Assessment Policy Statement

Our new Assessment Policy

In 2023 the University began a wide-ranging review of its assessment policy. The review was concluded in 2024, and the new policy was approved in October 2024.

The new Assessment Policy will take effect for all students from September 2025.

Note on Amendments (QAEC 8 September 2025)

A number of changes to the approved October 2024 Assessment Policy were formally approved by QAEC on 8 September 2025. These included:

• Adoption of a ‘No Detriment’ approach: While the revised policy became operational in September 2025, the existing assessment policy would apply to students completing their studies at the October 2025 exam boards. This principle extends to the January 2026 cohort, ensuring students receive the best possible outcome under either the old or the new policy. From the Academic Year 2026 cohort onwards, all students will be assessed solely under the new policy.
• Minor corrections, such as fixing typographical errors.
• Clarification that outcomes of mitigating circumstances are confirmed as decisions, not recommendations, to Boards of Examiners.
• Approval of an exception requested by the School of Medicine in relation to Appendix 2, Section 4, Merits and distinctions
  • School of Medicine.
  • Classification for the Masters in Medical Education and associated PG Certificate and PG Diploma for students first matriculating on current award prior to Trimester 1 2025
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (Anaesthetics), Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (Dentistry), Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (General Practice), Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (Oncology) Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (Radiology) Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (Simulation) Postgraduate Certificates in Medical Education (Surgery) and Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education (Dentistry) and Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education (Simulation) will be classified as pass fail only. The transcript for modules commenced before Trimester 1 2025 will show Distinction, Pass, P2, Fail for each module.
  • For the award of distinction for Masters of Medical Education, Masters of Medical Education (Dental) and Masters of Medical Education (Simulation) candidates must have attained Distinction or A5 or above for their final 60 credits. If not they will be classified as Pass or Fail.
  • For students matriculating trimester 1 2025 onwards or re-enrolling for Diploma or Masters their degree classification will be in line with the current assessment policy.

The updated assessment policy is informed by wide ranging feedback from staff and students. It aims to ensure a fairer and more consistent assessment process across all programmes and to provide clearer guidelines for both students and staff.

The policy makes several changes, many of which aim to improve the clarity of the policy for students and staff. Some changes include:

• A removal of the prohibition of the use of exams in levels 1 and 2 of University of Dundee awards.
• Refinement to the language around reasonable adjustments for disabled students.
• The provision for Aegrotat awards (an award that may be made to a student who because of a serious issue, e.g. illness, is unable to complete it).
• Substantial revisions to the process for the quality assurance of assessments.
• Clarity on the notification of results as provisional until they have been ratified by a Board of Examiners.
• Changes to the approach for mitigating circumstances.

The key change?

While there are several changes to the policy the key one relates to final year honours (level 4) undergraduate students who will become eligible for one resit opportunity to retrieve a failed module. (Currently a small number of final year undergraduate students are eligible for a resit because of a programme specific regulation). This change is important as it provides an additional opportunity for a student to achieve the module and programme outcomes of their undergraduate degree.

Key Points to Note:

• Eligibility: most final-year undergraduate students who do not pass their module will be eligible for a resit.
• Restrictions: note there are some restrictions to the resit rule as set out in Section 2.5.1 of the new policy (including situations where a School explicitly excludes an opportunity for resit, or where a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) that accredits one of our programmes does not allow reassessments).
• Resit Opportunities: If you do not achieve a passing grade in a module, you will be given one opportunity to resit the assessment.
• Assessment Types: The format of the resit may differ from the original assessment but will cover the same material and learning outcomes.
• Impact on Grades: The grade for your resit will be capped at Grade D3 – a D3 grade indicates that you have satisfactorily completed that module.
• Scheduling: Resit assessments will be scheduled for the next available assessment period, and you will be notified of the dates in advance.

Why This Change?

We understand the pressure that final-year assessments can bring, and this policy aims to alleviate some of that stress by offering a second chance to demonstrate you have achieved the module and programme learning outcomes.

How might this affect you?

The example below aims to illustrate the difference in approach, making the assumption that an honours year student has failed to pass a module.

Compensation/condonement is currently available in certain situations for students who fail a module at level 4 (their honours year).

However:

• The total volume of compensation/condonement cannot exceed 25% of the credit for the level.
• Students eligible for compensation will receive module credit but will have the module fail confirmed on their transcript.
• Students eligible for condonement will not receive module credit and the programme award will be made on the basis of credit earned. The module fail will be confirmed on the transcript.

Students not eligible for compensation or condonement may be recorded as a failure for the honours award and be offered, where eligible, a lesser award.

Graduation

Students should be aware that they may not be able to graduate with their cohort where they have failed a level 4 (final year) module(s).

A final-year student who has a failed level 4 module and is required to make the choice on whether to take a resit will miss the deadline for Graduation and therefore will not be eligible to attend the graduation unless they opt to accept a lesser award (assuming they have met the requirements for that).

Students who believe they may have or are likely to fail a final year undergraduate module should talk to their Adviser of Studies to consider their options and plan the most appropriate approach for them.

Where students subsequently pass a failed final year module and the programme, they would be eligible to attend a future graduation ceremony. Annually there are additional graduation ceremonies in November.

Note: it is important that students recognise they are responsible for associated costs related to graduation for themselves and family. 

International students

International students studying at Dundee under a visa normally have a small period to address resits, which Schools will normally seek to accommodate. However, it may be that the formal decision-making process required by exam boards and Senate will fall outside this period. As such international students may have to return to their home country to complete their studies.

International students who have final year resits should confirm and agree a plan with their School and the immigration team to address their resit requirements.