As a result of the Covid-19 public health emergency and because of government limits on gatherings, the University postponed the graduation ceremonies that were set to take place in July 2020 and January 2021. We are continuing to discuss future graduation events and explore possible options for replacement ceremonies once the government restrictions have lifted.

We will be sure to keep all our graduating students fully updated as soon as we have more details about alternative arrangements. We look forward to coming together as a community at a later date to celebrate our students' achievements and the important contributions their families, friends and our staff have made to their academic success.

You will be contacted by the University's Graduation team with further information about arrangements for graduation ceremonies in 2021 and with details about how and when you will receive your award certificate.

Visit the graduations webpage or contact graduations@kingston.ac.uk for further information.

When will I receive my award certificate?

Students receiving their outcomes from March 2021 onwards:

You will be contacted directly by the University's Graduation team with further information about arrangements for graduation ceremonies in 2021 and with details about how and when you will receive your award certificate.

Students who received their outcomes earlier than March 2021:

If you want a printed copy of your certificate, please visit our certificates, award documents and verifications page. Please note that there is still limited access to printing facilities, so you should allow up to four weeks for the receipt of your certificate.

When will I receive my Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)?

Students receiving their outcomes from March 2021 onwards:

Access to the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) will be available from the Gradintelligence website three weeks after your formal outcomes are published.

Students who received their outcomes earlier than March 2021:

Your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is available from the Gradintelligence website. If you want any further information about the HEAR, please follow our guidance.

What if I still have outstanding tuition fees?

Tuition fees need to have been paid in full before digital award certificates or the Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR) can be issued, or before you can re-enrol if you are a progressing or returning student. Should you have outstanding fees, you can make payment securely online at www.kingston.ac.uk/epay. If you need to discuss fee payment please contact the Accounts Receivable team by calling 020 8417 3333 or email AccountsReceivable@kingston.ac.uk

Where can I see a breakdown of my marks?

A breakdown of your marks is available on OSIS. A transcript of your marks will also be made available to you via the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). You need to activate your HEAR before you can see your transcript and you should have received an email asking you to do this. If you have not, or if you want any further information about the HEAR follow our guidance.

Can I request that my work is re-marked?

No, you cannot challenge the academic judgement of the assessment board. However, there are other grounds on which you can appeal. Find out more about the grounds and process for appeals by reading the Academic Appeals Regulations (AR8 or AR9) and speaking to your personal tutor or to the Union of Kingston Students.

My letter says that my registration has been terminated on academic grounds. Can I apply for re-admission?

No. If your registration has been terminated on academic grounds you will not normally be able to apply for readmission to Kingston University.

I applied for mitigating circumstances before I received my marks. How can I tell whether this has been accepted?

If your application for mitigating circumstances was successful, this will be indicated by a grade of "S" next to the relevant module in OSIS. This typically means that the assessment board has decided that you may defer your attempt at this/these assessment(s) until the next reassessment period. You should have received information about your deferred assessment alongside your results communication but if you have not, please contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ). It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of all the arrangements for your deferred assessments.

If your mitigating circumstances claim was rejected and you did not attempt the assessment in question, this will be recorded as a failed attempt and recorded as "FS" next to the relevant element of assessment in OSIS. You may still be entitled to reassessment in that element of assessment and, if so, this will be indicated in your results communication.

You should note that approved claims for mitigating circumstances only apply to the specific assessment period that you applied for, and claims will not automatically be applied to any subsequent assessment periods.

For further advice and guidance about mitigating circumstances and your results, please contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

How has my degree classification (1st, 2:1, 2: 2 etc) been calculated?

If you are on a standard undergraduate degree:

Standard bachelors honours degree classifications are calculated as follows:

average % of the best 105 credits @ Level 5 which is given a weighting of 20% (multiplied by 0.2)
plus...
average % of the best 105 credits @ Level 6 which is given a weighting of 80% (multiplied by 0.8)

This means that your Level 6 modules are weighted more heavily than your Level 5 modules.

Where there are four 30-credit modules at each level, each module is treated as two blocks of 15 credits for the purposes of the calculation. Using the best 105 credits means that your lowest performing module counts for less, as you effectively "drop" one of the 15-credit blocks from your lowest performing module (this gives your best 105 credits).

If you are on one of our standard undergraduate degrees, you may be able to find out more about how your degree classification will be calculated by looking at the Award Predictor on OSIS.

