EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS
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Student feedback shapes how UCD works and when done right, it can lead to real change. That’s why it’s not just encouraged, it’s expected. But feedback only works when it’s constructive and respectful.
The module feedback window opens for around four weeks, as your modules come to an end.
There is more information about UCD’s student feedback process HERE.
Why Your Feedback Matters
Your voice helps improve courses, teaching, and the overall student experience. Every student has the right to be heard, and the university has a responsibility to listen and act.
Give Feedback, Not a Rant
Personal attacks or disrespectful comments don’t help anyone—and they risk your feedback not being taken seriously. Keep it focused, fair, and actionable.
The SU Has Your Back
UCDSU is here to make sure your feedback doesn’t disappear into a black hole. If you feel it’s not being taken seriously, speak up and we’ll advocate for your voice to be heard.
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UCD uses different grading systems in different programmes.Your marks will be converted to grades using one of the grade conversion scales:
Standard Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass
Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass
Alternative Non-Linear Conversion Grade Scale 50% Pass
Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale 60% Pass
The one used for each module will be stated in the module descriptor. The types of grades you can get are:
Letter grade scale
Pass/Fail grade scale
Distinction/ Pass/ Fail grade scale
Your degree classification is done by GPA (grade point average) the weighting of this will depend on your school. Further information on grades can be found HERE
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You will be assessed by different methods at different stages of the year. There are continuous assessments that happen during the year and there are end of semester exams and assignments which take place in December and May each year. Each of your modules will have their own methods and schedule for assessing you. These can be found on the module descriptor and exam timetable which will be released closer to the time.
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If you know before the deadline of the assessment that you will be submitting an assignment late, you can apply for an extension on the assignment deadline through a late submission form. A Module Coordinator may be able to grant you an extension on your assignment. Please be aware that it is at their discretion.
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Plagiarism is the use of someone’s else's ideas of work without due credit being given to them through proper citation. While it can happen unintentionally for most students, UCD defines the act of plagiarism not by the intention but by committing of the act itself.
It’s important to engage fully with the citation style of your school. UCD library has Libguides available on these styles HERE
Academic writing revolves around academic integrity and the quality of your references and sources can make a big difference in your grade, therefore, it’s important to get a good handle on it at the start of your degree.
What is Academic Integrity?
"Academic Integrity is one of the core values of the UCD Education Strategy and includes adherence to the highest ethical and academic standards. Students, researchers and staff achieve academic integrity through sound academic writing, avoiding plagiarism, and use of appropriate referencing and citation" (Student Plagiarism Policy 2020, p.1)
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The grounds for appeal are narrow in UCD. It is not possible to simply appeal on the grounds that you are unhappy with the grade you received. Appeals relating to academic judgement are not allowed. There are two grounds for appeal:
Procedural irregularity: Evidence that the procedures relating to a decision were not followed properly and may have impacted on a student's results.
Late extenuating circumstances: The Programme board rejected an Extenuating Circumstances application on the basis that it was late, and the Governing Board didn’t consider the reasoning behind the late application to be valid.
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If you are having difficulties with coursework, meeting deadlines, or attending exams it’s really important to keep in touch with your module coordinator or student adviser to try and find a solution.
If you fail: Most courses offer the opportunity to either repeat the module or resit the exam. If a resit isn’t offered you may have to repeat the module. It costs 230 Euro per module and it will automatically be deducted two grade points. As of this year, there is no charge to resit an exam. However your grade will be capped at a D-. It is possible to substitute a module. However, the fees vary per programme and some are very expensive.
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SUSI
“Student Universal Support Ireland” is Ireland's national student grant system, this is only for undergraduate, post graduate, full time, EU, EEA, UK & Swiss nationals and residents. The application for SUSI is closed for this year, but you can check your eligibility to apply next year HERE
Student support funds
If you experience financial difficulty during your time at college there are some small funds that you can access. Student Advisers and Access and Lifelong Learning have access to the student assistance fund which you can apply for which is ‘means tested’.
There is also a student emergency fund for unexpected financial difficulty.
These are the only student funds provided by the university. If you find yourself in financial difficultly, please contact your Student Advisor.
Scholarships
UCD does offer a limited amount of scholarships, the eligibility criteria and details of the scholarships are available HERE.
Study Tips and Looking After Yourself
Tip for Studying at Home
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Create a study schedule that works for you and stick to it. Make sure you include breaks and time for other activities.
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Set up a quiet and comfortable study space that is free from distractions.
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Turn off your phone, close your social media tabs, and minimise any other distractions that might take your attention away from your studies.
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Keep all your study materials organised and easily accessible.
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Taking breaks is important to avoid burnout and stay focused. Take a short break every hour to recharge.
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Drinking plenty of water can help you stay alert and focused.
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Celebrate your successes and accomplishments with small rewards to keep yourself motivated.
