These regulations operate in relation to Foundation Degree programmes offered at University Campus Suffolk. They are based upon the principles of credit accumulation and recognise that the Foundation Degree integrates academic and work-based learning through close collaboration between employers and programme providers.
Introduction
1. Within these regulations, the following terminology shall apply:
Scheme: the framework within which Foundation Degrees operate at University Campus Suffolk
Module: discrete block of study specified in the Course Validation Document. Each module is classified by its level and its credit value. A module will comprise academic learning elements only, work-based learning elements only, or a combination of both.
Credit: a quantitative indicator of the workload associated with a module. A full time academic year for a Foundation Degree would normally comprise 120 credits at the requisite level. Candidates are required to accumulate credit by compliance with the Regulations and may not normally proceed or qualify for an award without accumulation of an appropriate number of credits.
Level: modules shall be classified at one of the following levels at which study may be undertaken.
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Level 4: certificate level normally counting towards a Certificate of Higher Education (where offered) and towards a Foundation Degree
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Level 5: intermediate level, normally counting towards the Foundation Degree Pathway: a plan for completion of modules to achieve the appropriate learning outcomes.
Principles
2. The Foundation degree will provide candidates with the opportunity to:
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Demonstrate a broad balanced knowledge and understanding in the context of a chosen vocational sector;
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Apply knowledge and understanding to familiar and unfamiliar vocational situations;
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Experience productive links between work and study for both employee and employer.
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Develop enhanced cognitive, technical, management, key and transferable skills in context.
3. The Scheme incorporates the awards of Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits) and Foundation Degree (240 credits). Within the framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the
Foundation Degree is located at the Intermediate level (Level 5).
4. The credit ratings are achieved on the principle of the allocation of 120 credits per full-time academic year. Whatever the mode of delivery, a Certificate of Higher Education will be designed to be worth 120 credits. Whatever the mode of delivery, a Foundation Degree will be designed to be worth 240 credits with at least 120 credits at Level 5.
5. In order to qualify for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education or a Foundation Degree under these regulations, candidates must:
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Meet the entry requirements for the award before beginning their programme of study;
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Complete a programme of study in accordance with these regulations and the requirements specified in the Course Validation Document;
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Present themselves for assessment at the due times;
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Pass the assessments as prescribed in these regulations and the Course Validation Document.
Registration
6. Normally, candidates may choose to register either for the Certificate of Higher Education or a Foundation Degree in their chosen subject pathway unless otherwise stipulated in the Course Validation Document. Candidates may transfer from the Certificate of Higher Education to the Foundation Degree subject to satisfactory academic progress and the appropriate approval.
Duration of Study
7. Full-time candidates are normally required to attend the Institution, or elsewhere, for periods amounting to at least 24 weeks within the year of programme of study; and during that time they are normally expected to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience which amount to an average of at least 21 hours per week. The minimum period of appropriate work experience will be as specified in the University Campus Suffolk Foundation Degree Framework.
8. Full-time registered candidates for either award are required to complete a programme of units such that they accumulate at least 120 credits in each academic year. Part-time candidates shall be required to complete a programme of modules in accordance with the Course Validation Document and within the permitted period of registration.
9. The expectation is that full-time candidates will complete a Certificate of Higher Education within one academic year (120 appropriate credits at Level 4) and the Foundation Degree within two academic years (120 appropriate credits at Level 4 plus 120 appropriate credits at Level 5). These requirements in relation to timescale may be amended or varied in respect of a particular candidate on the recommendation of the appropriate authority.
10. The number of credits to be attempted by a candidate per academic year is 120 credits full time and between 20 - 80 credits part time.
11. Candidates may be permitted to transfer from full-time to part-time registration and vice-versa with the approval of the appropriate authority.
Awards
12. Candidates who are registered for the award of the Foundation Degree, who have accumulated 120 credits in accordance with these regulations,
but who do not proceed further, shall be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education.
13. Candidates who are registered for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education and who have accumulated 120 credits in accordance with these regulations shall be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in their chosen pathway.
14. Candidates who have accumulated 240 appropriate credits shall be awarded a Foundation Degree with the appropriate designation.
