A list of candidates who are deemed eligible as in requirement for graduation shall be laid before the Academic Board for approval. No award shall be confirmed unless the Academic Board is satisfied that the candidate has satisfied all the conditions for the award of a degree/diploma.
To qualify for the award of a degree, candidates must satisfy the following requirements:
- Pass all courses taken - general, faculty, or departmental courses
- Meet Inter-Faculty course requirements
- Accumulate a minimum of 120 credits (including Advance Credits)
- Attain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A) of 1.0
- Settle all financial and other obligations to the University
- Be in good standing - not barred for disciplinary reasons
Student Assessment
The University operates a combination of Continuous Assessment and End-of-Semester Examination with the following weightings.
| CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT | 40% |
| END-OF-SEMESTER EXAMINATION | 60% |
The Continuous Assessment component consists of take-home assignments, class quizzes and tests, term papers, and practical work. This component gives students the chance to demonstrate their abilities on a wider variety of learning tasks and a broader variety of work environments than is possible under formal examination conditions. For example, through continuous assessment students can learn the values and processes of team work, plan and solve real-life problems. There shall be a minimum of two (2) Continuous Assessments per course per semester.
Duration of End-of-Semester Examinations
The duration of end-of-semester examinations is determined by the credit weighting of the course as follows:
| Credit Weighting | Duration of Examination |
|---|---|
| One-Credit Course | 1-1½ hours |
| Two-Credit Course | 1½-2 hours |
| Three-Credit Course | 2-3 hours |
| Practical Courses | 2-3 hours |
Grading Scale
The University uses letter grades and corresponding numerical weightings which reflect the quality of performance. Total raw scores (combination of continuous assessment and end-of-semester examination) are converted according to the following scheme:
| Raw Score | Grade | Grade Point | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 – 100 | A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| 75 – 79 | B+ | 3.5 | Very Good |
| 70 – 74 | B | 3.0 | Good |
| 65 – 69 | C+ | 2.5 | Average |
| 60 – 64 | C | 2.0 | Fair |
| 55 – 59 | D+ | 1.5 | barely satisfactory |
| 50 – 54 | D | 1.0 | Weak Pass |
| Below 50 | E | 0 | Fail |
Other Grades
Audit – The grade point is zero.
Incomplete (IC) - A student is graded IC when he/she misses one or more components of the assessment.
NOTE
- It is the responsibility of students to ensure that all ICs are rectified
- An IC should be rectified within 2 weeks after the release of end-of-semester examinations results
- An IC not rectified after the deadline will be converted to the corresponding grade.
Display of Results
End-of-Semester examinations results shall be posted in students’ portals before the re-opening date of the following semester.
All continuous assessment results shall be displayed on the departmental notice boards two (2) weeks before the start of end-of-semester examinations.
Computation of Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
A sample of how the computation is done is presented below:
2017/2018 SEMESTER 1
| Code | Description | Credit Point (CP) | Letter Grade | Grade Point (GP) | CP×GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eco 101 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS 1 | 3 | B | 1 | 9 |
| LSB 104 | BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS | 3 | A | 2 | 12 |
| EPS 111 | PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION | 3 | C | 1.5 | 6 |
| CMS 107 | COMMUNICATION SKILLS | 3 | B | 2 | 9 |
| ASP 102A | RELIGION IN AFRICA | 3 | A | 2 | 12 |
| GPA | CGPA: Total Credits: | 15 | 48 | ||
| GPA/CGPA | : | 3.2 |
|
Total (CP×GP) GPA=Total (CP) = =3.2 |
The sum of the product of credit points for a course (the course weighting) and the grade point for the course divided by the sum of the course weightings for all courses on the semester. |
|
In computing the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) all the courses are treated as if they were taken in one semester. Note: Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is not the same as the average of GPAs for the various semesters CGPA= |
|
Degree Classification
Undergraduate degree programmes are classified according to the candidate’s Cumulative Grade Point Average [CGPA]. The classifications are as follows:
| CLASS DESIGNATION | C.G.P.A. |
|---|---|
| 1st Class | 3.6 – 4.0 |
| 2nd Class [Upper Division] | 3.0 – 3.5 |
| 2nd Class [Lower Division] | 2.5 – 2.9 |
| 3rd Class Division | 2.0 – 2.4 |
| Pass | 1.0 – 1.9 |
Transcript
Transcript shall reflect all courses taken or attempted by the student (including audited courses), and the grades earned. Under no circumstance shall grades earned in a course be deleted from a student’s transcript.
The time limits for the completion of degree programs are as follows:
- Six-year programme: Minimum of 6 years, maximum of 8 years
- Four-year programme: Minimum of 4 years, maximum of 6 years
- Three-year programme: Minimum of 3 years, maximum of 5 years
- Two-year programme: Minimum of 2 years, maximum of 4 years
A student who is unable to complete the degree programme within the stipulated time limit shall be withdrawn by the University.
The University reserves the right to make curriculum changes ( and/or delete courses) and require the student to meet the new course requirements, but as a rule, the student will be required to follow the curriculum in force at the time he/she was admitted to the University.
A student may voluntarily withdraw from the University or may be officially dismissed/withdrawn from the University for academic and non-academic reasons.
Voluntary Withdrawal: A student who withdraws voluntarily from a programme may re-apply for admission at a later date.
A student may be dismissed or rusticated for academic and non-academic reasons. A student who is dismissed on disciplinary grounds will not be considered for re-admission at a later date.
A student who is withdrawn on academic grounds may re-apply for admission.
Deferment of programme shall normally be allowed for students at Levels 200 and above only. Students who, due to various reasons, wish to defer their programmes should first consult their Academic Advisors for advice.
A student may apply for deferment of study provided that the student completes the entire academic programme within the stipulated time limit.
Deferment may be granted for one academic year only (and two years in special cases) within the time-limit allowed for the completion of the programme of study.
With the exception of severe and sudden medical conditions, an application for the deferment of study must be made and approved two (2) months before the beginning of the academic year the student wishes to defer. Emergency cases shall be dealt with on their own merit.
All applications for deferment of programme shall be addressed to the Director (Directorate of Academic Affairs) through the Dean of the relevant Faculty/School who shall forward the application to the Director (Academic Affairs) with his/her comments.
Where an application for deferment is on medical grounds, the application must be supported by a medical report certified by the Director of Health Services, UCC.
Where an application for deferment is granted, deferment shall be for one academic year, i.e. deferment shall not be allowed for one semester. Students must of necessity obtain approval from the Director (Academic Affairs) before proceeding on deferment.
Students must notify the University before resumption of academic work.
Students on distance learning programmes may, apart from deferment of programmme, request to transfer from one centre to another (Transfer) or request to change their study centre for a brief period (Transit). Such requests, stating reasons for same, should be addressed to the Student Affairs Unit of the College of Distance in good time and prior to proceeding on transfer or transit.
Every registered student shall be assigned an academic advisor who shall be the first person to be consulted in case the student has a problem of academic nature. It is the responsibility of the student to seek advice from his/her academic advisor before registering for courses. Also, it is the responsibility of the student to seek advice when there is a problem, though the advisor may invite the student whenever the need arises.
In addition, the University has a Counselling Centre that addresses both academic and non-academic needs of students.
