Special Circumstances - “S” Code

‘S’ Coding is the method the University uses to recognise that special circumstances have affected performance in the modules concerned. ‘S’ coding may only be applied to Honours or taught postgraduate modules, except for taught postgraduate project or dissertation modules which are excluded.   ‘S’ coding may only be applied as a result of, and with, the explicit consent of the student and with the approval of the School. The final decision to ‘S’ code a module grade rests with the School. You should be aware that a maximum of 25% of the overall Honours credits required or 50% of the taught element of a postgraduate award may be ‘S’ coded.

If you feel that most or all of the work of a module has been adversely affected by personal circumstances during your final junior and senior Honours years or during the taught modules of a taught postgraduate programme you should contact your School in the first instance indicating the circumstances of the difficulty experienced. This may relate to ongoing illness, close family bereavement or other significant personal difficulties.

You must bring this information to the attention of the School as soon as possible as there are a number of ways to deal with such situations, ‘S’ coding being the final option. It may be possible (and it is viewed as preferable) to arrange deferred assessments or extended submission dates rather than applying ‘S’ to the entire module. However it should be noted that if such arrangements are made, (extensions or deferred assessments etc), it is unlikely that you will also be entitled to have the module ‘S’ coded as well.

Further information can be found in the the University’s Policy and Procedures on Special Circumstances.