Assessment
Assessments enable students to demonstrate they have fulfilled the learning objectives of their course, and achieved the standard required for the award they seek.
Please download the document:
Assessment and Feedback Policy
The Assessment and Feedback Policy provides details of the University’s policies and procedures relating to:
- Principles of Assessment and Feedback
- Operational Expectations
- Assessment tariffs
- Assessment limits
- Assessment submission
- Reassessment
- Marking and moderation processes
- The role of External Examiners.
The following guidance documents are available:
- Assessment design guidance, covering how principles of inclusivity and validity are enacted in practice
- Assessment Moderation Guidance
- Guidance on alternative / adjusted assessment, including how Module Leaders are notified of the need for these to be developed
- Grading Descriptors and Marking Criteria Toolkit
- Guidance on providing effective feedback
See also:
- Curiosity-Driven Pedagogies
- Assessments Process Flowchart (for students)
- BSU Progression rules
- How we ensure your mark is fair: Marking and moderation flowchart
Assessment Boards take the form of three-step process*. The first step is a Pre-Board, which is based within the Schools. This is the opportunity for module leaders and Subject leaders to check and discuss marks and the moderating process for sets of modules within their subjects. The next step is a Module Assessment Board (MAB), where Subject leaders and Heads of School meet and have the opportunity to consult with External Examiners and carry out performance and enhancement discussions.
*Module Assessment Boards are not held in advance of Reassessment Boards
PreBoards, MABs and PABs Attendance Flowchart
Once Module Assessment Boards have taken place, the marks and grades for each student are taken to a Progression and Award Board (PAB), during which the marks and grade and awards, where applicable, are officially ratified. During the Progression and Award Board processes, Chief External Examiners are consulted and invited to give their feedback.
Following the conclusion of the Progression and Award Board processes, official results are published to students.
The Assessment Board schedules provide the following information:
- Reassessment coursework submission deadlines (for assessments which have been postponed from an earlier Assessment period, via approved Exceptional Circumstances, as an example)
- Marks deadlines for tutors (the date by which tutors should upload all due marks for their modules to the central Assessments team)
- Module Assessment Boards (the range of dates in which Module Assessment Board meetings should be arranged)
- Progression and Award Board (the dsate on which marks are officially published to students (any marks or grades provided by tutors prior to the official results publication dates should be considered as being provisional and advisory).
See also:
The Progression and Awards Assessment Board schedules are available below:
- Undergraduate Assessments Board Schedule 2025-26
- Postgraduate Assessments Board Schedule 2025-26
- Undergraduate Progression Awards Assessments Board Schedule 2026-27
- Postgraduate Progression Awards Assessments Board Schedule 2026-27
- Undergraduate Progression Awards Assessments Board Schedule 2027-28
- Postgraduate Progression Awards Assessments Board Schedule 2027-28
- PGCE and PGDE Assessment Board Schedule 2025-26
- Central Postgraduate Assessments Board Schedule 2024-25
- Moderation guidance
- Progression and Award Board Undergraduate Agenda Template
- Progression and Award Board Postgraduate Agenda Template
- Progression and Award Board Initial Teacher Training Agenda Template
- Progression and Award Board Undergraduate Minutes Template
- Progression and Award Board Postgraduate Minutes Template
- Progression and Award Board Initial Teacher Training Minutes Template
- Progression and Award Board On The Day Process
- Guidance for Chairs of Progression and Award Boards
- Chair of PAB Confirmation of Progression and Awards Sign-off Sheet
- Chief External Examiner Progression and Award Board Sign-off Sheet.
Following the receipt of their official results communications, students may submit a Stage One: Formal Appeal to the University.
Details of the University’s Appeals Policy and Procedures are available on the Appeals Policy and Procedures page.
Bath Spa University is clear that all students will be judged on their own ability and that all assessment work submitted must be original.
Academic misconduct is defined as any activity used by a student which provides them with an unfair academic advantage over others.
Further information regarding the University’s Academic Integrity procedures are available on the Academic Integrity page.
The MyStudies guides provide details regarding a wide range of processes and services that the University provides, including course registration periods and award classification details.
MyStudies - Undergraduate
MyStudies - Postgraduate
The Results Flowchart provides an outline of the amount of credits required to progress each level of study. It also explains the different modes of study which may be necessary if some modules are not completed.
The University offers a range of student support services and opportunities to enable students to manage the challenges and demands of academic study. Students are encouraged to seek support from personal tutors, module and course leaders, ASk (Academic Skills), Student Wellbeing Services, Students’ Union Advice Centre or to use other mechanisms, such as a study break, as appropriate.
Students are encouraged to use the University's Assessment Action Plan Template to help to map out their assessments and reassessments, where appropriate, throughout the academic year.
For more information on support and guidance available after receiving results, please visit our Results page.