Ordinance 5

5	University Examinations for Taught Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates
5.1	The outcome of every examination for a degree, diploma, certificate or other taught, credit bearing award of the University, including Taught Modules of Professional Doctorates, shall be considered and approved by the relevant Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee (P/DAPAC). Detailed responsibilities and powers of the P/DAPACs are found in Chapter 7 of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook of the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual.
5.2	The Chair of the Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee shall be the Head of Department, the Departmental Director of Education and Student Experience or equivalent for the Medical School, Business School and Partner Institution (where the programme is assessed and awarded as part of a Validation Partnership). With the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education's (APVCE) approval, the Chair may also be a nominated representative.
5.3	In addition to the Chair, every Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee shall include at least one member of the academic staff of the University with responsibility for the oversight of examinations, or equivalent Partner Institution representative (where the programme is assessed and awarded as part of a Validation Partnership), and all relevant External Examiners.
5.4	The appointment of External Examiners, including for Taught Modules of Professional Doctorates, shall be approved annually by the Education Board on behalf of the Senate. Appointment shall normally be for four years. Only under exceptional circumstances shall an External Examiner be appointed for a fifth year. Such extensions shall be approved by the Dean for Taught Students on behalf of the Senate.
5.5	The Education Board, after considering reports of the University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees, shall submit to the Senate its recommendations for the award of degrees, diplomas, certificates and other awards.
5.6	The Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee holds the responsibility for making decisions on progression between stages, the classification of undergraduate degrees and for the awards of merit or distinction for postgraduate taught degrees. It also holds the responsibility for making decisions on the consequences of failure in accordance with Chapter 11 of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook of the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual.
5.7	Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees are responsible for ensuring that the policies set out in the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook of the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual are applied consistently and equitably across Departments. To exercise this responsibility, members ensure that Programme/Department Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees conduct their business in accordance with the policies as set out in Chapter 7 of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook.
5.8	The Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee shall be chaired by the respective Faculty's Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, or their nominee, or an equivalent senior representative where the programmes of study are delivery wholly or partly elsewhere at institutions in academic partnership with the University.
5.9	Each Programme/Department Committee must be represented at the Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee by at least one member, usually the Chair or other member nominated by the Chair.
5.10	External Examiners are not expected to attend Faculty Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees.
5.11	The University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee is responsible for overseeing assessment, progression and awarding policy and practice from an institution-wide perspective. In doing so, it provides assurance that academic standards are being upheld, and that the integrity and credibility of awards is maintained over time. It acts in accordance with the terms of reference set out in Chapter 7 of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook of the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual.
5.12	The University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee shall be chaired by the Dean for Taught Students, or their nominee.
5.13	The core and additional membership of the University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee is set out in Chapter 7 of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook of the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual. The University Principal External Examiner is a core member of the University Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee.
5.14	The University Principal External Examiner is appointed jointly by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience), Dean for Taught Students and Director of Teaching Excellence and Student Experience, on behalf of Senate. The appointment shall normally be for three years but may be up to five years by mutual agreement.
5.15	The University Principal External Examiner has external oversight of measures to maintain the credibility and sector comparability of the University’s taught awards and provides additional assurance of compliance with the Office for Students ongoing conditions of registration B4 and B5. They oversee the annual internal review of the University’s assessment, progression and awarding policies and practices and degree outcomes for taught students and approve the externally published annual Degree Outcomes Statement.
5.16	No candidate who has failed to comply with the conditions laid down in the relevant Ordinances and Regulations shall be admitted to a University examination.
5.17	No candidate against whom an order of suspension or exclusion is in force shall be admitted to a University examination.