Key Terms
Academic Advisor: is a personal contact within the student’s subject area and provides orientation and guidance within their disciplinary culture and context. Advisors are expected to be aware of and liaise with as appropriate the other sources of general and specialist support available to students throughout their academic journey including, for example, the School’s Student Hub, the Disability Advice and Support Service (DASS), the Counselling Service, the Advice and Response Team, ResLife Advisors etc.
Academic Exchange Adviser: designated member of academic staff responsible for providing academic guidance and support to students participating in study abroad.
Academic Representatives: students who volunteer to represent the students on their course/programme. This also includes academic representatives who are sometimes paid for additional tasks such as leading the group of reps on their programme.
Academic standing:
Academic Unit Lead: appointed by the school to oversee the assessment for a unit and ensure that model/ expected answers are produced where appropriate.
Accreditation: The formal, independent recognition and "stamp of approval" that a programme or person meets specific quality standards and is competent to perform particular tasks. It is used in reference to programmes with professional accreditation by an independent Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB). (see also AP(E)L).
Accreditation of Prior Learning (AP(E)L): ‘AP(E)L’ stands for the award of credits based on learning that has already taken place. AP(E)L credits can exempt a student from parts of their academic programme if they can show that their existing knowledge and skills meet the necessary requirements. This prior learning may have been formally assessed by an educational institution or gained through experience, such as paid or unpaid work. AP(E)L can only be approved for whole course units. For more details, see Principles and Guidance for the Application of the Accreditation of Prior Learning (AP(E)L).
Aegrotat degree: an award granted when a student has been prevented from completing their degree due to a diagnosis of terminal or debilitating, long-term illness.
Aggregating grades: the process of averaging multiple grades from a Partner University’s course units to produce a single grade converted to the University of Manchester’s course unit structure.
APL: See AP(E)L
Assessed Coursework: Coursework which contributes to the final mark of a unit. Assessment/ Reassessment: the process of forming a judgement about a student’s attainment of knowledge, understanding or skills, when judged against the intended learning outcomes of a degree programme.
Assessment Period: the set time during which students’ examinations and coursework usually take place.
Asynchronous: Activities where students are free to choose a time before a certain deadline that suits them for an activity.
Award: The degree, certificate or diploma which is awarded following the successful completion of a defined programme of study.
Bachelors degree with honours: An undergraduate award, awarded following the successful completion of 360 credits, 90 of which must be at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) level 6. The University also has Bachelors degrees with 480 credits, 180 of which must be at FHEQ level 6.
‘Borderline’ students/ cases/ classifications: Used to describe those students who fall in the defined boundaries between classifications and could be considered by an Exam Board for the higher classification.
Boundary Zone/ Boundary/ Boundaries: The defined area between classifications where a student falling into the ‘zone’ may be considered for the higher award if they meet the criteria defined in Appendix A of the UG and PGT taught regulations.
Cap, capped, capping: Course unit marks that have been limited or reduced in some way, usually due to referred assessment being taken and passed or as a penalty for academic misconduct.
‘Carry over’/ ‘Carry forward’/ ‘Carried over’: Where an undergraduate student has not passed the required number of credits after compensation or referrals, an Examination Board may exceptionally allow a student to progress to the next level whilst carrying forward/ taking into the next year up to 20 failed credits. This applies to FHEQ levels 4 & 5 only and is subject to teaching capacity not being exceeded. This may not be possible on programmes with PSRB accreditation.
Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE): An undergraduate award of 120 credits, at FHEQ level 4, usually as an exit award or as an award for continuing professional development.
Classification: at the University of Manchester, Undergraduate degrees may be awarded the following classifications: First Class (Honours), Upper Second Class (2:1) (Honours), Lower Second Class (2:2) (Honours), and Third Class (Honours). Postgraduate Taught Degrees may be awarded the following classifications: Distinction, Merit and Pass. For classification thresholds, please refer to the relevant Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations.
Classification Review: The process by which students in the boundary zone of a classification, who have not met the requirements for ‘mark distribution’, are considered for the next classification based on the review of marks, overseen by an External Examiner. Note: marks do not change, just the classification.
Compensation, Compensated: Compensation’ is when an Examination Board awards the credit for a unit that is below the pass mark providing the unit mark falls within the Compensation Zone (known as a ‘compensated pass’) to allow the student to progress or exit with an award without retaking the unit. This is known as a unit being ‘compensable.
Compensated credit/ Compensated Pass: Credit or a pass achieved as a result of compensation (see above).
Compensation Zone: The numerical zone in which marks fall for them to be considered for compensation. Details can be found in found in ection E of the Undergraduate Degree Regulations and section F of the Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations.
