海角黑料

What are the Contingency Regulations?

They are alternative progression and classification rules used when assessments or marking are disrupted, ensuring learning outcomes are still met and students are considered on their individual circumstances.

Do I still need to submit my assessments during disruption? 

Yes. You must submit all assessments (including reassessments). Not submitting (without approved extenuating circumstances) will result in a mark of zero.

How are my marks calculated if not all work is marked? 

A combination of the below may be used and this will depend upon the exact situation for each student. Actual marks will always be used where available and as a priority: 

• Actual marks (fully marked work) 
• Part-for-whole marks (if ≥40% of a module is marked) 
• Derived marks (based on past/current performance if <40% is marked) 

What is a part-for-whole mark? 

This mark can be calculated when there are actual marks for assessments including partially marked assessments, that are worth at least 40% of the module. The weighted average of those actual marks will be the part-for-whole mark for that module.

What is a derived mark? 

A calculated mark based on your performance in completed assessments this stage (and possibly in the previous stage if needed). Previous stage marks are only used when there are insufficient marks available in the current stage.

Will my transcript show these different mark types? 

No - transcripts will not distinguish between actual, part-for-whole, or derived marks.

Can I still progress if marks are missing? 

Yes, if progression requirements are met using contingency marks. You may also proceed into the next year carrying up to 40 credits of reassessment in some cases.

What happens if I have Extenuating Circumstances (ECs)? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs may initially be recorded as zero 
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark 
• In some cases, schools or departments may take this into account when deciding progression

Can I choose whether to accept contingency marks? 

Yes. You will be given a decision period where you can: 

• Accept the marks and progression decision (default), or 
• Reject them and wait for actual marks or take equivalent assessments 

If you accept your marks, they will be used in future progression and award calculations.

What happens if I reject the marks?

• You must reject all contingency regulation marks (not module-by-module) 
• You will need to wait until your work has been marked 
• Your final marks may go up or down 
• Progression or classification may be delayed

What if I don’t respond during the decision period? 

Your marks and progression or classification decision will be automatically accepted.

Do the Contingency Regulations apply to foundation/qualifying year students? 

Yes, Contingency Regulations apply to foundation/qualifying year students.

Do I still need to submit assessments? 

Yes.  You must submit all assessments (including reassessments). Not submitting (without approved extenuating circumstances) will result in a mark of zero.

How are my marks determined during disruption? 

A combination of the below may be used and this will depend upon the exact situation for each student. Actual marks will always be used where available and as a priority:  

• Actual marks (fully marked work)  
• Part-for-whole marks (if ≥40% of a module is marked)  
• Derived marks (based on past/current performance if <40% is marked)

When can a derived mark be used? 
Only if: 

• You have completed at least 60 credits, AND 
• Required progression modules are completed

What if I don’t meet the criteria for a derived mark? 

The school or department at their discretion may: 

• Allow progression with conditions 
• Disregard up to 40 credits 
• Use a viva voce assessment 
• Delay the derivation cutoff date 
• Submit a request to the Quality Standards Committee to consider a route outside of the contingency regulations

What happens if none of these options are applicable? 

You must wait for actual marks before progression.

Will transcripts show contingency marks? 

No - they will appear as standard module marks. 

What if I have Extenuating Circumstances? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs may initially be recorded as zero 
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark  
• In some cases, schools or departments may take this into account when deciding progression

Can I still progress if I accept contingency marks? 

Yes, if progression requirements are met using contingency marks. You may also be able to: 

• Proceed carrying up to 40 credits of reassessment, or 
• Be considered under discretionary decisions

Do I get a choice about accepting the marks? 

 Yes. You will be given a decision period where you can:  

• Accept the marks and progression decision (default), or  
• Reject them and wait for actual marks or take equivalent assessments

What happens if I reject the marks? 

• You must reject all contingency regulation marks (not module-by-module)  
• You will then need to wait until your work has been marked  
• Your final marks may go up or down  
• Progression or classification may be delayed

What if I don’t respond during the decision period?  

Your marks and progression or classification decision will be automatically accepted. 

Do Contingency Regulations apply to PGT students? 

Yes, covering both progression (to the research/dissertation stage) and final classification. 
Currently, the period of industrial action that has been announced by UCU runs until Friday 31 July 2026. It is unlikely that this would impact PGT assessments and the university anticipates that PGT students would be able to complete their studies in the normal manner, under standard regulations. Further information will be sent to students if this situation changes and more extensive use of the contingency regulations is necessary to support PGT students.

