School of Physics

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Progression regulations applying to Physics modules and to accredited Physics programmes

Progression regulations applying to Physics modules and to degree programmes in the School of Physics

This webpage is for ease of access, replicating the information in the School of Physics Undergraduate Handbook. It explains and illustrates the progression, award and reassessment regulations that apply within the accredited degree programmes in the School of Physics.

Overview of progression regulations

An overview of the progression regulations within the Physics programme are detailed here. There are differences from the general College regulations on progression and awards that apply to students in School of physics modules within our Physics degree programmes. These derogations apply to the Fresher Physics modules and within the Sophister degree programmes that are accredited by the Institute of Physics (IoP), these being the Physics, Physics and Astrophysics,  Nanoscience and Theoretical Physics degrees.  

Information on the general regulations for undergraduate progression and awards can be found via the following webpage: 

https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/ug-prog-award-regs/index.php

Information in relation to all undergraduate Regulations can be found via the following:  

https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/ug-regulations/

The full text of these derogations from the College Progression and Award rules can be found at: https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/ug-prog-award-regs/derogations/by-school.php Select the year and scroll to the School of Physics.

A) Minimum mark requirement and Qualified Fails in Fresher years

A) Minimum mark requirement and Qualified Fails in Fresher years

 

  1. These regulations apply to the Fresher JF and SF 10 credit modules that are core to Physical Sciences (TR063) and Theoretical Physics (TR035), and which are available as Open modules to JF and SF Chemical Sciences (TR031) students.  

    These modules are JF: PYU11P10, PYU11T10, PYU11P20, PYU11T20; and in SF: PYU22P10, PYU22T10, PYU22P20, PYU22T20. (This does not include PYU11F10, PYU11F20, PYU11H20). 

  2. In these Fresher modules there is a minimum mark requirement of 30% separately in both the Examination component and the Laboratory component, in order for either a Pass or a Qualified Pass mark in the module to be granted. The Progression threshold is not simply an overall module mark of 40% or higher, but requires minimum marks in these components. 

  3. A mark of less than 30% in either the Examination or Laboratory components leads to a Qualified Fail. A Qualified Fail requires reassessment in that component before progression to the next year can occur. Reassessment of the exam component is in the reassessment examination period; reassessment of the laboratory component occurs before the beginning of the reassessment examination period.  

  4. If a mark of less than 30% occurs or recurs in the examination or laboratory component following the reassessment period, the student cannot progress and must repeat the year. This necessarily applies to students who had deferred their first attempt at examinations to the reassessment period. 

  5. Students who fail a module with a module mark of <40%, but >=35% are not eligible for Pass by Compensation, or a Qualified Pass, if either of the examination or laboratory components is less than 30%. 

  6. For context only, two points are repeated from the general undergraduate progression and awards regulations. The first is that as much as 10 credits can be eligible for a Qualified Pass or a pass by compensation with marks of 35% or higher, provided the other 50 credits of module marks are 40% or higher, and there is an overall pass. Secondly, students who fail a given module can only be reassessed in failed components of the module.

      Reassessment capping

      B) Capping of reassessed components in reassessment session in Fresher and Sophister years 

      In reassessments, a cap (maximum mark) of 60% will apply to  

      1. All the reassessed components for core Junior Fresh and Senior Fresh Physics modules delivered as part of the Physical Sciences and Theoretical Physics courses (and available to students in the Chemical Sciences course as Open modules) which are listed above in A(i). 

      2. All reassessed components of all modules in the Sophister years (except Trinity Electives) within the four accredited degree programmes Physics, Physics & Astrophysics, Nanoscience, and Theoretical Physics, irrespective of the owning School. Accreditation of these degree programmes is by the Institute of Physics (IoP). 

      The above mentioned capping will apply to re-assessed components of the affected School of Physics (PYU code) modules irrespective of the degree stream of the student, registration or visiting student status, or year of first admission. The Sophister PYU modules are not available to any other non-accredited Sophister degree programmes.  

      Re-assessment capping does not apply to deferred 1st attempts at assessment. 

      Rational for derogations

      Rationale for minimum component thresholds in Fresher Physics modules

      The minimum component thresholds in the core Fresher Physics modules serves to ensure that students have gained sufficient physics knowledge and skills at the intermediate levels before engaging with the more advanced and specialised physics in the Sophister years.

      Rationale for capping reassessments in Physics degrees 

      The capped reassessments are required of College and the School of Physics by the Institute of Physics (IoP) for continued accreditation of our four degree programmes in Physics, Physics with Astrophysics, Nanoscience and Theoretical Physics. This is to ensure the continued integrity and quality of our degree programme, results and outcomes. It should be noted that uncapped resits are not the norm in other universities either in Ireland or elsewhere that have degrees accredited by the IoP, where the usual capping level of reassessed components or exams is at 40%. The reassessment capping level agreed with the IoP is a compromise between ensuring the continued quality of our degree recipients and their degree results against the intended purpose and rationale underpinning uncapped resits elsewhere in College. That policy was to encourage students to achieve the intended learning outcomes in the reassessment by engaging fully with learning in order to do their best, and this is still possible as students are rewarded for doing more than the minimum required to pass. 

       

      Examples of how minimum thresholds and capped reassessments work

      Examples of minimum thresholds