Grade?

Does anyone know how do the University of Hertfordshire establish what grade you’ll get for your degree.

I assume we're talking about a bachelor's degree (with honours) here? In which case, the way they establish your final degree classification is detailed in section "D6.1 Calculation of overall classification grade for Honours classification (Bachelor’s Degree)", starting on page 177, in their Academic Regulations Handbook for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes.

There is a lot of detail there, but the crux of it is:

"D6.1.1 For students being considered for a final award with Honours classification, the Programme Board of Examiners will determine for each student:

i the average numeric grade of the best 90 credits at Level 6 or higher; and
ii the average numeric grade of the best remaining 90 credits at Level 5 or higher; and
iii a combined average numeric grade, weighted 75% (i) and 25% (ii), above;
and
iv the student’s Honours classification will be considered on the basis of this combined average numeric grade."

They then use that number as follows:

"D6.3.1 Classification:
i For a first class Honours award a student must achieve a combined average numeric grade of 69.50 or more;
ii For an upper second class Honours award a student must achieve a combined average numeric grade of 59.50 or more;
iii For a lower second class Honours award a student must achieve a combined average numeric grade of 49.50 or more;
iv For a third class Honours award a student must achieve a combined average numeric grade of 39.50 or more."

So if for example I were to get a average of 60% from Level 5 and 57% from level 6 have I done enough for a 2:1 knowing I can use one or two level 6 modules to replace a 15 credit level 5 module?

I can't answer that without knowing what you mark was for each unit at each level, and how many credits each units was worth.

For example, let's suppose that Level 5 consisted of 4 modules, each worth 30 units and that you achieved exactly 60% in each of them for an "average of 60% from Level 5". Now let's suppose that Level 6 also consisted of 4 modules, each worth 30 units and that you achieved exactly 57% in each of them for an average of "57% from level 6". That scenario matches what you've written above, agreed?

Now let's apply their logic:
i. "the average numeric grade of the best 90 credits at Level 6 or higher" is 57% (as they were all 57% in this scenario).
ii. "the average numeric grade of the best remaining 90 credits at Level 5 or higher" is 60% (as all the level 5 modules were 60%, so they were the best from "Level 5 of higher").
iii. "a combined average numeric grade, weighted 75% (i) and 25% (ii), above" is 75% of 57% + 25% of 60%, or 57.75%.
iv. "the student’s Honours classification will be considered on the basis of this combined average numeric grade" - 57.75% would not be enough for a 2:1.

If you can let me know how many units were in level 5, how many credits each was worth, and what mark you got for each, and then do the same for level 6, I can work out you overall degree classification. But that level of detail is required to apply their rules.

1. 8 modules
2. 15 credits worth 120 altogether
3. 69,65,65,62,55,42,41,40
(Level 5)

1. 5 modules
2. 3 30 credit modules and 2 15 credit modules
3. 68,53.3,48,48,40
(Level 6)

*Some maybe pending as estimated average’s have been given here but we will go with what’s been picked up so far.

For Level 6, which of those five marks are from the two 15-credit modules?

Last two 48,40

OK, so let's apply their rules:

Now let's apply their logic:
i. "the average numeric grade of the best 90 credits at Level 6 or higher" is the average of 68,53.3, and 48 - i.e. 56.76.
ii. "the average numeric grade of the best remaining 90 credits at Level 5 or higher" is the average of 69, 65, 65, 62, 55 (from Level 5) and 48 (from Level 6) - i.e. 60.66.
iii. "a combined average numeric grade, weighted 75% (i) and 25% (ii), above" is 75% of 56.76 + 25% of 60.66 is 57.74. (If we round 56.76 and 60.66 before combining them, we get a final figure of 58).
iv. "the student’s Honours classification will be considered on the basis of this combined average numeric grade" - a 2:2.

Which is those Level 6 marks is actually still "pending"? Is there any chance that 48 could go up to, say, 55 or more? You might just squeeze a 2:1 then, depending on how and when they do the rounding (i.e. per module, per Level, or on the final weighted average).

The 68 I’m yet to receive results from my Dissertation or Project Presentation. And I wrote and worked my socks off on the report and presentation.

Understood. I guess you've just got to hope that you get a few more marks than you've predicted, and that those are enough to get you over the 2:1 line. As and when you get any updates on those numbers, just drop the end of this thread and I'll check the impact.

Good luck.

(BTW, it looks like I inadvertently took that 68 as a 69 when doing the above calculations, although it doesn't make any material difference.)

Thank you I’m going to re-appeal regardless the outcome of the report.

On what basis?

Understood. I guess you've just got to hope that you get a few more marks than you've predicted, and that those are enough to get


updates on those numbers, just drop the end of this thread and I'll check the impact.

Good luck.

(BTW, it looks like I inadvertently took that 68 as a 69 when doing the above calculations, although it doesn't make any material difference.)

Hi I got a 63 in my dissertation and a 66 in my presentation. I have a average of 64.7% so 65% and a year average of 55% what does this mean now and can I still get a 2:1?

When I worked this out in post #9 we were working on an estimate of 68%, which confirmed in your reply: "The 68 I’m yet to receive results from my Dissertation or Project Presentation." With the 68% estimate, your final degree classification was a 2:2. I believe from the above that for this module, it's actually 65%. Have I got that right? If your actual mark is less that the estimate, and the estimate resulted in a 2:2, then the actual lower mark is not going to result in a 2:1.

If any of the other marks change (either because estimates become actual marks), or because you manage to appeal somehow (which you mentioned you were planning to do), let me know.

Hi I got a 63 in my dissertation and a 66 in my presentation. I have a average of 64.7% so 65% and a year average of 55% what does this mean now and can I still get a 2:1?

Yeah I’m going to appeal I’m going to have a 3rd marker, assess the report before making a formal appeal if needed. Would the 15 credit module make any difference if it knocked off the 42 from Level 5

i. "the average numeric grade of the best 90 credits at Level 6 or higher" is the average of 68,53.3, and 48 - i.e. 56.76.
ii. "the average numeric grade of the best remaining 90 credits at Level 5 or higher" is the average of 69, 65, 65, 62, 55 (from Level 5) and 48 (from Level 6) - i.e. 60.66.