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Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) students come to us with. If your question has not been answered, contact us at global@sussex.ac.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Where will I find information about my timetable and modules?

You can find all the necessary information regarding your timetables, assessments, reading lists, and associated material on either your Sussex Direct or Canvas portal.

How can I download an Interim Transcript?

Go to Sussex Direct > Module Results > Report > Generate Interim Transcript Report as a PDF. 

If you need an Interim Transcript signed, please contact global@sussex.ac.uk.

What does PGT part-time study look like?

Generally, part-time study is half of full-time study. So, in T1 you will study one core module rather than 2 and in T2 you will choose 1 option rather than 2. Both years are the same, but the second you have the addition of a module in T2. There are some exceptions to this, your Course Coordinator can let you know if that's the case.

 

How do I make an Exceptional Circumstances (EC) claim?

To make a claim, go to the ‘Study’ tab on Sussex Direct and then to ‘Exceptional Circumstances’.

What evidence do I need to provide for my EC claim? What if I can’t provide any?

Your claim will not be assessed without evidence attached so it is important to make sure you provide evidence.

Information about acceptable evidence can be found here. If you are unable to provide evidence, the self-declaration form may cover your circumstances. If you attach the self-declaration form you do not need to attach any further evidence. The form can be found on the above link.

When do I need to make an EC claim?

The final deadlines to submit an EC claim and attach evidence can be found here under ‘Final Claim Deadlines’. Claims submitted after the relevant deadline cannot be considered.

Students are strongly advised to submit their claim within seven days of the assessment deadline. However, as it is not always possible for students do this due to their circumstances, late claims will be considered up until the final claim deadline. Evidence should be attached within 21 days of the assessment deadline to ensure prompt processing.

If you do miss the final claim deadline, you may be able to submit an appeal once you receive your results. Find more information on appeals here. When submitting the claim, you will be asked to provide further information to explain why the claim has been submitted later than advised.

What is the difference between the three types of EC claims?

Late submission: If your claim is accepted, it means that you can submit during the 7 day late period without penalty. This is not an extension, and you cannot submit beyond the 7 day late period.

Non-submission: If you are unable to submit your work by the 7 day deadline, you can submit claim for a non-submission. If your claim is accepted, you will be given an opportunity to resit the assessment in the August resit period for an uncapped mark.  

Impairment: Impairment may be applicable when you have been able to submit your assessment, but your performance has been significantly affected, for example by an illness or a bereavement. If your claim is accepted, the exam board at the end of the year will consider whether the mark you have achieved is significantly ‘out of line’ with your other marks. If the exam board considers that this is the case, you will be offered a resit for an uncapped mark in the August resit period. If the board does not consider your mark to be ‘out of line’, the current mark will stand.

https://student.sussex.ac.uk/assessment/exceptional-circumstances.

If I have already had a claim accepted, can I change it to another type of claim?

Once a claim has been accepted, you cannot make any further changes. 

However, if you submit a claim for a late submission and you do not submit the assessment by the 7 day deadline, the claim will automatically change to a claim for a non-submission, after the 7 day deadline has passed. There is no need to request for this to be changed.

If you want to change or update your claim to include impairment, you can request this by emailing ec.chair@sussex.ac.uk. Make sure to include your claim number.

If my non-submission claim is approved, do I still need to complete the assessment?

If you fail a module, you will be required to resit the failed assessment/s in the August resit period. If you have an accepted non-submission claim, the resit will be for an uncapped mark.

If you have passed a module and have an accepted non-submission claim for an assessment for that module, you will be offered an optional resit for an uncapped mark.

My EC claim for non-submission was accepted. I have not had any information on resits.

You will receive information about any resits that you need to do after the exam board has taken place. You can find the date that the exam board outcomes will be released on your Sussex Direct Module Results page under ‘Course Stage Results’.

All resits take place during the August resit period (see term dates here). Exact deadlines will be available on your Assessment Timetable after the exam board outcomes are released.

Will my claim be approved before the assessment deadline/the end of the 7 day late period?

It is not a requirement that a claim is approved prior to the assessment deadline or within seven days of the deadline. It can often take the EC team 10 working days or longer to process claims during peak times around assessment periods.

What is a capped/uncapped mark? 

All resit assessments are capped at the pass mark. For assessments at Level 7 (mainly postgraduate) this is 50. For assessments at Level 6 and below (mainly undergraduate) this is 40.

The marker is unaware of student circumstances when they mark assessments. Any caps or late penalties are applied automatically by Sussex Direct, so you will be able see the uncapped mark on Canvas. The uncapped mark is shown on your transcript.

If you have an accepted EC claim for a non-submission or are offered a further assessment opportunity due to an accepted EC claim for impairment, the resit assessment will be for an uncapped mark. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘Sit’.

An ongoing health issue is affecting my ability to meet my deadlines, who do I speak to?

Please contact the Student Centre if you need non-academic support, for example with your wellbeing, health, finances or other personal issues. 

The Student Experience team can offer one-to-one appointments and give advice around exceptional circumstances, resits and what we can do to support you if you are struggling. You can contact the Global Studies Student Experience Team at gs.studentexperience@sussex.ac.uk.

If you have questions or need guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance at global@sussex.ac.uk.  

Are deadline extensions available on request?

No, the University does not offer extensions. If you have been struggling to meet the deadline for an assessment, you can apply for exceptional circumstances (see above).

The three types of exceptional circumstances claims are late submission, non-submission and impairment. 

If you are registered with Disability Advice, please get in touch with them to discuss reasonable adjustments.

Due to technical issues, I was unable to upload my assessment, what do I do now?

If you submitted late, or were unable to submit, due to internet issues or an IT error, you can submit an EC claim with evidence to this effect. Please report any problems directly to IT Services or the Canvas 24/7 helpline.

Who can sign my fees or progression form?

Email studentprogress@sussex.ac.uk who can help you with this request. 

Follow us on social media...

Easy! We're active on Instargm, Twitter, Facebook and WordPress. Each Global Studies department also has its own Twitter account, which you can find on the School account's profile intro. Have a story to tell? We'd love to hear from you and host your blog post on our blog. 

      

Why is my module Canvas site blank?

The module convenor will decide when they want to publish their site. This means that some are published weeks before the start of term, others the day before.

How do I choose my PGT dissertation supervisor?

Around February/March time, you will be asked to indicate your dissertation topic and make suggestions for supervisors. While we try to accommodate students' requests, we cannot always guarantee that you will be assigned the supervisor you want. There are many reasons for this: faculty research leave, teaching commitments, other supervisory requests etc. Keep in mind that all our faculty are experts in guiding you through writing a great dissertation, you do not need a supervisor that is an expert on your given topic. You can use the office hours of faculty to meet and discuss your specific research and use the time with your supervisor to structure your work.

I am an undergraduate student/alum(na). How do I obtain an academic reference?

You can ask your academic advisor to provide you with one. You shouldn't contact your doctoral tutors for references. If you don't know who your academic advisor is, you can ask the School Office at global@sussex.ac.uk. 

Can I change my modules?

You can contact your departmental Course Coordinator for advice on module (or degree) changes.