5.1 CPD Diploma (Non-award Bearing Programme)
The regulations outlined in Appendix IV are included in this handbook for your information should you wish to progress to the Certificate, Advanced Diploma or Masters level course. Please note that the CPD Diploma course is a non-award bearing programme, comprising 2 x 15 credit modules and therefore does not fall under the same regulations as the award bearing programmes.
As outlined in the programme exemptions section in Appendix IV, the pass rate for both of these modules is 50% at all levels and neither module is eligible for compensation. Re-assessment (i.e. re-sits) is allowed on one occasion for each module.
5.2 Mitigating Circumstances
If there are any reasons why special circumstances may affect (or have affected) your examination performance, please notify a member of the Education Team. Any details will be treated in the strictest confidence, but will be brought to the attention of the Examination Board when considering examination results. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the University guidelines on mitigating circumstances.
Mitigation describes the process by which a student may be compensated for poor assessment performance, or when they are not able to complete an exam/assessment, as a consequence of unforeseen or unpreventable circumstances.
A student must submit a request for mitigation to their programme administrator, in advance of their assessment submission deadline or exam. Retrospective mitigation requests will only be considered, if presented at least 2 weeks prior to the Exam Board and there are compelling reasons as to why the circumstances could not be made known or presented prior to the assessment submission deadline/exam. The dates of the Exam Board meetings will be circulated by your programme administrator once confirmed.
Any requests for mitigation will be considered confidentially by a mitigating circumstances panel. The panel will normally comprise of the Programme Director, a Programme Administrator and a senior member of School staff. Where a request for mitigation is supported, a recommendation will be made to the exam board for them to decide on the best course of action for the student.
Students are advised to consult the following guidance, which directs them to seek advice and support before and whilst submitting a request for mitigation. The University form and guidance for students, is available at:
http://www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/basic-guide-mitigating-circumstances/
For further information about the process and acceptable grounds for mitigation see: Mitigating Circumstances Policy & Procedures: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=4271
5.3 Interruptions and Extensions to Programme
It is the expectation of the University that postgraduate taught students pursue their studies on a continuous basis for the stipulated duration of their programme. However, it is recognised that students may encounter personal difficulties or situations which may seriously disrupt or delay their studies. In some cases, an interruption or extension to your programme of study may be the most sensible option.
Students who wish to interrupt the programme or extend to write up the dissertation should initially discuss their plans and reasons with the Programme Director.
Students should also provide documentary evidence when appropriate, for example, doctor’s letter, sick note etc.
An application must be submitted to the Programme Director who will either support or reject the request. The form will then be submitted for consideration to the Degrees Panel who will make the final decision.
The forms required for formal application are available from your Programme Administrator.
5.4 Ratification of Results
Members of the Examination Board normally include your tutors and Programme Directors and are overseen by an External Examiner from another university or training body. It is the job of the Examination Board to review all the results anonymously and make decisions on the award of credit and who can re-sit exams/assessment or gain compensation. It is also the role of the Examination Board to decide who cannot continue and will leave the University with an exit award. You will be notified of your result via email. Please note that this process usually takes about 6-8 weeks to complete, although we do endeavour to inform students of their marks earlier where possible.
5.5 The Role of the External Examiner
External Examiners are individuals from another institution or organisation who monitor the assessment processes of the University to ensure fairness and academic standards. They ensure that assessment and examination procedures have been fairly and properly implemented and that decisions have been made after appropriate deliberation. They also ensure that standards of awards and levels of student performance are at least comparable with those in equivalent higher education institutions.
5.6 External Examiners’ Reports
External Examiners’ reports relating to this programme will be shared with student representatives at the programme committee, where details of any actions carried out by the programme team/School in response to the External Examiners’ comments will be discussed. Students should contact their student representatives if they require any further information about External Examiners’ reports or the process for considering them.
5.7 External Examiner Details
The External Examiner for this programme is Dr Finlay Dick who is Senior Occupational Physician at Capita Health and Wellbeing.
Please note that this is for information only and it is inappropriate for students to make direct contact with External Examiners under any circumstances, in particular with regards to a student’s individual performance in assessments. Other appropriate mechanisms are available for students, including the University’s appeals or complaints procedures and the UMSU Advice Centre.
In cases where a student does contact an External Examiner directly, External Examiners have been requested not to respond to direct queries. Instead, External Examiners should report the matter to their School contact who will then contact the student to remind them of the other methods available for students. If students have any queries concerning this, they should contact their Programme Administrator in the first instance.
5.8 Appealing the Examination Board’s Decision
Students can only appeal if they have grounds as described in the University’s appeals policy. Students thinking of appealing should first discuss the matter informally with a member of the Education Team, in order to better understand the reason for the result or decision.
Should you wish to proceed to a formal appeal, this must be submitted within 20 working days of notification of the result or decision to Kevin Hewitt, Teaching and Learning Advisor (Student Appeals, Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise), Room 3.21, Simon Building, University of Manchester, M13 9PL (e-mail: kevin.hewitt@manchester.ac.uk). The full Academic Appeals Procedure (Regulation XIX) and associated documents, including the form on which formal appeals should be submitted, can be found at www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/academic
For further information on appeals, you can also refer to Section 10 of this handbook – Academic Appeals (Regulation XIX)
