Some staff at the University of Sussex alongside many other universities took part in ongoing industrial during the 2022-23 academic year. This included a marking and assessment boycott, which ended on 6 September 2023.

Marking and assessment boycott update

The UCU marking and assessment boycott ended on 6 September 2023. Following the conclusion of the boycott arrangements were put in place to ensure that all outstanding assessments were marked and taken through the normal quality assurance processes.

See the latest marking and assessment boycott frequently asked questions below for more information.

 

Latest marking and assessment boycott FAQs

See the latest information for continuing and final year (2022-23) students below.

  • All students

    See answers to common questions which are relevant to all students.

    Now the boycott is over, when will I get my marks?

    Students will receive their outstanding marks, and where relevant, news of any change to their level of study on the following dates:

      • Continuing students: Wednesday 18 October
      • Finalists: Thursday 26 October
      • Postgraduate taught: Thursday 9 November
      • Postgraduate research: ad hoc based on their dates for progression reviews or vivas which are now being scheduled.

    I’m an undergraduate student and I already had my results in June or September, why am I getting a new result now?

    Not all undergraduate students will be receiving an updated exam board outcome now. However, a significant proportion of students were impacted by the marking and assessment boycott, which was in effect from 20 April until 6 September. In the five weeks since then, academic staff have been marking the outstanding assessments and that means there are new results and updated decisions to provide for any student who has had missing marks.

    It’s important that you check your Sussex Direct pages for your updated results as you may have an updated outcome, or additional re/sit work to complete this year.

    I haven’t been eligible to submit an appeal because I’ve had missing marks. Can I submit one now?

    You may appeal against the decision of the examination board for results that have been through the full quality assurance process and where you have no provisional marks. Whilst there are no more missing marks, there are a small number of modules where the assessments have been first marked, but the full moderation process has not yet been completed. These marks are still provisional and your School is working hard to complete the final steps of the process. We advise you to submit your appeal now, and the Appeals Office will liaise with your School to determine whether it is eligible.

    Appeals must be made within 21 calendar days of the result being published. Details of the appeals process, including information on the grounds for appeal and how to make an appeal, can be found in the Academic Appeals section of the Student Hub.

    The deadline for the receipt of appeals is 5pm on Wednesday 8 November 2023 for continuing students and 5pm on Thursday 16 November 2023 for finalists.

  • Continuing students

    See answers to common questions for continuing students. 

    I've got my overall stage result but still can't see some of my module results. Why is this?

    This is a known problem caused by a technical issue with the student records system. It is not affecting all students but we appreciate the frustration for those it is affecting, and apologise for the situation. Missing module results will be available from 1pm on Thursday 26 October and via your Sussex Direct page.

    I previously had missing marks, and an exam board allowed me to progress into my next year of study. Now that all my work has been marked, I know that I have passed all outstanding modules. What does this mean for me?

    This means you have met all the requirements for your previous stage and can continue with your studies for the 2023/24 year. If you have not already done so, you must complete online re-registration via Sussex Direct straight away.

    I previously had missing marks, and an examination board allowed me to progress into my next year of study. Now that all my work has been marked, I know I have either mandatory or optional resits or sits which I have been allowed to trail alongside this year’s modules. What does this mean?

    This result means that you have not yet passed all modules for your 22-23 stage of study, but the exam board has agreed that you may progress to the next stage of your course. You will be required to complete trailed re/sits of your failed module(s) alongside the initial attempts for your new modules.

    I had an approved Exceptional Circumstances claim for impairment for an assignment that I took in either A2 or A3 in 2022-23. Has this now been taken into consideration by an exam board?

    Yes. The October exam boards were able to consider your full profile of marks and determine whether your performance had been impaired. Where they decided that this was the case, the board will have offered you either a sit or an optional sit.

    I know that I have trailed resits or sits to take this year, when will they be scheduled?

    Re/sits confirmed by an examination board in October 2023 for boycott impacted students will be scheduled during the inter-semester break week in January 2024. Your initial attempts for the modules you are taking in your 2023-24 new stage of study will be scheduled for the normal A1 assessment period. This year A1 is the 8 to the 20 January.

    You may have previously been granted resits/sits by an examination board that met in either June or September. These resits will already have been scheduled for the A3 2024 summer resit period* (August 2024) with the option to bring these forward if you prefer. The decision to distribute the re/sits in this way has been taken following consultation with a wide range of academic and support staff, and has been designed both for academic success and for wellbeing.

