Important Information about the LLB by Distance Learning

(PTS4) Use information technologyYou will need to have access to a computer to use material that is held on theUniversity’s computers in Wolverhampton, and to email your tutors.(PTS6) Work in teamsThe programme, with its emphasis on individual study by students resident invarious locations around the world, makes the formal development andassessment of teamwork difficult. They are, however, encouraged to formstudy groups wherever possible.(PTS7) Demonstrate numeracyThis skill is not developed on the home programme in Wolverhampton and issimilarly not developed on the Distance Learning programme.It should, however, be noted that any student commencing their studies afterSeptember 2001 will be formally assessed in all three of these areas. Onlythose students who successfully undertake such assessments will obtain aQualifying Law Degree.Module LeaderA module leader is the member of academic staff who is responsible for themodule you are studying. She/he will have written the module planner youare using and is responsible for the setting and marking of the examinationyou will take.He or she can be contacted by e mail for advice on matters relating to themodule they are responsible for, including clarification and help on areas oflaw.Work During the ProgrammeProgress TestsEach module planner contains a Progress Test which enables students tomonitor their understanding of the module studied.The Progress Test examines thoroughly the topics dealt with in the studymaterial and should be treated as a ‘mini-examination’ taken underexamination conditions without reference to any materials.Suggested SolutionsSuggested Solutions are contained in the module planner. They demonstratehow problems and essay questions should be answered. It should be notedthat these solutions are more detailed than would be expected from anexamination candidate.

ExaminationsStudents have to take a two-hour unseen examination in each module.Examination questions require knowledge of recent developments within thescope of the syllabus up to and including material on the subject contained inthe Law Update for that year. Students are given 15 minutes reading time toallow them to think about the questions set. Copies of the relevant casebook,statute book or, where appropriate, source book and Law Update may betaken into the examination, but these must not contain additional notes orannotations, other than highlighting and underlining.The Application for Admission form contains all the information required forexamination entry. Once an application has been accepted, and all therelevant fees have been paid, students are automatically registered for theexaminations.Examinations normally take place in the first and second week of January,first and second week of May, the fourth week of August and the first week ofSeptember.Examinations are currently held in London and Hong Kong. Examinationsmay be taken in other countries or centres. The extra examination locationsare arranged on an annual basis. Examination locations which have beenused in the past, or which are under consideration for the future, includeAustralia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Fiji,Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, SaudiArabia, Singapore, Tobago and the United States of America. Specialexamination centres are arranged based upon the requirements stated bystudents on their course application form. Note that any special centrerequirement must be stated on the application form for admission to thecourse. All examinations are held subject to demand.The exact dates and locations of examinations are notified on theExamination Entry Card. Examination Entry Cards are sent approximatelyfour weeks prior to the examinations. Students must take this card, togetherwith their Student Identity Card issued by the College, and their national Card(if any), to the examination hall to gain admission to the examination. Theywill not be allowed to attend the examination unless they follow theserequirements.

Aspects of studyRate of studyStudents may study between one and eight modules per year with amaximum of four at any one examination session (maximum of five if thisincludes a reassessment). A ‘year’ is three consecutive examination periods.Should a student fail to study at least one module in a year, without applyingfor leave of absence, he/she risks being treated as having withdrawn from theprogramme. The degree must be completed within 6 years of enrolment onthe programme.Discontinuity of studyAs long as students provide written notice they may interrupt their studies forup to two years on one occasion.Resits and RetakesThere is no limit on the number of resits/retakes a student is allowed (but seethe section on Qualifying Law Degrees).Definitions of ‘resit’ and ‘retake’‘Resit’ means students have to be re-examined in the failed module, withoutbeing required to study the whole module again. If, on the re-examination,students pass the module they will gain credits for it.Students have the right, subject to registration, to resit a module if theyachieve an overall module grade of E4.‘Retake’ means that students must study the entire module again and thenpass an examination in it if they want to gain the credits for that module.Students have to retake a module if they are awarded an F grade.If students are retaking a module they must re-register for it by informingHolborn College of their preferred examination session for reassessment.Maximum grade on resitWhen students resit a module they are limited to a maximum grade of D5,regardless of actual performance in the resit.Maximum grade on retakeThere is no limit on the grade that can be awarded for a retake. However,students cannot carry forward any grades from their previous attempt at themodule, even if these were higher that those achieved in the retake.

Regulations Relating to the LLB (Hons) Senior Status DegreePeriod of time for completionStudents enrolling on or after 1 September 2002 must complete their studiesfor a Senior Status degree in 4 years.Number of modules required to be passed for award of a Senior StatusLLB (Hons)Level 1Students are required to study and pass six (90 credits) Level 1 modules.Level 2/3Students are required to study and pass 13 (195 credits) Level 2/3 modules ofwhich 7 (105 credits) modules must be at Level 3.Classification of a Senior Status LLB (Hons)Senior Status LLB (Hons) will be classified on the best 165 Level 2/3 credits.Borderline cases will be dealt with in accordance with standard Universitypractice.Rights of retrievalThere are unlimited rights of retrieval within the overall time limit for thedegree (but see the Qualifying Law Degree requirements).Number of modules required for award of a Senior Status LLB withouthonoursNote: a Senior Status LLB without honours is not a Qualifying law Degree,and is normally only awarded to students unsuccessful in obtaining a LLB(Hons) by Senior Status.Level 1Students are required to study and pass six (90 credits) Level 1 modules.Level 2Students are required to pass ten (150 credits) Level 2/3 modules, of whichfive (75 credits) must be at Level 3.

