What do we expect from you?

You "typically" have 20 hours of scheduled activities per week:

• Lectures - usually two per course unit per week
• Laboratories for most course units
• Tutorials - one per week, more for joint honours students
• Examples classes for some course units
• PASS sessions - one per week and very useful!
• Transferable skills - essays, presentations etc

In addition, we expect you to undertake 20 hours of private study (lecture and lab preparation etc) outside of your timetabled activities.

40 hours in total may seem a lot, especially compared to students on other degree programmes, but it is not excessive for a science-based degree programme. Remember: Computer Science is a practical subject, you will learn a lot of skills during your time here.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance at ALL scheduled teaching activities is COMPULSORY so it is important that you maintain a good level of attendance.

• Lecture attendance is monitored for ALL teaching activites and attendance is taken.
• The work and attendance of ALL students is continually monitored by the year tutors. If your attendance is unsatisfactory then you will be contacted to explain why.
• Poor attendance will affect your performance - FACT!
• Persistent absence may result in you being prevented from sitting your exams, or even you being withdrawn from your degree programme.
• If you are absent for a genuine reason then let someone know, make sure you report any absence.

Progression to 2nd Year

To progress from the first year to the second year you must accumulate the required number of 120 passed credits. 

You are required to: 

1. Pass a minimum of 40 credits at the minimum pass mark of 40% at the first attempt.
2. Achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% in at least 80 credits of course units - in the remaining 40 credits you must achieve a mark in the compensation zone of 30-39%, which can be compensated to a pass mark (although the original mark stands).
3. Achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% in both COMP16121 and COMP16212, with a minimum mark of 30% in the individual laboratory and exam components for each of these.

Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in you failing the year or not being allowed to progress to the second year without reassessment (resit examinations). Further information on the examination process can be found in the undergraduate handbook.

If you have been affected at any point through the year and submit a minigating circumstances form, then the mitigating circumstances committee will use this information (and the documentary evidence provided) to decide what support should be offered.

However, mitigating cirumstance can not be used to avoid a resit examination and the progression rules must still be satisfied. In a case where an exam has been affected by mitigating circumstances, which the School is aware of, then the decision of the mitigating circumstances committee in such a case may be to allow the resit exam (if required) to count as first attempt, so the resit mark is retained and recorded on the student's transcript. Please note: when making decisions on progression the exam board can not take into account cases where students have failed to reach the marks/conditions required by their funding organisation.

Resits

The resit period is typically in the last two weeks of August and you should make sure you are able to attend. It is not possible to undertake resit exams anywhere other than at the University at the specified date/time. Compensation and progression at resit is discussed in the undergraduate handbook. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners after the resit exams will not be permitted to enter the 2nd year and will have to leave their degree programme.