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 4x30 credit modules at each level, each module is treated as 2 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?

Please visit this page for more information on graduation. Students in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education (HSCE) can find out more about graduation ceremonies.

Can I attend graduation if I have reassessments?

No. If you have reassessments, you will not be able to attend your intended graduation ceremony unless you are in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education which operates a different graduation schedule. If you have booked graduation tickets, you will receive confirmation by email that your booking has been cancelled and the cost of guest tickets refunded. Further information is available.

When will I receive my certificate?

You will receive your certificate at graduation. Certificates are not automatically posted out to students. See further information on receiving your certificate, including the process for students who do not attend the graduation.

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.

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 August. 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, which 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.

My letter says that I have examination retakes. What do I need to do now?

If you have failed an examination, you will be offered the opportunity to retake it.  Please visit the examination retake schedule. Please note that examination dates may change, so it is important that you check the timetable regularly in case of unexpected changes.

What if I have questions about the content of my retake exam or the retake coursework?

If you have questions about the content of your exam or coursework, 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.

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.

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 in the Student Life Centre on 020 8417 7312, visit MyKingston/MySupport/MyMoney/Funding Your Studies, or log an enquiry on the StudentHUB.

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 officer. Email them via SAO@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them via telephone, in person or via email.

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 on 020 8417 7312 or via the StudentHUB.

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 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 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 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. 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 that 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 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 on 0208 417 7312, visit MyKingston/MySupport/MyMoney/Funding Your Studies, or log an enquiry on the StudentHUB.

What if I have a general query not answered here. 

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

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 officer would be happy to discuss this with you. Email them via engagementsupport@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them via telephone or in person or via email. 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 office would be happy to discuss this with you. Email them via sao@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time to speak with them via telephone or in person or via email.

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

For a brief, confidential, one-to-one discussion with a wellbeing practitioner or health advisor, just come along to any of our daily drop-ins. You can talk through your thoughts and feelings and we can discuss the most appropriate options to help and support you.