The ‘no detriment’ approach means that your Exam Board will, as far as possible, act to ensure that you can graduate or progress as normal despite any delays in availability of marks. Exam boards will take into account all the information that they have to calculate a provisional weighted average for the year/degree; using your actual marks, provisional or partial marks, and other available information (e.g. PECs, SSPs etc.). This will allow them to make decisions on progression or final award in most cases.
It’s important that you carry on submitting assignments and attending exams, as all assessment will be marked even if that process is delayed. Any student with missing marks will have their remaining marks entered when they become available.
If you are a final year student, and you have been given a provisional classified award, your degree classification will be recalculated when all marks have been received. At that point, if your overall average mark has increased, you will be considered for the higher classification award in accordance with the standard University Regulations. Otherwise, your award will stand. Your degree classification cannot be lowered under the ‘no detriment’ policy.
A small number of final year students may not have enough information to be classified, or to meet the requirements of an accredited programme. Those students will receive an ‘interim award’ to enable them to graduate. When delayed marks are returned their degree classification will be calculated and a final classified (and accredited if relevant) award, in line with University Regulations, will be made.
Degree certificates/transcripts will still be issued promptly for students with provisional or interim awards, but they would be replaced if a higher classification was later issued.
For continuing students where marks are missing, the Board will have decided that a module is ‘deemed to have passed’ (often where there are multiple assessment components, some of which have been marked) or ‘decision delayed’. For modules ‘deemed to have passed’ you will not normally be expected to resit that module. For ‘decision delayed’, if the missing marks are returned and you have failed the module, you will be expected to resit it at the next opportunity, but you will be able to continue your programme in the meantime.
Last reviewed: 19.05.2025