Can a second-year student carry one failed module into final year?

[BlueMum16]

DS has just found he has failed one module in year two.

Uni are not replying to emails just saying someone will be in touch in due course.

Oringally he was told resit in August, if passed continue to finalise year. If fails again then drop out or resit the whole year two again.

DA hates uni. Will not resit year two. Cost would be massive. Time also an issue.

It's one module. What's the chances he can continue in year 3 and maybe just pick up the module as an extra?

It's Bio Med.

Yes exactly that.

He should give consideration to taking another module - he’d have to attend which would cost more (though probably pro-rata the full
fee) rather than simply turn up and resit an exam (probably cheaper) he’s already failed twice. Assuming he passes then yes, start year 3 in Sep 2027.

You sound like a really supportive parent. However I really don't think that a young adult, predicted an overall first, should be failing a module (twice) because it is a topic he doesn't like studying.

@BlueMum16 I went through this with my DS. We are in Scotland so it's a 4 year degree, he failed one module in 3rd year. He was not allowed to carry a module into the final year and in hindsight that was a good thing. Final year was stressful enough without having the extra pressure.

A few very practical things for your DS to do. First speak to the Student Union. They will have a dedicated advice service or Welfare Officer or some person whose job it is to give practical advice on things like funding and grants. And the union are there to look out for the student's best interests, not the university's. They will have seen this a hundred times before and will clearly spell out options and can help to liaise with the university over things like accommodation. The union will also have counsellors to help students work through their thoughts and feelings ans come to the right decision for them.

Ask them whether there is the option to leave now with some other lesser qualification. Might not be an option but you don't know if you don't ask.

If there are any special needs, disabilities, neurodiversities, chase a diagnosis. Make sure he is registered with the Disability and Wellbeing service.

At the end of the day though if he really, really doesn't want to continue then that is a valid decision. It;s so hard as a parent though, you just want the best for them and for them to be happy.

Thank you.

I've proposed this tonight as a solution.

He doesn't want to sit round for a year waiting for year 3 in 2027.

I told.him the alternative is to find a job (full time/careers type) now because he's not sitting at home doing his part time jobs unless he's continuing at uni.

Thanks for all the guidance/support/ideas everyone. You are all amazing tonight and have got me through a stressful few hours.

We'll see what emails/contacts come tomorrow.

Genuinely, thank you from the bottom of my heart ♥️

He needs to continue with his part time work for the next few months, take the one option module after Christmas, then he can review how he feels about year 3. At least if he gets that 15 credits next year he’ll leave with a Diploma of Higher Education.

Hi, OP -

As an academic I agree with the others I recognise here, from whom you have had good advice.

It might help for DS to think about what he wants over the longer term during the next few days. Would a biomed sciences degree help him get there? If so, sucking it up and hopefully taking a different module, otherwise buckling down and passing this one, might be the way to go. Student Finance England will extend one’s loan automatically for one year beyond the term of the original degree, so he has the financial headroom for this.

I am more concerned that you say DS hates uni. That sounds like a blanket statement. Is it true? Has he given it a fair attempt? I know he has generally done well - I mean, how has come to hate it, if he really does?

One of my concerns is yours statement that students in his programme don’t have Personal Tutors. I have searched, the old fashioned way and with AI, and everything is telling me that all Liverpool students do - but they are called Academic Advisers (as many now are). Of course there could have been a very recent change and all these searches could be wrong, but I also know that disaffected students at my uni will tell you that they don’t have Academic Advisers either. In spite of the many hours all academic staff put into doing this advising. The tuned out students just opt out.

If DS has an AA this person is (according to my search) supposed to be listed on his student portal.

If DS has really hated uni for a long time, perhaps he could take one module this year so as to leave with a forward-going qualification, whilst exploring other options. If, understandably, he is reacting against all that is going wrong at the moment, perhaps he can reset.

Frustrating as it is, I agree with PP that no one can tell him anything until the Exam Board has met and decided what to do about his Resit mark. That should be soon.

Best wishes to DS.

PS OP - Two marks of 33% is an odd coincidence. It is very probably correct. However depending on the data entry system, might it be possible that the mark for the first exam was mistakenly entered for the resit exam?

DS cannot make an unfounded accusation. But he probably has the right to see his resit paper, accompanied by a staff member. He just needs to look through it ‘to see what mistakes I made’ but really noting his overall mark. Peace of mind or a quick correction.

If he passed the course assessments well he must have really struggled with the exam to achieve 33% overall. I doubt reviewing the paper will be particularly productive.

