Section 10: Interim Qualifications

Published for 2023-24

The Interim Qualifications regulations define the qualifications available to students who may be unable to complete the programme on which they originally enrolled.

10.1 Overaching Principles	10.7 Bachelors with Honours Interim Qualification
10.2 Scope & Definitions	10.8 Honours Degree without a Study Abroad or Placement Year
10.3 Full Qualification with an Alternate Field of Study	10.9 Grad Cert Interim Qualification
10.4 Cert HE Interim Qualification	10.10 PG Cert Interim Qualification
10.5 Dip HE Interim Qualification	10.11 PG Dip Interim Qualification
10.6 Ordinary Degree Interim Qualification	10.12 Aegrotat Degree

10.1 Overarching Principles

Principle 17: Qualifications must only be awarded for the successful achievement of defined learning outcomes.

10.2 Scope & Definitions

1.	A student who is unable to complete their programme may be eligible for an Interim Qualification.
2.	An Interim Qualification may be awarded:

	a)	As an ‘Advertised Outcome’ from a programme of study, or
	b)	By transferring a student to a programme resulting in a lower qualification, where such a programme exists. The student may choose this route or UCL may recommend that the student takes this route, or
	c)	As a result of failing to meet the requirements of the programme on which the student originally registered, whether due to Extenuating Circumstances or under-performance.

3.	A student who is unable to finish their programme of study may ask to be considered for an Interim Qualification. Such an award is normally final. Exceptionally, the Faculty Tutor may permit the student to surrender the Interim Qualification and re-register at UCL – please see Chapter 3, Section 1.7 Closing and Re-Opening Records for further details.
	Advertised Outcomes
4.	An Interim Qualification is defined as an ‘Advertised Outcome’ where there are discretely-defined, programme-specific Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes which are published in the Programme Summary. The Board of Examiners must assess the student’s eligibility for the Interim Qualification against these Learning Outcomes.
5.	On Graduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes, an Interim Qualification which is an Advertised Outcome is eligible for a Classification.
6.	Where the Interim Qualification is not an Advertised Outcome of the programme the Board of Examiners must assess the student’s eligibility for the Interim Qualification against the standard UCL Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes defined in Sections 10.4 - 10.11.
7.	On Graduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes, an Interim Qualification which is not an Advertised Outcome is not eligible for a Classification.
	Field of Study
8.	The field of study for an Interim Qualification should match the title of the full degree programme on which the student is registered.
9.	Subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee, a programme may include Interim Qualifications with an alternate field of study to that of the full degree on which the student is registered e.g. Dip HE Legal Studies instead of Laws.
10.	Alternate fields of study for Interim Qualifications must be documented in the Programme Summary.

10.3 Full Qualification with an Alternate Field of Study

1.	A student may be considered for a full qualification with an alternate field of study where they meet UCL’s threshold standards for the award of a qualification but:

	a)	Fail or fail to enrol on a Compulsory module, or
	b)	Fail to meet the requirements of a Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body, or
	c)	Fail to meet the Progression, Award or credit requirements of a specific programme of study.

2.	A qualification with an alternate field of study may be awarded in one of the following ways:

	a)	Subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee, a programme may include a qualification with an alternate field of study as a standard outcome from the programme e.g. MSc Human Communication Science as an Interim Qualification for students who are unable to meet the requirements of MSc Speech and Language Sciences, or
	b)	A Board of Examiners may make a recommendation for an alternate field of study for an individual student on a case-by-case basis. Applications should be made to UCL Education Services via the Faculty Tutor. Where the alternate field of study has not already been approved, approval must be sought from the Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience) or their nominee.

3.	A student should not be permitted to request a particular field of study, although an appropriate field of study may be discussed provisionally with the student prior to the Board of Examiners meeting.
4.	A student awarded a qualification with an alternate field of study is eligible for a Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.

10.4 Cert HE Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Bachelors with Honours, Integrated Masters with Honours or Foundation Degree may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 120 credits at level 4 or above, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for a Cert HE.

	Standard Cert HE Learning Outcomes
2.	In order to be awarded a Cert HE a student should be able to demonstrate:
	some knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their field of study an ability to evaluate and interpret concepts and principles within the context of their field an ability to present, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data an ability to develop lines of argument an ability to make sound judgements in accordance with the basic theories and concepts of their field.
3.	These are the standard UCL Cert HE Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements, subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
4.	A Cert HE Interim Qualification does not include a Classification.

10.5 Dip HE Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Bachelors with Honours or Integrated Masters with Honours may be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 240 credits with at least 90 at level 5 or above, no more than 150 at level 4, and no credits below level 4, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for a Dip HE.

	Standard Dip HE Learning Outcomes
2.	In order to be awarded a Dip HE a student should be able to demonstrate:
	knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of their field of study, and of the way in which those principles have developed an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the field of study an ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study an understanding of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations which might be based on that knowledge.
3.	These are the standard UCL Dip HE Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
4.	A Dip HE Interim Qualification does not include a Classification.

10.6 Ordinary Degree Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Bachelors with Honours or Integrated Masters with Honours may be awarded an Ordinary Degree (Bachelors without Honours) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 300 credits with at least 60 at level 6 or above, no more than 150 at level 4, and no credits below level 4, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for an Ordinary Degree.

	Standard Ordinary Degree Learning Outcomes
2.	In order to be awarded an Ordinary Degree a student should be able to demonstrate:
	an understanding of some key aspects of their field of study, including the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field an ability to deploy established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the field of study an ability to devise arguments, and/ or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of the field of study an ability to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research or scholarship in the field of study some appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge an ability to manage their own learning some ability to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/ or original materials appropriate to the field of study).
3.	These are the standard UCL Ordinary Degree Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
4.	An Ordinary Degree does not include a Classification.

10.7 Bachelors with Honours Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for an Integrated Masters Degree may be awarded a Bachelors with Honours if they have:

	a)	Met the standard or programme-defined Bachelors with Honours Progression and Award Requirements (Section 6.6), and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for a Bachelors with Honours.

	Standard Bachelors with Honours Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes
2.	In order to be awarded a Bachelors with Honours a student should be able to demonstrate:
	a systematic understanding of key aspects of their field of study, including the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the field of study a conceptual understanding that enables the student: to devise and sustain arguments, and/ or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of the field of study to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research or equivalent advanced scholarship in the field of study an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge an ability to manage their own learning an ability to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/ or original materials appropriate to the field of study).
3.	These are the standard UCL Bachelors with Honours Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
4.	Students are eligible for an Honours Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.

10.8 Honours Degree without a Study Abroad or Placement Year

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the requirements of a Study Abroad Year or Placement Year must be transferred to an equivalent degree with no Study Abroad or Placement requirement.
	Classification
2.	Students are eligible for an Honours Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.

10.9 Grad Cert Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Graduate Diploma may be awarded a Graduate Certificate (Grad Cert) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 60 credits with at least 45 at level 6 or above, no more than 15 at level 5, and no credits below level 5, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for a Grad Cert.

	Standard Grad Cert Learning Outcomes
2.	In order to be awarded a Grad Cert a student should be able to demonstrate:
	a systematic understanding of key aspects of their field of study, including the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the field of study a conceptual understanding that enables the student: to devise and sustain arguments, and/ or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of the field of study to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in the field of study an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge an ability to manage their own learning an ability to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/ or original materials appropriate to the field of study).
3.	These are the standard UCL Grad Cert Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
4.	Where the Grad Cert is an Advertised Outcome from a Grad Dip, students are eligible for a Merit or Distinction Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.
5.	Where the Grad Cert is not an Advertised Outcome from a Grad Dip, students are not eligible for a Classification.

10.10 PG Cert Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Masters Degree or a Postgraduate Diploma may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 60 credits with at least 45 at level 7 or above, no more than 15 at level 6, and no credits below level 6, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes for a PG Cert.

2.	Credits from a Masters Dissertation/ Research Project may be used towards a PG Cert if the Board of Examiners is satisfied that the student has met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined PG Cert Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes.
	Standard PG Cert Learning Outcomes
3.	In order to be awarded a PG Cert a student should be able to demonstrate:
	an understanding of knowledge, and an awareness of current problems and/ or new insights, in their field an understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or scholarship some originality in the application of knowledge a practical understanding of how established techniques of enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the field a conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate current research and scholarship in the field
4.	These are the standard UCL PG Cert Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
5.	Where the PG Cert is an Advertised Outcome from a Masters or PG Dip, students are eligible for a Merit or Distinction Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.
6.	Where the PG Cert is not an Advertised Outcome from a Masters or PG Dip, students are not eligible for a Classification.

10.11 PG Dip Interim Qualification

	Award Criteria
1.	A student who is unable to meet the minimum requirements for a Masters Degree may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) if they have:

	a)	Passed, or been formally condoned in, 120 credits with at least 90 at level 7 or above, no more than 30 at level 6, and no credits below level 6, and
	b)	Met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined Interim Qualification outcomes for a PG Dip.

2.	Credits from a Masters Dissertation/ Research Project may be used towards a PG Dip if the Board of Examiners is satisfied that the student has met or surpassed the standard or programme-defined PG Dip Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes.
	Standard PG Dip Learning Outcomes
3.	In order to be awarded a PG Dip a student should be able to demonstrate:
	an understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/ or new insights, in their field an understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or scholarship some originality in the application of knowledge a practical understanding of how established techniques of enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the field a conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate current research and scholarship in the field
4.	These are the standard UCL PG Dip Interim Qualification Learning Outcomes; programmes may develop their own Learning Outcomes over and above these requirements subject to approval by UCL Education Committee or its nominee.
	Classification
5.	Where the PG Dip is an Advertised Outcome from a Masters, students are eligible for a Merit or Distinction Classification if they meet the relevant criteria.
6.	Where the PG Dip is not an Advertised Outcome from a Masters, students are not eligible for a Classification.

10.12 Aegrotat Degree

1.	Exceptionally, where the Board of Examiners does not have sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to award a full or Interim Qualification, and there are good reasons why reassessment is difficult or impossible, the Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience) may recommend the award of an Aegrotat Degree. Applications must be made to UCL Education Services via the Faculty Tutor.
2.	The candidate may refuse such an award and exercise the right to be reassessed.
3.	An Aegrotat Degree does not include a Classification.
	Special and Aegrotat Provisions
4.	Honours Degree students who first enrolled on or before September 2015 are also eligible for the former Special and Aegrotat Provisions. See the UCL Academic Manual Archive 2015-16 for further details.