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PROGRAMME SPECS
Processes for Determining Late Submissions and Penalties:
Degree Classification for
Borderline Candidates: Deadlines have been provided for the benefit of
students, so that feedback can be provided and so
For postgraduate taught programmes: Candidates are that they are well-supported towards successful
normally only considered for promotion to pass, merit completion of the course, therefore students are
or distinction if their aggregate mark is within 2.5% expected to meet these deadlines. At the same
of the relevant borderline. Nevertheless, candidates time there is an acknowledgement that students are
whom the Board deems to have exceptional usually working full time and have busy professional
circumstances may be considered for promotion even lives. If there is a problem meeting a deadline, the
if their aggregate mark is more than 2.5% from the student is expected to contact the Course Director
borderline. In such cases the necessary extra marks as soon as possible to discuss the situation and
would be credited to bring the candidate’s aggregate if possible an extension to the deadline may be
mark into the higher range. granted. Given this flexibility, mutually agreed
extended deadlines will then be treated as absolute.
Role of External Examiners: Should students miss a deadline (either normal or
extended) there will be a penalty of 5% deducted from
the mark of that assignment for every day or part day
late after the deadline.
The primary duty of external examiners is to ensure In line with College guidelines students may present
that the degrees awarded by the College are extenuating circumstances in mitigation for missing
consistent with that of the national university system. an examination deadline (see above). These
External examiners are also responsible for approval situations will be dealt with on an individual basis
of draft question papers, assessment of examination and the Board of Examiners will use its discretion to
scripts, projects and coursework (where appropriate) make a decision.
and in some cases will attend viva voce and clinical
examinations. Although external examiners do not Faculty Identifier:
have power of veto their views carry considerable
weight and will be treated accordingly. External There is an option for students to request a faculty
examiners are required to attend each meeting of the identifier to be added to the award of PGCert to
Board of Examiners where recommendations on the indicate both the level and disciplinary field of the
results of individual examinations are considered. work. The possible identifiers will therefore be chosen
External examiners are required to write an annual from Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine and
report to the Rector of Imperial College which may Business. There is also the option of no faculty
include observations on teaching, course structure identifier for those who wish it and/or work in a
and course content as well as the examination cross-faculty role. In order to add the optional faculty
process as a whole. The College provides feedback to identifier we would expect that portfolio submissions
external examiners in response to recommendations would show substantial critical engagement with
made within their reports. discipline-specific educational theory and literature
as well as disciplinary context.
10 EDU © Imperial College London 2015-16