I agree. It is really because of the marks coincidence. I think there is a very small but nonzero chance of a data entry mistake.

OP, I hope I did not sound harsh about the Personal Tutors/Academic Advisers. It seems that DS is really disengaged. When this happens, making a connection can be important.

The AA is primed to do that, even if it is late in the game - this is not a terribly unusual situation. The AA role is to help, and most of us are happy to do that.

Thank you to you and the others who are really helping.

Background - the college he went for A levels pushed uni. I went to uni but age 30 so first in our family to attend and all the pressure and expectations that go with it. He applied for Med school plus 3 back up choices at Liverpool because he loved the uni and wanted to be near to home.
Had interviews for med school but only offers on his back ups. Picked Bio Med (no idea why except he did science A levels).
Year one he lived in but struggled, think he was home sick, didn't enjoy the course and wanted to leave. He spoke to his AA at the time but didn't offer anything except it wasn't unusual and it'll be fine.
Year 2 he lived at home and travelled by train (only 20 mins). Still didn't really enjoy it but agreed he would complete the 3 years. Tried to speak to his AA to see if he could transfer onto another course at the start of Semester 1 and again towards the end of the year. No replies. So the AA really isn't helpful.

Today he received the letter via email you all predicted. He's not allowed to progress to year 3 but can resist the exam in May with no attendance required.

He's contacted his AA again today, also the Student Advisory team and Head of Faculty. No replies from any of them to yesterday's messages and before lunch (he's gone to work now).
He's asked if there is anyway he can continue as no attendance is required to enable him to still finish in summer 2027.

He is spiralling again today. No point, waste of his time, might as well die. It's so hard to hear this. He said he's never failed or not completed something ever. We need to work on his resilience but now isn't the time for harsh words.

Back in year 7 of high school I had concerned he was ASD. School agreed but as he was very bright we didn't pursue this. I say this to try and explain how difficult he is finding the lack of control and immediate forced change. I'm finding it hard to navigate supporting him

I've tried to explain taking a year out, resit and complete the year to get whatever part qualification that gives him and use as an opportunity to work, travel, and then decide if he wants the final year or if he wants to pause.

He's talking about cancelling his holiday this week and hasn't told his friends yet, who I know would be really supportive.
He worried about family knowing he's failed. I've said it's not failed, it's taking a year off to decide before commencing to a final year.
He's had a long boring summer, they finished in May and has worked part time since but the job is boring too. He is adamant he can't do that for 12 months but won't discuss other options.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to try and say thank you but also explain why we've found ourselves here.

Hi, just to let you know, we are in a very similar position - same university, also in sciences. I have just seen your last post and I could have written parts of that myself. So no words of advice here, we're navigating this one in the same way you are, and facing the same frustrations. Just offering my support - a bit of hand holding together x

I'm sorry you are going through similar and hope you are able to support your young person with their options x

That is not the case for any lecturers I know. They get a generous holiday entitlement but not that generous. They are expected to use the summer to keep up with research, write papers, supervise post grad students, update undergrad courses, write grant applications, mark resit papers….

Thanks, OP. I am sorry DS has a disengaged AA. What you’ve said is awful. No one likes to lose students from a degree programme but the only responsible thing to do with a student presenting the type of concern your DS conveyed to his AA is to explore it, and help the student act in their best interest. It doesn’t even take much effort.

So this lousy AA is not likely to be helpful. When DS gets sorted - not before, because that will look like sour grapes - he may wish to report his experiences with this person to the Senior Tutor or Director of Studies. If he finishes his degree, in his final year he can fill out the National Student Survey and let loose.

There should be a Student Services Officer in his School. That person is often a gold mine of helpfulness. If you live close by, could DS pop in to ask them to help him think this through? Check to see if he needs an appt. He could also try to get an appt at the SU to do the same, on the same visit.

BTW Head of Faculty has no role in what’s going on and can only pass messages down the line. Some HoF will take the opportunity to light a fire under someone who has been slow but it is a bit tricky to figure out what has happened here, between due process, annual leave, business travels and some muddled communications from DS.

Could part of the problem be not getting into Medical School and not really coming to terms with that? Financially, the Home Medical School ship has sailed so DS needs to find a path to a satisfying life. I know this is tricky because it is only a guess on my part and even if it is true, he is probably in no mood to discuss it with you.

If Medicine is the only thing that will satisfy him, one possibility is to get through this and think about whether adjacent clinical roles or medical research roles could provide a satisfying life. Another would be to consider the possibility of an Overseas Medical degree. In that case , DS would need to research the settlement HMG has made with the Medical Residents to see whether he could eventually practise in the UK. If not, how would he feel about living abroad (where a doctor’s life may have significant advantages)?

Loads of people who did get in to UK Medical Schools are failing or declining to complete training. There are several threads on this around the strikes. Unless DS is so motivated that he is willing to do what it takes to study and perhaps practise abroad (including earning the fees) he may have dodged a bullet. I know that may be small consolation now, however.

Had interviews for med school but only offers on his back ups. Picked Bio Med (no idea why except he did science A levels).

This frustrates me a lot with medicine applicants - there seems to be an assumption that Bio Med is a good alternative if you can’t get into medicine. Probably not helped by the fact that some universities allow a very small number of biomed students to transfer to medicine so medicine applicants put it down in that hope. There is no particular reason why someone who is applying for a job which is essentially a ‘people job’ should find a degree in a lab based discipline an interesting alternative. I wish medicine applicants were encouraged to think more broadly about backups.

Great post.

he was told resit in August, if passed continue to finalise year. If fails again
then drop out or resit the whole year two again
So, they've actually made it quite clear what the rules are?

He's deffo glad he didn't get med school.

The college have a great med program and great Oxbridge so probably got sweep along.

He's not great with people (kids yes, adults no) and hate blood and is squeamish. Friends got in and he listens to their struggles and says how glad he is it's not him.

Bio Med linked well with his Biology and Chemistry A levels and the uni recommended it at the open day and he likes the taster session. He also doesn't want to be a scientist in a lab either now.

I personally think he'd make a really good teacher but not even mentioning that today 😱

He's had a final email today to say no option now but to resit in May and do year 3 in sept 2027. They've said they understand this is difficult and if he's like support to send another email. This is what frustrates me - he's been very honest in his email about how upset he is and asking for help yet they don't think to get someone to reach out and just say here's another email address. Shockingly poor when unis should be prioritising MH at times like this.

It sounds like crossed wires, OP. Frustrating, but hard to pinpoint blame. No one except possibly an AA with whom a student has a good relationship already is going to reach out and ask if he is okay. The student must take the initiative.

Does DS at least know who to contact now? Once he is sure he has the right person or office, they do have a duty to respond quickly.

I am glad DS realises Medical School
wouldn’t have suited. Now he needs to figure out what he does want for his life and what training will get him there. If it is a degree but not this one, in the worst case he may need to pause studies and earn some real money, because he will need to pay some tuition fees.

Millions around the world have done it; he can do. Enthusiasm motivates and may be the missing ingredient.

PS Again I am sorry DS has a crap AA.

I used to be able to refer to the mental health team (aka you're going to have to engage) , but only advise self referral to the counselling team, it might be something like that.

I think it’s how system is that it’s on him to contact for support.
It all sounds very workable. He’s not got accommodation to pay for which normally is a big issue if they fail a resit.
Stay at home, work pt, sit exam in May. Liaise with uni to see what support available re MH and to pass course. Maybe volunteer to get an idea of careers. If teaching on radar he could volunteer in a school. Look into diagnosis if feels appropriate. Plan something fun to get over bored feeling eg camp America is already recruiting for Summer 27 if he likes children it’s not all outdoors stuff they want all skills.
Do yr3 in 27/28.
No issues lots of dc take 4 years eg year abroad and sandwich degrees it won’t stand out on a cv.

Sorry the news wasn’t better. He has time to decide what to do. He can say he’ll do the resit in May and then pull out just before if he wants.

he should also ask about doing the resit in May and starting year 3 in Sept. But I can understand them saying no because if he fails again he really has wasted a year inc fees!

If he doesn’t like his current job tell him to look elsewhere. He’s probably best off pretending to any potential employer he’s not going back to uni in 27 , nobody wants someone for a year.

if he passes the exam in May then I’d encourage him to do the last year. He doesn’t have to work in a lab at the end of it but he has a degree and being a graduate opens doors to broad graduate schemes, teaching, etc.

It is a shame his AA hasn’t been more supportive. I’m a lecturer and AA and I’d be proactively reaching out to any of my students in this situation and asking if they want a Teams chat.

Is there any reason he hasn’t asked about the option of doing a different module in semester 2? That seems like the best option by far. He’d have to engage with the teaching after Christmas, but it doesn’t seem as if he’d engage with the current failed module if he just resat the exam again, and he’d be no further forward.