Do I still need to submit all assessments? 

Yes - failure to submit results in a mark of zero.

Are dissertation/project marks affected? 

No. 

• The dissertation/project (usually 60 credits) must always use actual marks only 
• No part-for-whole or derived marks are allowed for this module

How are taught modules treated? 

Taught modules may use: 

• actual marks (fully marked work) 
• part for whole marks (if ≥40% of a module is marked) 
• derived or provisional derived marks (based on current performance only if <40% is marked)

What is a provisional derived mark? 

A temporary calculated mark used when there is insufficient completed work to confidently assign a full derived mark.

Can past performance be used to calculate marks? 

No - PGT derived marks are based only on current taught stage performance.

Can I progress to the dissertation stage with incomplete marks? 

Yes: 

• If there are no prerequisites, progression is allowed 
• If there are prerequisites, schools may use discretion (e.g. allow up to 20 credits of resits to be carried without delaying the start of the dissertation stage). 

What happens if marks cannot be derived? 

You must wait for actual marks, which may delay progression or award conferral.

What if I have Extenuating Circumstances? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs may initially be recorded as zero.  
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark/provisional derived mark 
• In some cases, schools may take this into account when deciding progression to the dissertation stage 
• Marks are not recalculated later

Can marks be discounted? 

Yes in some circumstances: 

• Up to 20 credits of low part-for-whole / derived marks 
• Up to 40 credits for EC-affected modules

Will I get to choose whether to accept contingency marks? 

Yes. You will be given a decision period where you can:  

• Accept the marks and progression decision (default), or  
• Reject them and wait for actual marks or take equivalent assessments  

If you accept your marks, they will be used in future progression and award calculations.

What happens if I reject the marks? 

• You must reject all contingency regulation marks (not module-by-module)  
• You will then need to wait until your work has been marked  
• Your final marks may go up or down  
• Progression to dissertation or classification may be delayed

Is there a second decision for final classification? 

No - if you have rejected contingency marks, once dissertation marks are included, classification proceeds normally with actual marks when they become available.

How might strike action or a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) affect my progression review?

In most cases, progression reviews will still go ahead, although there may be some delays if assessors are unavailable. The University allows reviews to take place three to six months before your re‑registration point (depending on your stage of study), which provides flexibility to manage any disruption. 

Our experience from previous periods of industrial action suggests that any disruption to PGR progression reviews is likely to be minimal.

How long will this approach remain in place?  

The current flexible approach will remain in place until at least 31 August 2026 (one month after the planned strike end date). After this point, the University will review whether any researchers are experiencing significant delays with progression reviews and will follow up with any affected individuals on a case-by-case basis.

What if my progression review is delayed? Will this affect my re‑registration? 

No. If your progression review is delayed due to strike action or MAB, you will still be allowed to re‑register on time, even if your formal progression outcome is not yet available. 

There is a still a requirement for you to complete a full PGR progression review as soon as possible once any disruption ends.

Will my viva still go ahead during strike action or MAB? 

Wherever possible, vivas will proceed as planned. However, if a full examination panel is not available, your viva may need to be delayed. 

University regulations normally allow up to three months from submission to viva, which provides some flexibility and has helped reduce disruption in previous periods of industrial action.

Can my viva take place with a reduced panel? 

No. Vivas cannot take place without a fully constituted examination panel. Proxy arrangements or reduced panels are not permitted under the regulations.

What happens if my viva is delayed? 

Every effort will be made to minimise delays and ensure your examination takes place promptly and if necessary, is rearranged as quickly as possible after strike action ends. 

If you have concerns about a delay to your viva, you are advised to raise this with your supervisor or Director of PGR in the first instance. In exceptional cases, Schools may be able to consider changes to the examination team, in line with existing regulations, or to support a duration of more than three months between submission and viva.

How will my degree classification be calculated during disruption? 

Your classification will be based on a combination of: 

• Actual marks 
• Part-for-whole marks 
• Derived marks 

This replaces the usual “all Actual Marks” approach where marking is incomplete. 

Will the usual classification rules still apply? 

Yes. Aside from how marks are sourced, all other rules (e.g. weighting, borderline rules) remain unchanged. 

