Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Students in Combined Studies usually attend the same lectures and tutorials as those in other Honours schools. The types and methods of teaching are varied and will depend on the Areas of Study you choose. The University prides itself on the excellence and variety of its teaching and learning methods - many Honours courses have received maximum scores in teaching quality assessments.
During the first year of study all students in the centre will also take a course in academic skills specifically designed for Combined Studies students.
Examinations and assessment
In general, students can expect to be examined in their course units either at the end of the first semester or at the end of the year. Combined Studies students sit the same examinations as their single honours peers.
First year examinations are normally 'Pass / Fail', allowing students to progress into second year without marks being carried forward. Second year examinations contribute 25% of the marks considered at the end of the final year which will determine the final degree classification. All marks are received, results determined and eventual classifications arrived at by the Examinations Board of Combined Studies. Full details of examinations and assessment procedures are published in the Combined Studies programme handbook.
Academic advice
Academic tutors are available in each Area of Study to oversee the academic interests of students studying in that Area and to provide academic advice as required.
Choosing your options
A meeting of all students is called in the second semester of the first and second years in order to outline options for the following year, to update information and to provide essential instructions on enrolment for course units.
It is inevitable with the simultaneous provision of so many course units that timetable clashes will sometimes prevent a student from taking a particular unit. Often, however, a unit missed in one year may be taken in a subsequent year. Students are permitted in their second year to select any 20 credits from the relevant first year lists, and in third year any 20 credits from the relevant second year lists.