Compulsory units: Compulsory units are units which cannot be substituted and must be taken by students in order to meet the intended learning outcomes of the programme (see pre-requisite course units). Compulsory units are not compensable but may be reassessed Schools can, however, specify if compulsory units need to be passed at the first attempt, and this must be clearly stated in the unit specification.
Core units: Core units must be taken by students in order to achieve all the required intended learning outcomes of the programme. They differ from ‘compulsory units’ as they can be reassessed and compensated.
Credit: A measure of work required to successfully complete a course unit or programme. One credit corresponds to a notional 10 hours of student workload.
Credit Transfer: the process by which academic credits earned by students during a study abroad programme is evaluated and applied towards their degree programme at The University of Manchester.
Coursework: Assignments completed and marked outside of examination conditions which may or may not contribute to the final mark of a unit. Types of coursework include but are not limited to essays, reports, in-class tests, laboratory work, projects, dissertations, practical work, and presentations.
Course unit: A self-contained unit of study on a particular topic, with defined level and credit values, aims and intended learning outcomes, mode(s) of delivery, defined assessment and possibly pre or co-requisites.
Course unit mark or mark: A numerical designation (0-100%), recorded as whole numbers, which is awarded to a student on completion of a course unit, and which reflects the achievement of the defined intended learning outcomes.
Course unit marking Scheme: The University approved marking scheme is between 0-100% and specifies pass/fail and compensable marks. Details can be found in the Guide to the Taught Degree Regulations (Table A: Undergraduate course unit marking scheme in Appendix A – Undergraduate Classification Scheme, and Tables B and C in Appendix B – Postgraduate Degree Classification Scheme).
Course unit Specification: The approved course unit description. Includes details on credits, level, intended learning outcomes and types of assessment in a specific course unit.
Deferral: A second attempt at summative assessment, which will be considered a first attempt, without penalty, as a result of approved mitigating circumstances. Digital Learning Environment: The University’s digital learning environment includes all digital systems used for teaching and learning that are protected by a University login.
Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE): An undergraduate award of 240 credits, at FHEQ level 5, usually as an exit award or an award for continuing professional development.
Double Blind Marking: In double blind marking, the first marker should make no annotations of any kind on the work being marked so that the work is seen by the second marker with no indication of the first marker’s comments or marks. Both markers should record their marks and comments separately and then compare marks and resolve any differences to produce an agreed mark. Agreed marks and comments may then be provided on the students’ work.
European Credit Transfer System (ECT): The European system for accommodating credit transfer where 1 ECT equals 2 UK credits.
Examinations: any formal timetabled examination which is usually held in the end of semester/end of unit, examination period.
Examination Board/Exam Board: A chaired forum, with School and External representation, which ensures the standards of the marking and awards in accordance with institutional policy and regulations.
Exit Award: When a student exits the University with an award of a lower FHEQ level than they had registered for. Students are awarded these when their reassessment opportunities have been exhausted, or they decide to withdraw, so have not accumulated enough credit for the award they are registered for. Students are then
awarded based on the credit they have achieved in accordance with Table 1 of the UG and PGT Degree Regulations. Exit award points and titles should be stated in a programme specification.
Extension: extra time granted to complete summative coursework, final year project or dissertation. This is in response to a one-off/isolated incident relating to health or other personal circumstances or an exacerbation of an existing medical or health condition.
External Examiner: An academic normally from a peer university who is paid a fee for undertaking moderation duties, as outlined in the University Guidance on External Examiner Procedures. External Examiners play a major role in the maintenance of academic standards and in ensuring rigorous but fair assessment of students.
Fail: When a student does not meet the intended learning outcomes of a course unit or programme of study and is therefore not eligible to be awarded the credit, or to receive award of the University.
FHEQ: The ‘Framework for Higher Education Qualifications’ is a framework designed to ensure a consistent use of qualification titles across the Higher Education sector, which assigns levels on the basis of achievement of outcomes and attainment, rather than the year of study.
Formative Assessment: assessment that does not contribute to the final mark of a unit. Formative assessment focuses on measuring progress to date and feedback on formative assessments should enable the recipient to develop and improve before completing summative assessments.
Formative Feedback: feedback that enables the recipient to develop and improve with the unit and/ or programme of study.
Generative AI (GenAI): is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) designed to create new, original content – such as text, images, code, and audio – based on patterns learned from vast datasets. While traditional AI analyses, classifies, or predicts data, GenAI focuses on generating, transforming, or synthesising content. In this policy, ‘AI’ includes ‘GenAI’ unless specifically stated otherwise.
Grade Conversion: the process of translating academic grades earned at Partner Universities during a study abroad programme into the equivalent grades within The University of Manchester’s grading system.
