Postgraduate Information Sheet PG 001
Modules – Credits and differential levels of achievement
All modules and other units of study that make up awards at the University are ‘credit-rated’, using a
framework generally recognised – though not always formally agreed – by other higher education
institutions in the UK.
The Faculty makes available details of the modules it offers, including assessment requirements and
credit rating. It is your responsibility to ensure that you’re enrolled for the correct number of
modules and credits for the point you’ve reached on your award route.

You normally enrol on 180 credits for an MA / MSc/ LLM.

To obtain a Masters degree, you need 180 credits.
You’re awarded a Masters degree with distinction if you achieve credit in all Level M modules within
the first sit and resit, and if you achieve not less than 70% in the Masters dissertation and not less
than 70% as a weighted average of Level M modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total
achieved credit (ie 120 credits).
You’re awarded a Masters degree with merit if you achieve credit in all Level M modules within the
first sit and resit and if you achieve not less than 60% in the Masters dissertation, and not less than
60% as a weighted average of Level M modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved
credit (ie 120 credits).
NB the differential level of your Masters degree cannot be higher than the level awarded for your
dissertation.

For a Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) Qualifying Postgraduate Diploma
(HRM students only), you need 140 credits, which must include the management research report.
You’re awarded this diploma with distinction if you achieve credit in all Level M modules within the
first sit and resit, and if you achieve not less than 70% as a weighted average of Level M modules
amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit.
You’re awarded this diploma with merit if you achieve credit in all Level M modules within the first sit
and resit and if you achieve not less than 60% as a weighted average of Level M modules
amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit.

For a Postgraduate Diploma you need 120 credits.
You’re awarded a postgraduate diploma with distinction if you achieve credit in all Level M modules
within the first sit and resit and if you achieve not less than 70% as a weighted average of Level M
modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit (ie 80 credits).
Cont/
PG001/LK /Last updated Sept 2010
This information sheet gives a brief summary only. For more details, please check other sources of information.
You’re awarded a postgraduate diploma with merit if you achieve credit in all Level M modules
within the first sit and resit and if you achieve not less than 60% as a weighted average of Level M
modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit (ie 80 credits).

For a Postgraduate Certificate you need 60 credits.
You’re awarded a postgraduate certificate with distinction if you achieve credit in all Level M
modules within the first sit and resit and if you achieve not less than 70% as a weighted average of
Level M modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit (ie 40 credits).
You’re awarded a postgraduate certificate with merit if you achieve credit in all Level M modules
within the first sit and resit and if you achieve not less than 60% as a weighted average of Level M
modules amounting to at least 2/3 of your total achieved credit (ie 40 credits).

When you complete your studies, you may request a Certificate of Credit from the University, which
shows the number and level of all the credits you’ve gained by successfully studying modules or
subject units (see Faculty Current Students website: FAQ re certificate of credit). A Certificate of
Credit is automatically issued with your degree certificate.
You should also know

The marks shown on your Notification of Marks and Grades are rounded to the nearest whole
number. The academic records system, however, works with unrounded marks.

If you passed a module at a resit, the mark for the resit component is capped at 50% when
calculating your classification, unless the award board has accepted extenuating circumstances and
allowed you an uncapped mark. However, the mark shown on your Notification of Marks and
Grades is the uncapped mark.

Credit for which there is no percentage mark (eg credit awarded for AEL or AL) is not included in
the calculation of your degree classification, even though it needs to be counted towards the
minimum credit requirement.
See also
Postgraduate Information Sheet PG 003: Modules – Exemptions / Accredited Learning
Faculty Current Students website: FAQ re pre-requisites
Faculty Current Students website: FAQ re certificate of credit
Faculty Current Students website: guidance on calculating the level of Award that you’ve achieved
Academic Registry website: Regulatory Framework 2010/11 – Sections B, D, G