If you are on a standard postgraduate degree:

Standard postgraduate degrees are classified by calculating the average score across all of the credit required for your qualification. Depending on your average score, your degree will be awarded with a Pass, Merit or Distinction

Pass: An average score of 50-59% across all of the credit required for the qualification
Merit: An average score of 60-69% across all of the credit required for the qualification
Distinction: An average score of 70% or above across all of the credit required for the qualification

Postgraduate Certificates will not be awarded with merit or distinction

If you are on one of our standard postgraduate degrees, you may be able to find out more about how your degree classification will be calculated by looking at the Award Predictor on OSIS.

I am a Level 4 student and my transcript shows that I have received a compensated pass (PC). What does this mean?

If you have failed 30 credits at Level 4 with a mark of between 35% and 39%, the assessment board may decide to compensate this failure and allow you to progress to the next stage of your degree. This will be identified on your record in OSIS as a compensated pass with a module grade of PC.

You should be aware that the University's undergraduate regulations permit compensation in up to a total of 30 credits across Levels 4 and 5. Therefore, if you decide to accept the compensation for this module you will not be permitted any further compensation at the end of Level 5.

If you are happy to accept the compensation for this module, you do not need to take any further action.

If however you would prefer to repeat or replace this module in the next academic year, please contact your student office within five University working days of the date of your results letter. There will be financial implications of opting to do this and you may want to contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

If you are on a course which allows students to trail a failed module into the next level of study (most courses in KSA and FBSS and some courses in HSCE) you may instead opt to trail the module rather than accept the compensation. If you wish to do this, please contact your student office within five University working days of the date of your results letter. You should also read the Trailing credit guidance and FAQs for students (AG10) which includes some important information about the implications of trailing credit.

If we have not heard from you within five University working days of the date of your results letter we will assume that you are happy for this module to be compensated and your student record will be finalised.

I am a student at Level 3/5/6/7 and my transcript shows that I have received a compensated pass (PC). What does this mean?

If you have failed 30 credits with a mark of between 35% and 39% (for undergraduate courses) or between 45% and 49% (for postgraduate courses), the Assessment Board may decide to compensate this failure and allow you to progress to the next stage of your degree. This will be identified on your record in OSIS as a compensated pass with a module grade of PC.

I am a postgraduate student and have a module grade of FF. What does this mean?

The FF grade means that you have failed the module at the final attempt and are not eligible for further reassessment. Consequently, you may not be able to achieve your intended award (eg. MSc/MA).

If you are part way through your course, you may continue to complete any remaining academic modules for an exit award (eg. PGDip/PGCert).

If this final failure if on a taught module and you are on a masters degree ‘with Professional Placement', you will be transferred onto the academic (non-placement) route and you will no longer be able to go on placement. If you are studying on a Tier 4 visa, the duration of your visa will be adjusted accordingly.

I am on a masters ‘with Professional Placement' degree and I have failed taught credit. What does this mean?

If you have failed taught credit, this may mean that you are no longer able to continue with your professional placement. You will receive further information about this from your Faculty if this is the case. For further information you can contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

There has been a finding of academic misconduct against me. How will this affect my results and reassessments?

The letter that was sent to you after your Academic Misconduct hearing will have outlined the provisional outcome of the hearing and the penalty that will be recommended to the Programme Assessment Board, including what type of reassessment (if any) is permitted.

If you need any advice or support in relation to this, please contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ below), your personal tutor or the Union of Kingston Students as soon as possible.

If you are not permitted any further reassessment on the module for which you have academic misconduct, but you still have other credit or reassessment to undertake, you may still be allowed to undertake this. You should be aware, however, that this will still mean that you are unable to progress to the next stage of your course and/or achieve your intended award. Depending on the outcome of your other assessments, you may be entitled to an intermediate award or a certificate of credit.

What is the Principle for No Disadvantage and who does it apply to?

The University recognises the exceptional circumstances that some of our students find themselves working and studying in during the Covid-19 pandemic and has implemented the Principle for No Disadvantage to ensure that they are not unfairly disadvantaged. In line with our commitment to protecting your interests, we have to be absolutely confident, and able to demonstrate, that graduates in 2020 and 2021 are awarded degrees of the same quality as those awarded in other years. We need to support you to successfully complete your courses and ensure you have met all the course learning outcomes.