    *Please note that if you are studying modules in the School of Psychology, alternative arrangements may apply. Please refer to School specific guidance or contact the School office for further information.

    See more information on resits and sits. If you do not feel able to take your outstanding assessments at the planned time in January (or August) then you should seek academic advice to discuss the best option for you.

    I’ve been offered optional resits/sits. If I wish to take these to improve my mark(s), what do I need to do?

    You will need to email spa-assessment@sussex.ac.uk within seven working days of your results publication to inform us whether you wish to accept or decline your optional re/sits. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not wish to undertake your re/sits and these will be removed from your record.

    If I attempt an optional resit/sit, what happens if I get a lower mark than my first attempt.

    If you take an optional resit or sit, your new mark will replace your existing mark, even if this is lower. This is why you should think carefully as to whether accepting the optional resit/sit is the right course of action.

    When will I know the specific dates for examinations or course work submission dates for the January resit period?

    Coursework submission dates will be available on your Sussex Direct assessment timetable by the end of November. We recommend waiting until the end of the month to ensure that all the dates have been added. Exam dates will be available by 15 December 2023.

    When will I know the specific dates for examinations or course work submission dates for the A3 assessment period?

    Coursework submission dates will be available on your Sussex Direct assessment timetable by March 2024. Exam dates will be available by 29 July 2024.

    I would prefer to take my resits scheduled for A3 earlier in the academic year – can I request this?

    You may make a request to your School Director of Student Experience (DoSE) to exceptionally bring forward an assessment that has been scheduled in the summer 2024 August resit assessment period (A3) to the Semester 1 teaching and/or assessment period (A1) or Semester 2 teaching and/or assessment period (A2). These are complex decisions and will depend on your unique circumstances, so you must seek academic advice to be confident that this is the right choice for you.

    Use the relevant Assessment Form to request this.

    I am unable to take my resits in the inter-semester break week, can I request a deferral to a later assessment period?

    You may make a request to your School Director of Student Experience (DoSE) to defer submissions set in January 2024 to either the Semester 2 teaching and/or assessment period (A2) or the summer 2024 August resit period (A3). These are complex decisions and will depend on your unique circumstances, so you must seek academic advice to be confident that this is the right choice for you. Please check with your School Office, if you are unsure who to talk to in your School.

    Use the relevant Assessment Form to request this.

    I have been told I can progress to the next stage of study but had been preparing to repeat or take temporary withdrawal. What does this mean for me?

    Now that all your work has been marked and the exam board has been able to consider your full profile of marks, it has exercised academic judgement and decided that you now have sufficient credit to be able to progress to the next stage of study. It means that you will be permitted to join the semester 1 modules in the next stage of your course with effect from the start of teaching week 4, Monday 23rd October.

    If your course includes option modules, you will need to contact your school office to find out which modules are still available and how you make your choices.

    There may also be a financial implication to this amended decision. Please review the FAQs on student finance and seek advice and support from the relevant teams by visiting the Student Centre. If you are an international student with a Student Visa you may want to contact an International Advisor to discuss your situation.

    We will make arrangements to update your student record to reflect this new status which will ensure that you will have access to your timetable and all teaching and learning materials for your next stage of study. If you’ve not already done so, you will need to complete online re-registration via Sussex Direct.

    I have already made the decision to take temporary withdrawal and, regardless of the exam board decision, I do not want to study this year. What should I do?

    We understand that some students have had difficult circumstances to deal with and may prefer to take temporary withdrawal or stick to the temporary withdrawal you have already taken. This is an option available to all students at this time of year. If you do not feel able to take up your studies this year (regardless of whether you have progressed or would have been repeating the year), for whatever practical or personal reasons, then that is okay.

    If you have already taken temporary withdrawal and had this confirmed in writing then there is nothing further you need to do. If you want to take temporary withdrawal now then review the advice and follow the appropriate steps described.

    Can I repeat my previous stage of study if I have already been told that I can progress?

    The choice to repeat a previous stage of study is not normally available to students but the University is aware that a small number of students are in more challenging situations than normal, as a direct result of the marking and assessment boycott. You would need to contact your School Office in the first instance so that you can make arrangements to speak with your Director of Student Experience (DoSE).

