9.1 The Supplementary Year is an additional year of study within a programme that is provided for eligible students to enable them to meet the criteria for progression whereas otherwise they are not able to progress to the next year or component.
9.2 Where a supplementary year is agreed, the default will be for the units to be taken ‘in attendance’ i.e. with teaching and assessment. A Faculty may agree, on request by a student, that they are taken on an ‘assessment only’ basis where there are no overriding academic factors as to whether the student should be in attendance or not.
In undergraduate programmes
9.3 A Faculty Board of Examiners may permit a student on an undergraduate modular programme to undertake the Supplementary Year if a student does not have sufficient credit points to allow them to progress by the end of the academic year, because of:
a) Academic failure: if a student fails a unit/s* or is absent from assessment on a unit/s such that the credit points cannot be awarded, they may be permitted an opportunity to re-take the assessment. A student is only permitted to take a supplementary year for this reason once during their programme of study. A student is only permitted to take a unit up to 40 credit points as a third attempt for this reason in a supplementary year.
*a student is only permitted to take a unit up to 40 credit points as a third attempt for this reason in a supplementary year.
b) Exceptional circumstances: if a student’s ability to fulfil the criteria for the award of credit points has been affected by medical or other circumstances and they have not met the academic conditions for progression or completion by the end of the year of study, the student may be permitted to attempt the relevant units again without academic penalty in the next academic year. A student will normally only be able to take a supplementary year due to exceptional circumstances once during their programme of study.
9.4 The Supplementary Year is not available to students on non-modular professional programmes.
9.5 Where a student experiences significant exceptional circumstances on two separate occasions or due to a combination of academic failure in one academic year and exceptional circumstances in another year such that they exceed the maximum period of study (see 24.14), the relevant exam board may recommend that the student undertakes an additional supplementary year as mitigation for the presented exceptional A request to extend the student’s period of study should be submitted by the relevant faculty to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) or delegate for approval. The outcome of this consideration should return to the faculty to become a decision of the faculty exam board.
9.6 Students with a Student visa registered on a four-year undergraduate Bachelors degree (i.e. at level 6) cannot undertake a second supplementary year due to UK Immigration Rules’ application of a five-year study cap to study in the UK. Students should contact the Student Visas Team to determine whether they may be eligible.
9.7 In cases of (a): students who are placed on a supplementary year are required to undertake the units they have failed or a replacement unit from their programme structure. Marks for units that contribute to the final programme mark will be capped at the minimum pass mark.
9.8 In cases of (b): students who are placed on a supplementary year due to exceptional circumstances will undertake the affected units as determined by the Faculty Board of Examiners. Marks will be awarded as normal (i.e. not capped if first attempt).
In taught postgraduate programmes
9.9 A Faculty Board of Examiners may permit a student on a taught postgraduate programme to undertake a supplementary year if a student does not have sufficient credit points for their intended award but are permitted to undertake reassessment in a unit/s as a first or second attempt in the next academic year.
9.10 A student will normally only be able to take a supplementary year due to exceptional circumstances once during their programme of study.
9.11 Where a student experiences significant exceptional circumstances on two separate occasions such that they exceed the maximum period of study (see 34.9), the relevant exam board may recommend that the student undertakes an additional supplementary year as mitigation for the presented exceptional A request to extend the student’s period of study should be submitted by the relevant faculty to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) or delegate for approval. The outcome of this consideration should return to the faculty to become a decision of the faculty exam board.
9.12 Students who are placed on a supplementary year are required to undertake the units they have yet to pass (see 37.7)
In all programmes
9.13 Students undertaking the supplementary year are expected to be in regular contact with the faculty / school / department, attend certain components of the unit and fulfil any specific attendance requirements as determined by the faculty.
Sponsored international students with a Student visa are subject to attendance monitoring requirements throughout the whole year and will be expected to be in regular contact with the faculty / school / department, such that the University’s reporting responsibilities can be fulfilled (see section 6).
9.14 An appropriate fee will normally be charged for the supplementary year (including repeat years),except in severe exceptional circumstances, as determined by the University.