Assessment boards will benchmark outcomes against previous module outcomes and/or against other modules within the same subject discipline to identify if there is evidence that whole cohorts of students have been impacted by the exceptional circumstances. If there is evidence of this, marks will be scaled appropriately.

Following the publication of your results, you may submit a claim for retrospective mitigation for eligible elements of assessment, if you consider that your mark is lower than you would reasonably have expected to get had the pandemic not occurred and you are confident that you can achieve a higher mark.

Under the Transitional Arrangement Regulations (AR17), the Principle for No Disadvantage applies to:

modules that commenced between 17 March and 31 August 2020, including those with final submission dates later in 2020/2021.
assessments taking place between Monday 4 January 2021 and Friday 23 July inclusive.

Please note that some aspects of the Principle for No Disadvantage may not apply if you are studying on a course that leads to a professional accreditation. Your course leader will be able to advise you further about whether your course falls into this category.

My letter says that I might be eligible to apply for retrospective mitigating circumstances under the Principle for No Disadvantage. How do I know if I am eligible and how do I apply?

You may be eligible to apply for retrospective mitigation under the Principle for No Disadvantage if you are receiving formal notification of your results in relation to:

a module that commenced between 17 March and 31 August 2020, including those with final submission dates later in 2020/2021.
an assessment that took place between Monday 4 January 2021 and Friday 23 July 2021 inclusive.

In all cases you will need to have received your formal outcome of an assessment board decision via OSIS (or equivalent).

You will then need to decide if the mark that you have received is lower than what you would have reasonably expected had the Covid-19 pandemic not occurred and be confident that you can achieve a higher mark. If you are considering applying for retrospective mitigation you must discuss this with your personal tutor or course leader.

Visit the mitigating circumstances and extensions regulations page for more information on how to apply. Please note that you have five university working days from the date your results were released in OSIS to submit a claim for retrospective mitigating circumstances using the Mitigating Circumstances function in OSIS. Late claims will not be accepted.

My letter says that the marks for some of my modules may have been "scaled". What does this mean?

One aspect of the University's Principle for No Disadvantage is the benchmarking of marks at assessment boards in order to determine whether the performance of the module cohort has been significantly affected due to the pandemic. Before the marks for your modules were finalised your course team will have reviewed the marks for eligible elements of assessment to see whether there might be a case to scale across the whole module cohort.

Scaling of marks involves the raising, or lowering, of the marks for a whole cohort, at element level, by a given amount. Where scaling has been applied this will be to protect the academic interests of students and to safeguard the academic integrity of the qualification. Consideration of scaling is a formal part of the assessment process and decisions as to whether or not to scale will be made by the Module Assessment Board which includes representation from senior academic staff and independent external examiners. Scaling will only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances and where there is clear evidence that assessments have been impacted by Covid-19. If scaling has been applied to any of your modules, an explanation of the rationale for this, and the process that was followed, will be published on the relevant module page in Canvas.

My letter says I have to "retake" one or more assessments. What does this mean?

A retake is a type of assessment where you attempt the element of assessment that you have either failed or deferred with mitigation, usually during the retake period. There is no charge for this.

The retake period for most courses starts from when your results are released and concludes a few weeks later. Please refer to Canvas for reassessment information or contact your module leader or course team for further information.

Marks for retake assessments following failure will be capped at the pass mark, and the cap is applied at element level. This means that if a module has two elements of assessment and you have already passed one of these, only the retake mark for the failed element will be capped. For undergraduate courses (Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6) the standard pass mark is 40%. For taught postgraduate courses (Level 7) the standard pass mark is 50%.

There are exceptional circumstances where marks for retake assessments will not be capped at the pass mark at element level. For example:

If you have submitted a claim for mitigating circumstances which has been approved, your mark for the retake will not be capped.
If you were set the retake as a penalty for academic misconduct (Penalty B or Penalty C), the cap will be applied to the whole module, not just to the element.

If you have retake coursework: To submit your retake materials please logon to Canvas, using your Kingston ID and password. You will then see boxes in your dashboard for each of the modules you are enrolled on. Click on each box to access the module and follow the assignment link which should have the retake submission link where you can submit your materials.

If you are unable to access Canvas for any reason you should contact the Help desk immediately on 63355 or 020 8417 3355.

If you have retake examinations: please see the Retake Examinations Schedule which is available on My Kingston.

