Compensation
Compensation would be defined within regulations as “The practice of allowing marginal failure (i.e. not more than 10% below the nominal pass mark) of one or more modules, and awarding credit for them, on the basis of good overall academic performance”.
A compensated pass mark would be recorded on a transcript, and the achieved mark would be used for the purposes of calculating a Final Degree Classification and GPA.
A student will only be awarded a compensated pass mark for a module once they had completed a first attempt and a resit. A compensated pass will normally be awarded as an alternative to a retake of a module.
For part-time students, a compensated mark would normally only be awarded at the completion of the level of study at which it is to be applied (i.e. if it takes 2 years to complete Level 4, compensation will only be applied at the end of the second year), but the student will know that they may be eligible for compensation on modules in their first year if they go on to pass all of the necessary elements in their second year (and vice-versa).
Compensation will apply to compulsory modules, but it is acknowledged that some PSRB requirements may insist that certain modules cannot be compensated. This is likely to be the case where a module is the only route through which a particular programme learning outcome can be delivered. It may also be the case that a non-accredited programme is deemed to require non-compensated modules and therefore, some programme-specific progression rules may need to apply and supersede the standard university progression regulations. These exceptions will be limited in number and will be approved through QLIC (via delegated authority from the Academic Board).