Examination Regulations

For the purposes of these Regulations:

• College Academic Board” is the supreme academic organ at the Constituent College level.
• “University Examinations” are all those examinations, assessments or evaluations that are considered in determining whether or not a student shall proceed to the following year of study in the Constituent College or qualifies to graduate.
• “Regular University Examinations’ are those scheduled examinations at the end of each academic year or as determined by the Senate.
• “Special Examinations” are those which after approval by the College Academic Board and the Senate, are administered to candidates who fail to sit for regular examinations for reason acceptable to the Academic Board and the Senate.
• “Supplementary examinations” are those examinations which, subject to approval by the College Academic Board and the Senate, are administered to candidates who fail to obtain a pass in the specified number of units during the academic year.
• “Continuous Assessment” is any form of evaluation made during the course of the academic year such as tests, graded practicals, projects and assignments.
• “ An academic year” shall normally be composed of
• semesters which may depend on specific requirements of the course.
• A  course is that part of a subject described by a coherent syllabus and taught over a specified period.
• A course is designated as one or more units of study.
• A unit of study will depend on the requirements of the particular course concerned.
• Subject to Constituent College Regulations, all matters concerning University Examination shall he supervised by the Deputy Provost Academic Affairs under the general direction of Provost.
• The College Academic Board shall have authority in all matters affecting examinations, including the setting, conduct, marking and declaration of results at Constituent College level.
• The University Senate shall have overall authority in all matters affecting examinations at the University level and the Senate decision in examination matters shall he final.

• Guidelines for University examinations shall be presented through the Faculty Committee and College Academic Board for approval by Senate
•  Final examinations are controlled by the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs and are scheduled during the last two weeks of each semester.
•  Unless the College Academic Board in consultation with the Senate directs otherwise all courses shall be examined within the year in which they are taken.
•  No candidate shall be allowed to sit for a paper for which he/she has not registered.
• A student shall not be allowed to sit for a University Examination in a course if he/she has missed 25% or more of the scheduled semester class periods for each course and has not completed all course requirements.
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall publish a list of candidates registered for examinations, at least, two weeks before the beginning of the examinations, and shall issue each eligible candidate with an examination number. The list shall be made available to Heads of Department accordingly.
• These exams are supervised by invigilators drawn from the academic staff, appointed by the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs.
• Senior Invigilators must ensure that they have registration lists for candidates registered for each paper in the room in which the examination is being taken.
• To be eligible to sit for a University Examination, a student must have attempted the required number of Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) on the course being examined.
• Final examinations account for 50% (or more than 50% in some courses) of the final course grade.
• Students who do not complete assigned work by the end of the semester shall not be allowed to sit for semester examinations.
• Coursework grades will be presented to the student by the Faculty Dean or by the respective course coordinator before the end of semester examinations.
• A student who finds that the declared grades do not match with the scores on his/her assignment/test examination workbook
• should report to the respective course coordinator within the allowed period specified by the coordinator. The course instructor shall then submit the student grades to the Faculty Dean.
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall bar any student from being admitted to any examination in any subject or course where the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs is not satisfied that the student has satisfactorily completed, by attendance or otherwise, the requirements of the subject or course.
• Where a student who has been barred from examination sits for a paper, his or her paper shall be null and void.

Academic integrity

• The academic community of Tumaini University believes that one of the goals of a Christian Institution of higher education is to strengthen academic integrity and responsibility among its members.
• To this end, the University emphasizes the importance of sound judgment and personal sense of responsibility in each student.
• All members of the academic community are expected to respect the highest standards of academic integrity.

Academic dishonesty

• Academic dishonesty is a serious offense at Tumaini University because it undermines the bonds of trust and personal responsibility between and among students and faculty, weakens the credibility of the academic enterprise, and defrauds those who believe in the value of integrity of the degree or diploma.
• A student or staff member who commits an act of academic dishonesty shall face disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty can take several forms such as:
  • Cheating – Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise (tests, exercises, examination, etc.)
  • Fabrication – Intentional   and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise
  • Facilitating –  Academic Dishonesty – Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student commit a breach of academic integrity.
  • Plagiarism – representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.
• A  student who commits an act of academic dishonesty shall face disciplinary action ranging from failure to receive credit on an academic exercise to dismissal from the College
• Students who have been discontinued from the programme on the grounds of inadequate academic performance may reapply to the programme only if:
  • At least one academic year has passed since their dismissal, and
  • They can provide evidence of extra-mural studies to improve their academic standing