If you are in doubt or have any questions about the arrangements for your retake(s) you must contact your student office as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully aware of all retake arrangements.

What if I have questions about the content of my retakes?

If you have questions about the content of your retakes then please:

check Canvas for your reassessment brief and materials;
email your module leader (from your KU email address) as soon as possible for help. They may not be available throughout all of the retake period. If you don't hear back from them after five working days, you should contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

I need to retake one or more assessments. Where can I find help with my academic skills to complete them?

Kingston has lots to offer when it comes to supporting your academic skills. From one to one support with our Academic Success Centres to structured programmes and online resources, have a look at how we can help you to be better on My Kingston.

What happens after my retakes?

The results from your retakes will be considered by a Reassessment Board. For undergraduate courses, these are typically held in the summer and for postgraduate courses, these are typically held in March, June and September. However, some non-standard courses will hold Reassessment Board outside of these time periods. You will get another communication after the Reassessment Board confirming your results and explaining what will happen next.

What if I fail my retakes?

If you are on an undergraduate course:

Depending on your level of study and results achieved at that level, the Reassessment Board might allow you an opportunity to repeat the module(s) in the following academic year. This is dependent on the number of assessment attempts you have had at the module(s) and your level of engagement throughout the academic year. If you have exhausted all your assessment attempts at a module (typically four attempts at undergraduate level), your registration on your course will be discontinued.

If you are on a postgraduate course:

If you have exhausted all assessment attempts at a module (this is typically two attempts at postgraduate level), no further reassessment will be offered in that module. Depending on the structure of your course, you may be permitted to continue with other modules on your course, or it may be necessary to discontinue your registration on your course.

I have a mixture of mitigation and retakes within one module, how will my module outcome be calculated during reassessment?

One of the University's underpinning regulatory principles is to make decisions which support student retention, progression and achievement by enabling students to complete or achieve the highest potential award in the shortest timeframe. This means that if you have a mixture of failure and mitigation within the same module, the assessment board may decide to give you the opportunity to sit the mitigated element and retake the failed elements of assessment at the same time during the reassessment period.

The way we will calculate your overall module mark in these circumstances is as follows:

Step 1:

The assessment board will consider the mark you received for the mitigated element with the original marks that you achieved for the other elements. At this stage, the board does not look at the marks you received for the retake(s).
If, on the basis of this calculation, the overall module mark is above the pass mark you have now passed the module at first attempt. No further calculation takes place.

Step 2:

If, on the basis of the calculation undertake in Step 1, the module mark is below the pass mark, the board will confirm that you have not passed the module at first attempt. Now the assessment board will look at the marks you received for the elements that you have retaken. This is your second attempt.
The board will calculate your second attempt module mark using the highest marks you achieved in each element across the first and second attempt. This could include the mark you achieved in the mitigated element.

As you can see, it is possible that we will not use your retake marks. This is because University regulations state that once you have passed a module you cannot have another assessment to improve your mark. This approach ensures that you receive the best possible outcome for your module in accordance with the regulations.

What happens if I do not attempt my retakes?

You will be awarded a mark of 0 (Fail) for any retakes that you do not attend or submit. If you are on an undergraduate course, depending on your level of study and results achieved at that level, the Reassessment Board may allow you an opportunity to repeat the module(s) in the following academic year. If your retake is your final attempt at the module, then you will be discontinued from the course. This is also dependent on the number of attempts you have had at the module(s). If you have exhausted all your assessment attempts at a module (normally four attempts at undergraduate level), your registration with the University will be discontinued.

Please note that approved claims for mitigating circumstances only apply to the specific assessment period that you applied for, and claims will not automatically be applied to the retake period. If you have any questions about this, please contact your Faculty Student Office for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

If you experience any difficulties during or in the run-up to your retakes and need to claim for mitigating circumstances, you must submit an application via the online system in OSIS. The University's regulations on Mitigating Circumstances, information on deadline dates and instructions on how to submit an application through the OSIS system, are available here.

What if I have mitigating circumstances at the time of my reassessments?

If you experience any difficulties during or in the run-up to your retakes and need to claim for mitigating circumstances, you must submit an application via the online system in OSIS. The University's regulations on mitigating circumstances and instructions on how to submit an application through the OSIS system, are available from the University's policies and regulations page.