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Student Advisers
Student Advisers meet with students in times of need to offer academic and personal support throughout your degree, including during the exam season. Each College has either one or two Student Advisers who will be able to give you programme specific advice and guide you through University procedures and policies.
Find your Student Advisor HERE
UCDSU Education, Welfare and Graduate Officers
The Students’ Union is here for you throughout the exam period from peer to peer support to organising the exam buses. The Education Officer (education@ucdsu.ie) offers advice and support on issues surrounding academics and finances, the Welfare Officer (welfare@ucdsu.ie) offers peer to peer support on a range of issues from mental health to housing, and the Graduate Officer (graduate@ucdsu.ie) acts as both an Education and Welfare Officer for Graduate students.
Access and Lifelong Learning
The ALL centre is located on the first floor of the James Joyce Library and offers a wide range of supports. Students can apply for a needs assessment through ALL in order to receive exam support which can include extra time in exams and the option to sit exams in the alternative exam centre in Newman, as well as information on financial support available for students.
More info on ALL can be found HERE
Maths & Writing Support Centre
Both support centres are located in the James Joyce library 1st floor to either side of the main reception desk. UCD’s Library has a dedicated Maths Support Centre, which can provide help for a huge number of level 0, 1, or 2 modules. UCD Library also has a Writing Centre which provides tuition on all aspects of writing, whether creative, research based or as part of a formal presentation.
Student Desk
The Student Desk is located in the Tierney building and the support team can provide a range of advice on administrative issues. The team offers advice on the majority of issues which arise surrounding exams and assessment. The student desk operates a walk-in service alongside being contactable through their connector form HERE
College Office
The College Office should be your go to for finding out info about the nuts and bolts of your degree, including issues around timetabling issues, extenuating circumstances applications and other general queries. Each College within UCD has a College Office and some of the larger Schools have their own specialised School office.
Chaplains
The Chaplains are available for one-to-one meetings for students of all faiths and none, and can support students with a wide variety of issues, including Extenuating Circumstances Applications. More information on the Chaplaincy can be found HERE
Mental Health
Mental wellbeing plays a key role in ensuring that you have a positive and fulfilling student experience. While college can be the best time of your life where the craic is better than ever, it can also be a challenging time. Especially when it comes to revision & exams.
It's important that you keep an eye on yourself and your friends throughout your time in UCD. Remember, you are not alone, and your mental wellbeing matters. We have compiled a list of supports should you need them. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
How Are You Today?
Exams, Assessments & Results
Supports
We know there’s a lot going on during exams so make sure to check our FAQ section if you’re unsure about anything.
You can reach out to your Education Officer Matt at education@ucdsu.ie or your Graduate Officer Shreyansh at graduate@ucdsu.ie with any questions. Your student advisers and the chaplaincy are also available for any questions or support.
We work closely with UCD to make sure you have clear, student-focused guidance. For urgent updates (like weather disruptions or technical issues), always check UCD's Assessments FAQs directly.
Make sure to read any emails you receive from Registry and Assessment carefully.
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The UCD exam hall is located in the Simmonscourt RDS Exam Hall.
RDS Simmonscourt, Simmonscourt Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
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You can bring a water bottle, a clear pencil case, and a calculator if needed into the exam hall.
To sit your exam you need to bring your UCard with you.
The exam regulations have been updated to include the following prohibition on the use of all electronic devices during exams, including smart watches;
"The use or attempted use of any other electronic device is strictly prohibited during an examination or in the examination hall and is a serious breach of discipline. The use or attempted use of any electronic device that holds, receives or transmits data including but not necessarily limited to mobile phones and smart watches (unless the use of this device is specifically confirmed by UCD Access and Lifelong Learning through a Needs Assessment prior to the exams, for reasons such as medical) is strictly prohibited during an examination or in the examination hall and is a serious breach of discipline."
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If you can’t attend an exam due to an unforeseen situation such as a serious illness you should contact your module coordinator as soon as possible. You should also apply for Extenuating Circumstances through Sisweb. This applies for all examinations, both in-person and online, as well as in-trimestor assessment submissions and exams.
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You will need to resit the exam or repeat the module within the next two trimesters.
The fee to resit an exam has been abolished.
The cost to repeat an entire module is €230 per module.
If you are unsure whether you will be resiting an exam or repeating the module please check the ‘What happens if I fail?’ section in your module descriptor on Brightspace, and/or contact your Module Coordinator.
To register to any repeat or resit modules log into SISWeb, click on ‘My Registration’, and click on the ‘Repeats’ section under module registration.
For more detailed information click HERE
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If you are invited to a meeting by your Schools Plagiarism Committee, please contact education@ucdsu.ie (undergraduate), graduate@ucdsu.ie (post grads) or your Student Adviser.
