UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMME
KEY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
2012-13
CONTENTS PAGE
SUPPORT STAFF STRUCTURE CHART ............................................................................................. 3
ADMISSIONS AND MARKETING .......................................................................................................... 5
Marketing ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Procedure .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Decision-making ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Post application Open Day ................................................................................................................................ 6
Student Decisions .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Confirmation ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Clearing ............................................................................................................................................................. 6
Accommodation and Other Details .................................................................................................................... 6
Enrolment .......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Fees ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Records ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
CURRICULUM, STUDENT SUPPORT AND ASSESSMENTS ............................................................. 7
STUDENT SUPPORT ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Student Enquiries: Hours of Opening ................................................................................................................ 7
Student Files ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Aston Welcome.................................................................................................................................................. 8
Module Choices ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Module Lists....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Load Model ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Timetables ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Room Bookings ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Audio Visual Equipment ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Lectures/Tutorials .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Cancellation of Lectures/Tutorials ...................................................................................................................... 9
Undergraduate BlackboardTM Site ..................................................................................................................... 9
Computer Laboratory Bookings ......................................................................................................................... 9
Office Hours ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Disruption in Lectures ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Monitoring Student Attendance ........................................................................................................................ 10
Leave of Absence and Transfers ..................................................................................................................... 10
Course Directors .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Committee Meetings ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Notice boards................................................................................................................................................... 10
Personal Advisor Scheme................................................................................................................................ 10
Personal Tutors ............................................................................................................................................... 11
References ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
ASSESSMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Student Enquiries: Hours of Opening ............................................................................................................. 12
Module Outlines ............................................................................................................................................... 12
COURSEWORK PROCEDURES .................................................................................................................... 12
Group Work ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Red and yellow card system ............................................................................................................................ 14
Deadlines ......................................................................................................................................................... 15
Submission ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
Late Submission .............................................................................................................................................. 16
Collection of Work............................................................................................................................................ 16
Final Year Coursework .................................................................................................................................... 16
Plagiarism and Collusion ................................................................................................................................. 16
Student Feedback............................................................................................................................................ 17
EXAMINATION PROCEDURES ...................................................................................................................... 17
Preparation of Papers ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Timetables ....................................................................................................................................................... 17
Examination Podcast ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Examinations ................................................................................................................................................... 18
Invigilation ........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Marking ............................................................................................................................................................ 18
Examination Results ........................................................................................................................................ 18
GENERAL PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................................. 18
1
External Examiners .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Examination Boards ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Exceptional Circumstances.............................................................................................................................. 19
Results ............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Referred Examinations/Coursework ................................................................................................................ 19
Additional Needs.............................................................................................................................................. 19
Confidentiality and Security ............................................................................................................................. 19
ASSIGNMENT MARKING GUIDELINES ......................................................................................................... 20
APPENDIX 2 .................................................................................................................................................... 21
PLACEMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 22
THE PLACEMENT TEAM HAVE NOW BEEN CENTRALISED AND ARE LOCATED IN THE CAREERS
OFFICE, UPPER GROUND FLOOR, SOUTH WING. ..................................................................................... 22
Procedure ........................................................................................................................................................ 22
Placement Tutors............................................................................................................................................. 22
Work Assignments ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Problems.......................................................................................................................................................... 23
INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 23
International Business and Management (IBAM) ............................................................................................. 23
Assessment ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
International Business and Modern Languages (IBML) ................................................................................... 23
Assessment ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
2
SUPPORT STAFF STRUCTURE CHART
PA/Undergraduate
Secretary
Taweisha
Director, Undergraduate
Programmes
Elaine
Admissions and
Recruitment Manager
Simon
Programme Manager
Emma / Louise
Admissions Manager
Samantha
Admissions Manager
Karen
Admissions and
Recruitment Coordinator
Katie
Admissions and Recruitment
Coordinator
Helen
Admissions and
Recruitment Coordinator
Emma
Admissions and
Recruitment
Coordinator
John
Student
Support Officer
Lucy
Student
Support
Coordinators
X3.5
Hazel 1
Elizabeth 1
Laura .5
Michelle 1
Timetabling
Officer
Sheila
Information
Officer
Jeff
Assessment
coordinator x2
Felicity
Joanne
Assessment
Officer
Rebecca
Student
Experience
Coordinator
Coursework
Assistant
Maureen
Admissions and
Recruitment Coordinator
Kirsty
3
Support Staff Contact Details
List of Undergraduate Programme Support Staff
Directors Office
Elaine Clarke
Taweisha Gordon
Director, Undergraduate Programmes
PA/Undergraduate Secretary
3232
3174
e.clarke2
t.gordon
Programme Manager
Programme Manager
Information Officer
Timetabling Officer (0.5)
Student Experience Coordinator
3176
3157
3106
3213
TBC
l.g.millard
e.l.szurminski
j.chilton
s.roberts4
j.kenny
Student Support Officer (Student problems)
Student Support Coordinator (Exchange Students)
Student Support Coordinator (References) 3305
Student Support Coordinator (0.5)
Student Support Coordinator
3704
3159
3305
3988
3032
l.schlappa
h.awty
m.stanley1
l.e.ellen
e.doole
Assessment Officer
Assessment Coordinator (Coursework)
Assessment Coordinator (Exams)
Coursework Assistant (Hatch)
3015
3217
3199
3070
r.daly
j.duggan1
f.jackson
m.creighton
Admissions and Recruitment Manager
Admissions Manager
Admissions and Recruitment Co-ordinator
Admissions and Recruitment Co-ordinator
Admissions Manager
Admissions and Recruitment Co-ordinator
Admissions and Recruitment Co-ordinator
Admissions and Recruitment Co-ordinator
3126
3362
3074
3304
3132
3125
3066
4227
s.jones
k.a.nisbett
TBC
h.mcguirk
s.j.bonnaud
k.l.mallon
e.lowbridge
k.v.howard
Curriculum, Student Support and Assessment
Louise Millard
Emma Szurminski
Jeff Chilton
Sheila Roberts
John Kenny
Student Support
Lucy Schlappa
Hazel Awty
Michelle Stanley
Laura Ellen
Lizzy Doole
Assessments
Rebecca Daly
Joanne Duggan
Felicity Jackson
Maureen Creighton
ABS Admissions Team
Simon Jones
Karen Nisbett
TBC
Helen McGuirk
Samantha Bonnaud
Katie Mallon
Emma Lowbridge
Kirsty Howard
Undergraduate Office Fax – 3197
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Reference requests
Student Support enquiries
Exams and Assessment enquiries
Admissions and Recruitment enquiries
Postgraduate Admissions enquiries
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ADMISSIONS AND MARKETING
Admissions and Recruitment Manager
Admissions Manager
Admissions Manager
Admissions Co-ordinator
Admissions Co-ordinator
Admissions Co-ordinator
Admissions Co-ordinator
Admissions Co-ordinator
Simon Jones
Karen Nisbett
Samantha Bonnaud
TBC
Helen McGuirk
Katie Mallon
Emma Lowbridge
Kirsty Howard
Offer making decisions on all 5000+ UCAS applications for Single Honours Business and IBML degree are taken by
the Admissions and Marketing Manager and Admissions Officer. For 2012 entry direct applications for the
International Foundation Programme and the Foundation Degree in Business and Education Management will also
be included within the team’s remit. It should be noted that the team are also responsible for the recruitment and
admission of ABS taught postgraduate students.
The joint degree programmes offered are the Business joint degree and Economics minor. Joint or major/minor
degrees are administered by a lead school in each case and ABS is not the lead school for any of the Business
combined degrees.
Full descriptions of the joint-honours named degree programmes are given in the University undergraduate
prospectus.
Marketing
The Department markets itself via:

University Open Days (aimed at Year 12 students thinking of applying to university and also for students who
have already applied to us).

