Back Back

Student Update: Progression and award classification, graduation, support with studies and WLV Sport

25/03/2021

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

I hope you are all keeping safe and well. This update includes information covering:

  • Our approach to your progression and award classification for this year

  • Graduation

  • Support with your studies

  • WLV Sport

We are fully committed to providing a 'safety net' for our students through our approach to assessments, progression and award classification this year. We seek to ensure that no student should be disadvantaged in their assessments by circumstances beyond their control.
 
In response to the pandemic, the University has continued its trust-based approach to deadline extensions and extenuating circumstances by removing the need to provide evidence. We are working closely with professional bodies, and where possible, assessments are taking place online.
 
To find out more about our approach to assessments this term, please read the full student update, which was sent to you by email in February.
 

Progressing to the next year of your studies

 
Progression to the next level of your studies will be determined by our existing regulations (i.e. students are required to have passed 80 credits). Therefore, you must do your utmost to engage with your teaching, learning and assessments as fully as possible.
 
For some programmes (for example, those involving performance or practice-based assessments), decisions on progression may need to be based on alternative criteria. If this affects your course, you will receive further information from your tutors soon.
 

Calculating award classifications for final year students

 
The University's standard classification regulations mean that undergraduate award calculation is based on the best 180 credits at level 5 and level 6 (out of 240 credits). Of these, at least 100 credits must be at level 6 and include an independent project module. As standard, masters awards are calculated using the best 120 credits and must consist of an independent project module.
 
Recognising the impact of the initial lockdown, which meant that semester two of 2019/20 teaching and assessment was moved online without warning, we adjusted our classification calculations last year from 180 credits to 120 credits for undergraduate degrees and from 120 credits to 80 credits for masters degrees. We will continue with these calculations for students graduating this year who were studying their programme last academic year as detailed below:
 
Undergraduate degrees (for students who were studying at level 5 or 6 in 2019/20)
  • The best 120 credits at level 5 and 6.
  • No requirement to include credits from the independent project module.
 
Top-up degrees (for students who were studying on their course in 2019/20
  • The best 60 credits from your year of study.
 
Masters degrees (for students who were studying on their course in 2019/20)
  • The best 80 credits from your course.
  • No requirement to include credits from the independent project module.
 
Postgraduate research programmes
  • Students should speak to their director of studies to apply for an extension or leave of absence.
 
Degree apprenticeships
  • We are working with regulatory bodies on the delivery of End Point Assessments.
 
Programmes accredited by a professional body
  • Professional bodies may set out some additional requirements for accredited programmes. If this affects your course, you will receive further information from your tutors soon.

Graduation

As you will have read in last week’s Student Update, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the graduation ceremonies that would have taken place for students completing their studies this year (the Class of 2021). These ceremonies have been rescheduled to take place next year, from Monday, 18 July to Wednesday, 27 July 2022, at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.  
 
Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback on this, which has really highlighted what an important occasion graduation is for our student community. I want to explain a bit more about the reasoning and also to offer some reassurances about what this means for students completing their studies this year.
 
As a reminder, last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 could not go ahead as planned and were instead rescheduled to take place in July 2021. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing restrictions both in the UK and on international travel, we have had to postpone those graduation ceremonies scheduled for July 2021. There is still a great deal of uncertainty about  whether large events will be able to take place in July this year and the Government roadmap states the easing of restrictions for large scale gatherings will be subject to the results of a scientific Events Research Programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring and summer.
 
We recognise that this will be disappointing for our graduates who have already suffered a delay to their ceremony. Because of this, we will use our regular September 2021 graduation ceremonies to graduate the Class of 2020. These ceremonies will be held at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton from Thursday 9 September to Friday 17 September 2021. It seems to be the fairest option in these difficult circumstances.
 
This means for students completing their studies this year - the Class of 2021 - ceremonies have been rescheduled to take place next year, from Monday 18 July to Wednesday 27 July 2022, at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. Given the large numbers of people who attend our ceremonies and our desire to ensure our students have the best possible experience on their special day, this was the earliest opportunity to host this occasion in full. While we recognise the disappointment this will cause, this will enable us to hold ceremonies in a fitting venue to celebrate our students’ achievements.  
 
As promised to our students, the University will hold a full and proper in person ceremony for every graduate who wishes to celebrate their achievement with us, and we look forward to seeing everyone there.
 
We also wanted to reassure students that they will be able to apply for jobs before attending a graduation ceremony. Students are awarded their degrees from the University regardless of the graduation ceremonies taking place or being attended, so the postponement will not affect completion of University or anyone’s career or further study prospects. Students may request their certificates in advance of the ceremony by visiting the graduation page on their e:Vision account or by visiting estore.
 
Students will receive communications about graduation via their preferred email address. All students will receive an individual email notifying them when their ceremony is and inviting them to book and attend.
 
Dates for individual ceremonies, booking processes and more information will be confirmed on the graduation ceremonies webpage as soon as possible. 
 
We continue to monitor and follow Government guidance around local and national Covid-19 restrictions. There is information about international travel on the Government’s foreign travel advice website.
 

Support with your studies

 
Studying during the pandemic can challenge you in unexpected ways, especially when you're balancing your studies with work and home commitments. If you feel stressed or anxious, you can find the support you need at the University. 
 
Your Faculty Student Services should be the first point of call to access support and advice, and the easiest way to contact them is by the e:Vision Helpdesk.
 
All students are allocated a personal tutor or academic coach, who can support you with your academic development and progression, as well as helping you liaise with support facilities in the wider University.
 
You can find out who your personal tutor is in e:Vision, by selecting the My Details tab and then clicking the Personal Tutor button.
 

WLV Sport

WLV Sport has just launched a new mobile app facility to enable students and staff to easily book and pay for their sport and leisure activities.

Customers can download the app by visiting the Google Play or App Store and searching ‘WLV Sport’.

You can read more about this here.
 

Stay up to date with the latest information

 
Please keep checking your University WLV emails and reading these updates. We are committed to keeping students up to date. We do this by email, on our social media channels (Instagram,  Twitter and Facebook) and the University student news web page. 
 
Visit our dedicated Covid-19 webpages for information on how you can stay safe and help protect our University community during the pandemic.  
 
Thank you, and stay safe.
 
Professor Julia Clarke 
Deputy Vice-Chancellor 
 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release