Supporting Information: Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences
This is version 1.0 of the Supporting Information for the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences, which applies from the 2026/27 academic year onwards. This supporting information is owned by the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences. Please contact [email protected] for any matters related to this supporting information.
Contents
- Purpose and Scope
- Supplementary Information - Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes
- Supplementary Information - Assessment Policy and Procedures
- Other Supplementary Information
- Students awarded according to the Rules for Award
1. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this supporting information is to set out principles and procedures which relate to assessment in the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences, encompassing the following Schools/Institutes:
School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
School of Education
School of Food Science and Nutrition
School of Geography
School of Law
Leeds Institute for Societal Futures
School of Politics and International Studies
School of Sociology and Social Policy
Institute of Transport Studies
The supporting information underpins and should be read alongside the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes and the Assessment Policy & Procedures.
2. Supplementary Information – Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes
This section contains information supplementary and complementary to the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes.
2.1 Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) (Academic Regulations section 1.5)
Within the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences, the following Schools/Programmes have PSRB requirements.
2.1.1 School of Education
The BSc Psychology with Education programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
The PGCE programmes and the BA Primary Education QTS are accredited by the Department for Education (DfE).
2.1.2 School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
The BSc Geology programme and its variants is accredited by the Geological Society. Failure to attend a significant part or all a field class in the absence of a valid mitigating circumstances may require that the student attends the class in the following year. This may prevent progression to the next level of study until the field class has been attended.
The MSc Exploration Geophysics programme is accredited by the Geological Society.
In addition to the provision for a taught postgraduate award, described in sections 2.3 (credit requirements), 7.4.3 (module pass mark) and 10.1 (minimum classification average) of the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes, any failed module must have a mark of 40 or above.
Students who do not meet this requirement will be considered for the awards of Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert).
The MSc Engineering Geology programme is accredited by the Geological Society.
Students will be considered for the award of MSc Engineering Geology if they pass all 180 credits of modules and achieve an overall average mark of 50 or above, calculated across the 180 credits of modules.
Students who are not eligible for the award of MSc Engineering Geology will be considered for the unaccredited award of MSc Geological Studies, which is classified according to the rules set out in the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes.
The MRes Climate and Atmospheric Science programme has specific award requirements. Students will be considered for the award if they pass ALL 180 credits of modules and achieve an overall average mark of 50 or above, calculated across the 180 credits of modules.
Students who are not eligible for the award of MRes Climate and Atmospheric Science will be considered for the unaccredited award of MSc Climate and Atmospheric Science, which is classified according to the rules set out in the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes.
The MSc Geotechnical Engineering Degree Apprenticeship programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). Students must pass 120 credits over 24 months in the taught components to move onto the End Point Assessment Project.
2.1.3 School of Food Science and Nutrition
The BSc/MSci Nutrition and MSc Nutrition programmes are accredited by the Association for Nutrition. In addition to meeting academic requirements, students must also maintain high attendance (at least 60%) and attend all laboratory sessions to ensure they meet the core competencies from the Association for Nutrition. Students must also be Fit to Practice, and any concerns will lead to a Fitness to Practice meeting.
If students fail to pass the core competencies, have low attendance or do not attend all lab sessions they will be awarded the following ICQ awards:
- BSc Nutrition Science (for students on the accredited BSc Nutrition programmes)
- MSBS Nutrition Science (for students on the accredited MSBS Nutrition programme)
- MSc Nutrition Science (for students on the accredited MSc Nutrition programme)
2.1.4 Institute for Transport Studies
The MSc (Eng) Transport Planning and Engineering programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). Students must pass 165 of 180 credits for this accredited award.
Students who are not eligible for the award of MSc (Eng) Transport Planning and Engineering will be considered for the unaccredited award of MSc Transport Studies, which is classified according to the rules set out in the Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes.
2.1.5 School of Law
Candidates intending to progress onto a Bar course approved by the Bar Standards Board in England and Wales must pass each of the following modules in order for their award to satisfy the Bar Standards Board’s requirements for the academic stage of training: LAW1224; LAW1264; LAW1035; LAW2230; LAW2270; LAW2610; and LAW3241.
3. Supplementary Information – Assessment Policy and Procedures
This section contains information supplementary to the Assessment Policy & Procedures (AP&P) where Schools are required to develop and define their approach.
3.1 Setting and Approval of Assessment Methods (AP&P section 4)
The Faculty has internal processes that check and verify all assessments, they are developed using feedback from students, Module Moderators and External Examiners to support fairness, clarity and consistency.
3.1.1 Coursework
Assessment tasks are subject to review processes within Schools, and by External Examiners, to ensure they are clear, appropriate, consistent and comparable.
For the Schools of Earth, Environment and Sustainability; Food Science and Nutrition; Geography and Institute of Transport Studies, the internal review process is undertaken through academic peer review.
For Education; Law; Politics and International Studies; and Sociology and Social Policy the internal review process is undertaken by a Scrutiny Assessment Panel.
3.1.2 Examination Papers
Examination papers are carefully designed and reviewed to ensure they are fair, consistent and aligned with module content. They are checked within the School or by the External Examiners, who review exam papers to ensure they are appropriate and of a consistent standard.
