In the Engineering Faculty your academic progress will be assessed by a combination of formal written examinations, short tests and continuous assessment of coursework. Most of the formal examinations take place towards the end of the summer term, although there may be mid-sessional examinations in January for some students and exams for option choices at other publicised times. Examinations are normally two- or three-hour papers controlled by invigilators.
Many programme units also include occasional short tests which may be held during examples classes. The marks awarded for these may be included in your marks in that unit for the year. Marks are also awarded for projects and coursework that are assessed continuously. The proportions of marks allocated to each form of assessment will be set out in the details of each programme unit given to you by your department. If in doubt discuss this with your personal tutor.
To avoid deliberate or accidental bias, markers of examination scripts know only the candidate number (and not the name) while marking is in progress. During the year, each student will be issued by the University with a candidate number before their first examination. This number should be used for all examinations taking place during the year, including supplementary assessments. A new number is allocated for each academic year.
A system of desk numbering is used in exam halls. For each exam you will be allocated a desk number, which you will sit at for that exam. To find your desk number please check on the lists that will be posted outside each exam venue and please ensure you give yourself enough time to check your desk number. The lists will be displayed about 30 minutes before the start of the exam. Please note that if you sit at the wrong desk, you risk being registered as absent for that exam.
You will be admitted to the exam hall five or ten minutes before the start of the examination. All briefcases, hold-alls and bags are to be left in the designated area in the exam hall. Mobile phones and pagers must be switched off in exam halls and you are not permitted to take them to your desk. No talking will be allowed in the examination room.
Listen carefully to any instructions given out by the invigilator. Before the examination begins you will have time to complete the details on the front page of your answer booklet, including your candidate number. This number should be clearly written on every answer booklet and supplementary sheet used.
Do not begin reading the paper (other than the rubric on the front page) or start writing until the invigilator tells you to do so. If you run out of space in your answer booklet ask the invigilator for a continuation answer booklet. If more than one booklet has been used, or supplementary worksheets/graph paper are to be included in your answer, you should bind them together with the treasury tag which you will find on your desk. Rough work must be done in the answer booklet and crossed through to indicate that it should not be marked - no rough paper will be provided.
You may not leave the examination room during the first half-hour and you will not be permitted to leave the room during the last fifteen minutes of the examination, so if you complete your answers during this period you should remain quietly in your seat until the end of the examination. If you wish to leave the examination between these times you should raise your hand and wait for the invigilator to collect your script and give you permission to leave.
At the end of the examination you should enter the number of the questions that you have attempted on the front cover and fold over and seal the right-hand corner of the answer book.
Students are reminded that they should turn up to examinations on time, preferably arriving at least ten minutes before the examination is due to start. Students arriving late for whatever reason should go immediately to the examination room, providing that the exam has not finished, where they will be given instructions by the invigilator. It will be up to the Faculty Board to decide whether marks are accepted for students arriving late. Students who miss their examination altogether should contact the Faculty Head of Academic Administration, Room 1.41 QB, as soon as possible.
Please refer to the University Exam Regulations and the guidelines on plagiarism. The penalty imposed on a student found guilty of cheating may be severe.
The rules on the use of calculators are clearly specified. A student discovered to be using an 'illegal calculator' in examinations may be deemed to be cheating and will be dealt with accordingly. Mobile phones and pagers etc on examination desks are also illegal and again students found with them may be accused of cheating.
Only incoming Erasmus exchange students will be allowed to use a language dictionary during the examination, although they must obtain an Alternative Arrangements Form from their Department or the Examinations Office and present this to the invigilator in each examination. The dictionary will also be checked by the invigilator.
In exceptional circumstances alternative arrangements may need to be made for your examinations. If you feel that you may qualify for these please contact your tutor or the Faculty Head of Academic Administration immediately, allowing as much time as possible for any special arrangements to be set up. Dyslexic students who feel they need extra time in examinations are normally expected to provide the Faculty Head of Academic Administration with an approved certificate by the end of the first term of their first year of entry. The Faculty reserves the right to decide whether additional time should be allowed in individual cases.
The time allowance for special needs will normally be an extra 15 minutes for every hour of the examination. The extra time is taken at the end of the examination and students are normally seated in a separate room.
It is difficult to make extra time arrangements for tests taking place within lecture slots. Our experience is that the nature of these tests is such that lack of time is rarely an issue for any students when completing the tests. However, if a student with an approved extra time entitlement considers that they have been adversely affected by not having the extra time for such a test, they should raise this with the unit organiser as soon as possible after the test.