Enrolment
15. Candidates are required to enrol formally for each module they wish to take. Enrolment in a module confers eligibility for credit on the candidate, but this may be withdrawn by the appropriate authority if the requirements, as specified in the Course Validation Document, for satisfactory attendance and satisfactory completion of the module are not fulfilled.
Admissions
General
16. In order to satisfy the minimum general requirements for admission candidates must:
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be at least seventeen years of age on 1 October of the year for which admission is sought;
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hold an FE level 3 qualification comprising two years full-time post 16 education or equivalent.
17. An applicant whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce evidence of their competence in the English language in accordance with the Institution’s Undergraduate Admissions Policy.
18. In considering individual applications, evidence will be sought of personal, professional and educational experiences and competencies, as appropriate, to provide indications of an ability to:
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meet the demands of the programme;
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benefit from the programme.
19. As work-based learning is an integral part of the programme, candidates must either be in appropriate employment from the beginning of and for the duration of their programme of study or normally confirm before the start of the course that they will be able to secure an appropriate work placement or work experience that meets the requirements of the course. The criteria
specified for the work placement or work experience must comply with the Placement Policy.
Specific
20. In addition to these general requirements, candidates must meet any course-specific validated entry requirements.
Special Cases
21. The Executive Dean/Associate Dean (or equivalent) of the relevant Faculty/Campus may deem the following to have satisfied the general and course-specific requirements for admission:
a. candidates above the minimum age of admission who do not satisfy the general and specific qualification requirements, but who submit satisfactory evidence of having achieved qualifications which are deemed equivalent;
b. candidates who hold a full practising professional qualification;
c. candidates who do not satisfy the general and specific qualification requirements, but who submit satisfactory evidence of the capacity and attainments requisite to enable them to pursue the course proposed.
Admission with Credit
22. Subject to the approval of the Assessment Board and where specified at validation, candidates may be admitted with credit on the basis of prior certificated learning and or/assessed experiential learning in accordance with the Accreditation of Prior Learning Regulations. In the case of prior certificated learning APCL this will be no more than 50% (measured in terms of credit) of the award for which the candidate is registered, and in the case of assessed experiential learning APEL this will be no more than 25% (measured in terms of credits) of the award for which the candidate is registered.
23. Where a candidate seeks admission on the basis of both APCL and APEL, the combined total shall be no more than 50% (measured in terms of credit) of the award for which the candidate is registered.
24. Candidates making a claim for admission with credit for prior certificated learning will be required to produce certificated evidence for approval in accordance with the Accreditation of Prior Learning Regulations.
25. Candidates making a claim for admission with credit in respect of uncertificated/experiential learning will be required to produce a portfolio (or equivalent) for assessment and approval in accordance with the Accreditation of Prior Learning Regulations.
26. Claims for admission with credit for prior certificated learning must normally be made within five weeks of the start of the candidate’s first semester of registration on the programme.
Regulations Governing Candidate Choice
27. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that they select modules and combinations of modules that fulfil the requirements of these Regulations and, where appropriate, those of any Professional and/or Lead Body and for ensuring that all necessary information is provided to the relevant authority in the appropriate manner and according to schedules determined by that authority.
28. Candidates must select their Programmes of Study to meet the Award requirements of one of the following Awards:
FdA, FdSc, FdEng or Certificate of Higher Education (named option route) Work-based Learning
29. Normally, work-related learning will be carried out at the candidate’s usual place of work. Candidates who are not employed or whose employment ceases during their studies shall be responsible for securing a work-related experience that will be appropriate as an integral part of their programme of study and meet the requirements of the Foundation Degree Framework. The riteria specified for any work placement or work-related experience must also comply with the Placement Policy. Notwithstanding any programme specific regulations or statements, written or oral, neither University Campus Suffolk nor the awarding Institution/s shall be responsible for securing a work placement or work-related experience for candidates. Candidates who are unable to secure a sufficient work placement or work-related experience may be deemed to have failed the requirements of the award.
Assessment
30. Assessment shall be undertaken in accordance with the Institution’s Assessment Strategy and related policies which shall be amended from time to time.