3.2 Registration for Assessments (AP&P section 5)
Most assessments and resits are made available to students at the next available opportunity. However, this may not be possible for certain types of assessment, including fieldwork, laboratory-based assessments, practical classes, and group laboratory reports, where delivery is dependent on specific resources, facilities, or teaching activities. In the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences, where assessments are not available at the next available opportunity, details of when the assessment will be offered will be provided separately to students in the assessment brief.
When a student is required to undertake a substantial volume of reassessment in the August reassessment period (normally 60 credits or more, and particularly where this reaches 90 credits), they will be invited to attend a pastoral support meeting with relevant academic and/or professional services staff.
The meeting is intended to review the student's circumstances, identify any factors that may have affected their academic performance, and discuss the support available to help them succeed. This may include academic guidance, referral to university support services, and consideration of the most appropriate reassessment arrangements.
Where undertaking the full volume of August reassessments may not be realistic, alternative options may be considered, such as prioritising progression critical or Pass for Progression (PFP) modules and completing remaining reassessments during a period of external study or through carried modules in the following academic year.
Whilst students' views and preferences shall be considered, as will factors including workload, timing, fitness to study, personal circumstances and the likelihood of successful completion of the reassessment requirements.
Recommendations from the meeting will be considered by the Progression and Awards Board, which is responsible for all decisions relating to reassessment, progression and academic standing in accordance with university regulations.
3.3 Submission of Coursework (AP&P section 6)
The deadline for submitting work will be stated in the assessment brief, in line with Section 6.3.2 of AP&P the deadline is 2pm on the specified day but students are encouraged to submit work as early as possible. Students will be informed of any assessments which have a different submission time in the assessment brief.
If an alternative deadline is approved by the relevant Faculty Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor within the academic year, students will be informed via Minerva.
Under some circumstances, an extension will not be available. This may be due to the nature of the assessment, for example where the assessed learning outcomes relate to activities that must be completed in a specific environment, such as a laboratory, fieldwork, or other practical setting, or where providing an extension would compromise the integrity of the assessment process, including the timely release of feedback to other students. Extensions cannot be granted for short-duration coursework, such as in-class tests, or for assessments undertaken during a formal examination.
Where the deadline cannot be met, students may be required to complete an alternative assessment or undertake the original assessment at the next available opportunity.
Where an extension is not available, this will be clearly stated in the relevant assessment brief.
3.4 Late Submission of Coursework (AP&P section 6.4)
Exams, OTLAs and in class tests or assessment set during a formal examination/assessment period cannot be submitted late under any circumstance.
Most field-based or practical/laboratory assessments where specific activities are assessed as part of a time constrained, scheduled session cannot be submitted late. These assessments are reliant on completing the work in the allotted time and if the deadline cannot be met, either an alternative assessment must be taken, or the original assessment must be retaken and submitted at the next viable opportunity to do so.
When work cannot be submitted late, this will be made clear in the relevant assessment brief.
3.5 Resubmission of Own Work (AP&P section 6.5)
If the reworking or reuse of previously submitted work is permitted, this will be in the relevant Assessment Brief.
3.6 Use of Systems to Identify Academic Integrity (AP&P section 7.2)
Before their first assessment students will be introduced to Turnitin Similarity Reports to support their understanding of academic integrity. Students are not routinely permitted to view Turnitin reports on drafts of their own work, but all students will be shown an example of a similarity report as part of the introduction to Turnitin Similarity Reports. During Welcome, Induction and Transition (WIT) activities, students will be informed about the introduction to Turnitin Similarity Reports and the Academic Integrity Tutorial and Test.
3.7 Referencing (AP&P section 7.4)
The approved referencing style for all programmes in the School of Education is APA.
For School of Law modules, the approved referencing style for Criminal Justice and Criminology programmes is Harvard. The approved referencing style for Law programmes is OSCOLA.
The approved referencing style for students studying within the Schools of Earth, Environment and Sustainability; Geography; Politics and International Studies; Sociology and Social Policy; Leeds Institute for Societal Futures and the Institute of Transport Studies is the University of Leeds Harvard referencing style.
3.8 Assessment Marking and Marks (AP&P section 8.1.3)
Students who believe they may require consideration for evidenced difficulties (e.g. Specific Learning Difficulties) in relation to the submission of written work must register with Disability Services.
Where appropriate, work submitted by these students will be flagged to markers through the inclusion of a Feedback Consideration Form. This form is provided by School Student Education and Experience (SEE) teams on the recommendation of Disability Services. Students are responsible for ensuring that the form is included as the first page of any submission requiring such consideration.
The inclusion of a Feedback Consideration Form enables markers to tailor their feedback appropriately. Where a disability is flagged, markers will follow the relevant guidance on marking and feedback provided by Disability Services.
3.9 Moderation: Check Marking and Double Marking (AP&P section 8.2)
3.9.1 Check Marking
The Faculty has processes in place to ensure that marking is fair, consistent and aligned with published assessment criteria. As part of these processes, a sample of assessed work is normally reviewed by another member of academic staff.