My letter says I have to "repeat" one or more assessments. What does this mean?

A repeat is a type of module delivery and assessment where you have to engage with the learning and teaching of the module and attempt all of the elements of assessment for that module again. You will have to a pay a fee to repeat a module, unless you have mitigating circumstances which have been approved.

If you are repeating a module, neither the module nor the element mark will be capped. However, repeating a module does mean it will take you longer to complete your course. If you would like to discuss how you could make the most of your time during that year, contact your student achievement adviser. Email them via SAO@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them.

For advice and guidance on the financial implications of repeating a module, please contact the University's Student Life Advisors by visiting MyKingston/MySupport/MyMoney/Funding Your Studies and logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing kuquery@kingston.ac.uk

I am on a Tier 4 visa and have been told I must repeat a module. How does this affect my visa?

Repeating a module will have an impact on your Tier 4 visa. If you are on a Tier 4 visa and have been told you must repeat a module, you must seek advice as soon as possible from the Student Life Centre by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing kuquery@kingston.ac.uk

Can I appeal against my marks?

Yes, provided that you have legitimate grounds to do so. You cannot appeal against the academic judgement of the assessment board, including grades or award classifications. Find out more about the grounds and process for appeals by reading the Academic Appeals Regulations (AR8 or AR9).

You are strongly advised to contact the Union of Kingston Students for advice before submitting an appeal. You must submit an appeal within 15 working days of the date that your results were published on OSIS.

Can I make a complaint?

Yes, provided that your complaint is submitted in the required timeframe and falls under specific grounds. Find out more about the grounds and process for submitting a complaint appeals reading the Student Complaints Procedure (GR2).

You are strongly advised to contact the Union of Kingston Students for advice before submitting a complaint.

I am considering withdrawing from the University or taking a break from my studies. Who should I talk to?

If you have concerns about your ability to continue on your course, or if you are thinking of taking a break also known as an interruption) in studies, please speak to your Personal Tutor or Course Leader in the first instance. Your Faculty Student Achievement Officer may also be able to offer advice on further study or employment. Email them via sao@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them.

If you are considering withdrawing for financial reasons, please visit the Student Life Centre who will be able to advise on funding your studies, money management, dealing with debt, bursaries, accommodation etc.

If you are struggling with your assessments and would like further support with study skills, academic writing, referencing etc, your Faculty Academic Success Centre may be able to help.

There is also further information on this page about the process for requesting a break or an interruption or withdrawing from your studies.

What if I have questions about my student finance?

Please contact the University's Student Life Advisors in the Student Life Centre by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing kuquery@kingston.ac.uk.

What if I have a general query not answered here.

If you have any academic queries, please contact your module leader or personal tutor.

Your student achievement adviser would be happy to discuss your query with you. Email them via sao@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them. You may also wish to contact the Union of Kingston Students for advice and support.

Any other questions about your results or reassessments must be put in writing. Please contact your course administrator, or email the relevant student office noticeboard:

For FBSS School of Law and Behavioural Sciences: BSSStudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk
For FBSS Kingston Business School undergraduate courses: Businessug@kingston.ac.uk
For FBSS Kingston Business School postgraduate courses: Businesspg@kingston.ac.uk
For SEC: secugstudentoffice@Kingston.ac.uk or secpgstudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk
For KSA: KSAstudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk
For HSCE:

School of Education: EDUCATION-INFO@kingston.ac.uk
Pre-registration Midwifery - midwifery@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Pre-registration Nursing - NPO@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Postgraduate Radiography - pgradiog@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Postgraduate and Professional Development - cpdpo@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Pre-registration Social Work - socialwork@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Postgraduate / Post-qualifying Social Work - pgsocialwork@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
MSc Clinical Leadership - pghecl@sgul.kingston.ac.uk

I need help from more than one support service and I would like help navigating my way through the services available to me

Your student achievement adviser would be happy to discuss this with you. Email them via sao@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them.

Is there anyone I can talk to confidentially about my personal wellbeing or emotions?

Our Student Health and Wellbeing team is here to support you, and has created a health and wellbeing guide with information on support, services and how you can look after yourself during this time. The University offers a range of services such as mental health emergency support, confidential drop-in sessions, counselling, listening, stress and time management sessions. Visit this webpage for more information on the support the University offers.

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Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000

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About Kingston University

Contact us

Kingston University
Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000