As Student Support Officers within the University, we can meet with you to explain the process to you and how a Plagiarism Hearing is conducted. We can also accompany you to your meeting and can offer you advice and guidance following the result of the Hearing.
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UCD uses grade point averages to aggregate the grades awarded to modules for different reasons and at different times during students' careers in UCD. The methods of calculating different GPAs are outlined by Registry HERE
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If you feel you may need to appeal a decision made relating to an assessment, UCD does provide an Assessment Appeals Process. Assessment Appeals in UCD are guided by the UCD Assessment Appeals Policy and the process is overseen by the Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals unit (SECCA).
There are certain grounds under which you can apply for an appeal of the decision of an examination board. Being dissatisfied or disappointed with the grade of your assessment is not one of these grounds, as Academic Judgement is not a ground for appeal.
You can appeal on the following two grounds:
Procedural irregularity – where you have evidence that procedures relating to the decision made were not followed correctly, and this irregularity may have impacted the decision; or
Late extenuating circumstances – you had extenuating circumstances at the time of the assessment, the Programme Board was aware of this but had previously rejected them because you made the application late and the reason for these extenuating circumstances being late was not accepted as valid by the Governing Board.
There are two stages to an appeal.
The first is an Early Resolution; this is done after you first receive your results and you express your concerns to either the Module Coordinator Programme Director or Head of School. If you are unhappy with the outcome of this stage, you can then move to the second stage and submit a Formal Assessment Appeal.
An Assessment Appeal must be submitted within 10 working days of your final result becoming available to you. Here you will need an Assessment Appeal Form which is then emailed to the SECCA Assessment Appeal Officer.
If you are considering submitting an appeal, feel free to contact one of the student support units on campus e.g., the Student Advisors. You can also come talk to the Education Officer or the Graduate Officer in the Students’ Union.
You can find out more information about the Appeals Process HERE
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Student Advisers
Student Advisers meet with students in times of need to offer academic and personal support throughout your degree, including during the exam season. Each College has either one or two Student Advisers who will be able to give you programme specific advice and guide you through University procedures and policies.
Find your Student Advisor HERE
UCDSU Education, Welfare and Graduate Officers
The Students’ Union is here for you throughout the exam period from peer to peer support to organising the exam buses. The Education Officer (education@ucdsu.ie) offers advice and support on issues surrounding academics and finances, the Welfare Officer (welfare@ucdsu.ie) offers peer to peer support on a range of issues from mental health to housing, and the Graduate Officer (graduate@ucdsu.ie) acts as both an Education and Welfare Officer for Graduate students.
Access and Lifelong Learning
The ALL centre is located on the first floor of the James Joyce Library and offers a wide range of supports. Students can apply for a needs assessment through ALL in order to receive exam support which can include extra time in exams and the option to sit exams in the alternative exam centre in Newman, as well as information on financial support available for students.
More info on ALL can be found HERE
Maths & Writing Support Centre
Both support centres are located in the James Joyce library 1st floor to either side of the main reception desk. UCD’s Library has a dedicated Maths Support Centre, which can provide help for a huge number of level 0, 1, or 2 modules. UCD Library also has a Writing Centre which provides tuition on all aspects of writing, whether creative, research based or as part of a formal presentation.
Student Desk
The Student Desk is located in the Tierney building and the support team can provide a range of advice on administrative issues. The team offers advice on the majority of issues which arise surrounding exams and assessment. The student desk operates a walk-in service alongside being contactable through their connector form HERE
College Office
The College Office should be your go to for finding out info about the nuts and bolts of your degree, including issues around timetabling issues, extenuating circumstances applications and other general queries. Each College within UCD has a College Office and some of the larger Schools have their own specialised School office.
Chaplains
The Chaplains are available for one-to-one meetings for students of all faiths and none, and can support students with a wide variety of issues, including Extenuating Circumstances Applications. More information on the Chaplaincy can be found HERE
Frequently Asked Questions
It's ok to take a break
It's ok to take a break
Sometimes it might feel like you haven't got the time to take a break, that you need to just keep going but believe it or not, that short break can be really beneficial and give you that kick start you need when you do go back to the books.
There are a few things on campus that you can do that gives you that break you might need and provides a chance to catch up with friends or connect with other people who have similar interests.
Break Inspiration
Pop by Poolside Café for a coffee and a snack.
Arrange to meet your friends for a breakfast in Pi Restaurant in the Science Building. The hash browns alone will set you up for a good day
Head to The Village (open 24/7) - Grab some food or a coffee, rent out a board game or try your hand at the giant connect four or giant jenga
Pop by the Students' Union for some Mindfulness Colouring or to grab a new book to read from our Free Book Library
Grab a bit of lunch from one of the Student Union Shops
Try one of the 5 different Woodland Walks around Campus
Head to UCD Cinema in the Student Centre to see one of the latest releases.
UCD Woodland Walks, a map and guide!