Module Assessment
31. Each module shall be assessed at the end of the Semester/Term in which it is studied and the marks confirmed by the appropriate Assessment Board. Prior to this all marks shall be regarded as provisional and may be subject to amendment by the Board. Where a module is taken over an academic year marks shall be confirmed at the end of the academic year. Marks will not be
awarded for any module for which eligibility for a candidate’s credit has not been established.
32. Each module shall be assessed by one of the following methods or a combination:
Wholly by coursework
Wholly by examination
As a project
In addition to the specified module assessment, exceptionally, a viva voce examination may be undertaken to determine the module outcome.
33. Each piece of summative assessment for modules will be graded using a criterion-referencing system which relates to bands. See Table 1 below.
34. A pass grade in all components of assessment within a module will result in a module outcome derived from the individual weighted assessment grades.
Table 1:
|
Band
|
12-point scale for applying weighting in the calculation of module outcomes
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Description
|
|
D+
D=
D-
|
12
11
10
|
Distinction
|
|
M+
M=
M-
|
9
8
7
|
Merit
|
|
G+
G=
G-
|
6
5
4
|
Good pass
|
|
P+
P=
P-
|
3
2
1
|
Pass
|
|
Refer
|
0
|
Not pass standard
|
|
NWS
|
|
No work submitted
|
|
Defer
|
|
|
35. Where there is more than one on-module assessment, each will contribute a pre-determined percentage to the overall module grade. In this case each banded assessment will be assigned a numeric value on a 12-point scale for the purpose of calculating its weighted contribution to the overall module outcome (see table 1 above).
36. Where the outcome results in a decimal number, 0.5 and above will take the grade into the next higher band.
37. There will be no on-module compensation; that is, all summative components of assessment must be passed for the module to be passed.
Progression
38. For full time students
In order to progress from Level 4 to Level 5, students must either:
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pass the required number of credits (normally 120) [account will be taken of students admitted to the programme with Advanced Standing]; and
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successfully complete any work-based learning elements as specified in the Course Validation Document;
or
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be permitted by the Assessment Board to progress on the basis that they make good any ‘trailing’ credits (maximum 20) by means of reassessment, deferred assessment or by taking an additional 20 credits during the next level of study;
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exceptionally, where deferred in one or two modules, be permitted by the Assessment Board to progress in whole or in part (i.e. in one or more modules) on the basis that they make good any ‘trailing’ credits (maximum 40) by means of reassessment, deferred assessment or by taking additional credits during the next level of study.
39. Specific regulations limiting progression may apply within validated pathways for those students who have failed to achieve a pass in core, and/or mandatory modules.
40. Regulation 38 does not apply to part-time students. Part-time students are permitted to study modules at the next highest level concurrently, subject to their having met any prerequisites for the study of modules at the higher level and following appropriate academic guidance.
Non-Completion of Assessment
Assessed work deadlines
41. Students must submit all work for summative assessment by the formal deadlines previously notified to them in writing at the beginning of the module. Failure to submit work by the deadline without valid reason (i.e. without having requested and been granted an extension to the deadline or having presented acceptable mitigating circumstances under the terms of the Mitigating Circumstances Regulations will result in the term NWS (no work submitted) being recorded in the relevant component assessment and will result in referral in the module overall.
Examinations
42. Students who, in the opinion of the Assessment Board, fail to attend an examination without valid reason in accordance with the terms of the Mitigating Circumstances Regulations will be referred in the module overall.
43. In both 41 and 42 above, overall module outcomes will be recorded as “Refer (NWS)”.
Reassessment in Modules (Referral)
44. Where a student submits work but fails to achieve a pass (minimum pass grade is P) in any summative element of a module, the module outcome will be recorded as a referral and he/she will have the opportunity to be reassessed once only. In such cases of reassessment, the maximum grade attainable for the reassessed component will be P. The overall module outcome will be determined in the normal way (see 30 above).
45. Normally, students will be required only to be reassessed in the elements not passed.
46. Where a student has failed to complete assessment (see 41-43 above), the maximum grade attainable upon submission of previously non-submitted work, and for the module overall, will be P.
