Undergraduate Degree Classification
Scheme
2014-2015
This Classification Scheme must be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for
Students, the Undergraduate Degree Regulations and the Independent Study Project (ISP)
Guidelines.
There is a separate Classification Scheme for LLB students admitted in or before the 2011/12
academic year.
Published by SOAS
October 2014
1
CONTENTS
Section
Page
1.
Regulatory Status of this Scheme and Sources of Advice
4
2.
Degree Classes
4
3.
Marking Scheme
5
4.
Number of Courses required for a Degree
6
5.
Synopsis of the Classification Scheme
7
6.
The Primary Rule
6.1
Three and four year degrees with two classifiable years
6.2
Results for candidates spending a compulsory language year abroad
6.3
Candidates admitted to years other than Year 1
8
8
8
8
7.
The Secondary Rule
7.1
Definitions
7.2
Three and four year degrees with two classifiable years
9
9
9
8.
Degree Titles
8.1
Title of degree on application and enrolment and title of degree awarded
8.2
Determination of the title of degree to be awarded
8.3
Criteria for determining the title of degree
8.4
Types of degree title
8.5
Naming of single-subject degrees
8.6
Naming of two-subject degrees
8.6.1 Order of the subjects
8.6.2 Number of courses required in each subject
8.7
Degrees with no reference to field of study
8.8
Degrees with no reference to field of study
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
9.
Miscellaneous Regulations
9.1
Assessment results – failure, deferral and absence
9.2
Open option courses and degree classification
9.2.1 Definition of an open option course
9.2.2 Consideration of open option courses in classification
9.3
Two-subject degrees and degree classification
9.4
Courses passed following re-assessment
9.5
Candidates who have undertaken an Erasmus year away from the School
11
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
2
10.
Degree Classification - Worked Examples
Example A (3-year degree) – Award made under the primary rule
Example B (3-year degree) – Award made under the secondary rule
Example C (3-year degree) – Not eligible for Honours
Example D (3-year degree - year 2 entry)
3
13
13
15
17
19
1.
REGULATORY STATUS OF THIS SCHEME AND SOURCES OF ADVICE
(a)
Regulatory Status
The School Board of Examiners determines the classification of degrees at its annual meeting
in June/July. It will have regard to this Classification Scheme, but retains the discretion in
exceptional circumstances to calculate degree classification on profiles other than those set
out in this guide. No individual member of staff can promise that any particular class of degree
will be awarded.
This document serves several purposes and the sections have different regulatory status.
(b)

Sections 1, 5 and 10: These are descriptive, illustrative or narrative and have no
regulatory status. They are provided for the guidance of students and staff, but do not
commit the Board of Examiners to any particular decision or course of action.

Sections 2, 3, 4 and 9: These are SOAS regulations and are marked with (*REG).

Sections 6, 7 and 8: These are guidelines and will be referred to by the Board of
Examiners when classifying for Honours and determining degree titles. The Board of
Examiners retains the discretion to award degree classifications and degree titles on
profiles and other criteria in exceptional circumstances.
Sources of advice
There are several members of staff who can give advice in understanding the Classification
Scheme and can help in working out how its provisions might apply in individual cases. These
include: Undergraduate Tutors, Faculty Office staff, Heads of Departments, Faculty Associate
Deans for Learning and Teaching and the Registry Examinations and Assessment team.
2.
DEGREES CLASSES (*REG)
The Board of Examiners may award BA, BSc and LLB Honours degrees with one of the
following classes:
First class
Second class (upper division)
Second class (lower division)
Third class
(1)
(2i)
(2ii)
(3)
The Board of Examiners may award BA and BSc degrees with a Pass classification.
The School does not award an LLB Pass degree. Students who have completed courses from
4
the LLB syllabus to the value of 10 to 11.5 courses may be eligible for the award of the
degree of BA Law.
3.
MARKING SCHEME (*REG)
Marks for courses are converted into degree class equivalents as follows:
70 to 100
60 to 69
50 to 59
40 to 49
0 to 39
(1)
(2i)
(2ii)
(3)
(F)
First class
Second class - upper division
Second class - lower division
Third class
Fail
5
4.
NUMBER OF COURSES REQUIRED FOR A DEGREE (*REG)
The requirement set out below cover all years of the degree. Classification rules are only
based on years other than year 1. All degrees are year 1 entry unless otherwise stated.
Courses to be taken: This refers to the number of courses (or equivalent half courses)
students are required to follow for their degree.
