Degree Classifications

How your degree is calculated

We know that degree classifications can be confusing. In short, you need to have all your credits to graduate and your average module marks for your second and third years will determine which degree class you'll get. 

You can also visit our guide to this year's degree results, where we have answered more specific questions. Please note, due to the marking boycott, other measures may have been put in place this year - please contact your School or ASK if you have any further questions about your results.

 

Credits

To get your degree you must pass all 120 credits at each level.

 

However, if you've failed any modules you may be able get them condoned or compensated, which would give you credits as if you'd passed the module. You can read more about module condonement and compensation in their section on this page.

Calculating Your Weighted Average Mark

Your degree classification will depend on your 'weighted average' module mark for Levels 5 and 6.  Your Level 6 modules are worth more than your Level 5 modules.

 

To calculate the weighted average:

1.  Calculate your average module mark for Level 5 by adding up each mark and dividing by 8. For 30 credit modules, include the mark twice when adding up.

2.  Your Level 5 modules are worth 1/3 of your degree, so divide your average by 3.

3.  Calculate your average module mark for Level 6, using the same method from step 1.

4.  Your Level 6 modules are worth 2/3 of your degree, so divide your average by 3 then multiply it by 2.

5.  Add together the results from steps 2 and 4. This will be your weighted average.

 

For an Integrated Masters the weighted average is calculated using 20% of the average module mark at Level 5; 30% of the average module mark at Level 6; and 50% of the average module mark at Level 7.

 

For students who entered Keele at Level 6 your degree will be calculated using the average module mark for Level 6 instead of the weighted average.

Degree Classifications

 

First Class Honours

Weighted average module mark of at least 70%.

OR weighted average of at least 67% AND at least 60 Level 6 credits (4 standard modules) with marks of 70 or higher.

 

Second Class Honours Division One (2:1)

Weighted average module mark of at least 60%.

OR weighted average of at least 57% AND at least 60 Level 6 credits (4 standard modules) with marks of 60 or higher.

 

Second Class Honours Division Two (2:2)

Weighted average module mark of at least 50%.

OR weighted average of at least 47% AND at least 60 Level 6 credits (4 standard modules) with marks of 50 or higher.

 

Third Class Honours

Weighted average module mark of at least 40%.

 

Pass

Weighted average module mark of at least 35%.

 

For an Integrated Masters, replace 60 Level 6 credits with 60 Level 7 credits at each category. A 2:2 is the lowest degree awarded for an Integrated Masters.

Postgraduate Taught Degree Classes

You must achieve 180 credits to be awarded a Masters degree, either by passing them outright or through compensation. Your marks will then determine which class you get.

 

If you don't achieve enough credits, you may still be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate. You must obtain 120 credits for a Postgraduate Diploma or 60 credits for a Postgraduate Certificate.

 

Distinction

An average weighted module mark of at least 68% AND at least 60 credits with a mark of 70 or higher.

 

Merit

An average weighted module mark of at least 58% AND at least 60 credits with a mark of 60 or higher.

 

Pass

You have obtained all your credits but your marks don't meet the threshold for a Merit or you've had a module compensated.

 

Calculating the Average Module Mark

Your average module mark will be weighted based upon the credit value of each module. For example, a standard module is 15 credits so a 30-credit module mark would be counted twice and a 60-credit module mark would be counted four times.

 

The average module mark will be rounded to the nearest integer (a mark of 0.5 or above will be rounded up).

Module Condonement and Compensation

 

You may be able to get a failed module condoned or compensated under Regulation D5.

 

Module Condonement

The following courses will generally allow condonement:

  • Courses in the Faculty of Natural Sciences
  • Courses in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Pharmaceutical Science Technology and Business
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Rehabilitation Science
  • Rehabilitation and Exercise Science

Courses that are subject to professional requirements may not be able to allow condonement. For example, there is no condonement available for Medicine and Nursing & Midwifery courses.

 

Law students can have modules condoned but should be aware this could affect an LLB award. Please check your course handbook for more information.

 

If you’ve failed a module you may still be able to get the module condoned - this means the mark will stay but the credits will be given and module will be passed.

 

You can get 30 credits condoned in total across Levels 4 and 5 (first and second years) - either 15 credits in each year or 30 credits in one year and none in the other year. 

 

In Level 6 (third year) you can get up to 30 credits condoned. 

 

Condonement is applied by the Exam Board at the end of the year if:

  • You’ve passed every other module;
  • You’ve used up all your attempts at the failed module;
  • Your mark is 30-39 (or 35-39 if you started studying or repeated Level 4 in 2022/2023);
  • The module isn’t a ‘qualified fail’.

For Integrated Masters you can get 45 credits condoned across Levels 4-6, with no more than 30 credits in each Level. At Level 7 you can get 35 credits condoned if you get marks in the 40-49 range (or 45-49 if you started studying or repeated Level 4 in 2022/2023).

 

Compensation on Undergraduate Programmes

*This is not available if you began your degree or repeated Level 4 in the 2022/23 academic year or later.*

 

For students who began their degree or repeated Level 4 before 2022/23: If a Level 5 or Level 6 student on one of the following courses has a module mark under 30 then module compensation could be given if the student has performed well in their other modules.  You can read more about compensation on the University website.

 

This is currently only available for:

 

Mathematics (BSc Single and Dual honours)

 

Health and Rehabilitation (BSc) 

 

Physics (BSc Single Honours and Dual Honours) - but not at Level 5 or for compulsory modules at Level 6

 

Astrophysics (BSc Single and Dual Honours) - but not at Level 5 or for compulsory modules at Level 6

 

Compensation on Taught Postgraduate Programmes

If you fail a module you may be able to get it compensated, which means tjhe mark stays the same but you are awarded credits as if you had passed. You can get compensation on all taught postgraduate programmes inless your programme specification says otherwise.

 

To get a module compensated, you must have a mark of 45-49 and you must have a mark of at least 55 in other modules worth the same amount of credits. You can have up to 30 credits compensated. Dissertation or final project modules cannot be compensated.

 

Please note, if you have a module compensated you will not be able to achieve a higher award than a Pass.

Failing to Achieve a Degree

If you haven't achieved a degree and have attempts remaining you will be offered the chance to take those reassessments in August to try to get your degree. 

 

If you fail your resits, the University now offers the chance to repeat your final year if: 

  • you haven't already repeated a previous year (not including a repeat of Foundation Year) and
  • you haven't reached the maximum registration period.The maximum registration period is the normal duration of your course plus 3 years.

 

If you have been offered a repeat opportunity, you need to email student.services@keele.ac.uk within 7 days of your results letter to confirm whether you want to take the repeat, and which type of repeat year you want. Make sure you read through your results email carefully to see the difference between your repeat options.

 

If you don't email to confirm you want a repeat, you will be given an exam award based on the number of credits you've passed (e,g, a Diploma).

 

If you have not been given a repeat opportunity, you can read our Appeals page to see if you may have a case for appealing.

Appealing Against Your Degree

You may be able to appeal if you can meet one of the appeal grounds. You can appeal to ask for further attempts or (in rare cases) to have your degree class raised.

 

The deadline for appeals is 10 calendar days after you're sent your official email from Student Records. If you’d like to look into appealing please visit our Appeals page.

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