University prospectus and ABS Undergraduate brochure.

Website – a prospectus and further details can be ordered online.

Staff visits to schools and exhibitions.

Inclusion in course directories and external websites eg. UCAS, Hotcourses, WhatUni

E-shots – enquirers and offer holders are kept informed by a series of e-communications.

Direct mail to potential applicants (e.g. UCAS pre-applicant data)

International agents
Procedure
On initial enquiry (whether by post, phone or e-mail), applicant is sent:


A University Prospectus
Programme details
If the enquiry is from outside the EU then the response is normally sent via email
With the exception of the International Foundation Programme and the Foundation Degree the admissions procedure
is governed by UCAS scheme requirements and deadlines. The University SITS database is linked to the UCAS
system. Admissions staff also hold individual passwords to the UCAS web link system with a scale of access
relevant to their post.
The Admissions and Recruitment Manager, or Admissions Managers, can make decisions on all applications whilst
Admissions Co-ordinators make decisions upon clear ‘accepts’ and ‘rejects’. If there is any query on suitability for
admission the case is referred to the Admissions Managers or Admissions and Recruitment Manager.
Admissions Co-ordinators also check for:




Basic entry requirements (5 GCSEs including English and Maths, or equivalent international qualification; age).
Previous correspondence (held in files in Admissions Office).
Previous qualifications (shown through UCAS form, or held in office).
Previous applications (held in files in office).
They will also make requests for more detailed academic transcripts when required.
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Decision-making
The Admissions and Recruitment Manager/Admissions Manager or Admissions Co-ordianator will then make offers
through UCAS, usually to around half of the total applicants (i.e. typically well over 2500). . For International
Foundation or Foundation Degree applicants liaison with UCAS is not required. Nearly all are conditional upon
forthcoming examination results
Exceptions:


Existing ‘A’ level results (or equivalent).
Applicant already at another university and wishing to change programme.
All 1st round (those applications made prior to the uCAS deadline) application decisions are expected to be made by
the end of March.
Post application Open Day
Each applicant made an offer is invited to an open day via an online booking system. Several Open Days are held
for each of the degree programme offered (approximately 600 applicants and their parents visit during the series of
post-application Open Days).
Student Decisions
Home applicants reply through UCAS to 1st round offers by the beginning of May: their options are to accept firmly, to
place as second choice (insurance), decline or withdraw. Home applications made later in the admissions cycle and
overseas applicants have further appropriate reply deadlines.
Confirmation
Applicants meeting their admission criteria have their offers confirmed. There may be some compromise upon grades
at confirmation and this is dependent upon how near the confirmed student total is to the target figure. Unsuccessful
firm-choice students who achieve grades that are acceptable for other University degrees are passed to a relevant
department via a ‘cascade system’.
In the majority of cases, the Admissions Office receives these exam grade confirmations via UCAS.
To cope with the anticipated enquiries during mid-August all admissions telephone numbers are diverted to an
Admissions Hotline which is arranged in a ‘hunt group’ with all voicemail disabled.
Clearing
If the degree programme still has spaces in August, it can be opened to the clearing system.
Applicants submit their results to the Admissions Office which are taken on good faith (original documents are
checked at enrolment). Clearing form requests and applicant acceptances can be made via UCAS Web link. This
system ensures that an applicant cannot be committed to more than one UK University.
Accommodation and Other Details
Applicants accepting a firm offer from Aston are sent details of accommodation via email, and are asked to register
online for accommodation by a deadline.
Enrolment
About 3-4 weeks prior to enrolment an enrolment email is sent out which includes details of how to pre-enrol online
via MAP (My Aston Portal)
Applicants enrol face-to-face during Freshers’ Week (Home students) or during the International Welcome (all nonUK students). Admissions staff are required to assist registry staff with the enrolment process and particularly with
qualification checks.
Through pre-enrolment, each student can access their timetable, relevant handbooks, and other useful information.
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Fees
The University centrally deals with these issues although the Team ensure that applicants are categorised correctly at
the point of offer-making.
Scholarships
The ABS International Scholarship is administered by the Team. Offer-holders are invited to submit an application
once they hold Ason as their first choice university in UCAS. The Team administer the selection process and inform
the students accordingly.
Records
UCAS forms for newly enrolled students are held in the Admissions Office until the beginning of term. Records are
then transferred to the Student Support Office. UCAS forms for those applicants not enrolled are destroyed after the
first 4 weeks of the start of term although they can still be viewed via UCAS Web link if required.
CURRICULUM, STUDENT SUPPORT AND ASSESSMENTS
Programme Manager (Job Share)
Programme Manager (Job Share)
Louise Millard
Emma Szurminski
Information Officer
Student Support Coordinator
Timetabling Officer
Student Experience Coordinator
Jeff Chilton
Michelle Stanley
Sheila Roberts
John Kenny
Student Support Officer
Student Support Coordinator
Student Support Coordinator
International Foundation Programme and Computing for Business
Student Support Coordinator / Foundation Degree in Business and
Education Management, Assistant Student Support Coordinator for
International Foundation Programme, Business and Professional Studies
and Single Honours
Lucy Schlappa
Hazel Awty
Laura Ellen
Assessment Officer
Assessment Coordinator / Coursework
Assessment Coordinator / Exams
Coursework Assistant
Rebecca Daly
Joanne Duggan
Felicity Jackson
Maureen Creighton
Lizzy Doole
STUDENT SUPPORT
Student Support Office acts as a central point of communication for students and for other School staff. It contains
the files for past and present Business School students. The office team receive a wide range of enquiries from staff
and students and either deal directly with the matter themselves or refer on as appropriate. There is a significant body
of information for students in the ABS Student Handbook on Blackboard. All academic staff have access to the
handbook and we recommend you familiarise yourselves with the general layout and content of this module which is
maintained by the Student Support team.
As well as dealing with enquiries, the office team has to undertake various tasks. Principle areas are summarised
below.
Student Enquiries: Hours of Opening
The Student Support Reception is open for Student enquiries from:
10:00-12:30 and 14:00-16:00, Monday to Friday during term time.
During the vacation it is open 11:00-12:00.
7
Student Files
Student files are kept in the Undergraduate Programme Office and maintained by the Student Support Office. They
contain essential details such as student photograph, programme of study, UCAS application form, medical details,
correspondence between the student and student support, reference letters, copies of all documents such as letters
on disciplinary matters, placement records or medical evidence relating to examinations and also their transcripts.
Student files are kept indefinitely.
Student files may be viewed by academic staff at any time by request. Following the loss of some files we ask that
files are not removed from the office. Most student details can be accessed online via MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL
www.aston.ac.uk/map.
In addition to keeping these manual files up to date, office staff maintain the student record system (SITS), recording
student details as well as student examination results and module choices for the next academic year.
Aston Welcome
The Student Support Officer draws up the ABS Induction Programme for Aston Welcome also known as Freshers’
Week. This includes a formal Aston Business School Welcome, Course Directors Welcome Meetings, Library and
School tours as well as an introduction to MAP and Blackboard.
Enrolment
Student Support staff are involved in presentations during Freshers Week to introduce new students to key
procedures and support relevant to their programme.
Module Choices
In March first year students and students going into their final year are asked to submit their module choices for the
following year. All module selection takes place via MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL) www.aston.ac.uk/map. Students are
given until the end of the first week of the first term to confirm their options. Course Directors are involved in this and
make presentations to all students about the options available on their programme.
Module Lists
You can download class lists and tutorial lists from MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL) www.aston.ac.uk/map. These lists
will have the most up to date information as they are refreshed daily. Please note that all students have the right to
change their module choices up to the end of the first week of term. Module lists also show which students are
registered as having additional support needs via DANU ( Disability and Additional Needs Unit).
Load Model
The load model is a tool/system used by the Business School to formally allocate teaching credit and acknowledge
additional responsibilities of teaching staff. The Timetabling Officer collects and validates all Undergraduate
Programme teaching data for the load model.
Timetables
Timetabling starts in May. Unfortunately there is little room for flexibility owing to the complexity of the timetable, the
volume of lectures/tutorials to be accommodated and the restriction on the number of suitable lecture/tutorial rooms.
Modules may not be timetabled in the same way from one year to the next. There is a clear deadline by which all
requests for changes to the timetable for the following year must be submitted. We do our best to accommodate all
requests within the constraints of the overall timetable. You will be notified of timescales via email.
Students’ timetables are drawn up by the Timetabling Officer and issued to students via MAP www.aston.ac.uk/map.
Academic staff can also view their teaching timetable on MAP.
Clashes: Students in each year of each programme are divided into tutorial groups in September. The office staff
work to ensure that individual students are not allocated to more than one group at the same time, and resolve any
clashes that may occur.
Room Bookings
Any room booking requirements or problems connected to Undergraduate Programme teaching activity should be
made through the Timetabling Officer, Sheila Roberts (ext 3213).
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Audio Visual Equipment
All rooms have OHP and lecture rooms have access to PowerPoint. Any special audio visual equipment required in
connection with your Undergraduate Programme teaching activity should be made through AV Support on [email protected] (ext 4221).
Lectures/Tutorials
All lectures/tutorials start on the hour and finish at 10 minutes to the hour. Lectures/tutorials should finish promptly
allowing students sufficient time to get to their next lecture/tutorial on time.
Cancellation of Lectures/Tutorials
It is important that you inform the Student Support Office every time a lecture or tutorial is cancelled even if you have
already informed the students. Depending on the amount of notice given the students will be informed either by
BlackboardTM, email and/or a notice on the classroom door. If the lecture needs to be rescheduled, the Timetabling
Officer, Sheila Roberts (ext 3213) will identify an appropriate alternative slot, if possible, and organise a classroom
and inform staff and students of the new arrangements. If you have to cancel a lecture or tutorial at short notice,
because of illness for example, please email [email protected] and leave a voicemail message on
extension 3232 so that we can ensure that the message gets through to students.
Undergraduate BlackboardTM Site
Lecturers must make their module material available to students via Blackboard TM. To assist students, especially
those with disabilities and additional needs, it is recommended that lecture notes are posted on Blackboard TM prior to
the lecture. The Undergraduate Programme follows the university policy in the use of Blackboard TM in support of
teaching. To ensure the most effective support for students please take the items below into consideration when
using Blackboard TM:






