All assessed material is double-marked and, except for that related to the Research Projects (modules C1-C5), is marked blind; Grade level descriptors for the assessed components of the programme can be seen at Grade descriptors.
| Module | Credits | % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Module A1 consists of 1 x 2.5h written examination (60%) and 1 coursework essay (40%) |
30 | ~16.7 | ||||
| Module A2 consists of 1 x 2.5h written examination (60%) and 1 coursework essay (40%) |
30 | ~16.7 | ||||
| Module A3 consists of 1 x 2.5h written examination (60%) and 1 coursework essay (40%) |
30 | ~16.7 | ||||
| Modules B1 - B7 consists of 1 x 2.5h written examination (50%) and an analysis of a research paper (50%) |
30 | ~16.7 | ||||
| Modules C1 - C7 Research report (60%), laboratory notebook (20%) and poster presentation (20%) |
60 | ~33.3 | ||||
Three grades are awarded:
Pass:
In order to obtain a higher grade, candidates should meet the criteria for a pass and in addition:
Pass with Merit:
This requires the candidate to achieve a weighted average mark across all modules of between 60% and 69%.
Pass with Distinction
This requires the candidate to achieve a weighted average mark across all modules of 70% or better.
A Programme Board of Examiners, with the agreement of the External Examiners, may propose a change to the class of a candidate who has not met the requirements for the award of Merit or Distinction (as set out above) within a two per cent margin of either the overall weighted average mark or the dissertation mark but not both.
A candidate who fails an examination at the first attempt may, at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, be reassessed on the failed component on one further occasion. This reassessment will normally be at the next following examination.