Undergraduate regulations - Joint Institute students
On this page you will find a link directing you to the current regulations pertaining to your course, as well as specific pieces of information that will be important for you to be aware of during your time studying within the Joint Institute.
Undergraduate regulations
Contact the Joint Institute Curriculum and Assessment Officer Patrick Meredith: pm477@sussex.ac.uk. for clarification on these regulations.
Note below important aspects of the regulations that will be important to note during your studies.
Threshold marking
For all modules at levels 4-6: a threshold mark of 35% must be achieved on all module assessment modes weighted 30% or more. The threshold mark requirement will be applied to the conflated coursework mark which may include multiple assignments.
In practice, this rule applies to all taught modules which are assessed by a combination of exam and coursework, but where one of these components is weighted less than 30%, the threshold requirement only applies to the larger component.
Examples:
- module A: this module is assessed with 80% exam and 20% coursework. Here, a minimum mark of 35% is required on the exam component only.
- module B: assessment is split evenly between 50% exam and 50% coursework. For both components, a minimum mark of 35% is necessary.
- module C: this module is entirely assessed by coursework (100%). In such cases, the threshold requirement doesn't apply, as a minimum mark of 40% is needed to pass the module
You can find out how each of your modules is assessed, including the main component weightings, by clicking on the module details in Sussex Direct.
A resit will be required of any component where the threshold has not been met, or where the overall pass mark cannot be achieved. For modules with an exam weighted 75% or more, the resit mode will be 100% exam.
Resitting an assessment
Go to Sussex Direct for information about what kind of resit you’re doing and when it takes place.
This could be any type of assessment, such as an exam, essay or presentation.
Your retake submission will have new titles and questions. The exception is for dissertations or projects, where you normally continue to work on your existing topic, usually without further supervision.
Retakes will be taken in the assessment period following the semester in which the module is delivered. Therefore, retakes for Autumn modules will take place in the retake assessment period following the first semester, whilst retakes for Spring term modules will be scheduled in the retake period after the second semester.
Difference between a resit and a sit
If you’re offered another opportunity to take an assessment, the mark you get may be capped or uncapped.
A resit is a further attempt to pass a module. The mark you get for a resit assessment is capped at the pass mark of 40%. The uncapped mark is shown on your transcript.
Tip: See what level your module is in Sussex Direct by choosing your timetable and selecting the relevant module code. The level is listed under the FHEQ row.
A sit is a type of retake that gives you another opportunity to complete a module assessment. Check your Module Results page in Sussex Direct for details of the sit you’ve been given.
Your mark from a sit attempt is not capped and may be combined with marks you achieved for other assessments from the module.
You might be offered an optional sit if we accepted an exceptional circumstances claim and you have passed the module.
You must decide by the deadline shown on your Module Results page in Sussex Direct. Select the "accept" or "decline" option. You can change your decision as many times as you like before the deadline. If no option shows here, then please contact ZJSU-JI@sussex.ac.uk to confirm your choice.
Important: The mark you get for a resit or sit assessment will be used for progression and/or award purposes, even if it’s lower than your original mark. If you don’t take the resit or sit, your original mark will stand.
Mandatory resits and sits
You’ll have mandatory resits or sits because you have not achieved the required credits on all of your modules.
If you fail your resit, we might allow you to progress into your next stage of study with a trailed resit – this means you have to take the resit to get the credits for the module but you can do it later on.
Trailed credit
You may be able to progress to the next stage of your course with a trailed resit to get credit for a failed module.
This resit will be in the next stage of your course so you don’t fall behind in your studies.
Trailed resits are not during FHEQ level 3.
The exam board has discretion to give a trailed resit where:
- you have achieved an uncapped stage mean of 40% at the pass threshold, and
- you have achieved 90 credits from your other modules in the stage, and
- a combined maximum of 30 credits are trailed or compensated.
Important: Trailed resits will be scheduled in the resit assessment period for the module. You will not attend teaching, unless your School agrees this.
Repeating the year instead of taking resits or sits
A repeat year means you do the teaching, learning and assessments again to get the credits you need to progress on your course or earn a degree. We won’t use any marks or credits from the original year – you’ll only be considered on what you achieve in your repeat year.
The exam board held in the summer may offer you a repeat year, known as a stage. If a repeat stage is not offered by the summer exam board, this may be offered by the resit exam board in September.
If you have not been offered a repeat by the summer exam board, you can apply in the summer to repeat a failed stage of study in the next academic year instead of taking resits or sits. Contact ZJSU-JI@sussex.ac.uk to discuss this option.
First year students who haven’t progressed will be automatically offered a repeat stage by the resit board in September.
Your degree classification
Classification
Once you’ve gained the credits you need, your classification is worked out.
Different stages are worth different percentages to your overall classification.
The total is called a grand mean.
See the contribution of different stages of your degree on your Module Results page on Sussex Direct.
This table shows our undergraduate classifications and what it takes to get a First.
| Undergraduate classification | Grand mean |
| First class honours | 70%-100% |
| Upper second class honours (2:1) | 60%-69% |
| Lower second class honours (2:2) | 50%-59% |
| Third class honours | 40%-49% |
Borderline criteria
There are some cases where you might get a higher class of degree.
If your grand mean is 1% below the higher classification boundary, and at least half the credits that contribute to the award are in the higher class, you will be given the higher classification. If you have fewer than half the credits, your exam board may give you the higher class.
When considering borderline students, the Progression and Award Board (PAB) has the discretion to reclassify based on the individual student profile as presented on the marks array. Consideration may be given to:
- performance in the taught modules
- performance in the dissertation/project/module.