Ensure that your name and contact details including office hours are clearly posted in your module.
Reply to student responses (e.g. online quizzes, online discussion board, email enquiries) in a timely fashion
Organise your Blackboard TM site according to the template provided (see link to guidelines below) and
ensure material is laid out in a clear and logical order
Return detailed module feedback to the undergraduate office immediately after completing the assessment
of a module. You should highlight the rationale behind your marking and note any general strengths and
weaknesses. You may wish to include example answers to questions which caused particular problems.
Ensure that any date restricted information continues to be available, where appropriate, for students taking
referred examinations.
Ensure that the automatic link to the Stduent Support Handbook is left in place in your module. This link
allows students direct access to the generic information.
BlackboardTM can also be used to contact all students on a module via email. For assistance with setting up a
BlackboardTM area please contact Gillian Bishop or Tai Luong in Computing Services by email
[email protected]. The University policy, guidelines and online tutorials are available at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/ict/staffguide/vle
Computer Laboratory Bookings
The Timetabling Officer, Sheila Roberts (ext 3213) logs the use of all Undergraduate Programme Computer
Laboratories.
Office Hours
Each member of full time Academic Staff must make themselves available for at least four “office hours” per week,
each week, during term time. Part time Academic Staff should be available on a pro-rata basis. The Student Support
team often advises the students to see Academic Staff to discuss issues concerning a module or a module they wish
to take.
Office hours should be displayed on the appropriate Blackboard TM area. We recommend that you set up an online
calendar booking system at https://wass.aston.ac.uk/wass/pages/login.page.php although you may prefer to use a
sign up sheet on your office door so that students can make appointments. Whichever system you use, please
ensure that the Student Support Office are aware of your office hours details and booking system so that they can
advise students accordingly.
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Disruption in Lectures
Students causing disruption in lectures should be reported to the Director, Undergraduate Programmes, Elaine
Clarke (ext 3232) who will advise the student that such behaviour is a breach of the Code of Practice and that any
further incidents will lead to them being subject to the University Disciplinary Procedure.
Monitoring Student Attendance
Attendance at lectures and tutorials is compulsory. Aston Business School expects 80% attendance. Whilst it is not
practical to take attendance registers for all lectures, it is expected that they are taken for tutorials and any other
small group work. If any student is absent from a tutorial for two or more consecutive weeks this should be reported
to the Information Officer who will then write to the student to remind them that they are required to attend all tutorials
and ask them to explain their absence. This letter will be kept on the student file. The Student Support Officer will use
this information to encourage students to use the Personal Advisor Scheme and / or to discuss any academic
problems with their Personal Tutor.
Leave of Absence and Transfers
Requests for a leave of absence for Combined Honours are dealt with by the Interdisciplinary Office. Those for Single
and Joint Honours students are dealt with the Student Support Office. Requests for a transfer from one programme to
another, or to another University, are handled similarly. These have to be approved by the Course Director and the
Director, Undergraduate Programmes, Elaine Clarke (ext 3232).
Course Directors
Each Undergraduate Programme has an appointed Course Director who has administrative and academic
responsibility for the programme. He/She is a representative on all Undergraduate Committees and relevant Module
Boards. The Course Director provides a liaison point between the Undergraduate Office, students and the academic
subject groups. He/She is also responsible for monitoring and reviewing the programme and for suggesting strategies
for improvement.
Committee Meetings
The Student Support Coordinators organise meetings of the Management Team, Staff/Student Committees, and the
Foundation Programme Liaison Groups and are responsible for preparing the agendas and minutes. All programmes
hold termly Staff/Student Committees. Student representatives are required to let their Course Director know about
any issues to be raised in advance of the meetings and in this way relevant Lecturers can be invited to attend.
Notice boards
The Student Support Coordinators are responsible for keeping the Undergraduate Programme notice boards and
electronic notice board (BlackboardTM) up to date for students.
Personal Advisor Scheme
The Student Support hatch is open throughout the year where students can come and speak to a Student Support
Coordinator. Alternatively, students can speak to a Personal Advisor. The Personal Advisor Scheme enables
students to talk about any problems, concerns and issues they may have personally and academically. This is offered
in addition to the support offered within central student services and that offered by Personal Tutors.
The objectives of the scheme are:








