Answers to frequently-asked questions about academic results communications

Please take a look at the answers below if you have queries about the communications that you have received from Kingston University in regard to your academic results. If you need further support, please get in touch.

Graduation and certificates

1. I have passed my degree. How can I find out about my graduation ceremony?

If you are eligible to attend a ceremony, you will receive an email from the graduations team advising you of your ceremony date and time and when you can book your place and guest tickets.

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

2. When will I receive my award certificate?

You will receive your certificate at graduation. Certificates are not automatically posted out to students who do not attend – you will need to respond to your graduation invitation on OSIS and, if you are not attending, provide your preferred postal address.

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

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

You need to activate your HEAR before you can see your transcript. 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, please follow our guidance.

4. 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.

Understanding your results

5. 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 your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), one month after your formal outcomes are published. You can access your HEAR via the Gradintelligence website.

You need to activate your HEAR before you can see your transcript. 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, please follow our guidance.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 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 Course Support and Administration team 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 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 Course Support and Administration team for advice (see details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

9. 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 at Level 5 which is given a weighting of 20% (multiplied by 0.2)
  • plus...
  • average % of the best 105 credits at 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.

10. 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 of Progress as a compensated pass with a module grade of PC.

11. 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 (e.g. MSc/MA).

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

If this final failure is 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 Student Route visa, the duration of your visa will be adjusted accordingly.

12. 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 Course Support and Administration team for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

13. 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 Course Support and Administration team 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.

Retake assessment

14. 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.

If you are retaking a module due to failure, the final module mark will be aggregated on the basis of the best marks achieved at element level at either your first sit or your retake. If you pass the module on aggregate the module will be awarded the minimum pass mark for that module. 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 retakes will not be capped at the pass mark at module 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 have retake coursework

To submit your retake materials please log in 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 +44 (0)20 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.

15. 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 Course Support and Administration team for advice (see the details in the General Enquiries FAQ).

16. 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.

17. 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 November. However, some non-standard courses will hold Reassessment Boards outside these time periods.

You will get another communication after the Reassessment Board confirming your results and explaining what will happen next.

18. 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.

19. 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 Course Support and Administration team 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. See the University's regulations on Mitigating Circumstances for information on deadline dates and instructions on how to submit an application through the OSIS system.

20. 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.

More about the University's regulations on mitigating circumstances and instructions on how to submit an application through the OSIS system.

Repeat assessment

21. 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.

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

22. I am on a Student 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 Student Visa. If you are on a Student Visa and have been told you must repeat a module, you must seek advice as soon as possible by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing immigrationadvice@kingston.ac.uk.

Trailing assessment

23. What does 'trailing credit' mean?

Trailing credit is where you are permitted to retake a module that you have not yet passed at the same time as progressing into the next level of your course. For example, if at the end of the 2022/23 academic year you have passed 90 credits and have only one 30-credit module still to pass, you may still be allowed to progress to the next level of study in the 2023/24 academic year and undertake reassessment in the module you have not yet passed at the same time as engaging with your new modules.

The possibility of trailing credit is offered as an alternative to repeat (or replace) study. If you decide to undertake reassessment by repeat (or replace) instead of trailing, you will only undertake the module that you have not yet passed during 2023/24 and will not progress to your next level of study at the same time.

24. Does my course permit trailing?

Most courses allow trailing. However, if your course doesn't permit trailing, this will be stated in the relevant programme specification.

Please note that there may be specific modules on your course which cannot be trailed due to professional body restrictions or because they are pre-requisites for modules at the next level of study. This will be detailed in the relevant programme specification and module documentation available from Canvas.

If you are unsure if your course permits trailing, or if a particular module can be trailed, you can ask your personal tutor, your Course Support and Administration team or your course leader for more information.

25. How will I know if I can trail credit?

Following your course's Reassessment Board, you will be sent a communication notifying you of the Board's decision which may include the opportunity for you to trail credit into the next level in the following academic year.

26. How many credits can I trail?

You can only trail up to 30 credits into the next level of study. To be eligible to trail 30 credits, you must have passed all other credit at that level.

You are not permitted to trail Level 4 credit into Level 6.

You are not permitted to trail a Level 6 credit into Level 7.

27. Can I opt out of trailing and if so, how do I do this?

Yes you can. You should let your Course Support and Administration team know if you do NOT want to trail but wish to repeat the modules you have not yet passed. You should NOT re-enrol if that is your decision, until the Course Support and Administration team has let you know that your record has been updated.

If you do want to take up the offer to trail then you simply need to re-enrol at the start of the next academic year.

You will need to carefully consider which option suits you best.

Further information on the options available to you are outlined below. You can also discuss this further with your personal tutor or the Union of Kingston Students.

Benefits of trailing

  • You will progress directly into the next level in the next academic year.
  • If you pass the modules from the next level and your trailed module during the next academic year, you still have the opportunity to complete your intended award by the date planned.
  • You will not have to pay for an extra year of repeat study.
  • You will be required to undertake reassessment in only those elements of assessment that you have not yet passed in the trailed module.

Drawbacks of trailing

  • You may struggle to complete all 120 credits of full time study alongside additional retake assessments in your trailed module.
  • If you don't pass your trailed module during the next academic year, you may be offered one further reassessment in the retake period but if you have not passed the module by then, you will be removed from your course as you will have no further assessment attempts.
  • Even if you have passed all the modules for the next level of study and only have failure in the trailed module, you will not be able to progress any further on your course. The highest exit award the assessment board could offer you would be a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) if you did not ultimately pass the level 4 trailed module and passed at least one of your level 5 modules or a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) if you did not ultimately pass the level 5 trailed module and passed at least one of your level 6 modules.
  • Your trailed module will be undertaken in retake mode and will therefore be capped at the minimum pass mark for the module.

