Repeating a year

CliveWarren

Hi Folks, I'm just here to enquire to any of ye have experience repeating a year at NUIG. I failed 2 modules in 3BA and I won't be back in Ireland til mid september. I would like to know if I can change one of the modules I failed in the last semester (as I found great difficulty with it) ? Or am I stuck with the same module?

Thanks in advance!

Belmono

Hi CliveWarren
In theory you should be able to change modules as you will be re-registering. Of course, there are lots of issues: (you don’t have to answer, as what you’re studying is of course your own business!)
(a) Are you repeating a core module or an optional module (and is that in one subject or two)? Rather obviously, you won’t be able to replace a core module (Less likely to change from one academic year to the next) but, depending on the subject, you may find it easier to drop any optional modules you had difficulty with and find a completely different one. Bigger subjects such as English are in a position to offer a wider suite of optional modules (seminars). Within smaller subjects you may find that you have to do all options, but that there may be a degree of flexibility within these options: for example you may be able to take a 5ects module in say, a language, and, within that, take two elements out of a choice of three (or more). Again, it really depends on what you’re studying. This somewhat confusing scenario is the result of recent administrative changes with all subjects/disciplines now having to work with modules made up of 5 ECTS (or multiples of this).
(b) You would really benefit from getting the answers you need by emailing the Final Year coordinator of the subject you are repeating. He/She may be on annual leave, but will usually have a contact person for you to get in touch with. Your subject may also have put up a skeletal prospectus for the upcoming academic year online (or may be in the process of doing so) so you can see what options are available. Things change depending on staff availability.
(c) You also mention that you’re not planning to be back until mid-September. Depending again on the subject you are doing, this may mean that you unwittingly cut down on the modules you can take if it’s done on a ‘first come, first served’ basis (as happens with seminars and certain optional modules with ‘caps’ across the College). Being back from the start of term (September 6th) would obviously make things easier on this score. Again, make contact with the Final Year coordinator about this matter.
Best of luck!

CliveWarren

Belmono, that was incredibly helpful. Thank you very much!!

admiralflash1

Hey, Im in First year Corp Law and repeating two subjects in the next few days, thing is neither of these subjects are law modules (Spanish and Accountancy) just wondering if i do fail them again (touch wood), do i have to repeat the year, repeat the two subjects, can i carry the two subjects on or just one into second year? I know its a lot of questions but i just need to know all my options here should anything happen in these here repeats.

Belmono

Hi AdmiralFlash
The following information is available in the online First Year booklet for Corp Law:

(a) A candidate must have successfully completed 60 ECTS in First Year to proceed to
the Second Year of the Programme. The Pass standard is 40% in each subject. However
compensation may be allowed in subjects to a total of 20 ECTS at 35% provided the
candidate has excess marks above the pass standard in the other subjects equivalent to
double the deficiency.
(b) Where a candidate has failed in the examination as a whole, but has obtained 40% in
one or more modules, these pass marks may be carried forward to subsequent examinations

within the two-year time limit.

So, in your case (no pun intended), you have already successfully completed 40 ECTS, with Spanish and Accountancy both being worth 10 ECTS.
According to (a) above, if you were to score at least 35% in both exams, you could potentially pass by compensation. However, as you'll also see in (a), it depends on your other marks in other modules. As it states, you need 'double the deficiency', which basically means that, if you got 35 in both, you'd need 20 marks in other exams (say you had got 50 in Contract and 50 in Law of Torts - in that way, you'd have 10 over 40 in both, and thus 'double the deficiency'). If your marks in the other modules which you passed are only in the low 40s, then you might struggle to meet this requirement. (Although if you got something like over 60 in one of your modules, then you'd be fine). Sorry if that's confusing, but it's difficult to explain!

One other complicating factor is the fact that you're doing a language. There may be restrictions on continuing with the language if you don't meet what is usually called the 'language requirement'. Essentially this means that if you're struggling to reach a pass level in a language, then it would be difficult to make a case for you continuing on to get a degree with that language as part of it (or even have the option of going on Erasmus). I'd clarify this with your language coordinator, if possible.

One final thing you mention is about carrying subjects into Second Year. I get the impression that you can't carry subjects, according to the outline. (When they mention in point (b) about carrying forward marks, they're referring to students who have to repeat the year, but are exempt from repeating modules which they have already passed). Accountancy appears to be a core, so in the worst case scenario, you'd have to keep that on. It appears that, should you not be successful with Spanish and you had to repeat the year, you could take Management Information Systems instead. This is, of course, provided modules don't change. I'm basing this on the 2009-10 outline.

Best of luck with the exams!

admiralflash1

Incredibly helpful as always!!

Awesome, ok, a lot to take in, i'll do my best to reply to what i can remember here, as for the double deficency job, i dont think i need to worry, i have results in the high 60's and should i get to 35% in accounting my continuous assesment marks should take care of the rest.

As for the language problem, i've already told the second year coordinator that i wont be keeping it on and i could of passed it on compensation had i not failed Accounting so horribly ha.

mahad086

hey so i am a first year b.com student and will somebody just tell me the repeat procedure for first year thanks