LLB withHonoursStandard EntryOverall credits required: 360*Total credits must include:Levels 2 & 3 = minimum 210(of which 105 must be fromLevel 3)Senior StatusOverall credits required: 285*Total credits must include:Levels 2 & 3 = minimum 195(of which 105 must be fromlevel 3)LLB withoutHonoursOverall credits required:*Minimum = 285*Maximum = 300Total credits must include:Levels 2 & 3 = minimum180 (of which 75 must befrom Level 3)Overall credits required:*Minimum = 240*Maximum = 270Total credits must include:Levels 2 & 3 = minimum 150(of which 75 must be fromLevel 3)Academic MisconductThis can take three forms and can lead to serious penalties being imposed,ranging from automatic failure of the modules in respect of which themisconduct occurred, to being required to withdraw from the University.The first form of misconduct is cheating in respect of examinations. Thisinvolves a candidate attempting to gain an unfair advantage by dishonestmeans, and includes, amongst other things, all breaches of examination roomrules, impersonating another candidate, falsifying data, and obtaining anexamination paper in advance of its authorised release.The second form is plagiarism, which is committed when a studentincorporates a significant amount of unattributed direct quotation from, orunattributed substantial paraphrasing of, the work of another.The third is collusion, which occurs when two or more students collaborate toproduce a piece of work to be submitted (in whole or in part) for assessmentand the work is presented as the work of one student alone.Extenuating CircumstancesIf students experience any problem which adversely affects their performancein one or more examinations or other assessed work, they must inform theAward Director for the LLB by Distance Learning, using Form AA034, withinseven days of the problem occurring. Students are, therefore, advised to fax

the completed copy of the form to the Examinations Officer at Holborn Collegefor forwarding to the Award Director.Copies of the form are available on request from the Examinations Officer.Deferral of ExaminationsStudents may defer taking an examination for which they are registered bygiving written notice to the Course Coordinator within the relevant deferraldeadlines, which are indicated in the student’s enrolment document.Examinations ResultsAfter examination papers have been marked and moderated at the Universityin consultation with the University’s external examiners, results are sent tostudents by post.Resit ExaminationsSubject to students having the right to do so, they are automatically entered toresit a failed examination at the next examination date. The Result Code‘Retrieve in line with Module Status’ may indicate that not all failed modulesmay be retrieved. If you need advice on the meaning and effect of yourresults please contact your Course Coordinator.AppealsThe University’s appeals procedure applies only to decisions of AssessmentBoards of the University: there is no right of appeal against the academicjudgement of an Assessment Board. An appeal may only be lodged against adecision of an Assessment Board where a student believes that anadministrative error or other material irregularity has occurred, or where therewere personal circumstances which, had the Board been aware of them,might have affected its decision.In the first instance students should discuss their concern with the AwardDirector for the LLB by Distance Learning. If a student decides to appeal heor she should write to the Head of the University’s assessment Unit no laterthan three months after the publication of the challenged decision, stating thegrounds for appeal and enclosing any relevant evidence. The appeal will thenbe investigated.Congregation, Prizes and ScholarshipsCongregation for the award of degrees usually takes place in September ofeach year at Wolverhampton. Graduands are notified of the exact date andvenue. Graduands unable to attend convocation will receive their degreecertificate by post.

Absence from ExaminationIf a written notice of deferral is not received within the specified deadline,absence from the examination will be recorded as Fail unless certifiedevidence is sent for the attention of the Award Board.Reassessment FeesIf reassessment is required in any module, whether or not mitigating evidenceis submitted or accepted, a Reassessment Fee is payable. In addition, aContinuing Registration Fee may apply. Details are sent with students’enrolment and module registration documents.

QUESTIONNAIREThe School of Legal Studies and Holborn College attach great importance toyour views. We would, therefore, be grateful if you would answer thefollowing questions and return them to the address given below. Youranswers will be considered by the distance learning teaching team and usedin updating the Award Guide.1. What two things did you find most useful about the Award Guide?2. What two things did you find the least helpful about the Award Guide?3. Please identify any typographical errors you encountered in using thisGuide (please make reference to appropriate page numbers).Return to:External Programmes AdministratorSchool of Legal StudiesUniversity of WolverhamptonArthur Storer BuildingMolineux StreetWolverhamptonWV1 1SBUnited KingdomYou may if you wish e mail your answers to N.Clark@wlv.ac.uk