Assessment, Reassessment & Progression

Because CFS delivers fast-track, accelerated undergraduate degrees, our academic calendars move quickly. The transition between study levels can be as short as four weeks, so staying on top of your deadlines and understanding these processes is key to your success. You can find full guidance on this in our procedures here.

Key Assessment Principles

• Accelerated Timeline: Our undergraduate degrees operate on a two-year fast-track model. Integrated Foundation Years follow a traditional one-year structure before moving into the accelerated framework. Postgraduate courses run as either one-year full-time or two-year part-time routes.
• Where to Find Your Work: All module guides, assessment briefs, reassessment briefs, and submission portals are located on Google Classroom.
• Provisional Results: You will receive your provisional module grades no later than six weeks following your submission deadline.
• Official Transcripts: Official Level Transcripts are sent to you within seven days of Exam Board ratification.

Understanding Reassessments and Retakes

If you grade below the pass mark (40 for undergraduate; 50 for postgraduate), miss a submission, or encounter an academic misconduct finding, you will need to complete a reassessment.

• Early Reassessments: To keep your academic momentum going and avoid year-end bottlenecks, reassessment briefs are created alongside your initial module briefs. If needed, you will receive your reassessment task quickly so you can complete it before the formal Exam Board.
• Capped Marks: All reassessment grades are capped at the standard pass mark (40 for undergraduate, 50 for postgraduate).
• Alternative Assessment Modes: If a group or on-set assessment cannot be recreated for a reassessment, an individual alternative will be set to assess the same learning outcomes.
• Module Retakes: If an original assessment and its reassessment are both failed, you will have the opportunity to retake the module with or without attendance.

Progression Regulations and Academic Standing

To progress smoothly to your next level of study, you must maintain Good Academic Standing.

• The 60 CATS Credit Deficit Rule: You cannot progress to the next level if you have a trailing credit deficit of more than 60 CATS points.
• Staying at or Under 60 CATS: If you fail a reassessment but your overall deficit remains 60 CATS or lower, you can retake the failed module(s).
• Exceeding 60 CATS: If your credit deficit is over 60 CATS after reassessments, your progression will be paused immediately, and you will not be permitted to attend subsequent classes and may be withdrawn from your programme of study.
• Important Notice for International Students: If you are studying on a Student Route visa and your progression is paused due to a credit deficit over 60 CATS, UKVI regulations require CFS to withdraw visa sponsorship. You must pause your studies, complete your retakes outside the UK, and apply for a fresh Student Route visa before returning to campus.

Course Variations

• Integrated Foundation Year (Stage 0): This stage does not follow standard level progression rules. You must pass all Stage 0 modules to transition to the main degree programme. Marks are internally moderated, and reassessment briefs are issued immediately after initial marking.
• Postgraduate Programmes (Level 7): Because these run entirely at Level 7, multi-level progression rules do not apply. Full-time marks are ratified at a single final Exam Board, while part-time tracks use annual boards.

If you ever feel at risk of falling behind or facing a credit deficit, reach out early to your Personal Tutor or the Quality & Registry Team by emailing qar@centralfilmschool.com.