss your circumstances with a Student Advisor.

If you are sponsored by an external organisation, you should discuss reassessment with your sponsor, to ensure that they will fund your reassessments.

If you are taking reassessment in SAP, after the deadline for reassessment registration has closed, you will receive a statement from the Finance Office confirming the amount to be paid, the payment deadline and the methods for payment. If you are taking reassessment in the NAY, you will receive your statement after the start of the academic year. 

If you wish to be reassessed in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) then any outstanding academic debt (e.g. tuition or reassessment fees) will not prevent you from taking your reassessments.  If you wish to resit during the Next Academic Year (NAY) you will not be allowed to take assessments with attendance unless your academic debt has been cleared. 

If you have been awarded Repeat First or Second Attempts following a successful Mitigating Circumstances claim, you will not be charged reassessment fees and will be permitted to register for your reassessments, irrespective of any academic debt.     

Regardless of when you choose to take reassessments and whether they are resits or Repeat Attempts, you will not get your results or be allowed to re-register for the next Part of your programme until your academic debt has been settled.  The only exception to this is if you have failed modules or have been given further Repeat Attempts, in which you will be advised of your results and reassessment options.  

Reassessment in the Special Assessment Period (SAP)

If you are a non-finalist, the reassessment will not affect your visa.  If you are a finalist, your visa will not be affected whilst you are taking reassessments, but the earliest time at which you can graduate will be December.  If you wish to attend your graduation ceremony, it is likely that you will have to apply for a Visitor’s visa to return to the UK for graduation.

Reassessment in the Next Academic Year (NAY)

If you take reassessment without attendance, the University will not be able to sponsor you under Tier 4/the Student visa route. Your existing sponsorship will be withdrawn, and your visa is likely to be curtailed (shortened) by UKVI.  You will be expected to return to your home country and if you are not a finalist, apply for a new visa to return for the next period of study for which you are expected to be in attendance.   For most students this will be the next Part of their programme but if you are taking reassessment with attendance in Semester 2 only, you will be issued with a new CAS to return for Semester 2.

If you take reassessment with attendance in at least one module per semester, the University will continue to sponsor you under Tier 4/the Student route.  This will add an extra year to your programme, and you will be required to apply for a new visa at some point before or after reassessment.  You should consider UKVI time limits for study when making a decision about reassessment options.

You are encouraged to contact the Student Advice and Support Service for specialist immigration advice.

If you are studying on an integrated master's programme (MChem, MComp, MEng, MMath, MPhys or MSci) and you not do achieve the marks required to continue with your programme, you may be given the opportunity to transfer to the bachelor's (BEng or BSc) version of the programme before or after taking reassessments.  You are encouraged to discuss the implications of this for your visa with the Student Advice and Support Service. 

If you are being reassessed in SAP, your ATAS clearance will not be affected.

If you are taking reassessment in the NAY, you will be postponing your course end date by more than three months and will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate within 28 days of registering for reassessment.  You should send evidence of your application to studentenquiries@lboro.ac.uk. Please also forward your new ATAS certificate when you receive it.

If you hold a Tier 4/Student visa and are undertaking reassessment in the NAY without attendance you will not be required to apply for a new ATAS certificate until you apply for your new visa to return to the UK. 

For further information and to check whether your programme needs ATAS clearance, please see the University's ATAS webpage for continuing students.

In order to apply for the Graduate Route, you must have a valid Tier 4/Student visa when your final degree results are confirmed by the programme board (normally in June/July, or, for students being assessed in SAP, in September), and apply from within the UK.  If you opt to take reassessments in SAP and your visa is valid until October, you should not be affected.  If you decide to take your reassessments in the next academic year (NAY), you will need to think carefully about your choices.  If you are taking reassessments with attendance in Semester 1 and 2, or Semester 2 only, the University can issue you with a new CAS for the new period of study with attendance and you should remain eligible for the Graduate Route.  If you are taking reassessments without attendance, or will not be registered for any tuition in Semester 2, you are unlikely to be eligible, because your previous visa will have expired before you receive your final degree results and/or the University cannot continue to sponsor you.

 If you require specialist advice about the Graduate route, you can contact the Student Advice and Support Service.  

For academic advice and support you should contact the Module Leader, your Personal Academic Tutor or your Programme Director.  For advice about your reassessment registration and any associated administration issues, you should contact your School administration team.

Free one-to-one support in mathematics and statistics will be available during SAP, either by dropping in to the Maths Learning Support Centre (MLSC) in the Schofield building or by booking an on-line video-conference session. Details of how to book an on-line session and the opening dates and times will be available on the MLSC webpage.

Other sources of advice are:

• Academic and Learning support 
• Library Support 
• Academic Language support 

There are a number of avenues of wellbeing support for you to access all year:

• Wellbeing Service
• Student Services
• Counselling and Disability Service (Disability Office, Counselling Service and Mental Health Support Team)
• Careers Network
• Student Advice and Support Service for advice regarding finances, accommodation, or immigration