To provide the most accessible and effective pastoral care to students.
To ensure consistency of support to students.
To provide well informed, proactive support to students.
To ensure that all students are clear who they can go to for pastoral, personal, academic and academic-related
support.
To ensure that students with personal or academic problems or queries can get quick support.
To ensure that all first year students are offered the opportunity to discuss issues relating to the integration into
university life, early in the first term.
To ensure that students who are at risk for any reason (e.g. non-attendance, failed assessment) are monitored
and offered the opportunity of personal support.
To monitor student performance.
10
Personal Advisors are available throughout the week during term time. Personal Advisers are linked to each
programme; Students should book an appointment with a Personal Adviser via the online appointment scheduling
system which can be accessed via the ABS Student Handbook module on Blackboard TM. All appointments take
place in the undergraduate office on the 6th floor.
Personal Tutors
Personal Tutors are vital for helping students feel part of the Aston community. They are a specific and consistent
source of guidance, information and support for the student throughout their studies. They should be a student's first
formal point of contact for general academic guidance and pastoral support. A personal tutor should listen to
students' issues or concerns sensitively and responsively and be able to signpost students to other sources of
support within the School, University or Aston Students' Union where required. A personal tutor is not expected to be
an expert in all matters, but should endeavour to help students get the answers, help, advice and guidance they need
for a successful student experience.
Personal tutors should help students settle in to University life both during induction and their subsequent reorientation at the start of each academic year and following a period of placement activity, study abroad or leave of
absence. They should make arrangements to meet with tutees on a regular basis to assist their continuing
progression throughout the programme. They should be a sounding board for any positive or negative issues related
to the experience of their students and act as an advocate for their students as required. Personal tutors must
encourage tutees to attend meetings and make reasonable efforts to contact any who do not do so without prior
notification and justifiable reason. However, ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to attend meetings with their
personal tutor.
There should be a minimum of three personal tutor meetings during the academic year. The first should take place
within the first 2 weeks of term and be a group session. Tutors will notify (usually via WASS – the on-line appointment
booking system) tutees of where and when these are to be held. The subsequent two meetings should be on a one to
one basis. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange and prepare for these. They should take place between
weeks 3-7 and weeks 15-19. It is the tutor’s responsibility to ensure that time has been allocated for these to enable
students to make their appointments. Students and tutors will reminded of these time windows nearer the time by the
Student Experience Co-ordinator.
References
The procedure for students to obtain a reference is





Student completes a Referee Nomination form signed by the relevant member of academic staff (proposed
referee – usually the Personal Tutor). This form can be downloaded from Blackboard.
The student submits the form to the Student Support office. This is then kept on file for use when a request is
sent. A student can ask more than one academic for agreement to act as referee.
Any reference requests received via the UG office will be logged and a standard pro forma generated before
being passed to the referee for completion. We ask the referee to complete and return the reference to the UG
office by email for logging before it is sent to the originator
We aim to complete references within 14 days of receipt – your assistance in meeting this target is much
appreciated.
A standardised email and postal address is to be used by all students. All requests will then be dealt with by the
Student Support Office and distributed to academics:
[email protected]
Academic Name
ABS UG References
6th Floor Main Building
Aston Business School
Aston Trainagle
Birmingham
B4 7ET



Academics are encouraged to use MAP to access the students’ photo and transcripts.
Standard reference forms are to be used. (Available on request from Student Support)
All students will be contacted at the beginning of each year requesting that they update their additional
information form/ensure they have academic agreement.
11

Academic staff may refuse to write a reference if a student does not ask permission in advance. In such cases
references should be referred to the Undergraduate Office where they will be completed by the Student Support
Officer or the Director, Undergraduate Programmes, Elaine Clarke (ext 3232).
Assessments
Rebecca Daly
Joanne Duggan
Felicity Jackson
Maureen Creighton
Assessment Officer
Assessment Coordinator / Coursework
Assessment Coordinator / Exams
Coursework Assistant
ASSESSMENTS
The Assessment Office is responsible for the administration of all coursework and examination matters and acts as a
liaison point between students, academic staff and Registry.
Student Enquiries: Hours of Opening
The Examinations and Coursework Hatch is open from 10.00-12.30 Monday to Friday during term time.
During the vacation it is open 11.00-12.00
General enquiries - [email protected]
Module Outlines
Module outlines are a written record of the learning outcomes, assessment arrangements, tutorial topics, lists of
recommended reading etc. Module outlines are updated annually during the summer and approved by the
Undergraduate Learning and Teaching Committee before the start of the academic year whereby they are published
on Blackboard™.
It is vitally important that detailed and accurate information regarding the assessment of each module is supplied by
teaching staff to the Assessment Office in July as this is then used as the basis for all information distributed to
students in the following academic year. A pro-forma is sent to all staff asking for the following information:
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Details of how a module is to be assessed (e.g. by coursework, exam, presentation etc).
Details of how feedback is to be given.
The weighting of each element towards the final module mark (as a percentage).
A brief description of any coursework (word count etc).
The deadline for submission of any coursework.
The length of any exam involved.
Whether the exam is closed/restricted/open book.
Whether an exemption from anonymous marking is required dependent upon the nature of the assessment.
Whether the assessment is individual or group work.
Academic staff may not change any assessment details, specifically coursework deadlines, after submission
of this information to the Assessment Office without approval from the Director, Undergraduate
Programmes.
COURSEWORK PROCEDURES
All coursework/continuous assessment is marked anonymously. Students hand in work by their candidate number, a
six digit number printed on their ID card which is also used for all examinations. Anonymous marking applies to all
work except:
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
Where the assessment method involves face-to-face assessment of students (e.g. presentations; attendance;
participation in discussions).
Where a member of staff has applied and been granted an exemption in advance because the learning
outcomes for that assignment would not be met by an anonymous marking process and/or the assessment
feedback process would not lend itself to anonymous marking. (The process of applying for this exemption will
be at the time of specifying to the Undergraduate Office the assessment for the next academic year).
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Group Work
Guidelines for the setting of group work assignments
The issue of group assessment within modules has recently come to the fore with an increasing number of students
and staff raising concerns over good practice. This document has been updated following recommendations from the
Single Honours Staff Student Committee, approved by the Undergraduate Learning and Teaching Committee and is
to be used as a guide for lecturers when designing and running group coursework sessions to try and alleviate some
of these concerns.
As a general rule students need to:
-know the rationale behind the group assessment,
-participate in well designed, structured and meaningful tasks and projects,
-have a place to start and be given some general direction,
-be made aware of what your expectations are in terms of management of the group,
-know how they will be graded.
Undergraduate Learning and Teaching Committee has agreed the following additional rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
That the ABS Undergraduate peer review form should continue to be used for all group assessment, and its
use actively managed by relevant module leaders. (Applications for exemption from the scheme should be
made in advance of submitting module outlines, to the Director, Undergraduate Programmes)
That students should continue to be encouraged to take minutes and produce action plans of all group
assessment activities, using the ABS Undergraduate proforma.
That appropriate and successful management of the group should be part of the learning outcomes and
assessment criteria of each piece of group assessment, including where possible, carrying a weighting
towards the final mark.
That students should be encouraged and helped to agree the criteria against which they will assess group
contribution, in writing, at the beginning of the group activity.
That no groups should normally be constituted/allocated with more than FIVE group members. (Applications
for exemption from this should be made in advance of submitting module outlines, to the Director,
Undergraduate Programmes)
That a cap of 30% maximum weighting be applied to the amount of assessment which can be group
assessment. (Applications for exemption from this should be made in advance of submitting module
outlines, to the Director, Undergraduate Programmes)
That proposals to gain exemption from these rules (see points 1, 5 & 6) must be put in writing for
consideration by the Director, Undergraduate Programmes. All cases will be assessed individually and
exemption will only be granted where:
(i)
There are strong pedagogical reasons related to appropriate learning outcomes for the module
(ii)
It is necessary for the programme
Both of these criteria must be satisfied.
That the Director, Undergraduate Programmes report all exemptions to the Undergraduate Teaching
Committee at the first meeting of the academic year.
It is hoped that the guidelines below will help you to design your coursework in such a way as to incorporate the
above issues.

