University Failed Module

[FeelingQuiteLow]

dc has failed a module. Unsure what happens next.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

Yes it was a validated extenuated circumstances form with a genuine nasty illness. Still no news though and we are expecting it to be bad when it does arrive. The meeting wasn't good.

As the process has been so slow dc has applied for VSO and filled out a UCAS application to start university again this September should all else fail. The previous grades seem high enough that one university is willing to discuss starting in September,possibly in year 2.

DC has organised all of this so maybe has learned from this mistake. Irritatingly dc's 2.1 grades were in the harder modules so organisation skills will be important in the future as I think this is what caused the one low grade.

My hair will turn silvery grey. Fraught is the word that comes to mind.

[Sofabitch]

Having a valid extenuating circumstance form will mean that the second attempt will be graded as a first attempt. So as long as he followed the procedure and had his illness accepted then there shouldn't be any confusion.

At my uni you can sometimes pass one unit by compensation by that is a decision for the board of studies. But there are criteria like you have to have passed everything else and have gotten over 35%.
Alternatively you have to resit the year as a part time student just retaking the failed unit.
But I think it varies greatly by university.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

Yes. Just in case preparations are going on for the worst case scenario. Application for VSO abroad has been sent.

[Becca19962014]

There could be meetings going on about the mark he has.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

Thanks for your advice. It is helping to know the possible outcomes.

Still no news. Why does it take so long when the results were out at the beginning of the summer holidays? Total limbo.

[Becca19962014]

What oldprof said. I'd add to that he needs to check if there are any additions for his specific course.

[Oldprof]

It really isn't a lot of good exchanging info about what various univs do in various circs. It depends totally on this particular university and degree course and the particular reasons why this student has taken the exam as a first attempt at resit time.
Lots of outcomes possible: he
-gets chucked out
-gets a special paper set in time to proceed to year 2

• proceeds to year 2 and sits the exam next time it is offered
  
• takes a year out of the degree and sits the exam next time it is offered
  

etc etc
But it all depends on the univ where he's studying. He needs to find out what the regulations are (and they will be available somewhere on the Uni website) and act accordingly.

[notamummy10]

As I said, that's standard procedure for my uni... I added the clarification :)

My friend failed one of the core modules in first year and was allowed to continue to second year but retook the module she failed. It could have been down to the module leader's discretion.

Another friend failed a second year module by 4% but the uni has compensated the module for it to pass so she could progress to third year. However, she has the option to retake it if she wants to.

[Advicepls7080]

I'm currently doing resits (med student) but they're technically first attempts because I missed my exams due to being hospitalised. If they don't allow him to resit they will almost definitely allow him to resit the year even if it's just one module I've know a few people from different courses who have done that.

[Advicepls7080]

They might get him to resit the year! It's really late for them to be deciding whether he should be allowed to resit or not from what I've heard most resits take place before September in the majority or unis and are told in June/July giving the student time to revise.

[Drowzeee]

notamummy10 The Uni I work in is different from that, if a student fails a core module and has no re-assessment opportunities left then they would not be allowed to progress to the 2nd year, they would have to retake the 1st year. An elective module is different, they can progress and choose a different one to replace it with.

[notamummy10]

Well it's the standard procedure for my uni... But the retaken module is capped at 40%.

[notamummy10]

If he's failed the module, it means he's failed the assessment component twice. He will have to retake the module in order to pass first year but he should be able to proceed to second year providing the other modules are passed. This is the standard procedure for universities!

[Becca19962014]

It really depends on the course.

The one I taught (with professional recognition) wouldn't allow a resit for a core module and the course must be completed in four years (including compulsory year in industry) - those were conditions of the professional affiliation. The mitigating circumstances like GP letter would allow an exam in summer but wouldn't allow another, because it wasn't allowed for others who failed but also there would be an expectation of a higher mark by examiners as the student had the advantage of extra time compared to others. Fails of one or two marks are always double marked and externally verified (or were On my course anyway).

Resits aren't necessarily automatically allowed, especially if professional recognition is involved. In the case of our course there was a transfer option but it would depend on criteria for other courses if a student could transfer, some would insist on a first year resit, and want to check a-level results as well.

I hope you get the results soon op.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

They definitely accepted doctor's letter. But this meeting didn't sound hopeful.

Passing on advice to read mitigating circumstances and contact the students union. I honestly don't know the rules but will try to track them down.

[titchy]

Did they definitely accept the doctors letter? If they did it is very clear cut and this should count as a first attempt. Please try and read the regulations, or post them here. There is really no debate about this.

[goodapple]

If missed the first time round due to (documented) illness then usually the resit would count as a first attempt, so should be entitled to take it again so end up with two clean attempts. Read the university's mitigating circumstances policy carefully.

Also , depending on what course your DC is taking, sometimes there will be similar courses with slightly different progression requirements so may be possible to transfer to new course if can't proceed on this one.

Good luck!

[FeelingQuiteLow]

Yes - doctors letter. No problems at the time. I suppose it is a fuzzy area as to whether this is first attempt or resit?

Sorry to ramble but I'm a bit upset and overwhelmed. Powerless to do anything as it is up to student and university.

[DoctorDoctor]

Did they submit a medical note when they were ill first time? If you do that you can take the resit but get the full credit, as if you were doing it on the original date. If not, did they speak to tutors about being ill and missing the first go?

If they didn't do any of that, then yes, this will probably have been counted as their resit.

[titchy]

Oh so it is a resit then. Did he provide evidence that he was ill at the first attempt? If he did and that evidence was accepted then this attempt should count as his first and he can resit.

If he didn't provide evidence or it wasn't accepted then that might well be it. Has he got in touch with the Student Union? They are usually helpful and knowledgeable.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

Only taken it once but did miss first time round due to illness. So maybe this one result is counted as a resit?

Definitely very honest child. No worries on that point. Most painfully honest person I know.

The regulations on the website confused me.

[DoctorDoctor]

So is this the first and only time they've failed this module? It seems very odd to me not to get even one resit. That isn't, in my experience, a matter for individual departments to decide case by case: the overall university regulations have to apply (it wouldn't be fair otherwise). I would go onto the university's website and look for their regulations on assessment and progression - they should be publicly available (at mine they are) and a read of those might be helpful. I'm sorry to suggest this, but it may also be that your DC has been entirely honest with you so it's worth keeping that in mind when you talk to them more. Hope you can get to the bottom of it all.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

OK. Will await the letter. It is helpful to talk things over.

[clio7788]

It really does hang on what the letter offers option-wise. At my uni, we might let a student who was otherwise strong trail one module so narrowly failed; that might be what they offer here. Or, if they insist on your dc taking the year to redo the module, we let students repeat (so attend all classes) or withdraw temporarily, coming back to do the exams/coursework the next summer without having to attend.

Not at all: have some , OP. I really hope they let your DC what their options are soon.

[FeelingQuiteLow]

No university mess up (apart from a painfully slow process). No mitigating circumstances.

Sorry to depress you. Just can't stop thinking about it.