Minimum courses required to pass: This refers to the number of courses (or equivalent half
courses) students are required to pass in order to be awarded an honours or pass degree.
Please note that there is no pass award for the LLB. Students who pass between 10 and 11.5
courses will be eligible for the BA Law.
Minimum required in subject: This refers to the minimum number of course a student must
pass in the subject of a degree (e.g. a BA History student must pass 9 courses in history as
set out in the approved syllabus
Single Subject degree
Type
Courses to
be taken
2-year Senior Status LLB
3-year LLB
3-year LLB (year 2 entry)
3-year BA/BSc
3-year BA/BSc (year 2 entry)
4-year BA/BSc
4-year BA/BSc (year 2 entry)
4-year BA/BSc (year 3 entry)
9
12
8
12
8
16
12
8
Minimum courses
required to pass
Honours
Pass degree
9
12
8
11
10
7
6
14
13
10
9
6
5
Minimum
required in
subject
9
10
8
9
6
12
9
6
Two Subject degree
Type
3-year
3-year (year 2 entry)
4-year
4-year (year 2 entry)
4-year (year 3 entry)
Courses to
be taken
12
8
16
12
8
Minimum courses
required to pass
Honours
Pass degree
11
10
7
6
14
13
10
9
6
5
6
Minimum required in
subject
Subject 1 Subject 2
5
4
3
3
8
5
5
3
3
3
5.
SYNOPSIS OF THE CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
The Board of Examiners determines the class of degree to be awarded to each student at the
end of their degree. The classification scheme is based on a profile of degree classes of
courses obtained in years other than Year 1 of the degree. The Board does not use averages
(except for the rare cases specified in Section 8.5). The decisions of the Board also take into
account a number of other factors listed under section 9 miscellaneous regulations.
1.
The Board first checks that candidates have the minimum number of courses required
for an Honours degree (see Section 4 above). These must comply with the annual
course requirement that students complete 4 course units or equivalent half
course units in each academic year of their programme of study (120 credits).
2.
The Board then examines the classes of their courses under two rules of classification the primary rule and the secondary rule. (The Board retains the discretion to
calculate degree classification on profiles other than those set out in this scheme in
exceptional circumstances.)
(a)
(b)
(c)
3.
The Board determines the classification of each candidate by using both the
primary and the secondary rule.
The primary rule is applied first followed by the secondary rule.
No candidate is classified by the operation of one rule only.
The Board only considers courses for Honours classification purposes which are in the
qualifying years of a degree (i.e. years other than Year 1).
The Primary Rule (see Section 6)
To be awarded a degree of class x, candidates must have passed a minimum number of
courses at class x or better. These courses must be distributed in one of a number of
permitted ways between the final year and the pre-final year or years.
The Secondary Rule (see Section 7)
To be awarded a degree of class x, candidates must not have more than a certain maximum
number of courses which are two classes below class x (or x – 2). Courses in class x - 2 can
be compensated by courses which are one class higher than class x (or x + 1, except where x
is a first as this is the highest class possible).
7
6.
THE PRIMARY RULE
6.1
Three-year degrees, and four-year degrees that include two years of classifiable
Courses
To be awarded a degree of class x, a candidate must have courses of class x or above, falling
into one of the following patterns. These courses must be in the final two years of the degree,
or in Years 2 and 4 for students taking four-year degrees with a language year abroad in Year
3 or in Years 3 and 4 for students taking four-year degrees with a language year abroad in
Year 2. For students on the Senior Status LLB, this will be based on the two year programme.
Pre-final year
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
6.2
Final year
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
2
1.5
1.5
1
Total courses in class x or above
4
4
4
4
4
4.5
4.5
5
5
Results for candidates spending a compulsory language year abroad
(a) Courses taken as part of a compulsory language year abroad are not counted for
honours classification and are awarded as pass or fail.
(b) Candidates are classified according to the scheme for students taking three-year
degrees in 6.1.
(c) Students who successfully complete the compulsory language year abroad are awarded
four courses towards the numbers of courses required for a degree, but no marks. The
courses count as courses in the relevant language for the purpose of calculating the
degree title.
6.3
Candidates admitted to years other than Year 1
Candidates are classified for Honours solely on the basis of courses taken during their degree
registration at SOAS.
8
7.
THE SECONDARY RULE
7.1
Definitions
For the purpose of this rule, the classes are 1st, 2i, 2ii, 3rd, and Fail.