    Before speaking to your DoSE, you should also be aware of the following:

    • a repeat stage of study means a repeat of the teaching, learning and assessment. As such, no marks or credits will be retained from your previous attempt at the stage.
    • full course fees will apply to the repeat stage.
    • you will be responsible for arranging any loans or visas required and a repeat stage may impact on visa conditions for sponsored student.
    • you will be required to abide by the conditions of a Learning Agreement and that the School Student Progress Committee will commence withdrawal procedures where appropriate.
    • if you are an international student with a Student visa who is considering repeating a stage, you should contact an International Advisor to discuss your situation before making a decision.

    Funding questions for continuing students

    Who does this information apply to?

    This information is applicable for Home students entitled to Student Finance England funding. International students must self-fund their entire course of study, unless they are being sponsored. If you are an international student with a sponsor you will need to speak to them about your funding arrangements.

    What do I need to do if I am repeating a year?

    Firstly, you will need to accept your repeat year and contact the Academic Services team, at studentprogress@sussex.ac.uk who will then submit a Change of Circumstances form to notify Student Finance of your repeat year.

    If you have already submitted your Student Finance application, this can be amended, or you can submit a new application once Student Records have been notified.

    If you have not yet applied for your Student Finance, you should do so as soon as possible to prevent any delays in receiving your maintenance loan, however, you can apply up to nine months from the 1 September 2023.

    Will I have enough SFE funding for my course if I have to repeat a year?

    Your funding entitlement is the length of your course + 1 ‘gift’ year – which includes any years of study at a previous institution. Most undergraduate courses are 3 years which means that you will have 4 years of funding provided you have not studied at another institution before coming to Sussex.

    What is a ‘gift’ year?

    Gift years are typically used for a repeat year so, if you have never repeated a year before, you should be fully funded for the remainder of your course.

    In some cases, you may have studied a foundation year meaning your length of course should be 4 years. Your foundation year should stay linked to your course; please ensure that you are applying for your funding under the name “[Your course] following a foundation year” – for example, Physics (following a foundation year).

    If you moved to a different school following your foundation year, that year of your study may not be linked to the rest of your course and, in this case, you will have used your gift year already.

    What do I do if I have already used my gift year?

    If you have used your gift year, you will be expected to self-finance your repeat year.

    Any remaining years of funding will be allocated to the last year(s) of your course – for example, if you previously repeated your first year and are now repeating your second year, you will have 1 year of funding remaining which will be allocated to your third year, meaning you will need to self-finance this repeat year.

    If there was ever a reason that you were unable to progress to the next year of study due to health grounds, you may be eligible to claim for compelling personal reasons (CPR). If successful, you would be granted an extra year of funding.

    What is compelling personal reasons (CPR)?

    CPR is discretionary funding that is granted by SFE to students who were unable to progress to the next year of study/had to repeat a year due to health grounds. If applying for CPR, you will need to apply for a specific year of study that was affected by your health. For example, if you had to take temporary withdrawal on health grounds in the 22/23 academic year, you could submit a CPR claim for this year.

    You will be required to submit a cover letter and supporting evidence with a CPR claim, including a supporting letter from a member of staff at the university such as a Student Advisor you spoke to at the time.

    Find out more about claiming for compelling personal reasons from the UK Government

  • 2022-23 Final year students

    I previously had missing marks and had been awarded an interim Ordinary degree. Now that all my work has been marked, I know that I have passed all outstanding modules. What does this mean for me?

    Congratulations. This means you have now successfully met all the requirements of your degree and the examination board has been able to confirm your final classification.

    If you were unable to attend or decided not to attend a graduation ceremony in July 2023, you will be able to attend a ceremony in either January or July 2024. Check the University’s website for more information.

    Your degree certificate and final transcript will be sent to you in due course.

    Now that all my work has been marked, I have been awarded a final degree classification, but the exam board has offered me the opportunity to take optional resits or sits. Why is this?

    While you have successfully met all the requirements for your degree, the examination board took the decision either because:

    • you had an approved Exceptional Circumstances claim
    • the exam board had compensated a module that you failed where your mark was in the marginal fail band of 35 – 39%
    • the exam board had condoned a module that you failed but the board decided you had met the course learning outcomes.

    Where either compensation or condonement were applied, the actual mark you achieved for the affected modules will have been used to calculate your overall mark and your classification. The exam board took the decision to offer you the opportunity to either resit or sit (if you had an approved Exceptional Circumstances claim).

    You may also have been given a lower award but with the choice to take optional resits which, if passed, would allow you to achieve your full honours degree or Integrated Masters. Students will be in different situations; some may prefer to exit with the lower award, some will want to take up the optional resits.

    I’ve been offered optional resits/sits. If I wish to take these to improve my mark(s), what do I need to do?