In exceptional circumstances, students may be allowed to take resit examinations overseas. Such examinations may only take place at approved British Council offices. Students will be liable for the full cost of administration charges levied by the Faculty and by the host institution. Students wishing to enquire about this facility must see the Faculty Head of Academic Administration and must make their request by 20th July at the latest, in order for the arrangements to be made in time for the September examination period.
Students should familiarise themselves with all Examination dates and must not make any arrangements which would make attendance at an examination impossible.
All students will be provided with a list of their marks after the Board of Examiners meeting. The following is an explanation of how those marks are treated in the assessment of your performance during the year.
If a student is absent for a legitimate reason from a whole unit, then the overall mark is computed excluding this mark. If a major piece of assessed work is missing from a unit for an approved reason, the overall mark for this unit will either be based on the remaining work or the unit mark will be excluded from the overall assessment.
In the case of absence for approved reasons from an examination which forms the sole or major part of the assessment of a unit, the student may be required to take the assessment as a first attempt on a subsequent occasion in order to be awarded credit points or may be excused at the discretion of the department organising the unit. Approved absences must be properly recorded.
Some units are assessed partly or wholly by continuous assessment in the form of project work, essays, tests etc. The mark awarded for the unit is the weighted average of all assessments including examinations. The regulations governing Modular Degree Programmes require students to attend all compulsory classes and to undertake written coursework as prescribed. Credit points may be withheld if the student does not comply with these requirements and ultimately a student may be required to withdraw from the Faculty.
The pass mark for each unit is normally 40%. For level M units the pass mark is 50%. However, additional criteria may be defined for satisfactory completion of a unit and these will be clearly specified in the unit outline at the start of delivery of the unit.
130 credits are included and counted in the assessment for the year and no extra pro-rata tuition fee is charged when a student is specifically required or allowed to take 130 credits by the specification of the programme they are following, such as when:
Only 120 credits are included and counted in the assessment for the year, but no extra pro-rata tuition fee is charged when a student is specifically required or allowed to take an additional unit by the specification of the programme they are following, or when:
Only 120 credits are included and counted in the assessment for the year, and an extra pro-rata tuition fee will be charged when:
The University discourages students from taking more than the number of credits stipulated in their programme specification each year.
(see Flow Diagrams)
The term "resit" refers to a second attempt at an assessment previously failed, while the term "supplementary assessment" refers to an assessment as a first attempt due to mitigating circumstances affecting a previous attempt.
The First Year must be completed before entry into the Second Year by gaining 120 credit points in the units of the First Year (or 130 credit points if the Programme Specification requires this).
These credit points are gained by
* Please note that an overall year assessment mark >= 55% (plus >= 55% in Maths if required by the relevant department) is required for progression to the second year of a degree programme with Study in Continental Europe. If students on these programmes do not achieve an overall year mark of >= 55%, they will be required to transfer to the ordinary MEng programme.
If a student has failed to gain 120 (130) credit points but has an overall year average >= 30% the Faculty Board will normally require a student to undertake resits in all the failed units. However, it should be noted that taking resits is not an automatic right and depends on the decision of the Faculty Board. The Faculty Board will normally require a student to withdraw if their First Year average mark is less than 30%. Normally only one resit attempt is allowed. If resits are allowed, the same criteria as above for awarding credit points will be applied.
All outstanding debts must be paid before registration on a subsequent year is accepted.
The Second Year must be completed before entry into the Third Year by gaining 120 credit points in the units of the Second Year (or 130 credit points if the Programme Specification requires this).
These credit points are gained by
If a student has failed to gain 120 (130) credit points the Faculty Board will normally require a student to undertake resits in all the failed units. Again, it should be noted that taking resits is not an automatic right and depends on the decision of the Faculty Board. Normally only one resit attempt is allowed. If resits are allowed, the same criteria as above for awarding credit points will be applied.
All outstanding debts must be paid before registration on a subsequent year is accepted.
The Second Year must be completed before entry into the Third Year by
The 120 credit points are gained by
If a student has failed to gain 120 (130) credit points the Faculty Board will normally require a student to undertake resits in all the failed units. Again, it should be noted that taking resits is not an automatic right and depends on the decision of the Faculty Board. Normally only one resit attempt is allowed. If resits are allowed, the same criteria as above for awarding credit points will be applied. A student who has not obtained an overall year assessment mark of at least 50% at the first attempt will be required to transfer to the BEng/BSc degree.