Class x - 2
Class x + 1
7.2
(two or more classes below class x)
(one or more classes above class x)
Three-year degrees and four-year degrees that include two years of classifiable
Courses
(a) To be awarded a degree of class x under the primary rule, a candidate must not have
more than 1.5 courses in the qualifying years in class x – 2 under the secondary rule.
(b) If a candidate has 2 or more courses in class x – 2 in the qualifying years, the second
and subsequent courses in class x - 2 may be compensated by courses in class x + 1,
except where x = 1st then (c) below applies.
(c) If there are no compensating courses in class x + 1, then the courses in class x are
deemed to be reduced by one class to class x – 1. This is on a one for one basis
according to the number of courses above 1.5 in class x - 2. This reduction will be carried
out in the way least disadvantageous to the candidate.
(d) The profile of classes adjusted by the deemed reduction will then be classified under the
primary rule.
(Note: ‘deemed reduction’ - classes are regarded as reduced for this classification
exercise only. The actual results remain unaffected and will be shown on the transcript.)
9
8.
DEGREE TITLES
8.1
Title of degree on application and enrolment and title of degree awarded
In the case of students enrolled for two-subject degrees, the title of the degree applied for (as
listed in the prospectus) and the title of degree during the programme of study are arranged in
alphabetical order of the subjects in the degree title. Degrees in which a language is part of
the degree title have the language first in the degree title. These orders are conventional and
do not attempt to reflect the balance between the two subjects either overall or in any
particular year. These forms of degree titles will not necessarily be the same as the titles of
the degrees as awarded on completion of the course.
8.2
Determination of the title of degree to be awarded
The Board of Examiners determines the title of degree for each candidate when classifying
that candidate for Honours or determining the award of a Pass degree. The Board will have
regard to the guidelines set out below, but reserves the right in exceptional circumstances to
determine degree titles according to other criteria.
8.3
Criteria for determining the title of degree
When determining the title of degree to be awarded, the Board will have regard to the whole
profile of courses passed by the candidate during their degree enrolment, including those
taken in Year 1. The level of pass is not taken into account in determining the title of the
degree. For candidates admitted to years other than Year 1, this does not include courses
taken before the start of the SOAS degree.
8.4
Types of degree title
The Board may award a degree with a title having reference to one field of study (a singlesubject degree) or to two fields of study (a two-subject degree). The title of a two-subject
degree will be joined by the conjunction ‘and’ (some awards may have the conjunction ‘with’).
8.5
Naming of single-subject degrees
Students have to meet the minimum number of courses in the title of the degree as outlined in
section 4.
8.6
Naming of two-subject degrees
8.6.1
Order of the subjects
That subject will appear first in the degree title in which the greater number of
courses has been passed (the level of pass is not relevant for this purpose). If there
is overall equality, the order will be determined by the majority of courses in the final
10
year. If there is overall equality and equality in the final year, the subjects will
normally be listed in alphabetical order.
8.6.2
8.7
Number of courses required in each subject
See section 4 of this Classification Scheme which is drawn from regulations 12 of the
Undergraduate Degree Regulations.
Degrees with no reference to a field of study
If a student’s profile of courses does not satisfy the requirements of 8.5 or 8.6, the Board may
in exceptional circumstances award a degree with no reference to a field of study.
8.8
Courses taken during a compulsory language year abroad
Students who successfully complete a compulsory language year abroad are credited with
four courses towards their degree requirement (see 6.2 above). These count as courses in
the relevant language for the purpose of calculating the degree title.
9.
MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS (*REG)
9.1
Assessment results - failure, deferral and absence
The Board will deem a candidate to have failed a course if the candidate has:





9.2
achieved a mark of 39 or less overall and has not retaken and passed the course
deferred entry to the assessment and has not taken the assessment by the time that
the Board classifies the candidate for Honours
failed to submit course work for a course examined solely by course work without
good cause (= Non-submission without good cause - fail)
been absent without good cause from the examination (= Absent without good cause fail) and has not subsequently retaken and passed the examination
not been permitted to enter the final assessment because of failure to meet the
attendance and course work requirements of the course.
Open Option Courses and Degree Classification
9.2.1
Definition of an Open Option Course
An Open Option Course is in a subject or language other than the subject(s) or
language(s) named in the degree title, or other than prescribed in the syllabus for the
degree for which the student is registered.
9.2.2
Consideration of Open Option Courses in Classification for Honours
The School Board of Examiners will give equal weight to Open Option Courses when
classifying for Honours.
11
9.3
Two-subject degrees and degree classification
The School Board of Examiners will give equal weight to Courses in each of the two subjects
of a two-subject degree.
