Exams

The main dates for the Academic Term, Examination sessions for Full-time / Part-Time and Online programmes and the dates for release of results can be found on the Academic Calendar.

View the Academic Calendar

There are three main examination sessions annually:

• Winter/ Semester 1 session held in January
• Summer/ Semester 2 session held in May
• Autumn/ Repeat session held in August

Some programmes may have exams outside these sessions which will be advised locally.   

The main dates for Terms 1, 2 and 3 and Examination Sessions for Craft Apprenticeships can also be found on the Academic Calendar.

If you are a registered student you can access a more detailed calendar called the ‘Student Key Dates’ in the student Hub.

The examination timetable is released 4 weeks prior to the start date of each session and registered students can access this in the Student Hub under the Examinations Tile.

Exams can be scheduled throughout the full duration of the session, so you must make sure you are available to take the exam.

The timetable is subject to change so please check it regularly, particularly in the days prior to each exam.

Student IDs must be presented to gain entry to the Exam Hall. If you do not have a student ID, you can obtain a replacement beforehand or bring other photographic ID.

The regulations around invigilated exams and your behaviour are set out in the AQAE042 Procedure for Examination and Assessment Regulations. We strongly recommend you read this so you know exactly what’s expected before attending an invigilated exam.

Academic honesty matters: Cheating or misconduct will be handled under the AQAE008 Procedure for Academic Misconduct

For online students, additional in person venues may be available and there is also the option of online proctoring. More information is available in the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

After each exam session each student must access their own results securely in their Student Self Service account. Results are not emailed or posted to students, communicated over the phone or discussed with anyone other than the student themselves.

Each registered student can access their Self Service Account through the Student Hub in the QuickLinks or under the Exam Results and What They Mean section. Once you have logged in select View Final Grades.

Winter exam results are marked as Provisional unless you are at the end of your stage (e.g. finishing a year or completing a programme).

Provisional means the results are not final and could still change. Provisional results are reviewed again by the Examination board in Summer and Autumn (if applicable). Once summer results are released in June, they are considered the Final results.

Students who have fee holds on to their accounts will not be able to access results. To pay outstanding fees go to Self Service Banner and make the necessary payment to release your results.

AQAE005 Marks and Standards Policy has information about your results and what they mean.

If you are a registered student you can access more detailed information about what your results mean, progression rules and award classifications in the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

Past Exam papers are accessible through the library service.

Extension to Deadline (Coursework)
You may apply for an extension of one week to a deadline for coursework assessment e.g. projects, assignments due to temporary circumstances that prevented you from submitting on time.

The allowable grounds are bereavement, accidents, illness, family or religious circumstances, or other sudden unavoidable events.

The relevant procedure is AQAE031 Procedure for Requesting an Extension to a Coursework Deadline and the application form is on the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

Impaired Performance
If your performance in completed coursework or in a final examination was affected by a bereavement, accident, illness, or other personal circumstances beyond your control at the time of the assessment, you can notify ATU by applying for impaired performance consideration before the module marks are finalised and released.

If you have become ill and cannot complete an assessment or final exam, see the section below on deferrals.

The relevant procedure is AQAE026 Procedure for Highlighting Impaired Performance and the application form is on the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

Deadlines for applications are in Student Key dates

Module Deferral
If you cannot submit Coursework by the due date or by the end of the teaching period or you cannot sit a Final Examination due to bereavement, accident, illness, or other personal circumstances beyond your control, you can apply to defer that component by applying for a Module Deferral.

You can defer the module from semester 1 or 2 to the next exam session in the same academic year (usually the August repeat session). Or you can defer your module to the next academic year, but in this case, you will not have access to the VLE until you return and re-register.

Programme Deferral
A Programme Deferral is taking a full semester or full academic year off due to a long-term change in your personal, financial or family circumstances. Assessment in all modules is paused until you return to complete your study. You will not have access to the VLE or email.

The relevant procedure is AQA032 Procedure for Deferral of Modules and Programmes and separate application forms are on the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

Deadlines for application are in the Student Key dates.

After the results are released, it is important that you use the consultation days to discuss results in a meeting with the lecturer. Consultation period is the day the results are released and the next working day, as set out in the Academic Calendar.

A Consultation provides an opportunity to:

• Get the breakdown of your grade/mark and see how you did against the assessment criteria
• View your exam script (in-person consultation)
• Request a recheck of your assessment i.e. a check to ensure that all parts of assessments have been marked and that there was no error when calculating or recording your final mark
• Get feedback and information or advice on repeat requirements and review and appeals.

Contact your Head of Department if you want to discuss your award classification or overall progression status.
Contact your lecturer in-person or by email immediately to request a meeting.

A Review involves the re-marking of all relevant assessment material by a second suitably qualified person. If you have grounds to show that your grade was incorrect, you can request a Review of your Exam paper and some types of coursework.

When applying for a Review, students must clearly state the grounds and clear, detailed statement and supporting evidence.

An Appeal involves the consideration of exceptional circumstances relating to the assessment excluding the content and marking of assessments.

It might include the application of the examination regulations, assessment standards or extenuating circumstances not already considered at the exam board.

When applying for an Appeal, students must provide clear detailed statement and supporting evidence.

The relevant procedure is AQAE033 Procedure for Recheck, Review and Appeal and the application form is on the Student Hub under the Examinations section.

Following the end of the Summer session (June),

• if you failed one of more modules, then you must register in your self service account to take the repeat exams in Autumn (August)
• if you have deferred one or more modules in Winter or Summer, you will be automatically registered to take the exam/assessment in the module in Autumn (August)

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are registered correctly to repeat failed module(s). If in doubt contact your local examinations office to check your status.

Following the release of results after the Autumn session,

• if you have not passed all modules or you were not granted an academic standing of Approved to Progress AP you cannot progress to the next stage or year.
• if you are not registered correctly, you may not attend class or complete assessments.

The terms dates, examination schedule and the release of results are determined by SOLAS nationally. Key dates are published by ATU via the Academic Calendar, once we receive notification from SOLAS.

For assistance, please contact your local examination office or your Head of Department.

For Sligo Campus students only more information is available in EXAM040 SOLAS Craft Apprentice Exam procedure

Fees for registering for Repeat exams, Repeat and Attend, Deferrals, Reviews and Appeals are set out on the Fees and Funding page.

The email contacts for the exams offices and registration offices can be found on our Contact page.

If you are a registered student you can access more detailed campus information in the Examinations section of the Student Hub