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education@uccsu.ie
UCCSU will offer buses to exam halls during exam periods. Keep an eye on @uccsu on social media for updated time tables!
The fare for the exam buses is 2 euro each way, so be sure to bring change with you to your exams.
Courses should give you up to two weeks’ notice for any changes to the timetable. Flexibility should be given regarding attendance if you have family or work commitments.
If any of these issues are not being addressed contact the Education Officer at education@uccsu.ie or the Mature Student Representative at mature@uccsu.ie.
It is important that students understand that they have full access to the academic and welfare support that that union provides to its members.
Part Time Students need to be aware that the full academic support facilities of the university are available to them all year such a careers workshops, CV building and engagement with clubs and societies.
Although the hours Part Time Students study are varied emailing the Students’ Union is the best way for you to get in contact and get a quick response.
Your Student Card
A printed UNMARKED copy of your exam timetable
Equipment you need e.g pens, pencils, calculator, timer, etc
Triple check exam time, date and venue
You may have reading time before your official start time (Check your timetable)
There will be a spot to leave your bag and personal belongings
Make sure you sit in the correct seat! (Your seat number is on your timetable)
Once you start the exam, check you have the right exam script. If not, put your hand up!
Put your hand up if you need extra paper.
You can’t leave the exam in the first hour or last fifteen minutes.
If you are done early, make sure to read over all the questions so you’ve not missed anything!
Contact student health or your GP for a sick cert
After results are released then you can apply for mitigation
Contact your lecturer/department to let them know you are sick.
It’s important to study somewhere that suits you and your learning style! If you want to study on campus, these are your options:
Main Building: 07:30 -01:30
Quad Reading Room: 24 Hours
Monday - Thursday: 09:00 -22:00
Friday - Sunday: 09:00 -17:00
Building open 08:00 - 22:00, 7 days a week
Atrium, Global Lounge & Open Learning Space available to use
3rd floor group study rooms available to book
Smaller consultation/study rooms available to book on the weekend and after 6pm during the week
Taking care of yourself is important to ensuring you can perform your best! Keep these top tips in mind while studying.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by study/exam stress meet a friend for a coffee, take a break, engage with something other than study!
Taking short breaks can help you stay focused and energised. Take a walk & get some fresh air, do some stretching exercises, or engage in a hobby you enjoy during your breaks.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Talk to a friend, family member, or the UCC counselling service if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
A healthy and balanced diet can help you maintain your energy and focus during exam season.
Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
Drinking enough water throughout the day can help you stay alert and focused.
Working smart is just as important as working hard, make sure you are set up for success!
Create a study plan that outlines what you need to cover and when you need to cover it. This will help you to stay organized and focused while studying. Be sure to include regular breaks in your plan to prevent burnout.
Everyone has different energy levels and peak performance times throughout the day. Determine the time of day when you are most alert and motivated, and schedule your study sessions accordingly.
This can help to make studying more engaging and interactive. Discussing the material with others can help you to understand and remember concepts better.
Reviewing past exam papers can help you to understand the format and style of the exam questions. This will build your confidence and identify areas where you need to improve your understanding.
It is important to ensure you do not plagiarise and reference any sources properly.
UCC Plagiarism Policy- https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/academicsecretariat/policies/examinations/UCCPlagiarismPolicy-V5.2-ApprovedbyAcademicBoard22Nov2023_.pdf
If you are using someone else’s work, make sure to cite or directly quote them.
This includes if you are reusing a section of your own work! This is called self-plagiarism.
Using AI tools to rewrite a paragraph ≠ original work. You still have to reference.
Stay tuned for a full post on ChatGPT and other AI tools in academia
This is the acknowledgement of sources that you’ve used for your work. Make sure to keep track of them as you go along. You make be required to reference in a particular style for an assignment
UCC Library has great resources on how to reference
Mitigation exists to support students who encounter unexpected circumstances that impact their ability to prepare for or sit an exam.
You can apply if you experienced a bereavement, had a debilitating illness or were unable to sit the exam because of circumstances outside your control. You must have some supporting documentation to apply.
If you fail an exam, you can apply for a waiver of capping, which means that your repeat exam in August won’t be capped at pass marks. If you pass the exam, you can apply to forego your mark and take your repeat exam as a ‘first’ attempt.
An appeal determines whether an exam board would have taken these additional circumstances into account when arriving at an academic judgement. Appeals apply to all assessments including CA and you can only appeal at a module, not programme level. For research students an appeal only covers events during the exam process, not complaints prior to submission of your thesis.
You can appeal if there is evidence of substantive irregularity in the conduct of the exam, if you consider your mark to be erroneous or if there were situations of which the Exam Board was not aware of when its decision was taken. Note, a belief you should have done better doesn’t constitute grounds for an appeal.
If the appeal is upheld the committee can determine whether your mark would have altered at an exam board as a result of these circumstances. Note, an appeal can not decide that an examination should be re-graded or grant mitigation.
Applications for mitigation and appeals must be made within 2 weeks of Summer Results
A recheck involves a confirmation that all elements of your assessment were considered and that there were no errors in recording, collating or combing marks. Note, this does not involve a reassessment of your exam paper.
Any student is entitled to apply for a recheck of their marks.
If your recheck is upheld, then the mark will be amended to reflect the changes.
Before submitting an appeal or recheck, you should apply to view your exam script. This can be done by contacting your module coordinator.
If you are applying for mitigation or appeals, you have to have supporting documentation. This could be a letter from your GP or death notice.
The Examinations Appeals Officer can provide advice about the Appeals process and the Student Records and Examinations Office can provide advice on the mitigation process
Emails:
Michael Delargey- m.delargey@ucc.ie
SREO- sreo@ucc.ie
A fee of €30 per module for rechecks and €70 per module for appeals applies. If your recheck or appeal is upheld this fee is refunded.
Applications for mitigation, appeals or a recheck must be made within 2 weeks of your finalised exam results. For most students this will be the summer results.
