what happens if you fail a module?

brians_daughter

just met with a friend from uni, well, hes here at mine actually.

He got granted extenuating circs for 2 outstanding pieces of coursework. Due to his own foolish error he got the dates mixed up and handed 1 in early and was chased for the one he was meant to hand in 1st.

Due to a series of events (most plausable from what i can gather coupled with being lazy - as he thought he had more time) he hasnt completed the work as he thought he had another 2 weeks to do it in. So in effect he will fail the module.

Will he be able to re-sit the module next year? If it makes any odds it is an elective that was a placement with a 5000 word report. He is no where near completing his report, he is a 1st year (dunno if that makes any diff)

We have just had a look on the uni website but the site is down - typically! Hes in a bit of a panic... I did the same module as an elective (thats how we became mates) but i am reluctant to assist him as its against the rules and i dont see why i should do all his hard work for him!lol

So, could anyone advise if will he fail the year, or will he be given the opportunity to re-do the module in y2..... men eh lol

scottishblondie

I would assume that if he needs the credits for this module to make up the year then he won't be allowed into 2nd year, and will have to resit the module next year. That is how it works at my uni. For example, I needed 120 credits to complete my first year, made up of 6 20 credit modules. One of my friends failed one module and came back to do a part time repeat just doing that module. However, bear in mind that it could be totally different at your uni! It's possible he might be able to combine the module with 2nd year, or if it won't fit in he'll have to repeat. Hope that helps

dmg24

It really depends on lots of factors - many universities will allow you to proceed with an outstanding module. However, when he does take this module the mark may be capped at 40% (or the lowest pass mark). The rules which are relevant to his uni should be on their website (when it works!).

MrsManda

For my course it depends on four main questions:
1. Is the failed module a compulsory module for progression
2. Is the failed module a compulsory module for that degree programme
3. Is the module counted towards the final degree classification
4. Has the student passed enough modules without the failed module to progress

I failed a module in my 1st year which technically was a compulsory module. However because I had passed 3.5 units (out of 4), you need 11 out of 12 for the entire degree and the module failed wasn't a prequiste for any future modules I was allowed to progress into 2nd year with the option of resiting the exams for the failed module if I wanted to.

In my second year however I have missed the exams for two modules/1 unit due to serious illness so cannot progress into 3rd year as:
a) I need a total of 7 units over the two years and
b) the two modules are compulsory for my degree programme.

Therefore I need to take the year off and sit the exams in May.

I'm surprised your friend wasn't told whether he was eligible to progress when he got his results. Both last year and this year I recieved an email from my tutor with my results and the decision on progression.

Oh, and repeats are generally capped at the pass rate unless there is extenuating circumstances.

brians_daughter

MrsManda wrote: »

For my course it depends on four main questions:
1. Is the failed module a compulsory module for progression
2. Is the failed module a compulsory module for that degree programme
3. Is the module counted towards the final degree classification
4. Has the student passed enough modules without the failed module to progress

Thanks for this, hes gone now but i will text him!

The module is an elective so in essence isnt compulsory for his other subjects, but he may need the points?
The module wont be towards final classification as we are only 1st years,
Hes passed all the others with what i deem to be 'flying colours' he got 71% in 1 subject and 68% in the other... i only know as i was 1% behind him lol

I could laugh if he wasnt so upset about it all... as he was saying how he still had time left etc when he was here last week then realised his mistake!

angelofmel

Best adviced would be for him to speak to the uni. His course leader or someone in the know about the how the system in the uni works as the others have rightly said, every uni is different. Tell him to relax untill he has spoken to someone in the uni about it all. It may just be the simple case of next year he retakes the module, or subsitutes it for a new one if its not a compulsary module to the course while he takes his required amount of modules for the next year. But that is just the procedure for my uni as an example.

downcdebt

I failed a module in my first year (well actually, I failed quite a few of them - too lazy, too busy drinking). I had to redo those modules during the summer break. If I recall, they were coursework assignments that had to be done - no exams...

I was told that if I failed the resubmissions, I would be thrown off the course.

Johnnii

Best to contact the uni as each uni will have different rules as to resists. Were these deadlines in May/June etc as usually resists can be done in the summer usually August. As it's the 1st year he might be able to re-sit it next yr as carrying over the credits is not as important as it is in the 2nd-3rd yr when you need to have a certain no. of credits to get the award.

brians_daughter

Thanks everyone for the replies. the deadlines were originally May but his dad got very ill and he was granted extenuating circs for the 2 bits of outstanding work as he had to go home 200 miles away. He needed to re submit the work 2 weeks ago but submitted the wrong one. ie submitted the later deadline 1st then was chased by course leader for the one that was late being handed in. He got the vm and called back but she is now on holiday until 1/9. He is planning to try and speak with someone today, i cant see anything on the website reagrding module failure when i had a brief look, so he will have to sort it out himself... i increasingly feel like his mother lol

Tish_P

He will almost certainly be allowed to resit the module rather than the year if it's only one module in a first year course and he has done well in the others. But it depends on the university and the course (professional courses like medicine can have more stringent requirements).

He should phone or email his personal tutor / director of studies, or the senior tutor in his department, and find out for certain. They are not on holiday when the students are!