Why group assessment?
Firstly, consider whether this is the best method of assessing the learning objectives and skills you wish students on
the module to develop. Is there another way? We are not advocating the demise of group working, rather that it is
much easier for you to explain to students why they have to do it if you have thought this through beforehand.
Normally no module should be assessed entirely by group assessment.

Plan for the group assessment as you plan your lectures.
This is the best time to decide which topics or themes might lend themselves to group assessment. In order to
motivate students, make sure that tasks are integral to the module and are not perceived as an additional add-on
activity. Students can develop increasingly necessary and important skills from group working and these benefits
should also be emphasised.

Give students the skills they need to work in groups effectively.
Many students may not have worked in a collaborative way before. If you are expecting them to perform effectively in
a group situation, you will need to consider whether they have already had the opportunity to develop the necessary
skills. If not, you may need to allow them time and practice in such skills as active listening, giving and receiving
feedback, negotiation and managing disagreements, in order for them to form an effective working group ethos and
work towards completing the task in hand.
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Be conscious of group size and composition.
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Learning and Teaching Committee has agreed that groups should not be more than FIVE people. Larger groups
decrease each member’s opportunity to participate actively and may lead to demotivation and the group becoming
unproductive and unmanageable. Please, also, be sensitive to the possible additional needs of groups containing
Exchange students or students for whom English is a second language. Try to provide any extra support these
groups feel they may need to enable them to work productively together across the language barrier. It has been
found in the past that some Exchange and overseas students where group assessment is culturally alien feel
neglected and unsupported by the rest of their group. Try to encourage the use of devices whereby participation is
equally possible for all group members, even if in face-to-face meetings certain cultures may be reticent to
participate. L & T research has demonstrated that wikis can be successful in increasing group participation of
overseas students.
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Consider how groups should be composed.
Normally, students are allocated to groups by the Assessments’ Office, particularly where there may be complex
timetable issues to accommodate (for example tutorial arrangements). The Coursework Assistant will contact you at
the start of the academic year to determine your requirements for group composition. You may choose to opt out of
this system and use a different process to allocate groups, for example through student self selection or some other
mechanism relevant to your learning outcomes. Consider carefully which approach is most appropriate for your
learning outcomes and the students concerned (i.e. level of study, mix of abilities and outlook, familiarity with each
other, specific interests) and act accordingly. Please inform the Assessments’ Office how you intend to allocate
groups. Unless you specify otherwise, the Assessments’ Office will allocate students to groups.

Consider written contracts at the start of the task or project.
Giving students written contracts listing the members’ obligations and deadlines can be used to set the foundations
for group working and allay misunderstandings before work begins. You could ask the group to devise a plan of
action (which they should submit) outlining who will be doing what and when. This gives the group assessment more
structure, which can often be lacking.

