The Secondary Rule

When calculating your final award, your School should combine that average of the module marks (calculated as specified in the module regulations). Only modules that contribute to your final award should be included in this calculation. 

Module marks should be weighted according to the classification rule for your programme, and the credit value of the modules should be calculated, rounded, and recorded as a whole number. 

 

The Classification of Awards regulations are stipulated in the Academic Regulations Handbook. The Academic Regulations include a 'Secondary Rule', and if you are eligible for the Secondary Rule you may receive an award that is higher than you were anticipating. 

 

Please note, the calculation and classification of your award should occur automatically. If you are concerned that the Secondary Rule may not have been applied correctly to your transcript, then we would advise you to politely ask your School to confirm whether this is the case. 

Further to this, there may be some exception to the application of the secondary rule - for example, if you are on a programme that leads to professional registration. You should check with your School if you are unsure if this applies to you.

 

For 1 Year (Intercalated Degree) Programmes

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a degree classification of First Class Honours, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at Level 6 to the value of at least 60 credits.

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division I (2:1) provided that they have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 6 to the value of at least 60 credits.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 48% or 49% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division II (2:2) provided that they have achieved a module mark of 50% or more in modules at level 6 to the value of at least 60 credits.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 38% or 39% will be awarded a degree classification of Third Class Honours, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 40% or more in modules at level 6 to the value of at least 60 credits.

 

For 3 Year Programmes

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a degree classification of First Class Honours, provided that
    • They have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division I (2:1) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 48% or 49% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division II (2:2) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 50% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at Level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 38% or 39% will be awarded a degree classification of Third Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 40% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.

 

For 4 Year Programmes Where Year 3 is a Year of Experiential and/or Professional Learning (E/PL) or a Year of Study Abroad

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a degree classification of First Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 (excluding the Year of E/PL) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these Credits were achieved at Level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division I (2:1) provided that:
    • They have achieved a 2:1 module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 (excluding the year of E/PL) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 48% or 49% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division II (2:2) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 50% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 (excluding the year of E/PL) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 38% or 39% will be awarded a degree classification of Third Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 40% or more in modules at level 5 or level 6 (excluding the year of E/PL) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 6.

 

For 4 year Integrated Master's Programmes

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a degree classification of First Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division I (2:1) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at Level 6 or Level 7 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 48% or 49% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division II (2:2) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 50% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 38% or 39% will be awarded a degree classification of Third Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 40% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.

 

For 5 Year Integrated Master's Programmes Where Year 3 or Year 4 is a Year of Experiential and/or Professional Learning (E/PL) or a Year of Study Abroad

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a degree classification of First Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 (excluding the year of E/PL or study abroad) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division I (2:1) provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 (excluding the year of E/PL or study abroad) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 48% or 49% will be awarded a degree classification of Second Class Honours, Division II (2:2), provided that:
    • They have achieved a module mark of 50% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 (excluding the year of E/PL) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 38% or 39% will be awarded a degree classification of Third Class Honours, provided that:
    • They have achieved a module Mark of 40% or more in modules at level 6 or level 7 (excluding the year of E/PL or study abroad) to the value of at least 120 credits, and
    • At least 60 of these credits were achieved at level 7.

 

For Master’s Degree

 

  • Students who achieve a final Mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a classification of Distinction, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 7 to the value of at least 90 credits.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a classification of merit, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 7 to the value of at least 90 credits.

 

For Postgraduate Diploma

 

  • Students who achieve a final mark of 68% or 69% will be awarded a classification of Distinction, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 70% or more in modules at level 7 to the value of at least 60 credits.
  • Students who achieve a final mark of 58% or 59% will be awarded a classification of Merit, provided that they have achieved a module mark of 60% or more in modules at level 7 to the value of at least 60 credits.

 

We appreciate this may seem confusing and we encourage you to reach out to your School if you need further clarity on the calculation of your final award. 

 

If you are not eligible for the Secondary Rule, but you are unhappy with your final award, you may be able to submit an academic appeal. Please see more information about the Academic Appeals Procedure here.

 

Contact Student Advice
Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

 

Last updated: 02 Aug 2023 14:53