Frequently Asked Questions – results letters

How will my degree classification (1st, 2:1, 2: 2 etc) be calculated?

Undergraduate degrees:

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).

You can find out more about how your degree classification will be calculated by looking at the Award Predictor on OSIS.

Postgraduate degrees:

Standard postgraduate degrees are classified as follows:

Pass:

• An average score of 50–59% across all of the credit required for the qualification

With merit:

• An average score of 60–69% across all of the credit required for the qualification

With distinction:

• An average score of 70% or above across all of the credit required for the qualification

Postgraduate Certificates may not be awarded with merit or distinction.

I have passed my degree; how can I find out about my graduation ceremony?

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.

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

Can I attend my graduation ceremony if I have reassessments?

You will need to have achieved your final award to be able to attend your graduation ceremony. Your award must be confirmed by your faculty by a deadline date before each set of ceremonies. The date will be published on the graduations website. Any students who receive confirmation of their final award after this deadline will graduate in ceremonies held at a later date.

When will I receive my certificate?

For postgraduate students receiving their outcomes in November 2020:

Digital Award Certificates and access to the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) will be available for on the Gradintelligence site in the middle of December 2020.

Paper copies of Award Certificate will be available from January 2021.

For all other students:

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 4 weeks for the receipt of your certificate.

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

Can I see a breakdown of my marks?

Yes. 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.

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 "no disadvantage" policy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic 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. This will be done in order 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. Further information is available in the University's Scaling Policy which is an annex to AR16 Exceptional Regulations (Force Majeure).

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 Canvas pages.

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

The University recognises the need to protect your academic interests in the exceptional circumstances created by the global pandemic, and to ensure you are not unfairly disadvantaged.

In the 2019/2020 academic year, we focused on finding the best options for supporting you through the assessment period. In some cases, we introduced alternative assessments, pushed back submission deadlines, and streamlined our extenuating circumstances processes. We also introduced the Principle for No Disadvantage which means that, at exam boards, marks will be benchmarked 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 was evidence of this, marks will be scaled appropriately. Another element of the Principle for No Disadvantage is to allow students to submit a claim for retrospective mitigation following the release of their formal results for any element of assessment that has taken place since the Exceptional Arrangement (Force Majeure) Regulations had been invoked on the 17 March 2020.

Under the Transitional Arrangement Regulations (AR17), the Principle for No Disadvantage will continue to apply for modules that commenced between 17 March and 31 August 2020, including those with final submission dates later in 2020/2021.

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.

Our approach to ensuring you are not disadvantaged differs from the 'no detriment' policies developed by some other universities because there are very real differences between the structure and assessment regimes of our courses and those delivered elsewhere. The majority of our courses are delivered via 30 credit modules which run across the academic year. This means students have not completed enough credit in this academic year for the University to calculate accurate average grades. Moreover, because our degree algorithm is heavily weighted in favour of Level 6, we cannot use grades achieved at Level 5 as accurate indicators of potential achievement in your final year.

The University has followed guidance from the Quality Assurance Agency in developing a tailored Kingston approach which takes account of our particular circumstances.

Please note that the guidance provided below 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.

Under the Principle for No Disadvantage:

• At exam boards, marks will be benchmarked. This means that the marks achieved by your cohort in a specific module will be compared to those achieved by other cohorts in previous years, and/or against other modules in your course. This will ensure that whole groups of students have not been disadvantaged by the current crisis.
• Exam boards will have the authority to scale marks up or down. Scaling will be undertaken over the marks of all students on a module, and will be applied to the marks of any element of assessment taken during the current crisis.
• When you receive your marks after the exam boards, you will be able to reflect on whether the outcomes fall within the range of marks that you would have expected given your track record.
• If you believe that your outcomes may have been impacted, you must consult with your personal tutor or course leader.
• If you consider the mark is lower than you would reasonably have expected, and you are confident you could achieve a higher mark, you will 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. For example: if your results are published on a Friday you would have until midnight on the following Friday to submit a claim for retrospective mitigating circumstances. Late claims will not be accepted.
• You will be able to use the existing online mitigating circumstances function on OSIS to apply for retrospective mitigation. No evidence will be required to support your request and therefore all claims for eligible assessments will be approved.
• It is especially important you understand the consequences of applying for mitigation in these circumstances. The first mark will be cancelled and replaced with the second. You will not be able to choose the higher mark of the two. Failure to submit in the next assessment period will result in a mark of zero.
• If you have already applied for mitigating circumstances, you can still submit your work and follow the process set out above.
• This approach has been designed to ensure that you have the opportunity to pass all the essential learning outcomes for your course and to support you as you progress through your programme of study to a successful career.

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 a module outcome for the first time following an assessment board and if the specific assessment took place between 17 March and 31 August 2020.

During 2020/2021, you may also be able to apply for retrospective mitigation if your module commenced between 17 March and 31 August 2020 even if your assessment submission point was later on in the 2020/2021 academic year. In all cases you will need to have received formal outcomes of an assessment board via OSIS. You will need to decide if the mark that you have received is lower than what you would have reasonably expected should the Covid-19 pandemic not occurred and be confident that you can achieve a higher mark. If you are in any doubt about whether or not an assessment is eligible for retrospective mitigation you should 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.

