Modules and assessment

Understand how learning and teaching works at Sussex, read our assessment criteria and see example timetables.

Academic life at Sussex

You will probably find that the teaching and learning methods in the UK are different from those you have been accustomed to at home. Your responsibilities might be different, too.

We place emphasis on the development of critical analysis and problem-solving skills, and you will be expected to take a high level of responsibility for your own studies. You will spend a lot of your time working independently on topics set by your tutors, discussing issues with other students or tutors in seminars, or working on projects with fellow students.

Information on teaching methods, materials for your module and assessments for each module will be provided by your tutor.

We will contact you in May to confirm which modules you have been allocated. If your first-choice module does not recruit enough students to run, we will let you know and put you onto your next available choice.

Private study

Much of your time will be spent in independent study, which may include reading, researching, note-taking, writing and revising. When you start the module, you may be given a long reading list. This is intended to be a guide, and it will not usually be necessary to read every book on the list. You will be given guidance as to which are the key texts, and which will help in deepening your knowledge in your area of interest.

Seminars

Many of the summer school modules involve seminars or workshops. These are group discussions with a tutor and a number of students (up to 20) on a particular topic. Everyone is expected to contribute, so it is important to prepare carefully. Sometimes you may be asked to lead discussions or give a presentation.

Preparing well, talking to your fellow students and joining in debates should develop your critical analysis skills and give you confidence in the subject. 

Canvas

Some tutors may also use a complementary online platform called Canvas. Canvas allows tutors to circulate lecture notes, handouts, readings and other module resources. Tutors may also set up a forum on Canvas where you will be able to ask questions and contribute to group discussions. Your tutor will be able to provide more information on accessing their module’s Canvas site.

Time keeping and attendance

It is a discourtesy both to your tutor and the rest of the class to arrive late with no good reason. Time keeping is particularly important on field trips – if one person is late, the whole class may miss the train or bus, or the class may leave without you.

Class attendance is required, except in the case of illness or other serious circumstances. Inform your tutor and the Global Programmes Team at summer@sussex.ac.uk at the earliest opportunity if this is the case. Missing class due to travel or for any other social reason is not acceptable and will not be condoned.

Your tutors mark attendance for each class and this forms part of your module record. In many classes, part of the assessment is a module report by the tutor on your class performance. If you are absent without an acceptable excuse, you will lose marks for this portion of the assessment.

Teaching and Quality Assurance

Modules are developed following the same processes as all credit-bearing modules at Sussex. Teaching, learning and assessing adhere to the same standards as modules taught during the academic year.

All modules are governed by Sussex regulations, and marks are formally ratified by a Sussex Board of Examiners.

Assessments

Assessments can be a source of anxiety to many students. The system here is different to other countries.

Submitting work and deadlines

Your tutor will provide information about where and when to submit work. For many modules, the final paper will be submitted electronically through the module canvas page at 4pm on the last Thursday of the module. You will be given information on how to do this at the start of your course.

You are responsible to ensure you attend examinations and submit work for assessment as required. If you fail to attend examinations or submit work for assessment, the markers will fail you for that assessment.

You are expected to manage your time and workload to meet deadlines. However, we recognise that this may sometimes be challenging. Any work that is handed in late is subject to a sliding scale of penalties:

• up to 24 hours late – 5% point deduction
• between 24 hours and 3 days late – 10% point deduction
• after 7 days – work will be marked as zero

For assessments involving a quicker turnaround, distribution of model answers or detailed feedback to the module cohort (such as physics problem sets), the submission deadline may be set for a time slot prior to this scheduled feedback. The deadline will be advised in writing when the assessment is set. Late work will not be marked.

Find out how to make an exceptional circumstances claim if you experience something sudden, temporary and unforeseen which could have an impact on one of your assessments.

Examinations

Some modules will have mid-session and final examinations. All final examinations must take place within the last two days of the module. You cannot take these early, late or elsewhere.

Examinations are submitted and graded anonymously, so remember to bring your candidate number. This is on your student ID card.

At the end of the Session 2, all marks in all modules are considered by the Summer School Examination Board, which moderates the marks. The exam board is there to make sure that the assessment process has been carried out properly and fairly. They also ensure that moderation and checking has been done where required, and that tutors are all operating within the University’s defined criteria for the award of marks and credit.

Reasonable adjustments

If you require special facilities for examinations, such as extra time or a reduced distraction environment, you must submit your requirements (with supporting evidence) to the Global Programmes Team by the end of May. If we do not receive your request in time, we will not be able to put the adjustments in place for your assessments.

Contact summer@sussex.ac.uk if you need any more information.

Marks and grades

Marks for particular exercises are usually given as percentages, but these may be different to the marks you would get for the same work at home.

In humanities or social sciences at Sussex, most students receive marks in the range of 45 to 75 per cent (science marks may cover a broader range). This can be concerning for North American students, who are used to numeric marks in the 65 to 95 per cent range. When students get their transcript at the end of the summer, it will show the Sussex numerical mark. For North American students we convert this into a letter grade to guide the home institution. We use the following conversion table (using the BUTEX scheme):

Academic misconduct

Academic misconduct is taken very seriously at university, and it is important that you understand what academic misconduct is, when it usually happens, and how to avoid it.

Learn more about academic misconduct, including plagiarism and collusion.

Transcripts and transfer of credit

In order for Sussex to award credit, all modules must be assessed. The way in which modules are assessed depends on subject area and normal practice in that particular discipline. Please refer to the individual module pages for specific details. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Sussex transcript.

Transcripts will be emailed by the end of September. No transcripts can be issued until the Summer School Exam Board has met to ratify the marks. You must clear any debts to the University before your transcript is issued.

You can also access module reports through your Sussex Direct account. This will tell you what mark you have achieved on each of the components that make up your assessment. It will also provide written feedback of your performance.

For some institutions, we have specific agreements that includes sending your transcript and report to them. Under such arrangements, if you also want a personal transcript sent to your own email address, you will need to request it.

Transfer of credit

All modules are worth 15 credits in the UK system - 15 credits are equivalent to 4 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system.

Many students successfully transfer credit from their Summer School modules back to their degree programmes at their home institutions. If you would like to do this, please be aware that credit transfer will be at the discretion of your home institution, so we recommend you check whether this will be possible before applying.

Example timetables

Here are some example timetables to give you an idea of what a week of study might look like.

See more from Undergraduate Summer School