47. If at the reassessment attempt the referred work is still not of pass standard, the student will be deemed to have failed the module.
Failure in a module
48. If a student is deemed to have failed a module, the relevant Assessment Board may permit the student to retake that module. If so, the student will be permitted one attempt only at all elements of assessment and the maximum grade attainable for the module overall will be P. If the module in question is mandatory, further failure will result in termination of the student’s studies on that pathway.
In the case of failure in a module, a student may be advised to take an alternative module and/or transfer to an alternative course or programme.
Condonement
49. No condonement will be allowed, all modules must be passed.
Deferral in a Module
Consideration of Deferral cases is linked to the conditions of the Mitigating Circumstances Regulations.
50. If the Assessment Board – following advice from the Mitigating Circumstances Panel – deems that a student has presented acceptable evidence of mitigating circumstances in relation to one or more assessments, this/those assessment(s) will be deemed “deferred” and the student will be given the opportunity to present (or re-present) this/those assessment(s) without penalty (i.e. the full range of grades will be available). This will occur within the timescale stipulated under the terms of 52 below.
51. If a student is submitting a referred piece of work (as under 44-47) but mitigating circumstances are presented and accepted by the Assessment Board, the student will be given a further opportunity to re-present the assessment, under the terms of the original referral.
52. In cases of deferral, the relevant Assessment Board will determine the timescale for presentation/re-presentation of the assessment(s) in question.
53. Continuation or repetition of deferral status will be considered only if the relevant Assessment Board receives what it deems to be further acceptable evidence of mitigating circumstances.
54. If the relevant Assessment Board decides – following deferral – that it is in the student’s best interest to repeat the module, this may be undertaken as if for the first time.
Maximum Period of Registration
55. It is expected that a student will normally complete his/her award within the following maximum periods of registration:
|
Award
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Full-time study (in years)
|
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Part-time study (in years)
|
|
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Entry level
|
L4
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L5
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L4
|
L5
|
|
Cert HE
|
3
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
Foundation degree
|
5
|
3
|
6
|
4
|
For students who are following a mixed mode programme, the maximum period of registration shall be calculated as if he/she were studying part-time.
Withdrawals
56. Candidates who withdraw or who fail the Foundation Degree may be granted an unnamed Certificate of Higher Education if their credits entitle them to it (see Regulation 12 above).
57. Where a student has been requested, in writing, to confirm their status as a current student but no reply has been received by the date specified in that correspondence, they will be deemed to have withdrawn’ and if appropriate be considered for a climb-out award.
Academic Appeals
58. Students have a right to appeal against decisions of the Assessment Board in accordance with the Academic Appeal Regulations.
59. An Appeal should be made by submitting a completed academic appeals form to the Faculty or Centre office within 10 working days of the written publications of results by the relevant Assessment Board.
Academic Misconduct
60. Academic misconduct, including cheating and plagiarism, is defined by the Academic Misconduct Regulations. Allegations of academic misconduct will be dealt with as outlined in the regulations. In the first instance all allegations will be reported to the Academic Registrar.
Aegrotat Award
61. An Aegrotat award may be recommended when the Assessment Board does not have enough evidence of the student’s performance to recommend the award for which the student was a candidate or a lower award specified in these regulations, but where the Assessment Board is satisfied that but for illness or other valid cause the student would have reached the standard required.
Posthumous Award
62. In the event of a candidate’s death the awarding Assessment Board may award a degree or certificate post obitum provided that it is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that the candidate would have successfully completed the Foundation Degree or Certificate of Higher Education and that the candidate had successfully completed at least two-thirds of a programme of study.
Grading of the Final Award
63. The Foundation Degree can be awarded with Distinction or Merit. This will be determined on the basis of Level 5 (Intermediate) modules only. All grades at Intermediate level will be converted to points on the twelve point scale and an average determined. For modules of ten credits the module points would be halved, for modules of 40 credits they would be doubled etc. Modules achieved by APEL and APL would not be used in the calculations. Those students achieving a module average of 9.5 or above would be awarded a Distinction overall, those achieving an average of 6.5 or over but under 9.5 would be awarded a Merit overall. Other students would have no special designation on their transcript or certificate.