Arts Sciences
Penalties for over-length coursework
Assignment briefs will include clear instructions about word counts, the inclusion of footnotes, diagrams, images, tables, figures and bibliographies etc. and you are expected to adhere to the requirements for each assessment. If you exceed these parameters you may receive a reduction in marks.
When writing essays, you must clarify the rules on word count and referencing style with the lecturer who set the assignment, as there are different rules and guidelines for each department / subject. You can usually find this information on the course Moodle page.
For example, it is common practice across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities that footnotes are included in the word count, but the bibliography is not. Some science departments specify the length they require in terms of pages (and may also specify font and margins) rather than words, because equations, graphs etc. are difficult to count.
The length of coursework for a BASC-coded module will be specified in terms of a word count or number of pages. Assessed work should not exceed the prescribed length. For submitted coursework that has a maximum length specified, the following procedures will apply:
- For written assignments that exceed a specified maximum length by less than 10% the mark will be reduced by five percentage points (i.e. 5 marks), but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark: marks already at or below the pass mark will not be reduced. For example, if you are taking a module between Levels 4 and 6 and your word limit is 2,000 words and you write between 2,001 and 2,199 words, you will lose 5 marks so a mark of 71% would be reduced to 66%, a mark of 43% would be reduced to 40% but a mark of 39% would not be reduced. If you were taking a Level 7 module, and you submit work between 2,001 and 2,199 words for a 2,000 word assessment, you would lose 5 marks so a mark of 71% would be reduced to 66%, a mark of 53% would be reduced to 50% but a mark of 49% would not be reduced.
- For work that exceeds a specified maximum length by 10% or more the mark will be reduced by ten percentage points (i.e. 10 marks), but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark: marks already at or below the pass mark will not be reduced. For example, if you are taking a module between Levels 4 and 6 and your word limit is 2,000 words and you submit work that exceeds 2,200 words, you will lose 10 marks so a mark of 71% would be reduced to 61%, a mark of 43% would be reduced to 40% but a mark of 39% would not be reduced. If you were taking a Level 7 module, and you submit work that exceeds 2,200 words for a 2,000 word assessment, you would lose 10 marks so a mark of 71% would be reduced to 61%, a mark of 53% would be reduced to 50% but a mark of 49% would not be reduced.
- Where the maximum word count is exceeded by a small amount, likely to fall within the margin of error of conflicting word counts generated by different software, the BASc E xamination B oard will exercise academic judgement in determining whether the word limit has been exceeded. In all such cases an independent count will be made by the Department and in no case will discretion be exercised where the count exceeds the maximum set for the assignment by more than 2%. Work that is deliberately submitted over-length will be subject to the over-length penalties outlined above.
- In the case of coursework that is submitted late and is also over length, the greater of the two penalties will apply.
Please note: there is no longer a UCL-wide policy on over-length submissions and so the penalties above relate to BASC-coded modules and modules taught by departments (including the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) within the Faculties of Arts and Humanities and Social and Historical Sciences only. It is your responsibility to check with each of your teaching departments to determine the over-length penalties for each of the other modules you are taking.
Minimum Length
Please note there is no automatic penalty for under-length essays providing there is sufficient suitable content.
Further information:
- Academic Manual Chapter 4, Section 3: Module Assessment
Essential Links
- Arts and Sciences Student Handbook (UCL username and password are required)
- Online reading lists
- UCL 24/7 Student Support Line
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UCL dissertations and theses
The Library holds a copy of most research degree theses completed by students registered at UCL. Print copies of research theses are catalogued by author in Explore ; electronic versions are in many cases available on open access in UCL Discovery .
The Library does not normally have copies of UCL:
- MA, MSc, MRes, LLM theses
- Diploma theses
- Undergraduate dissertations
However the following libraries have small local theses collections covering their own subject areas, please contact the relevant library directly for more information:
- Bartlett Library : select exemplars of Masters dissertations are available through UCL's Open Educational Repository .
- Ophthalmology Library has a very small collection of PhD, MD and MSc dissertations.
- Institute of Orthopaedics Library has BSc and MSc theses.
- School of Pharmacy Library has a small collection of MRes theses which date from 2011 – 2014 for reference use in the library.
- UCL Institute of Education Library has selected masters dissertations, which are findable in Explore . Those published after 2000 are openly accessible in the library. All others must be requested in advance.
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library has examples of past MSc and MRes dissertations.
- The UCL Institute of Archaeology make some available on the dissertation module page in their Moodle.
Some departments may also maintain their own collections. For further details, please contact your departmental administrators.
- Theses Further Information on repositories and databases for accessing theses held by other institutions.
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- Last Updated: Sep 22, 2024 9:09 PM
- URL: https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/dissertations
IMAGES
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COMMENTS
This information is for research students submitting a thesis for assessment. It tells you how to: format your thesis. submit your thesis. bind your thesis (if applicable) submit the final copy of your thesis. There are different requirements for students of fine arts, design, architecture or town planning. Find out more about these requirements.
1. Requirements of a Thesis: PhD/EngD/MPhil/MD(Res) 4 1.1 Theses: General 4 1.2 Requirements of a PhD/EngD Thesis 5 1.3 Requirements of an MPhil Thesis 6 1.4 Requirements of an MD(Res) Thesis 7 1.5 Language of a Thesis 8 1.6 Word Length of Theses 9 1.7 Format of a Thesis 9 1.8 Approval of a Thesis Title 10 1.9 Availability of a Thesis 10
4. MRes students who fail the dissertation should not register on the EngD or MPhil/PhD programme in the following academic year but remain on the MRes and resubmit the dissertation by 31 January of the following academic year. The Board would then consider the
When you are ready to to submit your thesis, it's a straightforward online process. UCL will then forward your thesis to your examiners. For more detailed information, visit the submission guidance web page. Note that all tasks related to examination entry must be completed before you submit your thesis. Additionally, your examiners need to be ...
There is a small BASc Dissertation Fund, open for applications by all BASc dissertation students currently undertaking module BASC0024. The fund operates on a first-come-first-serve basis, with each student able to apply for up to £50 (or equivalent) to help towards any dissertation research costs.
Please contact your university library and ask them to enquire about this service with UCL's Interlibrary Loan service; e-mail interloans@ucl.ac.uk for more information. The Library does not normally hold print copies of any theses in the following categories: MA, MSc, MRes, LLM theses. Diploma theses. Undergraduate dissertations.
In the case of coursework that is submitted late and is also over length, the greater of the two penalties will apply. Please note: there is no longer a UCL-wide policy on over-length submissions and so the penalties above relate to BASC-coded modules and modules taught by departments (including the School of Slavonic and East European Studies ...
15. 16. 16. 17. DUCTIONWELCOME TO UCL AND THE UCL DOCTORAL SCHOOLThis Code of Practice aims to set out what you as a research student can expect from your supervisory team and from UCL, and what your. Supervisors and others in UCL can expect from you. It is important that you read.
This visual tool draws together support from across UCL to help you with writing your dissertation or research project. ... University College London, Gower Street ...
The UCL Institute of Archaeology make some available on the dissertation module page in their Moodle. ... University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT ...