Award and Credit Framework

Award and Credit Framework

1. Principles – academic standards

1.1 The Award and Credit Framework sets out the criteria for all University of Derby awards and assures academic standards by ensuring compliance with the Office for Students Regulatory Framework and sector-recognised standards.

1.2 University of Derby awards are aligned to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) (Levels 4–8), including typical volumes of credit and the University’s approach to the award of academic credit.

1.3 The Award and Credit Framework also sets out maximum registration periods for University of Derby awards to ensure the credibility of awards.

1.2 Variations

Any derogations to the Award and Credit Framework require approval by the RFC and the Academic Board. Derogations last for the approval period of the programme or the reapproval of the programme (whichever comes first).

2. Definitions

2.1 Level of study

2.1.1 Each module will be aligned to a level of study. The level of study is an indicator of the academic standard of the module.

2.1.2 Descriptors for the levels of study are set within the Office for Students and sector-recognised standards.

2.1.3 The University of Derby’s Award and Credit Framework recognises the following levels:

*May include modules equivalent to GCSE English and Maths at Level 2 that, if successfully completed, align to the Regulated Qualifications Framework.

2.2 Learning outcomes

2.2.1 Learning outcomes describe the knowledge, understanding and transferable skills that students will be able to demonstrate on successful completion of an award or period of study.

2.2.2 Learning outcomes are defined at programme level and at module level. Module-level learning outcomes collectively contribute to programme learning outcomes.

2.2.3 Programme and module learning outcomes should be developed in reference to the FHEQ.

2.3 Credit

2.3.1 A credit value is assigned to each module. Credit is awarded in recognition of verified achievement of learning outcomes on completion of a module.

2.3.2 University of Derby credit cannot be counted in more than one award. Once credit has been used as part of one award, it is considered ‘spent’.

2.4 Module

2.4.1 A module is a self-contained block of learning with defined aims and learning outcomes and one or more assessment tasks. Each module is designated a level, credit value and module designation.

2.4.2 The academic content, intended learning outcomes and assessment methods are specified within the approved Module Specification.

2.5 Programme

2.5.1 A programme is a collection of modules at defined levels of study that form a coherent learning experience. Successful completion of a programme leads to the conferment of an award. For example, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English or Master of Science in Business Administration.

2.5.2 A Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a programme consisting of an individual independent research project.

2.5.3 Programmes may also be referred to as ‘courses’.

2.6 Pathway

2.6.1 A pathway describes a separate named award within a programme.

2.6.2 A pathway should be distinct from other programmes and will lead to a difference in award titles. It is expected that this should be a difference of 60 credits across Levels 5/6 for an undergraduate programme or in total for a postgraduate taught programme.

2.7 Module designation

2.7.1 Mandatory modules

Mandatory modules must be taken and passed in order to achieve the award.

They are designated as ‘mandatory’ because they deliver and assess essential content and skills required for the achievement of programme learning outcomes.

2.7.2 Compulsory modules

Compulsory modules are reserved for joint honours programmes.

Joint honours students are required to take all compulsory modules, but failure to achieve the credits does not prevent students from qualifying for an award. Compulsory module limits are as follows:

• Major subjects: 80 credits at any level
• Joint subjects: 60 credits at any level
• Minor subjects: 20 credits at any level

2.7.3 Optional modules

Optional modules are chosen from an agreed list, specific to the programme structure agreed at validation.

2.8 Module credit size

2.8.1 A standard University of Derby module size is 20 credits.

2.8.2 Programmes are designed with modules in multiples of 20 credits up to a maximum module size of 60 credits, except for Master of Research (MRes) modules, which can be 80 credits, and Professional Doctorates, which have research modules equating to 420 credits.

2.8.3 Non-standard module sizes should be used only when there is evidence of professional, statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) requirements or a sound pedagogic rationale. Use of non-standard credit sizes requires careful consideration of the overall structure of the programme and interlinking assessment regulations, such as progression, compensation and transferability.

