FAQs for Current Students

For School queries, e-mail (opens in a new window)geography@ucd.ie or visit the School office in E001 Newman Building.

For more programme specific queries, go to the Social Sciences Office or the Arts and Humanities Desk.

For technical queries on SIS web, go to the Student Desk in the Tierney Building.

PhDs registering to taught modules for credit or audit should refer to the Graduate Research Student Handbook. Information about online module registration can be found here.

IT support is available via the IT Helpdesk.

We understand that sometimes circumstances beyond your control mean you cannot submit an assignment on time. In cases like these, you can apply for an extension through the Late Submission of Coursework Policy if it is within ten working days of the original due date. The relevant module coordinator will consider your application and situation and a decision made.

Late submissions will generally only be accepted when it has been requested in advance and if there are genuine supporting reasons. Some modules may not allow it if subsequent work depends on an assignment being completed by a particular deadline. The module coordinator will inform students via course materials if this is the case.

If you choose to submit an assignment late without a granted extension, you can do so up to ten working days after the due date though penalties will apply.

• Coursework submitted at any time, including 5 working days after the due date, will have the grade awarded reduced by one grade point (for example, from B- to C+). C
• coursework submitted more than 5 working days but up to and including 10 working days after the due date will have the grade reduced by two grade points (for example, from B- to C). 

Coursework received more than 10 working days after the due date will not be accepted or graded.

You can refer to the Late Submission of Coursework Policy, where you will also find the application form for more information.

Plagiarism is the use of other people's ideas or words in presented work without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. The School of Geography has a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism and any cases of it will be dealth with accordingly.

Find out more about the UCD Academic Integrity Policy and the UCD Student Code of Conduct.

Additional helpful information on plagiarism and how to avoid it is available from the UCD Library. This includes guidance on (opens in a new window)academic integrity and the (opens in a new window)Harvard referencing style

See the Universities policy on Extenuating Circumstances, including the policy and links to forms to apply.

Please note that paper forms are no longer being accepted so follow the online application process.

If you have a grade query, the best person to contact is the relevant module coordinator.

If you fail to pass a module, don’t panic, there are options to remediate this module. To see if the module offers a repeat or a resit, use the (opens in a new window)Course Search to find it and look at the 'What happens if I fail?' section of the module description. You can also check if the module is a learning requirement or a requisite.

The following 3 options are available for students to complete the credit requirements of the programme: 

Re-sit: You have the option to register to re-sit the module the following trimester. Not all modules offer resit opportunities. If this option is available, you will be given one assessment to remediate. This will be graded as pass/fail and suffixed with (R), e.g. P(R) which has a grade point of 2.0.

Repeat: If the module is also offered in the following trimester, you have the option to repeat the module and register for a full repeat of the module (you have to attend all lectures/tutorials and take all assessments). Repeat grades are also suffixed with (R) and the grade point awarded is reduced, offering more reasons to fully engage with the module. For example, an A+ has a grade point of 4.2 and becomes an A+(R) with a grade point of 3.6. See section 6.7 of (opens in a new window)UCD Academic Regulations for more detail.

Substitute module: Alternatively, you may choose to substitute a failed elective/option module with one compatible with the requirements of the programme. (Please note that it is not possible to substitute a core module). If you wish to substitute a module, you can register to it when registration opens, see UCD Key Dates.

Note regarding workload for all options:

You may register to a maximum of 40 credits in a trimester. Resits and repeats will be included in the calculation of your workload and this will give you the best chance of completing your modules.

For further information on these options see UCD Registry information on Repeats and Resits and see the financial implications of all three options.

UCD is committed to providing an excellent education and student experience. The University supports improvement in educational quality and academic decision-making. However, the University recognises that from time to time situations arise when a student considers that they might have grounds for appeal against a decision related to assessment of their academic work. UCD's Assessment Appeals Policy outlines the principles and process for such an appeal.The University is committed to resolving appeals as quickly as possible with emphasis on local resolution.

The Appeals UCD website can be found by clicking here.