Design activities in which there is a clear division of labour.
Dividing the project work into separate, but related, topics can allow students to conduct their research independently
and then use group meetings to bring their strands together through sharing information, discussing the implications
of what they have researched, editing articles, proofreading and designing the unified final piece of work. This way
each individual must contribute if the final outcome is to be achieved. Each member of the group can then receive
their own grade based on their own and the group’s efforts. The grade received will average together the individual
effort (say, 70%) with the quality of the group assessment (say, 30%).
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Provide mechanisms for groups to deal with their concerns over uncooperative members and be
aware of grading issues.
Red and yellow card system
The new system is designed to replace the existing contribution sheet, but addresses contribution as and when any
student fails to meet their obligations to the group.
Warning - Yellow card
If a student fails to:
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attend an arranged meeting without having given advance warning and a reasonable reason and/or
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fails to produce their share of the work at the agreed times, or
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in any other specific way, holds up the rest of the group from progressing with the group task
the rest of the group may decide to issue this student with a ‘YELLOW CARD’ as a warning. This is a metaphorical
yellow card, not a real one.
In such cases one member of the group would need to email the student, copying in the rest of the group and, most
importantly, copying the Director, Undegraduate Programme in to the email at [email protected]. The student
must write their group number and the module number or name on the email. The email needs to state that the other
group members have agreed to issue a yellow card and the member of the group must state the specific reason for
this. Such an email might look like this, for example:
Dear…… Your fellow group members have agreed to issue you with a yellow card for failing to attend the meeting
scheduled for 6th June without having informed us of the reason for your absence. Please let us have the work
you agreed to do by the end of the week.
Consequences – Red card
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If another ‘offence’ occurs, then the other group members may agree to issue a RED CARD on this occasion. They
must follow the same procedure, that is copying in all group members and the Director, Undergraduate Programmes,
on an email. The wording of the email might be something like…..
Dear……..Following the issuing of a yellow card to you on 7 th June, your fellow group members have agreed to
issue you with a red card for failing to send us the work you agreed to do by 10 th June. We have another meeting
scheduled for this Tuesday which we hope you will be able to attend. Please could you email your work to us
before this meeting. Look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.
The issuing of a red card means that the student will lose 10% of the mark that is eventually awarded to the group for
this piece of work. That is, if the group is awarded 60% for the piece of work, a student with one red card will lose 6
marks off their work. It is hoped that the issuing of a warning will be enough to prompt the recalcitrant student to start
playing their part, however, if the non-contribution continues, then the group members may continue to issue red
cards for each subsequent offence. Each subsequent red card will be a higher percentage deducted from the marks,
i.e. the second red card will mean a deduction of a further 15%, the third a further reduction of 20% etc. There is no
need to issue any further yellow cards once you have issued one at the beginning.
As a member of the group would have been copying the Director, Undergraduate Programme on each email, the
ABSUG office will be able to keep a record of the total deduction that any student should have and this will be
implemented once the marks are received back from the Module Leader.
There is no limit to the number of red cards that can be issued, although a student’s grade will not go into minus
figures. A yellow card must always be issued first before you start issuing red cards. This means that a student who
is not contributing fully as a group member has fair warning and has an opportunity to amend their behaviour before
losing any marks.
Deadlines
The deadline for submission of coursework is set at the beginning of the academic year in consultation with the
Assessment Coordinator and the lecturer and it is approved by the Undergraduate Learning and Teaching
Committee. The coursework deadline cannot be moved except in exceptional circumstances and after approval by
the Director, Undergraduate Programmes, Elaine Clarke (ext 3232).
Students may not negotiate individual extensions to deadlines with lecturers. Any student who cannot submit on time
for any reason must complete a Late Submissions Form (available from the Assessments’ Office and on
Blackboard™) and any supporting evidence. Once these documents are received in the Assessments’ Office the
Late Submissions’ Panel will decide whether or not a penalty should be applied.
Coursework should always be handed in at the Examinations and Coursework Hatch and not to the lecturer. The
deadline is always 12 noon on the hand-in date. The Assessments’ Office will contact the lecturer to let them know
when the coursework is ready for marking.
Upon collection lecturers will be advised of the deadline by which they should return their marked work to the
Assessments’ Office. University Regulations state that marked work must be available to students within 4 weeks of
the submission deadline. For smaller modules the expectation is that work should be returned much sooner than
this. Lecturers should not return marked work directly to students.
All coursework deadlines are displayed on Blackboard™ and on the notice boards outside the Examinations and
Coursework Hatch. Submission dates are ratified by the UG Learning and Teaching Committee and changes are not
allowed, except in very exceptional circumstances and then only after approval by the Director, Undergraduate
Programmes, Elaine Clarke (ext 3232). If there is a change to the submission date a notice will be displayed on the
notice boards, on Blackboard™ and by e-mail to all students concerned.
Submission
From 2012/13 a new barcode system will be introduced for hardcopy coursework submission. This system is still in
the planning stages so the following overview may be subject to change. Students deliver their completed
assignments to the Examinations and Coursework Hatch by 1200 noon on the specified day of submission, together
with an Assessment Sheet, downloaded from MAP containing a personalised barcode. The Assessment Sheet is
scanned at the hatch and this automatically creates a log in SITS of the student’s submission. The student will
receive an electronic receipt via email and MAP. Students must also submit their coursework electronically via
Blackboard™ by the given deadline. Electronic submission is through each individual module on Blackboard™ with
the majority of assessments submitted through a digital drop box. Some assessments are submitted through Turn It
In™ where the module leader has elected to mark electronically or has specifically requested that Turn It In™ be
used. Full instructions are available directly above the assessment submission site as to how to submit through each
of these methods. Academic Staff then collect the assignments from the Assessments’ Office, and should mark and
15
return them in the order received by the stipulated deadline, using the electronic feedback form provided. The
feedback form should then be sent back to the Assessments’ Office via email from which the Assessments’ Office
produce an individual printed feedback sheet for each student, which is then attached to the coursework assignment.
A copy of the feedback form should be retained by the marker for their records, and a central copy will also be stored.
Law modules
Generally students studying law modules will not receive printed feedback and instead markers complete a
handwritten triplicate feedback sheet, one of which is returned to the student along with their assignment. The
original copy should be retained by the marker and the second sheet is archived in the Assessments’ Office.
A small number of Law modules will be marked electronically via Turn It In™ in 2012/13.
Late Submission
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Extensions to coursework submission dates are not granted in advance.
Lecturers and students are not allowed to negotiate individual extensions between themselves.
If work is submitted late a yellow Late Submission Form must be completed by the student and handed in by the
deadline, giving full details of the reason for the late submission. This should include any supporting evidence, e.g.
medical notes, if appropriate. The assignment should then be handed in as soon as possible.
A Late Submissions Panel (usually consisting of the Assessment Officer and Assessment Coordinator) then decides
whether to penalise the work submitted. If no satisfactory explanation is offered, work is penalised at the rate of 10%
of the mark awarded for each day late (not including weekends, public holidays, official university closed days and
vacation periods).
Submission will not be considered complete until both the paper and electronic copy have been received, however
penalties are only applied to the late submission of the paper copy.
The Assessments’ Office then sends the student a letter via email, giving the decision of the Panel. Standard letters
are kept on the student's electronic record for:
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No penalty – in cases where the reason for lateness and supporting evidence have been accepted
No penalty – in cases where the student has informed the UG Office that ECs have been/or will be
submitted
Penalty – this will indicate the full penalty eg 10%, 20%, 30% depending on how many days late
Students receive an automated email if no coursework has been submitted and a zero absence mark is recorded in
SITS. This is also kept on the student’s electronic record.
Late submission penalties are applied to the student’s electronic results record in SITS.
Collection of Work
Students can collect only their own work, and only on production of their ID card. Students will be emailed by the
Assessments’ Office once coursework is available for collection. Coursework can be collected from the Exams and
Coursework Hatch between 10am and 12.30pm, and the Student Support Hatch between 2pm and 4pm. Lecturers
are asked not to tell students that coursework is available once it has been marked and returned to the Assessments’
Office as a number of administrative procedures need to be completed before it can be released to students.
Final Year Coursework
Electronic copies of second and final year coursework (and first year coursework in the case of Law modules) are
required as the External Examiner may wish to review this. Students are encouraged to keep copies of all submitted
work as the Assessments’ Office does not retain any paper copies not collected within a year of graduation.
Plagiarism and Collusion
There is a plagiarism and collusion disclaimer on each Assessment Sheet. This must be ticked by all students when
submitting each piece of work. A warning against plagiarism is also stated on MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL)
WWW.ASTON.AC.UK/MAP when students enrol/re-enrol. General information regarding what constitutes plagiarism
and collusion is also available on Blackboard™ and from the Assessments’ Office.
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Any student found to have “borrowed” from published work without acknowledgment, or from other students’ work
may be subject to formal disciplinary proceedings, and could be awarded a fail mark for the work in question, or in the
relevant unit of assessment. All cases of suspected plagiarism or collusion should be referred to the Assessment
Coordinator, Joanne Duggan (ext 3217).
Student Feedback
