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Assessment

6.6 Algorithm for Determining Honours Degree Classifications

The University operates an institution-wide scheme for determining Honours degree classifications, known as the Ruffell algorithm. This applies to all Honours degree programmes, unless the Academic Council has approved a variation for any specific degree programme.

6.6.1 General principles

(i) Honours classification is based on performance following admission to Honours. In the case of four-year Honours degrees this will be over semesters 5 to 8.

(ii) Module grades expressed in terms of the Common Grading Scheme are used for determining Honours classifications.

(iii) For combined Honours degrees the full profile of grades is used to compute the Honours classification; the Honours class should not be determined separately for component subjects.

(iv) All modules in the Honours programme are weighted according to credit value.

(v) Modules below level 9 and modules taken in addition to the specified programme do not count towards the Honours classification.

(vi) Successful completion of the Honours degree requires the specified number of credits to be achieved.

6.6.2 Specific requirements

(i) Honours students are either following a standard sequence of modules laid down in the Calendar for a programme, or are following a variant sequence approved by the Student Programmes Office. The Student Programmes Office must ensure that no student falls outside these two categories.

(ii) Every Honours student should have a date on which they are deemed to have been “admitted to Honours”. In the case of full-time students following a standard programme, this date will be the start of their fifth semester.

(iii) Each degree programme, whether standard or variant, should identify a set of modules that must be taken by students following that programme. This may include identified compulsory modules and optional modules. The degree programme will also give a list of countable modules, normally all the modules listed as part of the Honours programme. Typically this will include the compulsory modules and some number of optional modules. When the Student Programmes Office approves a variant programme, they will identify the list of countable modules.

6.6.3 Methodology

(i) The Honours degree classification is made using the following data:

• the grades, on the University’s Common Grading Scheme, for all those modules of study specified as part of the Honours programme, as set out in the Calendar - or approved by the Student Programmes Office in the case of variant programmes.

• the credit value associated with each grade.

(ii) A pre-requisite for the award of an Honours degree and hence the application of the classification rules is that all the grades are passes (that is, graded 3C and above).

(iii) The class awarded is the highest such that

(a) at least 66 % of the credits are in or above the class and the average grade is not more
than three points below the class,

(b) or at least 58 % of the credits are in or above the class and the average grade is not more
than two points below the class,

(c) or at least 50% of the credits are in or above the class and the average grade is not more
than one point below the class,

(d) or at least 41 % of the credits are in or above the class and the average grade is at least
equal to the lowest point in the class,

(e) or at least 33 % of the credits are in or above the class and the average grade is at least
equal to the middle point in the class.

 

6.6.4 Calculation of the average grade

In order to compute the average grade, grades are to be numbered as, for example, 3C=1, 3B=2, . . .1B=11, 1A=12. The average to be computed is the mean of the grades weighted by their credit values, rounded to the nearest whole number. (Individual schools may use other numbering schemes as long as the numbering has the properties that the numbers rise in equal steps. The class computed will be unaffected by any numbering satisfying this property.)

6.6.5 Discretion in borderline cases

Examiners have discretion in exceptional circumstances to vary one or more grades of any student before applying the algorithm. Such a discussion of a student’s grade in a particular module should always include a discussion of the cases of comparable students who took that module, and the exceptional circumstances should be recorded in the minutes of the Examiners’ meeting.

After having applied the algorithm, if raising any one grade by one point would raise the recommended class, the Examiners have discretion to award the higher class if this is justified by other information.

(Please see Section 6.3.4.5 (ii) for the only criteria which may be utilised in determining the outcome of discussable cases http://www.quality.stir.ac.uk/ac-policy/board-exams.php)

6.6.6 Notes

(i) If a student is following a variant from the specified programme, the countable modules must be specified for the student at the time the variant programme is approved. In the case of part-time students it will normally be necessary to specify the countable modules at the point of admission to Honours.

(ii) The date on which a student is deemed to have been “admitted to Honours” may be set retrospectively by the Student Programmes Office. This may often be necessary in the case of part-time students.

(iii) Modules taken before admission to Honours cannot be counted for degree classification.

(iv) Where students have taken more than the required number of countable modules, the best countable module grades are used to determine the degree classifications, up to the number required by the programme, provided that all required elements of the programme have been successfully completed.

If a programme requires 242 countable credits and a student successfully completes more than 242 countable credits, the best 242 credits will be used to determine the degree classification.

If a programme requires more than 242 countable credits the best grades, to a value of 242 credits, will be used to determine the degree classification.

(v) There is no cap on the level of grade that may be awarded for a repeated module.

(vi) Grades obtained for study at other institutions should be mapped onto the appropriate Stirling grades according to approved grade transfer arrangements.

(vii) Reasons for exercising discretion to change grades or raise the class should be recorded in the minutes of Examiners’ meetings and appropriate extracts of these minutes should accompany the recommendations to Admissions, Progress and Awards Committee so that Examiners’ use of these discretionary powers can be monitored.

Academic Council, December 2001, June 2005
Revised July 2006