7. Honours Degree

i. Registration and conferment

A student is assumed to be a candidate for an award with honours unless he or she registers for another award.

ii. Subject requirements

To obtain an honours degree a student must fulfil the specific requirements for his or her Subject(s).

iii. Compulsory element of an Honours Degree

To obtain an honours degree a student must gain at least six acceptable module credits from those designated as level 6 honours modules, including at least one double (30 credit) level 6 honours module, or two 15 credit level 6 honours interdisciplinary project/dissertation modules.

iv. Programme requirements

To obtain a BA, BSc, BEng, BMedSci or LLB honours degree a student must pass within eight years at least twenty-four module credits including at least eight level 4 module credits and at least sixteen acceptable module credits for a double or two single Subjects. Not more than two level 4 acceptable module credits may be included in the sixteen acceptable module credits required.

An Honours degree may include an approved Foundation Stage as an integral element of the degree, which consists of 120 credits at levels 3 and 4, with at least 60 at level 3. To complete the Foundation Stage student must pass, within a period of two years – and no more than four semesters of study - at least eight acceptable module credits including the Foundation compulsory modules from the appropriate Foundation Subject. Students must pass the requirements of the Foundation Stage before progressing to Stage I. Modules passed during the Foundation Stage may not be re-taken to count towards Stage I.

For students on two single subjects registered for a joint award at least seven acceptable module credits including at least two level 6 honours credits must be passed for each Subject. For those registered for Major/Minor awards at least ten acceptable module credits including at least two level 6 honours credits must be passed in the Major Subject, and at least four acceptable module credits must be passed in the Minor Subject.

(Where subjects require the satisfactory completion of a placement year the above time is extended by one year.)

Except that:

• For the Double Subjects of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, the maximum period of registration is six years.
• In the Subjects of Nursing and Midwifery, students must additionally demonstrate in the 12 months preceding completion, the ability to meet the requirements of the programme specific professional practice module.
• Students registered for the Double Subjects of Adult and Mental Health Nursing and Children’s and Mental Health Nursing must pass within eight years at least thirty-two module credits including at least eight level 4 module credits and at least twenty-four acceptable module credits. Not more than two level 4 acceptable module credits may be included in the twenty-four acceptable module credits required.
• Students registered for the Double Subject of Osteopathy must pass within eight years at least thirty-two module credits including at least eight level 4 module credits and at least twenty-four acceptable module credits. Not more than two level 4 acceptable module credits may be included in the twenty-four acceptable module credits required.
• Students registered for French Studies or Japanese Studies must pass within ten years at least thirty-two module credits including at least eight level 4 module credits and at least twenty-four acceptable module credits. Not more than two level 4 acceptable module credits may be included in the twenty-four acceptable module credits required.

v. Classification

The class of Honours degree shall be decided in accordance with Schedule 1 below on the average of the marks obtained in the best fourteen level 5 or above acceptable module credits, which carry the highest marks. The marks for the best six acceptable level 6 honours module credits will always be included in the average. All students must have four graded acceptable level 6 honours module credits at the University for the purposes of classification.

Except that:

• For the BEng honours degrees all the compulsory level 6 honours module credits will be included, and will be double weighted in the calculation for degree classification.
• For the BA honours degree in Architecture the compulsory level 6 honours modules U30074 and U30092 will be included in the calculation for degree classification.
• For the BA honours degree in Interior Architecture the compulsory level 6 honours modules U30070 and U30091 will be included in the calculation for degree classification.

Schedule 1

NB. Averages are truncated, not rounded up. In calculating a student’s final average, marks for double modules are counted as two identical single marks. Similarly for triple and larger sized modules.

In addition, where a student has achieved an average between 49.5% and 50%, or between 59% and 60%, or between 68% and 70% and achieved four acceptable credits in a higher class over those semesters in which the last eight graded acceptable credits occur then the next higher class of degree will be awarded.

vi. Limitation on modules taken - "The 22 Rule"

A candidate for an honours degree, completing their programme in a period longer than six semesters shall not be permitted to take more than twenty two acceptable module credits (330 credits).

For the purposes of the regulation where a year's worth of placement is required it does not count in the number of semesters specified nor the credit earned unless the student elects to take other modules at the same time as their placement year module.

Except that:

• Candidates registered for the double subjects of Adult and Mental Health Nursing, Children’s and Mental Health Nursing or Osteopathy completing their programme in a period longer than eight semesters shall not be permitted to take more than thirty acceptable module credits (450 credits).

vii. An Honours degree award carries 360 credits at level 4 and above including 120 credits at level 4 and 240 credits at level 5 or above (including 90 credits at level 6).

Except that:

• The 4 year BA in Languages, BOst, BSc in Adult and Mental Health Nursing and BSc in Children’s and Mental Health Nursing carry 480 credits at level 4 and above including 120 at level 4 and 360 credits at levels 5 or above (including 90 credits at level 6).