What is the difference between part-for-whole and derived marks in classification? 

• Part-for-whole mark: Used when at least 40% of a module is marked 
• Derived mark: Calculated from your performance when insufficient marks exist to calculate a part for whole mark. 

Will my transcript show that contingency marks were used? 

No — transcripts will show only the final module marks, not how they were calculated. 

Can low contingency marks be adjusted or removed? 

Yes. schools or departments may: 

• Discount up to 20 credits of low part-for-whole / derived marks 
• Discount up to 40 credits for modules affected by Extenuating Circumstances 

How are Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) handled for classification? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs may initially be recorded as zero.  
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark  
• In some cases, schools or departments may take this into account when deciding classification 

Do I have a choice about accepting my classification? 

Yes. If contingency marks are used, you will have a decision period to: 

• Accept your classification (default), or 
• Reject it and wait for actual marks or equivalent assessments 

What happens if I accept my classification? 

• Your classification is confirmed 
• Any outstanding assessments will not be marked 
• No further assessment opportunities will be provided 

What happens if I reject my classification? 

• You must reject all contingency marks 
• You will receive actual marks instead 
• Your classification may go up or down 
• Your award conferral may be delayed 

What if I don’t respond during the decision period? 

Your classification and marks will be automatically accepted.

Could my award conferral be delayed under these regulations? 

Yes — your award conferral may be delayed, particularly if you reject contingency marks or if actual marks are not yet available. However, this does not prevent you from attending your graduation ceremony.

How is my final award calculated during disruption? 

Your classification is based on: 

• Taught stage marks (actual, part-for-whole, derived or provisional derived) 
• Dissertation/project marks (actual marks only) 

Can contingency marks be used for my dissertation? 

No. The dissertation/project must always be assessed using actual marks only.

How are taught module marks determined? 

Where marking is incomplete: 

• All assessments marked → Completed module mark 
• ≥40% marked → Part-for-whole mark 
• <40% marked → Derived or provisional derived mark 
• If insufficient data → must wait for actual marks 

Can marks from previous study be used to calculate my award? 

No — PGT derived marks are based only on current taught stage performance. 

What happens if there isn’t enough data to calculate a mark? 

You cannot be classified until actual marks are available, which may delay award conferral. 

Will contingency marks appear differently on my transcript? 

No — transcripts will not indicate whether marks are actual, derived, or part-for-whole. 

Can low marks be adjusted for classification? 

Yes. Schools or departments may: 

• Discount up to 20 credits of low part-for-whole / derived marks 
• Discount up to 40 credits for Extenuating Circumstances-affected modules 

How are Extenuating Circumstances handled? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs are recorded as zero initially 
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark 
• Marks are not recalculated later, even after submission 

Do I have a choice about accepting my marks for classification? 

Yes — at the taught stage decision point you can: 

• Accept marks (default), or 
• Reject and wait for actual marks 

What happens if I accept contingency marks at taught stage? 

• Those marks are fixed 
• They will carry forward into your final classification 
• Outstanding assessments will not be marked 

What happens if I reject them? 

• All marks are affected 
• Actual marks replace contingency marks 
• Marks may increase or decrease 
• Progression and award conferral may be delayed 

Is there a second decision point after the dissertation? 

No. Final classification is calculated using: 

• Fixed taught stage marks (if accepted earlier) 
• Dissertation actual marks 

Could my award conferral be delayed? 

Your award conferral could be delayed if either of the following things happen: 

• Dissertation marks are not available, or 
• You reject contingency marks and wait for actual marks  

However, this does not prevent you from attending your graduation ceremony. 

What is a derived mark? 

A derived mark is an estimated mark used when not all of your assessments have been marked. It is based on your performance in completed work. 

Why does the university use derived marks? 

Derived marks are used when disruption means there isn’t enough marked work to calculate a normal module or stage average. 

What information is used to calculate a derived mark? 

Derived marks are based on: 

• Actual marks from completed modules 
• Marks from partially completed modules (where appropriate) 
• Sometimes marks from a previous stage (where appropriate and only if needed)  

Do I need to submit all my assessments to get a derived mark? 

Yes. If you do not submit an assessment (without approved Extenuating Circumstances), you cannot receive a derived mark and will normally receive a zero.  

How is the calculation done in simple terms? 