A student may be required to satisfy additional criteria determined by the Faculty Board, before being allowed to proceed to the Third Year of an MEng with Study in Continental Europe/Study Abroad degree programme. A student not satisfying these criteria may be allowed to proceed to the Third Year of an alternative Master of Engineering degree programme, if they have achieved an overall mark of at least 50 at the first attempt.
Engineering Design students may sometimes start their third year placement before their exam marks are known.
If after the resits they fail to satisfy the conditions for progression on the MEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry programme then the placement will not form part of the Engineering Design degree and the student would normally leave the placement and proceed immediately to the third year of the BEng in Engineering Design programme, providing the conditions for progression to BEng had been satisfied. However the employer and employee can agree to continue with the placement on the basis that it will not count towards the student's degree so that the student takes a year out before returning to take the third year of the BEng in Engineering Design programme.
All outstanding debts must be paid before registration on a subsequent year is accepted.
The Third Year must be completed before entry into the Fourth Year by
This project hurdle normally, but not exclusively, applies to Third-Year projects worth 30 credit points or more and it will be clearly specified in the degree programme information. (For Third-Year group projects a student's individual mark will be used).
The 120 (130) credit points are gained by
There are normally no resits allowed for third year students.
A student who has not obtained an overall year assessment mark of at least 50% at the first attempt will be required to transfer to the BEng or BSc degree and graduate without further study. (NB Students on the MEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry will be required to undertake further study by taking the third year of the BEng in Engineering Design programme). It may be possible to organise attendance at the July Graduation Ceremony at late notice, but this is not guaranteed. Students might have to attend the next available Graduation Ceremony (usually in February of the following year).
The Third Year of a Study in Continental Europe/Study Abroad programme is treated as a single 120-credit unit.
All outstanding debts must be paid before registration on a subsequent year is accepted.
The Fourth Year must be completed before entry into the Fifth Year by
The 120 credit points are gained by
There are normally no resits allowed for fourth year students.
A student who has not obtained an overall year assessment mark of at least 50% at the first attempt will normally be required to transfer to the BEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry and graduate without further study (providing the BEng requirements have been met).
All outstanding debts must be paid before registration on a subsequent year is accepted.
If a student fails in units in the Final Year the student may nevertheless be awarded an honours degree at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, but the Faculty Board retains the right to apply penalties, including the award of a lower classification of degree, if deemed appropriate.
A student not reaching an acceptable standard in the Fifth Year of the MEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry shall be awarded the Degree of BEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry. The class of degree will be calculated using the weighted combination for the BEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry (see section on Composition of Degree Assessment). An 'acceptable standard' includes achieving a Fifth-Year mark of at least 50% and passing the Fifth-Year project at 50%.
A student not reaching an acceptable standard in the Fourth Year shall not be awarded the Degree of Master of Engineering but shall be assessed for the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours or Bachelor of Science with Honours (as appropriate). The class of degree will be calculated using the weighted combination for the BEng or BSc (see section on Composition of Degree Assessment). An 'acceptable standard' includes achieving a Fourth-Year mark of at least 50% and passing the Fourth-Year project at 50%. This hurdle normally applies to Fourth-Year projects worth 30 credit points or more and it will be clearly specified in the degree programme information.
A student not reaching an acceptable standard in the Third Year of the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours or Bachelor of Science with Honours may be awarded an Ordinary Degree. An 'acceptable standard' includes achieving a Third-Year mark of at least 40% and passing the Third-Year project at 40%. This hurdle normally applies to Third-Year projects worth 30 credit points or more and it will be clearly specified in the degree programme information.
In order to be awarded an Ordinary Degree a student must attain a mark of 40% in an individual project, or equivalent, and attain an average of 40% for the best 60 credit points at level H or above (which must include the project). This applies to all students irrespective of whether they have 240 or 260 (or more) credit points from Years 1 and 2. A student being considered for an Ordinary Degree who has failed their Third-Year project may be allowed to resubmit a project at the discretion of the Faculty Board. The form of the resit project is up to the individual Board of Study concerned such that it could either be a new project or a resit of the same project. In either case only one resit attempt will normally be allowed.
Taking resits is not an automatic right and depends on the decision of the Faculty Board.
Students who are required to take resits for units totalling more than 60 credit points (irrespective of whether the assessment will be by coursework or by examination) will be required to take them in the following June. Students taking Supplementary assessments (i.e. the exam or coursework as a first attempt - usually due to mitigating circumstances) will be allowed to take the exams in September if they wish.
Students who are required to take resits for units totalling 60 credit points or less will normally take the resits in September, but may request to delay the resits until the following June. In either case the students will only be allowed one attempt at the resits. Students taking supplementary assessments would be allowed to take a resit the following June should they fail to achieve the necessary conditions for progression in September.