    You will need to email spa-assessment@sussex.ac.uk within seven working days of your results publication to inform us whether you wish to accept or decline your optional re/sits. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not wish to undertake your optional re/sits and these will be removed from your record. The final award offered to you by the examination board will stand.

    If this is the case and you were unable to attend or decided not to attend a graduation ceremony in July 2023, you will be able to attend a ceremony in either January or July 2024. Please check the University’s website for more information.

    I’ve been offered optional resits/sits. If I decide to accept, when will I take these resits/sits?

    Re/sits confirmed by an examination board in October 2023 for 2022-23 final year students impacted by the boycott will be scheduled during the Semester 1 (A1) assessment period.

    You may have previously been granted resits/sits by an examination board in either June or September. These resits will already have been scheduled for the A3 summer resit period (August 2024) with the option to bring these forward if you prefer. Use the relevant Assessment Form to request this. The decision to distribute the re/sits in this way has been taken following consultation with a wide range of academic and support staff and has been designed both for academic success and for student wellbeing.

    We understand that these are complex decisions that will depend on your personal circumstances and your academic profile. To help you make this decision, you may want to seek guidance from your school Director of Student Experience (DoSE) or access other non-academic support via the Student Centre.

    When will I know the specific dates for examinations or course work submission dates for the January resit period?

    Coursework submission dates will be available on your Sussex Direct assessment timetable by the end of November. We recommend waiting until the end of the month to ensure that all the dates have been added. Exam dates will be available by 15 December 2023.

    If I attempt an optional resit/sit, what happens if I get a lower mark than my first attempt.

    If you take an optional resit or sit, your new mark will replace your existing mark, even if this is lower. This is why you should think carefully as to whether accepting the optional resit/sit is the right course of action for you.

    The exam board has confirmed that I have mandatory resits, when will they be scheduled?

    Re/sits confirmed by an examination board in October 2023 for 2022-23 final year students impacted boycott will be scheduled during the Semester 1 (A1) assessment period.

    You may have previously been granted resits/sits by an examination board in either June or September. These resits will already have been scheduled for the A3 summer resit period (August 2024) with the option to bring these forward if you prefer. Use the relevant Assessment Form to request this. The decision to distribute the re/sits in this way has been taken following consultation with a wide range of academic and support staff and has been designed both for academic success and for student wellbeing.

    See more information on resits and sits. If you do not feel able to take your outstanding assessments at the planned time in January (or August) then you should seek academic advice to discuss the best option for you.

    I’m a finalist and will have some examinations that I still need to sit but I have moved away from Brighton & Hove. What should I do?

    The University recognises that finalists, who would normally have been able to finish their studies in June, or perhaps September 2023, may still have assessments outstanding. It will be a mixed picture for finalists. Modules that were not impacted by the boycott (I.e., those that were marked as normal, per the normal timelines) will have resits scheduled in the A3 summer resit period (August 2024). Modules that were affected by the boycott (i.e., where marks have only just been confirmed by the October Exam Board) will have assessments scheduled for the January A1 assessment period.

    See more information on resits and sits. If you do not feel able to take your remaining assessments at the planned time in January (or August) then you should seek academic advice to discuss the best option for you.

    If I take resits/sits (optional or mandatory in the semester 1 (A1) assessment period, when will I get my results?

    The marks for any assessments taken in A1, will be considered by an examination board in late February or early March 2024 (specific dates to be finalised). These boards will be authorised to confirm individual module marks, to make award decisions and to set resits/sits where these might be required.

    I am unable to take my resits/sits in the semester 1 (A1) assessment period, can I request a deferral to a later assessment period?

    Yes, you may make a request to your School Director of Student Experience (DoSE) to defer submissions set in January 2024 to either the Semester 2 teaching and/or assessment period (A2) or the summer 2024 August resit period (A3). These are complex decisions and will depend on your unique circumstances, so you must seek academic advice to be confident that this is the right choice for you. Use the relevant Assessment Form to request this.

    We understand that these are complex decisions that will depend on your personal circumstances and your academic profile. To help you make this decision, you may want to seek guidance from your school Director of Student Experience (DoSE) or access other non-academic support via the Student Centre.

    I have resits or sits (optional or mandatory) – will I still be able to access the University’s systems?

    Yes, we have extended IT access for all finalists who had missing marks from the summer 2023. This means you will continue to be able to access Sussex Direct, Canvas and the online library provision.

    If I have resits/sits, am I required to pay a continuation fee?