9.4
Marks for Courses passed after re-assessment
Marks for courses passed after re-assessment will be credited to the year of study in which
the course was followed and not the year of study in which the assessment was retaken,
unless the student has repeated the course, in which case the mark will be credited to the
year in which the course is repeated. (See Undergraduate Degree Regulation 6.15 for the
capping of marks for courses passed after re-assessment).
9.5
Candidates who have undertaken an Erasmus year away from the School
Candidates will receive credit for a successfully completed Erasmus year spent outside
SOAS. This credit will take the form of courses graded at Pass, which will count towards the
degree requirement. The Board will not consider the actual marks awarded by the Erasmus
institution when classifying for Honours. The Board may take into account the content of the
courses studied at the Erasmus institution when determining the title of degree to be
awarded.
Candidates who have undertaken an Erasmus year as Year 2 of a three-year degree will be
classified for Honours solely on the basis of their results in Year 3: the Board will have regard
to both the profile and the average of marks in this year.
12
10.
DEGREE CLASSIFICATION - WORKED EXAMPLES
These are for illustrative purposes only
EXAMPLE A (3-year degree) – AWARD MADE UNDER THE PRIMARY RULE
Courses
Mark
Class
Year 1
Introduction to European law
Legal systems of Asia and Africa
Introduction to social anthropology
Voice and place
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
59
46
64
70
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Year 2
Ethnic minorities and the law
Theory in anthropology
Ethnography of a selected region: South Asia
Urdu language 1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
68
70
72
49
2i
1st
1st
3rd
Year 3
Law and society in South Asia
Family law
The anthropology of Africa and Asia
The anthropology of gender
Urdu language 2
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
1.0
70
74
72
70
47
1st
1st
1st
1st
3rd
SUMMARY: A First is indicated by the primary rule. Some reduction by the secondary rule
because of Third class courses still leaves enough courses for a First overall.
The Primary Rule
The total of courses for all three years is 12, which meets the requirements of the number of
courses required for an Honours degree. The two open option courses in Urdu are included
and carry the same weight when classifying for Honours. The Year 1 results are not
considered for classification purposes.
1st
2i
2ii
3rd
Year 1
Pass
4
Year 2
2
Year 3
3
TOTAL
5
1
1
13
Fail
TOTAL
4
1
4
1
4
2
12
Taking the marks in the highest class, the pattern of Firsts in Year 2 and 3 is as follows. (Note
the adding together of the two half courses in Year 3):
Pre-final year
2
Final year
3
Total
5
Under the primary rule, the pattern that is closest to this example is:
Pre-final year
2
Final year
2
Total
4
The total in the example exceeds this pattern, and the degree class indicated by the primary
rule is a First.
The Secondary Rule
Under this rule there cannot be more than 1.5 courses that are in the class x - 2 or lower (two
classes lower than a 1st is a 2ii). There are two courses in class x - 2, namely the two Urdu
courses which are thirds.
The first course in class x - 2 is excluded from the calculation as the rule only applies to
courses above 1.5 course units. Because of the subsequent course in class x-2, one of the
First class courses must be deemed to be reduced to Upper Second. The course chosen to
be reduced should be the one least disadvantageous to the candidate. In this example, it will
not make any difference if the course chosen is in Year 2 or Year 3.
If a course in Year 2 is reduced, the profile comes out as:
Pre-final year
1
Final year
3
Total
4
If a course in Year 3 is reduced, the profile comes out as
Pre-final year
2
Final year
2
Total
4
Running either of the two amended profiles through the primary rule indicates a First.
14
EXAMPLE B (3-year degree) – AWARD MADE UNDER THE SECONDARY RULE
Courses
Mark
Class
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
40
41
42
44
35
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Fail
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
44
62
60
54
3rd
2i
2i
2ii
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
61
47
50
65
2i
3rd
2ii
2i
Year 1
Introduction to the art and archaeology of Africa 1
Introduction to the art and archaeology of Africa 2
Theory and method in the study of Asian/African art
Approaches to the study of religion
Introduction to Buddhism
Year 2
Architecture of the Himalayas and Tibet
Buddhist scriptures
East Asian religions
Tibetan studies I
Year 3
History of Chinese art
Selected sites in Asian and African art
Independent study project in the study of religions
Tibetan studies II
SUMMARY: Under the Primary rule the student is awarded an Upper Second. However,
application of the Secondary rule reduces this to a Lower Second.
The Primary Rule
The total number of courses passed is 11, which meets the requirements of the number of
courses required for an Honours degree. The Year 1 results are not considered for
classification purposes.
1st
2i
2ii
3rd
Year 1
Pass
Fail
TOTAL
3
1
3
Year 2
2
1
1
4
Year 3
2
1
1
4
TOTAL
4
2
2
3
11
Taking the marks in the highest class, the pattern of upper seconds in Year 2 and 3 is as
15
follows:
Pre-final year
2
Final year
2
Total
4
Under the primary rule, the pattern that is closest to this example is:
Pre-final year
2
Final year
2
Total
4
The total in the example matches this pattern, and the degree class indicated by the primary
rule is an Upper Second.
The Secondary Rule
Under this rule there cannot be more than 1.5 courses that are in the class x - 2 or lower (two
classes lower than a 2i is a 3rd). There are two courses in class x - 2.
The first course in class x - 2 is excluded from the calculation as the rule only applies to
courses above 1.5 course units. Because of the subsequent course in class x - 2, one of the
Upper Second courses must be deemed to be reduced to Lower Second. The course chosen
to be reduced should be the one least disadvantageous to the candidate. In this example, it
will not make any difference if the course chosen is in Year 2 or Year 3.
If a course in Year 2 is reduced, the profile comes out as:
Pre-final year
1
Final year
2
Total
3
If a course in Year 3 is reduced, the profile comes out as
Pre-final year
2
Final year
1
Total
3
Running either of the two amended profiles through the primary rule indicates a Lower
Second.
16
EXAMPLE C (3-year degree) – NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HONOURS
Courses
Mark
Class
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
40
41
42
44
40
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
Examination deferred
52
2ii
44
3rd
54
2ii
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
61
2i
47
3rd
50
2ii
Exam entry denied - fail
Year 1
Introduction to the art and archaeology of Africa 1
Introduction to the art and archaeology of Africa 2
Theory and method in the study of Asian/African art
Approaches to the study of religion
Introduction to Buddhism
Year 2
Architecture of the Himalayas and Tibet
Buddhist scriptures
East Asian religions
Tibetan studies I
Year 3
History of Chinese art
Selected sites in Asian and African art
Independent study project in the study of religions
Tibetan studies II
SUMMARY: The total courses passed do not reach the minimum required for an Honours
degree and a Pass degree is awarded.
The Primary Rule
The total number of courses passed is 10. In Year 2, an examination was deferred but was
not taken by the end of the degree course so this counts as a fail. The students was not
permitted to enter for the assessment for the course in Year 3 due to non-attendance so this
is a fail also.
1st
2i
2ii
3rd
Year 1
Pass
Fail
4
4
Year 2
TOTAL
2
1
1
3
1
3
2
10
Year 3
1
1
1
TOTAL
1
3
2
17
4
This profile does not meet the minimum requirement of section 4 for an Honours degree.
Under the provisions of section 5, a Pass degree will be offered to the candidate. Note that
under this regulation the classes of the courses passed are not considered, and cannot
provide compensation.
18
EXAMPLE D (Year 2 entry) i.e. BSc Economics - direct entry to Year 2
SUMMARY: A candidate who transferred from another university is classified on the basis of
the courses passed while registered at SOAS. A consistent performance results in a very
good Upper Second, which just misses being a First.
There are no Year 1 marks. On admission, the candidate receives exemption from courses to
the value of four courses and enters direct into Year 2 (see section 4).
Year 1
Exemption
Courses
Mark
Class
4.0
-
-
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
68
64
72
70
2i
2i
1st
1st
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
62
65
72
67
2i
2i
1st
2i
Year 2
Intermediate economic analysis
Econometrics
Economics of developing countries I
History of economic ideas
Year 3
Advanced economic analysis
Economic development of Africa
Economics of developing countries II
Agriculture and economic development
SUMMARY: A 2i is indicated by the primary rule and there is no reduction under the
secondary rule.
The total number of courses passed is 8 which meets the requirements of the part of section
4 dealing with second year entrants.
1st
2i
Year 2
2
2
4
Year 3
1
3
4
TOTAL
3
5
8
2ii
3rd
Pass
Fail
TOTAL
All 8 courses are passed at 2i or above, and the primary rule indicates a 2i overall. The
candidate has three courses at First Class, which is one short of a possible 1st overall.
19
The Secondary Rule
Under this rule there cannot be more than 1.5 courses that are in the class x - 2 or lower (two
classes lower than a 2i is a 3rd). There are no courses in class x – 2, therefore the result
reached by the primary rule is confirmed and the result is 2i.
20