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Course Credit

CATS

All modules are assigned what are called CATS credits (often referred to as CATS). CATS stands for Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme which is a scheme used widely in the UK higher education system. Each credit is deemed to require roughly 10 hours of student work, which includes attendance at lectures, time spent in laboratories, work out of lectures, revision and other activities. The normal load for one year of full time study in higher education is 120 CATS credits. In the first year a 30 lecture module is worth 10 CATS credits. In the second year our modules consist of about 38 lectures and are worth 15 CATS credits. In subsequent years 30 lecture modules are worth 15 CATS credits reflecting the expectation that in later years you are learning more outside of lectures.

Credit Accumulation

Our courses operate on a credit accumulation system with your performance in each year counting towards your final degree classification. Your marks in the later years contribute more to your final mark than those obtained earlier. The actual weighting varies with the degree programme you are following. For the BSc degree programmes in physics, mathematics and physics and physics with astrophysics, the three years' marks are weighted in the ratio 10:30:60. For the MPhys and MMathPhys degree programmes in physics, and mathematics and physics respectively the four years' marks are weighted in the ratio 10:20:30:40. For the BSc degree in Physics with Business Studies the ratio is 10:40:50.

Marking Schemes

When marking any assessed and examined work we use the following guidelines:

70% and over
A 1st class performance
60.0% - 69.9%
A 2(i) performance
50.0% - 59.9%
A 2(ii) performance
40.0% - 49.9%
A 3rd class performance for modules at levels 1 to 3. A failure for modules at level 4.
Less than 40%
A failed module