Feedback on each Term 1 module is collected from students at the end of the first teaching period around Christmas
with feedback for each Term 2 and double modules collected in the weeks around Easter. This feedback is then
passed to the module leader and Group Head for discussion and will form the basis for the module leader’s Annual
Reflection Form.
EXAMINATION PROCEDURES
The University Registry stipulates the overall timetabling of examinations, and regards the Business School as the
pace-setter for the University as a whole because the School has by far the highest number of candidates sitting
examinations. The Registry takes final responsibility for printing examination papers, and keeps a central record of
all examinations and which examinations are being taken by which students. The procedural steps, content of
examination papers, allocation of invigilators, marking, and the general administration of examinations are, however,
the responsibility of the Business School, and the Assessment Officer in particular.
Preparation of Papers
The Assessment Officer sends an e-mail to all examiners asking them to submit their question papers, and other
relevant information by certain deadlines. A template is supplied and should be used for all papers. These are
approximately as follows:
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Final Year Week 12 and 13 Papers – End of October
1st and 2nd Year Week 12 and 13 Papers- Mid November
Final Year Summer Papers – End of January
1st and 2nd Year Summer Papers – End of February
Associated referred assessment should be submitted with the original exam paper
Papers are returned to the Assessment Officer, usually on disk/memory stick or via password protected email. The
Assessment Officer then checks the papers to ensure they are all in the same house style as far as possible, and
inserts the time and date of the paper once available. The finalised papers are then sent back to the examiner via
password protected email for proof reading. Papers should also be checked by a second member of academic staff.
In the case of Final papers, a copy is also sent to the external examiner along with model answers and coursework
specifications. Once the final versions of each paper have been compiled by the Assessment Officer, these are sent
to the Registry for final printing.
Timetables
Examination timetables are issued to students via MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL) WWW.ASTON.AC.UK/MAP three
weeks before the examination period. The Assessment Officer and Undergraduate Office resolve any queries that
are raised and inform the Registry of any changes.
Examination Podcast
A podcast is available on Blackboard™ at least three weeks before the examination period, detailing examination
regulations and procedures. This is accompanied by an examination booklet which contains further relevant
information.
Examination Meetings
The Director, Undergraduate Programmes holds meetings with students prior to each exam period, detailing
examination regulations and procedures and, prior to the summer exam period, the process for receiving results.
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Examinations
Most examinations are held in the summer term, but there are also some formal examination in weeks 12 and 13,
plus class tests throughout the year. Some examinations and class tests may be scheduled on Saturday mornings.
Scripts are collected at the end of the examination, either by the examiner or the assistant invigilators and MUST be
counted and a script report completed. Scripts may be taken by the Chief Invigilator directly from the exam room, but
this must be logged on the script report. Alternatively, scripts returned to Registry from various rooms are then
collated and counted and are available for collection from Registry at designated times thereafter. The Assessment
Officer sends a mark sheet and details of the deadline for return of marked scripts to her. For week 12 and 13
papers, all marked scripts must be returned to the assessment office within approximately 4 weeks, in order to allow
time to process the marks before they are released to students. Provisional marks must be available to students
within a maximum of 4 weeks of the date of the assessment. For summer exams the deadline is much tighter and
marked scripts must be returned at least two weeks before the relevant examination board. Marks should be
submitted in electronic format.
Invigilation
All Lecturers are expected to undertake invigilation. Academics will be expected to invigilate their own examination (s)
or to appoint a substitute able to resolve queries which may arise from the paper. Contact details should also be
provided when the examiner cannot be present. An academic member of staff is required to be present as chief
invigilator in EVERY examination venue. This means that you will be asked to cover other examinations as some take
place in multiple venues. Due to the number of papers and students during both examination sessions (January and
summer) your flexibility is appreciated with the number of invigilation’s you will be required to do. If you are unable to
undertake invigilation you MUST find an academic member of staff to replace you. PhD students and clerical
members of staff cannot act as chief invigilator.
There must be one member of Academic Staff present, as a chief invigilator, in every room of every examination.
This is usually the module leader, but in large examinations in multiple rooms as many as six or seven extra
invigilators can be required. Teaching staff are asked to indicate their availability to invigilate on a form distributed by
the Assessment Coordinator.
An invigilation timetable is then drawn up, with each member of staff being allocated equal slots where possible.
Teaching staff are sent copies of the timetable, with a memo which describes their responsibilities in this area. This
includes a stipulation to appoint someone else to invigilate when they cannot do so and to inform the Assessment
Coordinator.
Marking
Final-year papers are marked by the examiner, and twenty percent are also double-marked. A selection of marked
papers reflecting the range of marks awarded, and any borderline cases, are then sent to the external examiner for
that paper. Each examination board then convenes and the final marks awarded.
First- and second-year papers are marked internally only (with the exception of papers taken by students on the LLB
Law with Management Programme).
Examination Results
The office staff check students examination results transcripts and distribute them to students and a copy is kept on
the student’s file. Students with referred/deferred are informed of which assessments they need to do again and this
information is also kept on file. Students in jeopardy and students who are required to retake the year are also
contacted by the office.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
External Examiners
External examiners with appropriate experience for each Final Year module/programme are nominated by the
teaching staff and ratified by Undergraduate Learning and Teaching Committee. The Assessment Officer sends the
external examiner all final year examination papers for approval, a selection of marked scripts, and details of any
borderline cases. A selection of final year coursework is also sent to the external examiner throughout the year by the
Assessment Coordinator.
External examiners are also present at all Final Year external examination boards (see below).
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Examination Boards
All Module Leaders should be available for the module and programme board during the exam board period. These
dates will be communicated to you early in the year and non-attendance at the board is only permissible with prior
permission from your Group Head and the Director, Undergraduate Programmes (ext 3232). If attendance is not
possible then a properly briefed suitable should be sent.
An Examination Board is convened for each programme year. The external Examination Board awards each finalyear student their degree classification. Module Boards are convened prior to Programme Boards, at which
consideration of modules in a cognate subject area takes place and the membership must include at least one
examiner for each module, plus the external examiner for that subject area. Programme Boards are then attended by
one representative from each relevant module board and a nominated external examiner.
Each Examination Board must be approved by the University Senate. Internal Examination Boards are held prior to
the external Examination Boards to resolve as many problems as possible.
Attendance at all examination boards is compulsory.
Exceptional Circumstances
Students with a good reason for not attending an examination/submitting coursework, or for poor performance on a
module should submit evidence for this (e.g. medical reports) along with a completed exceptional circumstances
form, and this will be taken into account by the Examination Board. An appeals procedure is in place, but only where
there are no grounds to indicate that there has been a procedural error. There is no right of appeal against the
academic decision of an examination board.
Results
Provisional results for coursework, class tests and January examinations are published on MAP (MY ASTON
PORTAL) WWW.ASTON.AC.UK/MAP within 4 weeks of the assessment date/deadline. These marks are subject to
ratification by the Board of Examiners.
End of year results are initially made visible on MAP (MY ASTON PORTAL) WWW.ASTON.AC.UK/MAP and
subsequently each student is sent an individual transcript of their marks. For final years, a list of degree
classifications is displayed in the glass cabinet on the 6 th Floor, after the examination boards, in June or July. Firstand second-year results stating pass or failure and details of referrals are posted on the notice boards next to the
Assessments’ Hatch. Overall module distributions are published on Blackboard™. Module leaders are also required
to complete a module feedback form, which will also be available to students on Blackboard™.
Referred Examinations/Coursework
Where a first- or second-year student fails not more than one-third of the units of assessment (not more than 40
credits), the student can take referred assessments (either coursework or examination as specified by the module
board) in the August/September re-sit period. However, only a pass grade (40%) may be awarded for a referred
module, irrespective of the mark achieved. This is to prevent students knowingly failing a module to allow them to
concentrate on others, then achieving a higher grade in the referred examination/coursework.
Where exceptional circumstances have been accepted as contributing to the poor performance, students may be
deferred in their assessments, and their grade remains uncapped.
Examiners have a responsibility to prepare examination papers/ coursework specifications for referred modules
should this prove necessary. These are submitted to the Assessment Office along with the original exam if preferred.
Additional Needs
The Assessment Officer makes the necessary arrangements for students with additional needs, such as extra time, a
separate room or specialised equipment, or the provision of an amanuensis. Students requiring special provision will
be known beforehand and arrangements made in advance. The Assessment Office works closely with the Disability
and Additional Needs Unit to ensure that each students needs are catered for.
Confidentiality and Security
All examination papers and marked scripts are kept locked away. The Assessment Officer does not use the internal
post for sending examination papers or coursework to other parties, and takes exam papers for external marking in
person to the post room. Past examination papers are similarly kept locked away. Papers are sent to external
examiners by Recorded Delivery.
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ASSIGNMENT MARKING GUIDELINES
Appendix 2 indicates the marks and classifications to be awarded for various standards of student work. They are
not intended to replace the specific guidelines given by staff in respect of individual pieces of coursework, not least
because modules taught within Aston Business School will have their own focus and assignments will vary in their
approach (e.g. essays, reports, calculations, computing based projects etc.). The descriptions offered here are,
