Graduate Diploma programmes shall be offered on the basis of a one year full-time period of study (or two years part-time).

All full-time candidates shall normally be required to pursue the equivalent of 120 credits in one academic year.

The structure of the programme shall be a minimum of 90 credits at Level 3 and up to 30 credits may be at Level 2.

Learning outcomes shall be specified for each Graduate Diploma programme.

Candidates pursuing the Graduate Diploma in Law are subject to the assessment regulations of the programme which are published in the College Handbook.

Where there is a conflict of interest between University regulations and requirements of a Professional Body, the requirements of the professional body will prevail, subject to confirmation that the Professional requirements are accepted by the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee.

The progress of a candidate is normally assessed either during the course of a module and/or in the period immediately following its completion.

Candidates are required to complete the Graduate Diploma programme of study in accordance with the regulations for awarding credit.

The pass mark for all modules is 40%.

Candidates must satisfy attendance and assessment requirements of all modules. Candidates whose attendance or progress is unsatisfactory would normally be reported to the relevant Academic Board.

Candidates must pass all modules in order to be awarded the Graduate Diploma (no toleration is permitted).

Note: There are specific regulations regarding the issue of ‘compensation’ for the Graduate Diploma in Law which are available in the College Handbook.

Candidates who fail to pass a module at the first attempt will be awarded a supplementary examination. At the discretion of the Award Board one further attempt may be given where extenuating circumstances and/or professional Body requirements permit. Such attempts will normally be capped at 40% unless   a first-sit attempt is approved.

Candidates must not expect, as of right, to be offered the maximum number of attempts.

Failure to sit an examination/redeem a failed module/assessment or submit work by the specified date shall result in a mark of 0% being recorded for the module.

Candidates who are repeating failed modules and/or undertaking supplementary assessment, provided they satisfy the examiners, shall be awarded a capped mark of 40%.

Candidates shall not be allowed to elect to repeat any module which has been passed in order to improve their performance.

It is recognised that some candidates shall not be able to attend examinations during the Mid-Sessional or Sessional Assessment Period due, for example, to illness or other extenuating circumstances. In accordance with the Policy on Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessment, a claim for deferral must be submitted to the Home College either in advance of the examination date or within 5 working days of the examination taking place. Applications for deferrals and 'first-sit' candidates must be considered and supported by the relevant College and submitted to the Student Cases Board for approval. Candidates granted a deferral or 'first-sit' will be required to sit the examinations at the next scheduled examination point for the module(s) concerned.

Candidates who are given a further opportunity to take an assessment during the supplementary examination periods and who subsequently fail to complete the level will not have a further opportunity to redeem the failure until the next session.

In exceptional circumstances, and with the permission of the appropriate Board, students who fail to sit ‘first-sit’ examinations during the August period, may be permitted to repeat modules where the marks scored will not be capped.

Candidates who have failed modules in the January examinations may, with the approval of the College, pursue additional substitute modules in the second semester to compensate for the failures. The pursuit of these additional modules are regarded as an attempt at redeeming failure and are, therefore, be subject to the capping rule.

Decisions to allow a part-time student to continue are taken on an annual basis part way through a level of study.

Candidates must not expect, as of right, that they will be allowed to sit supplementary examinations or allowed to repeat failed modules. The Progression Board may take into account other circumstances relating to the candidate's case before taking any progression decision.

Candidates who are required to submit supplementary coursework shall be informed, by the academic College concerned, of the coursework required. Details of supplementary coursework will not be included in the results letter issued by the Academic Registry.

Candidates who accumulate 120 credits will qualify for the award of a Graduate Diploma.

Candidates who accumulate fewer than 120 credits will normally be awarded supplementary examinations/assessment in all failed modules.

Candidates whose performance is deemed to be weak (i.e. the candidate has failed up to 40 credits full-time and 20 credits part-time) will be deemed to fail the programme.

Part-time students who pass all pursued credits at the end of the first academic year will be permitted to ‘continue’ on the programme and pursue the remaining modules the following academic session.

Part-time students who fail modules in June will normally be awarded supplementary examinations/assessment in all failed modules.

Candidates who are repeating failed modules and who fail to qualify for the award, having accumulated less than 120 credits will be awarded a decision of Fail or Fail programme.

Candidates who accumulate 120 credits will qualify for the award of a Graduate Diploma.

Candidates who fail to accumulate 120 credits will be deemed to fail the programme. However, where extenuating circumstances and/or professional Body requirements permit, the Examination Board may permit one final attempt at a module(s) during the next session.

Candidates pursuing a Graduate Diploma shall not be eligible for an exit qualification.

In order to be eligible for consideration of a Graduate Diploma of Swansea University, candidates must attend and complete modules within the maximum period of registration.

A candidate successfully completing a Graduate Diploma is eligible for the award of Merit where he/she has attained an overall mark of 60-69.99% for the award in question (in the case of the Graduate Diploma in Law, this is referred to as a ‘Commendation’)

A candidate successfully completing a Graduate Diploma is eligible for the award of Distinction where he/she has attained an overall mark of 70% or above for the award in question.