Benefits of repeating

  • You will be able to focus on repeating one module in the next academic year and will have full access to all the learning and teaching for that module.
  • Passing the whole of level 4 before progressing into level 5, or the whole of level 5 before progressing into level 6, provides a sound foundation for your future study.
  • Repeating the failed module means that this module will not be capped.

Drawbacks of repeating

  • You will only be undertaking one 30-credit module in the next academic year.
  • You will not complete your intended award by the date planned.
  • You will have to pay for an extra year of repeat study.
  • You will be required to undertake reassessment in all elements of assessment for the module even those that you have already passed this academic year.

28. When do I need to make a decision and what happens next?

If you wish to repeat instead of trail, you need to let your Course Support and Administration team know as soon as possible after you receive your results communication. If you are accepting the offer to trail you simply need to complete your re-enrolment at the start of the next academic year.

If you decide to trail credit: If you have decided to trail credit rather than undertake a repeat year of study, your personal tutor will make an appointment with you to discuss the arrangements for this in more detail, including when you will need to submit assessments or attend assessment events such as examinations.

If you decide to undertake a repeat of study: If you have decided to undertake a repeat year of study, you will receive the timetable and access to Canvas for the module you are due to repeat.

29. If I trail, will I have reassessment in all elements of assessment for the trailed module?

No, you will only be required to undertake reassessment in those elements of assessment that you have not yet passed. You must engage with these assessments to ensure you don't put your future progression (if you are trailing a Level 4 module) or your final award (if you are trailing a Level 5 module) at risk.

30. Will trailed modules be capped?

Yes, trailed modules will be capped in line with the University's Regulations for retake reassessment. This means that the overall module result will be capped at the minimum pass mark.

31. Will I be able to attend learning and teaching activities for the trailed module?

No, you will not have timetabled learning and teaching activities for the trailed module, although you can attend timetabled activities with agreement from the module leader if they fit into your existing timetable. No changes to your timetable will be made to accommodate this.

32. Will I have access to learning and teaching materials on Canvas for the trailed module?

Yes, you will continue to have access to the learning and teaching materials for your trailed module in Canvas. If for any reason you cannot access your Canvas module, this should be discussed directly with the Student and Course office, your personal tutor or the relevant module leader.

33. What support will I get?

You will be contacted at the start of the academic year by your module leader to discuss the arrangements for trailing and to ensure that you understand what is expected of you and when you will need to submit assessments or attend assessment events such as examinations. Your module leader will also discuss how you can access support during the year. You will be able to access learning and teaching materials for the trailed module via Canvas.

34. What are the costs?

There will be no additional costs to you for trailing credit.

If you opt to undertake a repeat module you will pay an additional fee which is usually a quarter of the normal full-time fee.

Appeals and complaints

35. 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.

36. 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.

General queries and further support

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

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.

If you are considering withdrawing for financial reasons, please contact the Student Money Advisers who will be able to advise on funding your studies, money management, dealing with debt, bursaries, accommodation etc. Email them at studentfunding@kingston.ac.uk

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.

38. What if I have questions about my student finance?

Please contact the University's Student Money Advisers by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing studentfunding@kingston.ac.uk.

39. What if I have a general query that is not answered here?

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

You can use the Information Centre throughout your time at Kingston to get advice and guidance on many aspects of student life. Further information about what the Information Centre can help with and how to contact the Centre is available here.

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 Course Support and Administration team noticeboard:

Kingston School of Art

Business and Social Sciences

Health, Science, Social Care and Education

Engineering, Computing and the Environment

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

You can use the Information Centre throughout your time at Kingston to get advice and guidance on many aspects of student life. Further information about what the Information Centre can help with and how to contact the Centre is available here.

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

Our Student Health and Wellbeing Hub 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 confidential drop-in sessions, counselling, listening, stress and time management sessions. Visit Wellbeing and Counselling for more information.

42. I have been withdrawn from the University due to non-enrolment. Is there anything I can do?

If you have not enrolled by the deadline for enrolment that has been stipulated by the University, you will be considered as out of time to enrol. Soon after the deadline for enrolling has past, the University will withdraw all non-enrolled students who are studying directly with us. Please refer to the paragraphs on ‘Enrolment' in the University's General Student Regulations (GR1) for more information.

If you have been withdrawn, you may submit a request for a review this decision by emailing your Course Support and Administration team (see contact details provided in FAQ 39 on this page). For students who were due to enrol in September 2023, you will need to submit your review request by 15 November 2023 stating your name, student ID and a brief explanation of why you have not completed enrolment. Following receipt of your request, you will be reinstated and will be given ten additional working days to complete enrolment. If you have not completed enrolment by the end of this period, you will once again be withdrawn.

If you fail to complete enrolment after this window you will not be able to request a review of your withdrawal unless you have evidence that the University has made an error which has prevented you from enrolment (for example; you did, in fact, provide documentation that was requested by the University by the specific deadline for doing so). If you have such evidence, you should bring this to the attention of your Course Support and Administration team (see contact details provided in FAQ 39 on this page) making sure that you provide evidence that corroborates your claims.

The Faculty will consider your case and if they determine that you have evidence of an error on the part of the University, they will write to the Academic Registrar to request that you are reinstated. If the Faculty or the Academic Registrar decide that you do not have compelling extenuating circumstances your status will remain withdrawn. This decision is final and is not eligible for academic appeal or complaint.

If you have been withdrawn due to non-enrolment you can reapply to commence or recommence your studies at a future enrolment date, normally the next academic year.

* The enrolment period is the period of time between enrolment opening and the date that you were withdrawn

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