2.8.4 The minimum module credit size permitted is 10 credits.

2.9 Zero-credit modules

2.9.1 When used as part of a programme leading to a major award, zero-credit modules must be passed to achieve the award. Zero-credit modules are therefore usually designated as ‘mandatory’ in the programme structure.

2.10 Notional study hours

2.10.1 Notional study hours are the average number of hours of study that will be required for a student to complete a module successfully.

1 credit = 10 hours of notional study time

20 credits = 200 hours of notional study time

The following table is listed by module size.

*European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.

2. 11 Assessment

2.11.1 A module should have at least one assessment task.

2.11.2 Assessment tasks can receive a numerical mark or can be pass/fail.

2.11.3 Assessments are categorised as:

• Coursework
• Practical
• Exam, including viva voce
• Portfolio
• End point assessment (EPA) – this is an independent assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learned throughout an apprenticeship and tests the apprentice’s ability to apply them in the workplace. An EPA may be incorporated into the credit forming the academic award or may be separate, depending on the requirements of the relevant apprenticeship assessment plan

2.12 Interim and exit awards

An interim award is conferred when a student has successfully completed a level of study, progressing to the subsequent stages of the higher award. Interim awards are only conferred to satisfy a PSRB requirement.

An exit award is conferred when a student has originally registered for a higher award but has not completed the higher award for whatever reason.

Award and Credit Framework

All taught programmes leading to University of Derby awards should conform to the following Award and Credit Framework.

The following tables are listed by award type and abbreviation.

Undergraduate

Graduate

Postgraduate

Research

University Minor Awards³

Professional

Honorary

¹ Top-up degrees are equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree (Level 6 - 120 credits). They are aimed at students who have previously completed a related foundation-level degree or equivalent. Non-honours degrees are not permitted as exit awards for top-up programmes.

² Where a bachelors degree is a four-year programme (i.e. a bachelor's subject with a foundation year), an additional 120 credits are required. A minimum total of 420 credits is required.

³ Minor awards are not interim stages of the University's major awards and therefore cannot be provided as exit awards for students who do not meet the requirements for a major award.

⁴ Integrated masters degrees should have a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6 and a minimum of 120 credits at Level 7.

4. Pathway credit requirements for joint honours awards

*Exceptionally, students may take a maximum of 40 credits across the degree from subject areas within the scheme. A Joint Honours Lead will approve these requests on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the relevant subject leaders.

4.1 The subjects named in the final award are determined by the credits achieved at Levels 5 and 6 only.

4.2 Students must confirm their pathway by the end of Stage 1 / Level 4. Any amendments after this point must be approved by the Academic Lead or College Management Team.

4.3 If a student has failed to meet the minimum credit requirement for one of the subjects in their pathway, then the nomenclature ‘Combined Studies’ will be awarded for that subject.

4.4 Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education and Pass Degrees will have the nomenclature ‘in Combined Studies’. The subjects studied will not be named.

5. Ratification and conferment of awards

5.1 All University of Derby awards are ratified by an Assessment Board on behalf of the Academic Board.

5.1.2  University titles, such as professorships and readerships, are awarded by the University Conferments Committee.

5.2 Aegrotat award

5.2.1 If a student has been prevented from completing a taught award, an unclassified aegrotat award can be awarded by the College Assessment Board with the support of external examiners. Providing that:

• Enrolment requirements have been fulfilled, including the payment of fees
• There is evidence that the student’s attainment is such as to merit an award
• The award doesn’t lead to an accredited professional qualification
• The student is unlikely to be able to return to complete their studies
• The student has indicated that they are willing to accept the award

5.3. Posthumous award

5.3.1 Any award of the University (including aegrotat awards) may be conferred posthumously. Normally, this will be the target award aligned to the most recent enrolment. Posthumous awards can be awarded by the College Assessment Board.

5.4. Withholding and withdrawing awards

5.4.1 The University reserves the right to withhold and/or withdraw awards at any time if it deems there to be good cause to do so. Good cause may include (but is not limited to):

• Discovery, following conferment of the award, of academic misconduct in the assessed work submitted for the award
• Discovery, following the conferment of the award, that it was obtained by fraud and/or any other form of deception