Grade Descriptor: Description of the learning processes and outcomes demonstrated by a student in order to attain a particular grade.
Graduate Certificate (GCert): An undergraduate award of 60 credits, at FHEQ level 6. If the level of a student’s previous study does not permit progression directly to PGT level, the Graduate Certificate can be used as a conversion or refresher. They can also be used as qualifications in their own right for those without previous Undergraduate qualifications, or they can be used to extend the range and depth of previous UG studies.
Graduate Diploma (GDip): An undergraduate award of 120 credits, at FHEQ level 6. If the level of a student’s previous study does not permit progression directly to PGT level, the Graduate Diploma can be used as a conversion or refresher. They can also be used as qualifications in their own right for those without previous Undergraduate qualifications, or they can be used to extend the range and depth of previous UG studies.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): A current University of Manchester postgraduate researcher who is employed on a part-time basis to provide teaching and learning support to academics. GTAs must be studying on a PhD, MPhil or a Masters by Research programme.
HEAR: an electronic report that provides you with an official record of all a students’ academic achievements, extra-curricular activities and awards or prizes.
Integrated Masters Degree: An undergraduate award of 480 credits, of which at least 120 must be at FHEQ level 7.
Internal Examiner: is the first marker and is appointed by the Academic Lead or nominee. Their role is to mark in accordance with the model/expected answers, the marking scheme and expected School outcomes.
Internal Moderator: is appointed by the school to moderate the marking in accordance with the model answers and the marking scheme. The Internal Moderator is overseen by the Academic Lead.
In attendance: When studying in attendance, it is expected that students will attend lectures and other scheduled teaching sessions, undertake assessment and pay full fees.
Intended Learning Outcomes: A concise description of what a student will be expected to have learnt at the end of a programme or course unit level, as specified in Programme and Course unit Specifications.
Late Submission: any work that has been submitted after a deadline has passed is classed as late except in cases where an extension has already been agreed via mitigating circumstances procedures and DASS extensions. There should be no discretionary periods or periods of grace. A student who submits work at 1 minute past a deadline or later will therefore be subject to a penalty for late submission.
Learning Agreement: formal document that outlines the course units a student intends to take during their study abroad programme. It serves as a mutual commitment between the student, The University of Manchester, and the Partner University, ensuring that all course units meet the academic requirements for credit transfer and align with the student’s degree programme.
Level: Describes the intellectual demands of course units and programmes of study. A course unit will be assigned a level, corresponding to ‘Table 1: Credit and Award Framework’ found in the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations (both taken from the FHEQ). Levels 4, 5 and 6 correspond to the typical demands of successive years of a Bachelors degree; or level 7 to the typical demands of a Masters (or Integrated Masters final year) Degree programme. Levels 4, 5 and 6 correspond to the years of a ‘traditional’ 3 year undergraduate degree programme.
Mark Distribution: The process by which students in the boundary of a classification, who have met the requirements stated in the Degree Regulations, are considered for the next classification. Note: marks do not change, just the classification.
Masters Degree: Normally an award of 180 credits (undertaken during one academic year), at least 150 of which must be at FHEQ level 7. For a two-year award, this would normally be made up of 360 credits, at least 240 of which must be at FHEQ level 7.
Mitigating Circumstances: Unforeseeable or unpreventable circumstances that have, or did have, a significant negative effect on the academic performance of a student. Accepting and applying mitigation aims at reducing the negative effects on a student’s academic outcome. The process for applying for and approving mitigating circumstances is contained in the University’s Policy on Mitigating Circumstances.
Minimum credit for the award (see table 1 in both the UG and the PGT Degree
Regulations): To receive an award, students must have successfully achieved the minimum required credit at the level of the award they are registered on, in accordance with Table 1 of both sets of Degree Regulations.
Mode of study: the way in which a student attends and engages with their programme of study or research (examples include full-time, part-time, blended, distance-learning).
Non-accredited: This describes an award for a professionally accredited programme, should students fail to meet PSRB standards, but have succeeded in achieving University standards then a ‘non-accredited’ alternative award must be awarded by an Examination Board.
Optional course units: Course units or electives where students have a choice of units to decide from.
Ordinary Bachelors Degree: An undergraduate award of 300 credits, 60 of which must be at FHEQ level 6 (see table 1 in the Undergraduate Degree Regulations - Credit and Award Framework).
Pass: Where a student has achieved the intended learning outcomes at course unit level and has been awarded the credit, without compensation. Also used to classify Masters degrees with a weighted average of less than 60%.
Pedagogy: methods and practice of teaching.
Posthumous degree: an award granted when a student has died prior to the completion of their degree.
Postgraduate Certificate: Postgraduate (exit) award of 60 credits, at least 40 of which are at the level of the award (FHEQ 7).