    No, the University is waiving any continuation fee for 2022-23 finalists who were directly impacted by the marking and assessment boycott.

    The exam board has offered me a repeat year/semester. What does this mean for me?

    This result means that you have not yet met the requirements for your award. The exam board has offered you the opportunity to repeat the failed year or semester during this academic year. A repeat of a year or semester means that:
    • you will be required to repeat the teaching, learning and assessment of the year/semester
    • You will be charged the full fee for the repeat year/semester
    • The marks achieved in the original attempt of the repeat year/semester will be set aside and will not be used in any future way
    • The curriculum and assessment regulations approved for the academic year in which you take the repeat year/semester will apply
    • You will be required to sign a learning agreement and abide by the conditions on attendance, assessment and engagement
    • If you are in receipt of undergraduate funding from Student Finance we will inform them of any repeat of study. You should also contact Student Finance directly to ensure you can be funded for the repeat year/semester before accepting this offer.

    These are complex decisions that will depend on your personal circumstances and your academic profile. To help you make this decision, you may want to seek guidance from your school Director of Student Experience (DoSE) or access other non-academic support via the Student Centre.

    What do I need to do if I’ve been offered a repeat year/semester?

    You will have seven days from the publication of your results to confirm whether or not you wish to accept the offer of a repeat year/semester. Email spa-assessment@sussex.ac.uk from your University email account and quote your candidate number. If you do not contact us to confirm your decision, we may withdraw you from the University.

    Alternatively, you may wish to decline the offer and voluntarily withdraw from your course of study. If this is your preference, email spa-assessment@sussex.ac.uk from your University email account to officially notify the University of your decision.

    I want to take up the opportunity to repeat the year/semester - but want to defer this to the next academic year. What do I need to do?

    We understand that for some students the prospect of repeating either a year or semester at this point is problematic. If you do not feel ready or able to take up your studies this year, for whatever reason, you may prefer to take temporary withdrawal instead and return next year. If you want to take this temporary withdrawal now then review the advice and follow the appropriate steps described.

    I had an approved Exceptional Circumstances claim for impairment for an assignment that I took in either A2 or A3. Has this now been taken into consideration by an exam board?

    Yes. The October exam boards were able to consider your full profile of marks and determine whether your performance had been impaired. Where they decided that this was the case, the board will have offered you either a sit or an optional sit.

  • Postgraduate students

    I had missing marks in semester two, what do these exam board results mean for me?

    If you had missing marks in semester two then you will now receive confirmation of those marks and an overall outcome for your course. Depending on your personal position in June, when the postgraduate exam board last met, you may have deferred your dissertation to a January submission deadline. If so, you will be considered for your final award at the March meeting of the exam board.

    Now that I know my missing marks, I know that I have resits to complete. When will these be scheduled?

    Your stage result, available on your study pages on Sussex Direct, provides information on when you will need to resubmit outstanding assessments. Deadlines will vary depending on your personal situation. If you are not sure what the stage result means then please contact your School Office.

Background to the boycott

A trade union representing some University staff (the University and College Union or UCU) took industrial action in universities across the country, including Sussex, during 2022-23.

Strike action took place during November 2022, February and March 2023. In addition, some UCU members took another form of action known as action short of a strike (ASOS). ASOS typically means staff carry out their core duties but do not take on any additional responsibilities (such as covering absent colleagues or taking part in voluntary activities). UCU called on their members to take ASOS in the form of a marking and assessment boycott from 20 April until 6 September 2023.

Staff who chose to take part in the marking and assessment boycott did not undertake marking and associated assessment activities, including invigilation and the processing of marks.

Improving working conditions for staff

Improving the working environment for all staff is something we care about deeply – and a number of projects are underway to improve the working and study environments for staff and students.

As well as the recent agreement between the University and UCU on a number of key issues, we also announced a raft of measures totalling £6.6m to support students and staff in the light of the current cost-of-living challenges. We only have a certain amount of money and we need to balance delivering the best education and student experience for our students with the income we receive.

We hope we can build on our positive collaboration with UCU, helping us realise our shared ambitions to improve working life at Sussex and be a more diverse and inclusive community.

Getting support

Your health and wellbeing is incredibly important to us.

The first step to getting support from us is to explore the resources and services available on the Student Hub.

We have services that provide advice on a range of subjects if you have concerns and need extra guidance. You can access all our advice and guidance services through the Student Centre.

If you don’t understand your results, contact your School Office in the first instance.