results support

It’s that time of year when end of year results and degree classifications are released. For those of you who got what you hoped for – well done, we are genuinely pleased for you and wish you all the best for the future. 

For those who didn’t and are unsure what to do next, don’t worry – we are here for you. Below you’ll find details of things to think about and the options open to you. 

 

How did UEA make changes to try to prevent COVID-19 having a negative impact on my results or degree classification? 

The following information has been taken from the university's guidance for undergraduate students and is correct as of 06/05/2020. Full details can be found here. 

"Final year students 

For the purposes of degree classification, we will introduce a safety net so that your final year average cannot be lower than the average you have attained in the previous counting year of study. This safety net means that your degree classification can only be improved by undertaking any further assessments. 

For penultimate year students 

For the purposes of degree classification, we will introduce a safety net so that you are not disadvantaged.  At the end of your course in 2020/21, we will use the higher of your two year averages for 2019/20 and 2020/21 as the counting year average for your second year in the degree classification calculation (or third year for Integrated Masters students).  This means that your current year-average mark will be ‘safety – netted’. 

For other continuing students for whom 2019/20 is a counting year 

If the academic year 2019/20 is a counting year for degree classification purposes but is not your penultimate year, (for example, if you are a second year student on an Integrated Masters degree course) we will substitute your 2020/21 year average mark, if it is higher than your 2019/20 average year mark, for your 2019/20 mark when calculating your degree classification." 

 
I am not happy with my results, what can I do? – Academic Appeals 

If you have failed an assessment or exam, it can not be classed as a condoned fail and it was your first attempt at it, you should be offered a reassessment attempt in August.

If you are not happy with your results and you think that they have been impacted by something outside of your control you can look to make an academic appeal. 

It’s important to say that unfortunately, simply not achieving the individual marks you hoped for is not grounds for making an academic appeal – the academic judgement of the marker(s) is not appealable.

Whilst it can be extremely disappointing to have just missed out on the degree classification you were hoping for, being close to the grade boundary is also not a reason in itself for an appeal. 

Where regulations allow for an uplift in grade boundaries in the absence of any reported ECs, this will have already been considered/actioned by the Exam Board before your results were released.

However, What is an appealable ground is where something at the time of your deadlines or exams prevented you from performing to the academic standard that you would otherwise have been able to like poor health/wellbeing or adverse family situation. For an appeal you will need to provide evidence, and explain in detail the circumstances affecting you. 

UEA believes that they put in place measures to prevent COVID-19 having too much of an impact on results and introduced a “safety net” (see above). Therefore, if your appeal is based upon the impact of COVID-19 you’ll need to explain why the measures UEA put in place were not enough to prevent you from being impacted more than others. COVID-19 by itself is unlikely to be reason enough to uphold an appeal. There are some other valid appeal grounds – you can find more information on these on our Academic Appeals page.  

Making an academic appeal can feel daunting but remember – we are here for you. You don’t have to go it alone. Click here to be taken to our dedicated academic appeals page. 

 
Can I repeat the year? 

For some, the impact of COVID-19 will have had a greater impact than others, particularly for example those who have had caring responsibilities for those who have been shielding. For others the last academic year may have been affected by something completely unrelated to COVID-19 which has still had a big impact on their studies. 

For those who feel it is right to do so, you can apply to repeat the year. If this is you – we can support you too. A request to repeat the year can be made via an extenuating circumstances report form. Click here to be taken to our dedicated extenuating circumstances page. 

Things to consider for a repeat of the year -  

Will my situation be better? 

Looking out at the year ahead and taking in to consideration your situation now and what additional support might be put in place for you, do you think this coming year will give you a better chance to perform to your best academic ability? 

The delivery of your course will be different.  

It’s worth considering how the “new normal” way of life and delivery of your course will suit you. Whilst we don’t know the details of how UEA will run individual courses, it is likely to be a blended approach with a mixture of small face to face learning opportunities and online learning. 

COVID-19 by itself may not be a valid reason. 

Similarly to an academic appeal COVID-19 in and of itself may not be reason enough for UEA to accept your application to repeat the year. This is because everyone has gone through uncertainty and disruption since the lockdown in March. If COVID-19 is your reason for asking for the repeat of the year, you will need to explain in your extenuating circumstance form why your situation is different to others and why you have been particularly affected. 

Should I make the request now or see how I do in my reassessments? 

If you have not passed coursework and exams and have been sent to reassessment, you could wait and see how you get on in your reassessments before making the decision. 

The thing to think about, however, is that if you take your reassessments and fail them you are likely to be withdrawn from the course. (This doesn’t apply to those taking delayed first attempts in August). If you are withdrawn from the course you will need to make an academic appeal against this withdrawal before you can request to repeat the year. 

These processes are lengthy and whilst UEA has made some adjustments, there may not be time for you to go through the appeal process following withdrawal from the course to enable you to start studying again in September if your appeal is upheld. If you found yourself in this situation you may be looking at taking a break in studies before you are able to return in 2021. 

While this is will worry some we’re not looking make anyone unduly concerned. It is important that you are as informed as possible in order to make the best possible decisions. 

If you feel, based upon your situation, you are unlikely to perform any better in this upcoming assessment period and would like to repeat the year then this is an option you should consider. To have a chance of starting a repeat year this September, you would need to start the process of requesting it before the resits.  

Can you afford it? 

If you are studying with the financial support of Student Finance in terms of receiving Tuition Fee and Maintenance loans, and you have never repeated a year, you should receive a further year's funding. 

Eligibility for student finances is worked as follows: 

length of course + 1 additional year – previous study (HE study regardless of whether Student Finance was taken or not) = funding available.  

Example 1. 

Johnny is in his 3rd year of a Drama degree. He is in his final year and hasn’t repeated a year before but has requested to. For him the calculation would be: 

3 years (length of course) + 1 additional years – 3 years (the three years study he has just completed) = 1 years available funding. 

Example 2. 

Jess was also studying Drama and in her 3rd year but she had completed a year of Biology before switching to Drama. For her the calculation would be: 

3 years (length of course) + 1 additional years – 4 years (the 3 years study she has just completed on the Drama course and the 1 year doing Biology) = 0 years  available funding. 

 
Can I postpone my reassessments? 

This is another option available. If you think you won’t perform well in the August assessment period due to things outside of your control, but do not wish to repeat the year you could request a break in your studies and defer you reassessments until the spring 2021 assessment period. 

It’s important to note that if you are on a break in studies you will be unable to access academic support during this time therefore most of your learning and exam prep will need to be self-led. You will, however, continue to have access to the Library and course materials online. 

You can make this request again by submitting an extenuating circumstances report form.  

 
 
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