Over/Under Length Assessed Work

Penalties applied to assessed coursework, as described in the tables below, will not reduce a grade below a Pass mark (40 for undergraduate programmes, 50 for postgraduate programmes).

Unless you are specifically told otherwise, your word count should include foot-notes, but exclude title, abstract, bibliography and appendices. You must read each Module Outline carefully to see what should be included in the word count for that particular assignment.

Coursework

For each peice of assessed coursework, the relevant Module Outline will provide a target word count. You are required to complete your work in less than 5% above or below this target word count. You must include the word count at the end of your submitted work. Penalties for non-compliance will be applied as in the table below.

Your word count	Penalty
less than 5% above or below the target word count	None
5% - 10% above or below the target word count	3 marks
more than 10% above or below the target word count	6 marks
failure to state word count	6 marks

Undergraduate Dissertation

In completing your undergraduate dissertation you are required to remain within a word range of 6,000 - 10,000 words. You must include the word count at the end of your submitted work. Penalties for non-compliance will be applied as in the table below.

Your word count	Penalty
less than 500 words above or below the stated range	3 marks
500 or more words above or below the stated range	6 marks
failure to state word count	6 marks

Postgraduate Dissertation

In completing your postgraduate dissertation you are required to remain within a word range of 10,000 - 15,000 words. You must include the word count at the end of your submitted work. Penalties for non-compliance will be applied as in the table below.

Your word count	Penalty
less than 1,000 words above or below the stated range	3 marks
1,000 or more words above or below the stated range	6 marks
failure to state word count	6 marks