This review helps confirm that marking standards have been applied consistently across the cohort. If any concerns are identified, further investigation may be undertaken and, where necessary, marks will be reviewed to ensure all students are treated fairly and equitably.
3.9.2 Double Marking
Some assessments are subject to double marking where this is required by professional body requirements, or the nature of the assessment, such as large, credit-weighted summative assessments such as final year/research (capstone) projects and work resulting from extended study, or for in-person presentation.
Where an assessment is double marked this will be specified in the assessment brief.
3.10 Marks Return (AP&P section 8.3)
As final year/research (capstone) projects are often submitted close to end-of-semester examination periods and may require extended marking time, Schools will usually return marks within 20 working days. However, the timing of feedback for these assessments will be communicated on an assessment-by-assessment basis via Minerva. In some cases, results and feedback may not be released until the University’s official marks publication date.
3.11 Penalties for Not Meeting Assessment Requirements (AP&P section 8.4)
Where an assessment requirement (e.g. the assignment length/size) is specified in an assessment brief, students must adhere to this requirement. Assessment length can relate to a word count, page limit for written work, or a duration or file size etc. for assessments submitted via other formats.
A submission that exceeds the specified assignment length will be marked in full, but with the allocated mark being penalised according to the details provided in the assessment brief.
If a student does not adhere to requirement(s) other than length/size then it will be determined by the marker that the task has not been completed in accordance with the instructions and this will be reflected in the mark awarded (as specified in the assessment criteria) and the feedback given to the student.
Submissions where assignment length penalties have been applied will be clearly indicated to students as part of the assignment feedback.
3.12 Feedback to Students (AP&P section 9)
Students are informed of how and when they will receive feedback through a combination of module assessment briefs and Minerva. The standard approach is that feedback is released via Minerva within 15 working days, along with provisional marks where possible. As final year/research (capstone) projects are often submitted close to end-of-semester examination periods and may require extended marking time, Schools will usually return feedback within 20 working days.
Following the publication of marks students can request a meeting to obtain feedback and review their marked examination scripts. Staff are also required to provide appropriate feedback and annotation on any marked digital examination scripts which will be made available via Gradebook in Minerva where possible.
3.13 Timings of Assessment Committees (AP&P section 11.4)
The Faculty and its constituent Schools operate Assessment Committees according to the University’s standard timelines.
3.14 Publication of Module Marks and Classifications (AP&P section 12)
Provisional component marks for assessment will be released within 15 working days, but this may not be at the same time as feedback. Provisional module marks will be released following the Semester One assessments. Final module marks for Semester Two assessments will be released on the official results day.
All marks remain provisional until the School Assessment Board has convened. Students can request additional feedback and discussion of provisional marks with markers/module leaders, but students cannot formally appeal provisional marks.
4. Other Supplementary Information
4.1 Generic Assessment Criteria can be found on Minerva.
5. Students awarded according to the Rules for Award
The Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes superseded the Rules for Award following the 2023/24 academic year. Awards for students who commenced their current programme at Leeds before the 2022/23 academic year or commenced their final year of study before 2024/25 academic year will be determined using the degree classification algorithm from the Rules for Award (iteration A), which includes provision for academic discretion.
Academic discretion, as described in the Rules for Award, applies to students being awarded under these circumstances:
Any student with a Classification Average falling within the discretionary band should be selected for consideration. The discretionary band is 0.05 below a classification threshold for Bachelor’s Degrees with Classified Honours and 0.10 below a classification threshold for Foundation Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Graduate Diplomas and Certificates, and Taught Postgraduate Awards.
In the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences, the following criteria for academic discretion apply:
| School | Level | Criteria for Higher Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Earth, Environment & Sustainability | UG | ≥50% of final-year credits at higher level, including project/dissertation |
| Earth, Environment & Sustainability | PGT | ≥50% of credits at higher level, including dissertation; exceptional project performance may be considered |
| Food Science & Nutrition | UG | 80 credits at higher level (including dissertation), with remaining credits not at a lower level |
| Food Science & Nutrition | PGT | ≥50% of credits at higher level |
| Geography | UG | 80 credits at higher level (including dissertation), with no remaining credits at a lower level |
| Geography | PGT | MSc: 120 credits at higher level (incl. dissertation); PGDip: 90 credits; PGCert: 45 credits |
| Institute of Transport Studies | PGT only | Higher classification normally awarded where ≥50% credits at higher level, or where improvement/exception criteria are met within defined bands |
| Education | UG | ≥60 final-year credits at higher level |
| Education | PGT | Higher classification where required credits fall in the higher band (e.g. 30 PGCert, 60 PGDip, 90 MA) |
| Law | UG | ≥60 final-year credits OR ≥120 upper-year credits at higher level |
| Law | PGT | ≥90 credits at higher level; dissertation performance may also be considered |
| Politics & International Studies | UG | ≥120 upper-year credits at higher level |
| Politics & International Studies | PGT | ≥90 credits at higher level |
| Sociology & Social Policy | UG | ≥120 upper-year credits at higher level |
| Sociology & Social Policy | PGT | ≥90 credits at higher level |