It depends on how much of your work has already been marked: 

• If enough work is completed (usually 60 credits or more): 
  Your derived mark is based on your current stage performance only 
• If less work is completed: 
  The calculation combines: 
  • Your current stage performance, and 
  • Your performance from a previous stage (if you are an undergraduate student) 

Is there a formula used? 

Yes, but in simple terms it: 

• Gives more weight to your current work 
• Uses previous performance only if necessary 
• Adjusts the weighting depending on how much work has been completed  

Can my Derived Mark be changed later? 

No. Once calculated, a derived mark is not recalculated, even if additional marks become available later.  

What happens if I have Extenuating Circumstances? 

• Outstanding assessments subject to ECs are recorded as zero initially 
• Zeros are not included in the calculation of your derived mark 
• Marks are not recalculated later, even after submission 

Can I choose not to accept a derived mark? 

Yes. During the decision period you can: 

• Accept the derived mark, or 
• Reject it and wait for your actual marks instead 

You should note that if you reject your marks, your results may improve or worsen, and this could affect your progression or final award. 

If you accept your marks, they will be used in future progression and award calculations. 

Will missed marking affect current international students’ visas? 

As long as student visa holders are still provided with the expected academic engagement touchpoints, as detailed in the UKVI academic engagement Code of Practice, there should be no impact resulting from missed marking.  

Providing that academic decisions are taken based on clearly defined criteria, allowing students to proceed or progress to the next academic stage, there should be no impact on international students’ visas resulting from missed marking activity.    

Will missed marking affect international students wishing to apply for the Graduate Visa?  

Providing that successful course completion is confirmed by the University before an individual’s student visa expiry date, this can then be reported to the Home Office and should enable them to apply for the Graduate Visa. 

Will graduation still be going ahead?  

Yes, the graduation events in July will be going ahead as planned.  

Because of the potential impact of any missed marking as a result of industrial action, the events will be a celebration of your time at Nottingham. The graduation day and the experience will be the same as usual. You will still wear a gown, cross the stage in front of friends and family and be able to have photographs. The only difference will be that your degree certificate will not be available and instead you will receive it by post.  

Can I still attend graduation this summer if I have derived marks?  

Yes, if you have registered a place at graduation in July you will be able to attend as planned and enjoy celebrating your day.  

If I reject my derived mark, and choose to wait for an actual mark, will my place at graduation be cancelled?  

No. Anyone who has registered to attend graduation this summer, can still attend as planned.  

If you have changed your mind about attending or have decided that you’d prefer not come, please let us know using the student enquiry centre.  

I haven’t registered for my graduation ceremony yet, should I?  

Yes, please tell us what your plans are for graduation, by logging into before Friday 12 June.  
  
If I have resits this summer, can I still attend graduation?  

This year, because graduation is a celebratory event and not a conferral event, if you have been invited and registered your place you can choose to come and celebrate with your friends, even though you have not completed your course. You will not be eligible to receive a degree certificate.  

If you complete resits in the summer, and pass them, you would be able to come to graduation in December, where you could have your award conferred and collect your degree certificate.  

It is your choice which of these options you would prefer. If you plan to cancel your place at the graduation celebration in July, please let the graduation team know by contacting them in the student enquiry centre.  

What will happen with my degree certificate? 

As graduation events are a celebration, we will not be giving out degree certificates on the day. Instead, once your student record has been updated with either derived marks or actual marks and your award conferred, your degree certificate will be produced and posted out to your home address. For most students this will be in early August.  

Please ensure you have added the correct address to by the end of June. 

If I’m dissatisfied, can I appeal? 

• The majority of students will progress or receive award decisions as usual this year. Many students will be unaffected; for those that are, the contingency regulations explain the actions being taken to enable students to progress or complete their studies. 
• If part-for-whole or derived marks have been used to determine your progression or award, you have the choice to accept these or to wait for your work to be marked/for an equivalent sit (as applicable). This would not normally enable you to establish grounds for appeal. 
• The academic appeals process is published on our academic appeals webpage. 

If I’m dissatisfied, can I complain? 

• You can use the complaints process to express dissatisfaction about the university’s action or lack of action, or about the service provided by or on behalf of the university. 
• You are encouraged to provide feedback through an appropriate school or department representative, Students’ Union, Learning Community Forum (LCF) or service provider in a prompt and constructive manner. 
• The complaints process is available on our student complaints webpage.