The assessment of some units has contributions from continuous assessment, together with one or more written papers. For most units the format of the resit or supplementary assessment will be different from the original form of assessment. In general, a student will be required to re-sit one or more major components of the original assessment according to his or her performance. Normally these will be written papers but may be design or other practical work. The format and rules for passing a resit or supplementary assessment will be decided by the Unit Organiser and the Programme Director.
The mark awarded for a unit passed in a resit will be 40% (50% for Level M units), and this will be used when calculating the overall mark to be recorded for the year. If the Faculty Board allows a supplementary assessment, the new result will be used (together with the parts previously passed) in a recalculation of the unit mark using the original weightings, and the resulting unit mark will be used to generate the overall year mark to be recorded and carried forward.
Please note that once a resit or supplementary assessment has been permitted, the new mark is the one that counts and it will not be possible to revert to the original mark should this prove to be higher than the resit or supplementary mark.
In cases where you are required or permitted to take resits or supplementary assessments the following summer, you may choose to register as an occasional student by paying to attend lectures and labs for the subjects that you have still to pass. The fee is calculated on a pro-rata basis to the full fee. The maximum mark that may be obtained for any failed unit is still only 40 (or 50 for Level M units), unless it is a first attempt.
Both the Final Year and Penultimate Year of the programme must be taken and completed to an acceptable standard before an accredited degree may be awarded. The award and class of degree will depend on the overall mark and this is calculated using a weighted combination of a student's year marks as set out in the table below:
| Degree | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEng | 10% | 40% | 50% | - |
| MEng with Study in Europe/Abroad | 10% | 20% | 70% | - |
| BEng | 20% | 80% | - | - |
| BSc | 20% | 80% | - | - |
| MEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry | 10% | 10% | 40% | 40% |
| BEng in Engineering Design with Study in Industry | 10% | 20% | 70% | - |
| MEng with direct entry into year 3 | - | 45% | 55% | - |
The academic record of a student throughout the three or four years of the degree programme may be taken into consideration. A student may be required to attend an Interview with an External Examiner in which case the assessment made by the External Examiner may be taken into consideration.
The boundaries for the award of classes of honours degrees are based on the overall mark as follows:
| Degree | Boundary |
|---|---|
| First Class | 70% |
| Upper Second Class | 60% |
| Lower Second Class | 50% |
| Third Class | 40% |
Students with marks just below a degree class boundary may be awarded the higher class of degree at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. This will be noted on the results transcript.
There are several criteria by which examiners judge the classification appropriate to a candidate's examination script and to continuously-assessed work, and these are set out below. The extent to which these various criteria are satisfied varies between individual candidates: examiners should allow a candidate's strengths in one area to offset shortcomings in another.
Shows sound, thorough understanding and knowledge of the subject, in both breadth and depth. Shows evidence of insight and original thought, with initiative in answering non-routine questions. In project work, undertakes comprehensive review of background material and critically evaluates options. Presents viable designs or research findings and identifies strengths and addresses weaknesses. Produces a coherent written report, indicating that concepts are well understood and critically evaluated. In essays, displays excellent critical judgement in exposition or in advocating a viewpoint, with a high quality of structure and expression, and with well-chosen illustrative examples. Demonstrates a high level of technical competence, with very few mistakes of any kind.
Shows sound, thorough understanding and knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the subject, but lacking the breadth or depth exhibited in first-class work. Shows evidence of clear thinking, and is able to make a good attempt in answering non-routine questions. In project work, undertakes good review of background material and assimilates implications of source material. Presents viable designs or research findings and considers their weaknesses. Produces a coherent written report, demonstrating a good understanding of most key concepts. In essays, displays good critical judgement in exposition or in advocating a viewpoint, with a good quality of structure and expression, and with relevant illustrative examples, but lacking the focus of a first-class paper. Demonstrates technical competence, perhaps with some shortcomings.
Shows understanding and knowledge of most of the fundamental aspects of the subject, but with evidence of only superficial understanding or limited knowledge, perhaps with some misconceptions. Has difficulties in answering non-routine questions. In project work, undertakes limited review of background material but does not fully assimilate relevant source material or its implications. Presents viable designs or research findings but has little awareness of their limitations. Produces a coherent written report, but which indicates that some key concepts are poorly understood. In essays, displays some critical judgement in exposition or in advocating a viewpoint, with an acceptable quality of structure and expression, and with illustrative examples, but with significant deficiencies in some or all of these aspects. Demonstrates some technical competence, but with shortcomings in significant areas of the subject.
