The University of Warwick has decided to implement a no-detriment policy for undergraduates. However, they have decided not to extend this courtesy to postgraduates because, I quote, it is “impractical” – https://warwick.ac.uk/students/news/newsevents/summer_exams_2020_update-27-march-pgt

This is not a good enough reason and so we are calling for them to reverse this decision and offer us the same courtesy they have afforded undergraduates. Like undergraduate students, postgraduate students are all under considerable stress, anxiety and may have situations at home that preventing them from doing work (not to mention having a lack of access to core readings that are not E-books and having to change our dissertation projects). Proportionately postgraduates are more mature students and thus many have more dependents at home, such as child-care and caring for more elderly family members. With the closure of schools, many PGs have had to take up homeschooling of young children and thus are not able to commit to their studies in the same way they did before this pandemic. It only seems fair that the university should recognise this and make adjustments in the same way as they have done with the UGs.

To understand more about the challenges facing PGs and UGs please see- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u4fRz6IOseg

The universities of Exeter, Southampton, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Sheffield and Essex have published news that they will be implementing a no-detriment policy for postgraduates, so we know this can be done!

No detriment explained: The idea of a no- detriment policy is that under the current circumstances our yearly average so far should not be lowered. That is, as long as you take the assessment and pass, you should be able to maintain your current average. However, should you wish to (and are able to) try and lift your yearly grade so far, that's also possible. So, if your average is 65 so far this year, and you submit assessments which you understandably do less well on, and get - say - 50, 52, 61, and 48... your average will remain at 65. If, however, you walk out with 75, 80, 65, and 70 - your average will rise to incorporate the increased marks and lift your grade up to match the new average.