therefore, generalised and will need to be interpreted and adapted to the specific requirements of each assignment.
These guidelines do, however, emphasise the type of approach students should be developing as they progress
through their degree studies.
Students are therefore advised to read through all work before submission in order to judge how well it
matches the criteria set for a good grade.
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APPENDIX 2
ASSIGNMENT MARKING GUIDELINES
1st (>80%)
An outstanding achievement for an undergraduate with regard to analysis,
interpretation, synthesis, evaluation and presentation. Such work is likely to discuss
issues rarely identified by undergraduates and may, for example, exhibit a novelty of
approach distinguishing it from work within the 70-79% range. No irrelevant material.
Referencing correct. No (or only minor) errors in spelling and/or grammar.
1st (70-79%)
Excellent grasp of knowledge, with evidence of wide reading and/or research,
analysed in depth to support arguments. Substantial evidence of personal
interpretation, synthesis and evaluation. All major points covered. Excellent
organisation and presentation for an undergraduate. Referencing correct. No (or
only minor) errors in spelling and/or grammar.
2.1 (60-69%)
Very good grasp of knowledge, with evidence of wide reading and/or research.
Issues understood and interpreted intelligently. Major points covered. Well organised
and presented. Evidence of a personal interpretation and a coherent argument,
involving analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Referencing largely correct.
Occasional spelling and/or grammatical errors.
From 50% upwards work
will show an increasingly
thorough understanding of
the
literature
and
of
concepts, analysis
and use of a variety of
sources,
evaluation
of
theories and experience.
Work will demonstrate a
capacity
for
reasoned
argument and judgement
2.2 (50-59%)
Good grasp of knowledge involved. Evidence of reading and research. Issues
understood. Presentation and organisation clear. Most points covered. Provides the
evidence and reports views on it. In doing so provides a fairly coherent response to
the task. Referencing generally correct. Occasional spelling and/or grammatical
errors.
While these criteria are
relevant to all levels of
undergraduate work, clearly
a first year student is not
expected
3rd (40-49%)
Provides evidence and reports views but does not clearly relate them to the task.
Some major points not covered. Some evidence of organisation. Work is too factual
and descriptive. Repeated errors in referencing. More than the occasional error in
spelling and/or grammar.
to have developed these
academic skills to the same
level as is expected from a
final year student
Fail (26-39%)
.
Little evidence of reading and/or research. Little evidence of understanding.
Insufficient or misinterpreted evidence and views. Disorganised. Work and material
presented is largely irrelevant to task set. A few minor points covered. Major and
many errors in referencing. Frequent spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Bad Fail (<25%)
Scarce or no evidence of reading and/or research. Very disorganised and unclear.
Majority of material irrelevant to the task set. Misinterpreted evidence. No major or
minor points covered. Major and many errors in referencing. Many spelling and/or
grammatical errors.
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PLACEMENTS
Placement Manager
Placement Student Support Manager
International Placement Manager
ABS Placement Coordinator
Language Assistant
Etta Parkes
Carolyn Keenan
Carolina Salinas
Shantelle Johnson-Wiltshire
Carina Weber
THE PLACEMENT TEAM HAVE NOW BEEN CENTRALISED AND ARE LOCATED IN THE CAREERS OFFICE,
UPPER GROUND FLOOR, SOUTH WING.
Procedure
All Business School students will spend one year on a professional placement, either in the UK or abroad. This is
compulsory for Single Honours Home and EU students. (This is also compulsory for IBAM and IBML students,
whose placement has to be outside the UK – see IBML). International students are also offered this opportunity, on a
non-compulsory basis.
Timetabled briefing sessions and skill workshops are held during Term 1, describing in detail the aims and
procedures of the placement year, and giving guidance on CV writing, completing application forms, interview skills
and techniques on passing assessment centres.
Organisations interested in hiring students for a placement year contact the Placement Team throughout the year.
The job details are then advertised on the university job board. Students are then contacted by the company and if
successful, will be invited to attend an interview/assessment centre. These can be held on campus or on the
company’s premises.
Employers may also give presentations and /or skills sessions to students on campus which will be promoted to
students via the Placement Employer Team.
Placement Tutors
Each student on placement is allocated a placement tutor by the Placement Office. Placement tutors visit students
on placement once (usually during the first three months), and on a second occasion if necessary to give advice on
assessed work and maximising the value of the placement year experience.
Placement Tutors are allocated to students from the Aston Business School teaching staff or from a team of
Professional Placement Visitors who are employed by Aston Business School. The Placement Manager liaises with
Group Heads annually; the Group Heads then decide which members of staff in their group will tutor placement
students for that academic year.
The role of a Placement Tutor is to:
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liaise with the Placement Supervisor to ensure that the student is maintaining standards;
visit the student and their supervisor at their company on at least one occasion to discuss work performance
and the academic work requirements;
liaise with the student throughout the year by whatever method is appropriate to help their development and
maximise learning and opportunities;
make available an appropriate time when the student can visit the University to discuss their essay;
guide the student with their essay, reflective learning journal and report, including ensuring that the student
is aware of the ethical requirement of undertaking research within the placement organisation;
keep the Placement Office informed of the student’s progress and of any placement or company changes;
mark the students essay and provide constructive written feedback to the student, responding to the student
if he/she wishes to discuss the feedback further.
Work Assignments
In addition to the work demanded by the host company, students on placement must also complete:
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A placement essay, which counts for 10% of the final award.
A placement report, giving an overall description of the placement by the student.
A reflective learning journal in which students record their learning and reflect on their experiences.
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The placement essay must be submitted to the Coursework Office by mid April in the placement year. Essays are
collected by the placement tutor and second marker (i.e. all placement essays are double marked). In rare
circumstances essays may be treble marked. The placement report and reflective learning journal are handed in to
the Coursework Office during the second week of term following the placement year. The Reflective Learning
Journal is marked on a pass/fail/merit/distinction basis by a group of Journal Markers. The Placement Report is
marked on a pass/fail basis.
Problems
Students contact the Placement Office with a wide range of problems, personal and academic, while on placement.
The office staff usually deals with these themselves, and fields any problems they cannot resolve to appropriate
university staff. Students may be advised, where relevant, to contact their Placement Tutor.
INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENTS
International Business and Management (IBAM)
Home IBAM students are required to spend the placement year (the third year of the four year programme) on an
overseas placement. The placement can be a study placement - at one of our partner institutions – , a work
placement or a combination of both. IBAM students take placements all over the world, but usually in English
speaking environments as they do not study a language as a compulsory part of the degree programme.
IBAM students have access to the same support during their search for a placement and whilst on placement as all
other single honours students and the procedure for advertising opportunities is also via the university job board
(please see procedure section above).
The International Placements Team provide support to IBAM and all other Business School students who wish to do
an overseas placement, and deliver specific overseas briefing sessions and workshops to prepare them and to offer
advice on securing a position overseas.
Assessment
Should IBAM students undertake a work placement overseas for their placement year their assessment criteria is the
same as for students on a placement in the UK (please see Work Assignments section above).
Assessment for study placements is as follows: students must study a set amount of credits determined by Aston by
taking all their examinations and completing all coursework requirements at the partner university abroad. Institutions
within Europe award credits using the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) scheme, allowing direct comparison
with credits within Aston Business School. A system for the translation of credits and marks has been established in
order to allow the direct comparison of marks, including partner universities outside Europe. The marks attained at
the study institution make up the 10% placement year component of the degree (or 5% if students are also doing a
work placement).
International Business and Modern Languages (IBML)
IBML modules are run both by the Business School and by the School of Languages and Social Sciences (LSS).
However, the Year Abroad (placement year) is administered by the Business School. During the third year, IBML
students undertake a one year work placement and/or studying at a partner institution in a French, German and/or
Spanish speaking country. Students studying two languages will split the year abroad as appropriate between two
countries.
The International Placements Team support IBML students in all aspects of their search for a placement and
continues this support to students during the Year Abroad itself.
IBML students have access to the same facilities as single honours students and will apply for placement
opportunities via the placements job board. Due to the language component of the IBML degree, students undertake
the placement in a French, German and/or Spanish speaking environment. This means plenty of placement
opportunities with a language element are available for these students.
Assessment
For work placements, students must complete a Reflective Learning Journal and a Placement Essay. The logbook
and essay have to be submitted on various dates during the year, depending on the length of the placement. The
Reflective Learning Journal is assessed on a pass or fail basis.
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IBML students are allocated an essay supervisor to support them in writing their Year Abroad essay. This can be a
member of academic staff from ABS (with knowledge of the foreign language) or a member of academic staff from
LSS.
The Year Abroad assessment for study placements is as follows: students must study a set amount of credits
determined by Aston and take all their examinations and complete all coursework requirements within the placement
institution abroad.
The placement mark (for both work and study institutions) contributes 10% towards the final degree classification.
Final decisions on work placements must be made by a predetermined date in spring. Any student who has failed to
obtain a suitable work placement by that deadline has to take a study placement, but they are advised that the
remaining places are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and the longer the final choice is delayed the less
choice is available.
ABS/UG/TG
Sept 2012
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