Shows knowledge of some of the fundamental aspects of the subject, but with evidence of little understanding. Has difficulties in starting to answer non-routine questions. In project work, demonstrates clear but limited attempt to become acquainted with relevant source material. Presents designs or research findings that do not follow logically from the work undertaken. Produces a written report that is not fully coherent, and shows that key concepts are generally not understood. In essays, displays little critical judgement in exposition or in advocating a viewpoint, with a poor quality of structure and expression; in general, a poor grasp of the issues involved. Demonstrates limited technical competence, with major shortcomings in significant areas of the subject.
Shows inadequate understanding and knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the subject. Is unable to answer even routine questions properly. In project work, makes little attempt to become acquainted with relevant source material, and does not present viable designs or research findings. Produces a written report that is not coherent, and shows that key concepts are not understood. In essays, displays a lack of critical judgement in exposition or in advocating a viewpoint, with an unacceptably poor quality of structure and expression; in general, has little grasp of the issues involved. On the evidence of the assessment, the candidate would be unable to study the subject at a more advanced level.
The Board does not prescribe the relative importance which examiners should place on the various criteria described above, which varies between subjects: in each subject, examiners adopt judgements appropriate to their disciplines. Likewise, the Board does not prescribe in detail how the assessment marks are determined: in each subject, examiners adopt procedures appropriate to their discipline. In all cases, the advice and judgement of an external examiner must be fully considered by Boards of Examiners in the Faculty.
Faculty regulations exist to allow the award of Certificates & Diplomas of Higher Education for students who withdraw from the University or are required to withdraw before completion of their programme of study.
To be eligible for a Certificate of Higher Education the student must have completed at least one year of study and passed a minimum of 120 credit points.
To be eligible for a Diploma of Higher Education the student must have completed at least two years of study and passed a minimum of 240 credit points, with at least 100 credit points at Level Two.
A form will be issued to all eligible students who withdraw or are required to withdraw. On completion, the form will be signed by the Faculty Manager and the Undergraduate Education Director and then passed to the Examinations Office who will produce the Certificate or Diploma.
The award of the Certificate/Diploma is at the discretion of the Faculty Board. Once a Certificate or Diploma has been awarded, students cannot transfer the credit points to any other programme of study, either at Bristol or elsewhere unless the Certificate or Diploma is surrendered. These awards do not count towards any accreditation by an Engineering institution.
Please note the following important factors:
No appeal will be considered unless it:
a) is made on permissible grounds
b) states the outcome sought by the student
Permissible grounds are:
1) There has been a material irregularity in the decision making process sufficient to require that the decision can be re-examined. By way of illustration:
2) A student's performance in assessment has been affected by illness or other factors which the student was unable for good reason to divulge before the meeting of the Board
3) A penalty imposed under these Regulations is wrong or disproportionate.
No appeal will be considered if it raises for the first time issues concerning the supervision or teaching of a student. Such matters will only be considered if they have been raised by the student promptly, at the time they first arose and pursuant to the Student Complaints Procedure.
Disagreement with the academic judgement of the Board will not constitute a ground of appeal.
The appeal process involves two stages:
The parties to an appeal will in all cases attempt to resolve the appeal at the Local Stage. The Formal Stage of the process may only be invoked if the student has pursued the appeal through the Local Stage and remains dissatisfied with the outcome.
Local Stage
A student must first raise the matter in writing with the Undergraduate Education Director or Graduate Education Director of the Faculty (c/o of Melissa Bevan, Faculty Head of Academic Administration) within 7 days of the publication of the examination results on the Faculty Secure Website, setting out:
a) the reason(s) for the student’s dissatisfaction with the decision of the Board
b) the outcome sought by the student.
On receipt of the student’s appeal under the Local Stage, the Undergraduate Education Director or Graduate Education Director will contact the student and if appropriate invite the student to a meeting with a view to resolving the appeal informally, following which a letter will be sent to the student setting out the outcome of the Local Stage. If a student is dissatisfied with the outcome under the Local Stage, he or she may make a formal appeal. An appeal under the Formal Stage will need to be lodged within 21 days of the publication of the examination results on the Faculty Secure Website. For more information, please see the University Examination Regulations.
Please note that any final year students who appeal will be required to withdraw from the July Graduation Ceremony and will be offered a place at the next available Graduation Ceremony (even if the decision on degree classification is unchanged).
Please see the flowchart (Word, 27Kb) outlining procedures for appeal in the Faculty of Engineering.