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE): Postgraduate award of 60 credits, at least 40 of which are at the level of the award (FHEQ 7).
Postgraduate Diploma: Postgraduate (exit) award of 120 credits, at least 90 of which are at the level of the award (FHEQ 7).
Pre-requisite course units: Pre-requisite course units are defined within programme specifications, and are course units that must be passed prior to taking subsequent course units further on in programme. Pre- requisite course units contain essential knowledge required for the study of subsequent course units (see compulsory units).
Programme: A cognate programme or course of study, made up of approved course units (compulsory or optional) with agreed intended learning outcomes, the details of which are contained within the programme specification and Student Handbook, which define modes of delivery and agreed assessment methods. UG programmes are ‘usually’ 120 credits at FHEQ level 4, 5 & 6; and a further 120 credits at level 7 for Integrated Masters. A Masters programme is ‘usually’ 180 credits at FHEQ level 7.
Programme Specification (see programme): The definitive, approved programme details, setting out the aims and structure, how students progress through the programme, how they can expect to develop from year to year, and what knowledge, understanding and skills they should expect to acquire by the end of the programme.
Progression/ Progress: For undergraduate students, this refers to the transition between FHEQ levels 4 to 5 and levels 5 to 6, or the different years, for Bachelor degrees; and between levels 6 and 7 for Integrated Masters.
Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRBs): External Bodies which accredit Professional programmes, who may require stricter rules and regulations in order to meet professional/ clinical standards.
Profile: Relates to the attainment of a student over the period of their registration. A ‘profile’ might also include AP(E)L as well as compensated marks, which show an overall ‘picture’ of a student’s performance.
QAA: Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education responsible for ensuring quality and standards in UK higher education.
Quality Assurance: Quality assurance in higher education is about regularly checking, both inside the University and by outside organisations, that teaching courses, and the overall student experience meet agreed national and University standards. The University ensures the quality of its academic provision by bringing together all the key processes it uses to review course quality, monitor how students are doing, and make ongoing improvements. This combined approach forms the University’s Academic Quality Assurance Framework.
Referral or reassessment (see also assessment/reassessment): A second attempt at summative assessment, with penalty, as a result of a student failing the first attempt.
Registration: The process by which an individual becomes a student of the University.
Rescinding Awards: When an award that a student has gained from the University is rescinded it is withdrawn by the institution and invalidated. A student may also hand back an award from the University and request it is rescinded in order to work towards and achieve a higher award. Integrated master’s students can also rescind to achieve a bachelors award.
School Representatives: students who have already been academic representatives, that are hired part-time by the Students’ Union to represent the students in their academic School.
Senate: acts as the University’s principle academic authority and plays a key role in the governance of the University.
Special compensation: Special compensation is compensation given for unit(s) failed in the final year of a Bachelors degree programme, or levels 6 and 7 of an Integrated Masters programme. This is to recognise that referral/ reassessment is not normally permitted in the final year. Special compensation is for credit only.
STELLIFY: an award given by the University of Manchester to students that go beyond their academic studies by taking part in volunteering, leadership roles and ethical challenges leading to a certificate at graduation. More information can be found on The Stellify Award | The University of Manchester.
Student Academic Representation: a shared agreement and partnership approach between University of Manchester Students’ Union and the University where students volunteer to represent their peers, gathering feedback on the learning experience to share with staff at committee meetings and propose change. The wider principles of this partnership are set out in the University/Students’ Union Memorandum of Understanding.
Student Voice Committee: a key component of student voice; acting as the space where Academic Representatives meet with key members of both academic and professional services staff to resolve issues faced by the cohort they represent. These committees, and similar feedback channels, are central to ensuring that student concerns are either met with practical solutions or clear explanation from staff as to why the change cannot be accommodated.
Taught Credits (PGT only): Credit achieved as a result of successful completion of ‘taught’ course units on PGT programmes which are specified in programme handbooks. This is to enable programmes to formally distinguish between delivered teaching and independent research, where this exists in the programme.
Teaching and Learning Activities: this includes the full range of staff-led educational practices (lectures, seminars, practical work, assessment, marking, feedback, and academic guidance) together with students’ independent and asynchronous learning, revision, and engagement with assessment.
Transcript: a transcript is a list of the courses taken, credit value and grades achieved during studies.
Weighted Average: The Undergraduate Degree Classification Scheme is based upon weighted average using a 0-100 mark range calculated to one decimal place, where marks for individual course units are recorded as whole numbers. See M61 of the UG Degree Regulations for more details.
Working day: Many of our policies refer to working days which at The University of Manchester are defined as Monday to Friday excluding student vacation periods and University examination periods.