What your results mean in practical terms
At university, what a result means depends on your course and your institution. Whether a first-year mark counts towards your final degree, what you need to progress to the next year, and what happens if you fall short are all set out in your university’s own regulations. That is the deciding document. This pack does not know your rules, and neither does a friend on another course, so please do not rely on either.
A useful first step is therefore to find your own course handbook and the academic regulations it points to, and read the parts on progression, resits and appeals. If the language is dense, that is normal; asking someone to explain it is a sensible next move.
Results can also arrive in a form that is hard to read: a mark for each module, a classification band, a note about progression. If any of it is unclear, ask what it means for you before drawing a conclusion. A short, specific question such as “what do I need to do before the next year starts?” usually gets a clearer answer than a general one.
Your options, in plain terms
None of these is available at every university or on every course. Each is one to ask about.
If you have passed
Check what you need to do before the next year: module choices, placements, accommodation and finance. Student finance for the coming year is its own process, so look at the official overview early.
If you have a result you are unhappy with
Ask your department how marks are confirmed, whether feedback is available, and what the process is for a query. Feedback is often the most useful thing you can ask for, since it shows what the marker saw.
If you need to resit or repeat
Your regulations decide whether you can resit, when, whether the mark is capped, and what it means for your progression. Do not guess: ask your department or student services for the specific rule that applies to you.
If something went wrong that affected your work
Illness, family events, or other serious circumstances can affect an assessment. Check your regulations for whether there is a way to tell your university about serious circumstances, and whether it sets a time limit or asks for evidence. Note any time limit now.
If you want to appeal
Appeals are handled under your university’s own procedure, so read it first for the grounds and any deadline, and ask whether your students’ union offers independent advice. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator says you need to finish your provider’s own complaints process before you go to it.
If you are thinking about changing course or taking time out
Speak to your personal tutor or course lead and to student services before you decide. If you leave or suspend your studies, GOV.UK says you must stop your student finance and repay any you are not entitled to, and if you change course you must update your application. Read the official page and speak to your finance provider before you decide.
Who to ask
- Your personal tutor or academic adviser.
- Your course or programme office, for regulations and deadlines.
- Student services or the advice service at your students’ union.
- Your student finance provider, for anything affecting funding.
- A friend or family member, for company rather than rules.
A simple timeline
- Before results are released: locate your handbook and regulations, and note the stated deadlines for queries and appeals.
- When results arrive: read them, then wait before reacting. Write down your questions.
- In the days after: contact your department about anything unclear, and book a conversation with your personal tutor.
- Before any deadline: if you plan to resit, appeal or report circumstances, submit within the time your university states.
Your decision worksheet
Fill this in by hand. Pencil is fine.
1. My results and what my regulations say
| Module or assessment | My result | What my regulations say | Page or section |
|---|---|---|---|
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2. My options and deadlines
| Option | Who decides | Deadline | Evidence needed |
|---|---|---|---|
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3. Who I will contact
| Person or office | Contact details | Question to ask | Date done |
|---|---|---|---|
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4. My decision
- My next step is: ______________________________________
- I will do this by: ______________________________________
- First email I will send: ______________________________________
- Person I will tell: ______________________________________
A hard set of results is difficult to sit with. The NHS Every Mind Matters page has general wellbeing advice, and your university will have its own support services.
Other editions of this pack: the GCSE edition and the A-level edition.