To illustrate, if your results are published on a Friday you would have until midnight on the following Friday to submit a claim for retrospective mitigating circumstances.

What will happen to my original mark if I apply for retrospective mitigating circumstances?

Your original mark will be deleted from your student record and replaced with the mark for your new assessment. You will not be able to choose the higher mark of the two assessments. If you do not submit any work for the new assessment this will result in a mark of zero for that element of assessment. There may also be other implications to your current progression or award outcome. It is important that you understand the consequences of applying for mitigation following the release of your results and so before you make any decision you must consult with your personal tutor or course leader who will be able to advise you further.

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.

Can I appeal?

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.

You are 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. View more information on the University's complaints process.

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

A retake is a type of reassessment where you have to retake the element of assessment that you have failed, during the retake period. There is no charge for this. The retake period for most undergraduate courses starts from when your results are released and runs until late July. The retake period for most postgraduate courses is February/March. Please refer to Canvas for reassessment information or contact your module leader for further information.

Marks for retake assessments 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 only fail one of these, only the failed element will be capped. For undergraduate courses (Levels 3,4,5 and 6) the pass mark is 40%. For taught postgraduate courses (Level 7) the pass mark is 50%.

There are three exceptional circumstances where marks for failed modules will not be capped at the pass mark at element level. They are as follows:

1. If you have submitted a claim for mitigating circumstances which has been approved by the Faculty, your mark for the retake will not be capped
2. 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
3. If capping at the element level means that you fail the module overall, where capping at the module level would have resulted in a pass, your mark for the retake will not be capped. 

The table below sets out an example of how such a situation might arise for an undergraduate student:

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 or the above modules please 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:

• a) check Canvas for your reassessment brief and materials; 
• b) Email your module leader (from your KU email address) early for help – they may not be available throughout all the retake period. If you don't hear back from them after five working days, contact your Student Office for advice.

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 most undergraduate courses, these are held in early September. For most postgraduate courses, these are held in March. You will get another letter 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 Programme Reassessment Board might allow you an opportunity to repeat the module(s) in the following academic year . This is also dependent on the number of assessment 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 terminated. If you are on a postgraduate course and have exhausted all assessment attempts at a module, no further reassessment will be offered in that module.

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

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 Programme 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 4 attempts at undergraduate level), your registration with the University will be terminated.

Please note: 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, please contact your Student Office.

If you experience any difficulties during or in the run-up to your reassessments 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. Claims must be accompanied by relevant and timely evidence from an appropriate source.

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

A repeat is a type of reassessment where you have to repeat all elements of assessment for that module in the following course year. You will have to a pay a fee to repeat a module, unless you have mitigating circumstances which have been approved by the Faculty. For further advice and guidance about mitigating circumstances, please contact your student office. 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

If you are repeating a module, neither the module nor the element mark will be capped, but repeating a module does mean it will take 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.

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

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 would not normally be re-admitted to Kingston University, unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

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

If your application for mitigating circumstances was successful, this will be indicated by a grade of "S" next to the relevant module. This means that the assessment board has decided that you may defer your assessment attempt at this/these module(s) until the next reassessment period. To find out more about when you are required to undertake your deferred assessment attempt at these modules, please contact your student office.

Please note: it is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of all the arrangements for your deferred assessments. Please also 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. If you have any questions, please contact your student office.

If you fail the deferred assessment, you may have to repeat the module, in its entirety, in the following academic year. As you had accepted mitigating circumstances at the first attempt, your mark for the repeat module will be uncapped and you will not need to pay a repeat module fee.

If your mitigating circumstances claim is 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. If you are entitled to reassessment in that element, the maximum mark you will be able to receive will be the pass mark for that element (40% for undergraduate courses, 50% for postgraduate courses).

For further advice and guidance about mitigating circumstances, please contact your student office.

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 reassessments 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. Claims must be accompanied by relevant and timely evidence from an appropriate source.

I am a Level 4 student and my Record of Progress 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 of Progress 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 student office to discuss your options further. 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 Record of Progress 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 of Progress as a compensated pass with a module grade of PC.

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 student office, 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 failed credit, you may be allowed to undertake reassessment in the latter modules as indicated on your Record of Progress. 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 award and your registration will be terminated following your reassessments. Depending on the outcome of your other reassessments, you may be entitled to an intermediate award or a certificate of credit.

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 am a postgraduate student in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences and I have reassessments over the summer. When should I do my dissertation?

Please contact your academic course leader for advice.

I've spoken with my lecturer or an administrator about my results but I would still like to talk through my options to help me make a decision, e.g. I don't know whether I should take a break or withdraw?

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. You can also look at the FAQs on interrupting or withdrawing from your studies.

I am considering withdrawing from the University or taking a break from my studies

Please read the regulations on interrupting or withdrawing from your studies.

I need help from more than one support service and I would like help navigating my way through them

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?

You'll find a range of useful resources and information in our health and wellbeing support guide.

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 you are on a professional placement route, 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.