University of Leeds issues new guidance on degree marking due to impact of third Covid lockdown

University students are included within the reissued ‘stay at home’ message and have now been told to remain where they are wherever possible and begin their term online until at least mid-February.

It means that students - some who have spent much of their university experience so far in lockdown - must return to online coursework and lecturing rather than attend face-to-face teaching.

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The University of Leeds has said it has been working in partnership with Leeds University Union to rework its grading and degree classifications because of the impact of another Covid lockdown.

It said that "calculations will be weighted towards the best outcomes for students".

A spokesperson for the University of Leeds said: "We understand that this is a difficult and worrying time for students.

"We have been working in close partnership with Leeds University Union to ensure that degree classification is not negatively affected for those graduating this year, and calculations will be weighted towards the best outcomes for students.

"We are committed to doing all that we can to ensure that students should be able to achieve their full potential.”

This comes after Leeds Beckett University were the first university in the UK to introduce a safety net policy for all students.

The University of Leeds has also this week announced that it will appropriately refund rent for students in allocated accommodation.

The University of Leeds' approach to classification for students graduating in 2021 - in full:

"We have been working in close partnership with your representatives from Leeds University Union (LUU) – your elected Executive Officer team, and your School and course reps to ensure your degree classification is not negatively affected by the results you achieved in Semester 2 of 2019/20 during the disruption caused by covid-19. This will help ensure that your degree classification will be calculated on the basis of the best outcome for you. 

DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR DEGREE IN 2021

We will calculate your classification according to our normal Rules for Award, using the better of the 1:1 or 1:2 weightings (last year: this year). If you passed the credit requirements for your programme we will then calculate a 0:1 weighting (last year: this year). If this indicates a higher classification, then we will award you the higher classification.

If this does not result in a higher classification, we will calculate your ‘Prevailing Classification Average’. This is a credit-weighted average of all the modules that normally contribute to your classification but excludes results from semester 2 of 2019/20. If this indicates a higher classification than the 1:1 and 1:2 weightings, then we will award you the higher classification.

DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR INTEGRATED MASTER STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 2021

We will calculate your classification according to our normal Rules for Award, using the better of the 1:1:1 or the 1:2:2 weightings, using your results from years 2, 3 and 4.

If you have passed the credit requirements for your programme we will then calculate a 1:0:1 weighting, using your results from year 2 and 4. If this indicates a higher classification then we will award you the higher classification.

If this does not result in a higher classification, we will calculate your ‘Prevailing Classification Average’. This is a credit-weighted average of all the modules that normally contribute to your classification but excludes results from semester 2 of 2019/20. If this indicates a higher classification than the 1:1:1 and 1:2:2 weightings, then we will award you the higher classification.

DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A MASTER DEGREE IN 2021

For part-time Master students where 2019/20 Semester 2 results contribute to the calculation of the classification, your final degree classification will be determined by the better of the normal classification calculation or the ‘Prevailing Classification Average’ (that is the average excluding 2019/20 Semester 2 results).

DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR DEGREE IN 2021

Your school will write to you to let you know how these principles for classification apply to your programme structure.

DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE ON A STUDY ABROAD OR INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY YEAR IN 2019/20

If you were on a study abroad or an industrial placement year in 2019/20 and your results from your opportunity year would not normally contribute to your classification, then the normal Rules for Award will apply.

If your programme is a four year programme and uses the results from your opportunity year, we will calculate your classification according to our normal Rules for Award. If you passed the credit requirements for your programme, we will then calculate a 1:0:1 weighting, using your results from year 2 and 4. If this indicates a higher classification then we will award the higher classification.

If this does not result in a higher classification, we will calculate your ‘Prevailing Classification Average’. This is a credit-weighted average of all the modules that normally contribute to your classification but excluding results from semester 2 of 2019/20. If this indicates a higher classification than the 1:1:1 and 1:1:2 weightings, then we will award the higher classification."

Frequently asked questions about degree classifications at the University of Leeds are answered here.