Eligibility for examination

•  Students will be eligible to sit for an examination if they have fulfilled the following conditions:
  • Students must have attended at least 80% of the scheduled semester class periods for each course and have completed all course requirements
  • Students must not have missed more than 10 consecutive days of class

 NB:   Under extenuating circumstances, the DPAA in consultation with the Dean of Students, the respective Faculty Dean, and Course Instructor, may waive the attendance requirements

Modes of Examinations

Examinations in the Faculty will be conducted in a combination of any of the following modes, depending on the specific requirements of the course, year of study, and in accordance with the Examination schedule

• Written Examination
• Viva Voce (Oral) Examination
• Practical Examination
• Clinical Examination
• Logbook
• Fieldwork attachment report
• Dissertation

Continuous Assessment

• The minimum number of Continuous Assessments per
• subject, per semester or per year shall depend on specific requirements of the course concerned.
• Continuous Assessments should be spread evenly throughout the teaching period for the subject content, and the last one at least two weeks before the beginning of the end-of-year examinations.
• Continuous assessment shall include all in-course
• assessments and those assessment tests conducted at the end of each course.
• Departments shall maintain a record of marks of Continuous assessments, sample assignments, and question papers.
• The records shall be made available to the external examiners.
• Students are required to register when appearing for tests/examinations when submitting assignment workbooks, as well as when receiving marked assignment workbooks.

Invigilation and conduct of Examinations

• Invigilators who are normally academic members of staff shall be appointed and briefed by the Head of Department who is the Chief Internal Examiner.
• The internal Examiner for any particular examination paper shall normally be one of the invigilators.
• Names of invigilators for various examination time-tables shall be sent to the Deputy Provost for Academics one month before the start of the examinations.
• At least two invigilators shall be allocated to each examination room and at least one must be in the examination room at any one time.
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall appoint one of the Senior Invigilators to co-ordinate invigilation in each examination room where several examinations are taking place.
• Instructions to candidates and invigilators shall be published annually by the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, setting out details of procedures to be followed in the conduct of examinations (see Appendix I for an example).
• The Senior Invigilator shall collect all examination papers and related materials from the Dean’s Office, at least half an hour before the start of all respective examinations.
• The Senior Invigilator shall ensure that all examinations start and end on time.
• The Invigilators, under the direction of the Senior
• The invigilator shall be responsible for the security and laying out of the examination papers and for such other duties as may be specified in the instructions to invigilators.
• Invigilators shall remain in the examination room throughout the examination.
• In the case where the Invigilator is unable to be present at the start of the examination, he/she shall inform the Head of Department who shall then nominate a replacement from the Department concerned.
• Internal Examiners shall certify the total number of scripts received from the record of candidates who have taken the examination.
• There shall be an examination report sheet in which the students shall sign upon submission of the script.

Irregularities in University Examinations

• Inappropriate conduct by a student concerning examinations impairs academic integrity and will subject the offending student to expulsion. Such examination irregularities can include, but are not limited to:
• Carrying unauthorized material (for example purses, electronic equipment such as cell-phones and pagers) into examination premises.
• Reading other candidate’s answer scripts.
• Attempting to copy or making reference to the unauthorized materials in the examination room.
• Communicating with other students, either verbally or through other means, during the examination without permission from the invigilator.
• Permitting another candidate to copy from someone’s paper.
• Obtaining or endeavoring to obtain assistance from any other candidate directly or indirectly or endeavoring to give assistance to any other student.
• Removing examination answer books/sheets from the examination room.
• Starting to attempt the examination before being authorized to do so.
• Continuing the examination after being ordered to stop.
• Borrowing of materials such as calculators, rulers, correcting fluid, and pens among students during examinations.
• Destroying or attempting to destroy evidence relating to any suspected irregularity.
• Failing to comply with any other examination rules, regulations, or directions given by an invigilator.
• Reproducing the works of another person or persons in
• course work or assignments without acknowledgment and with intent to deceive.
• Absconding examinations.

Procedure for dealing with irregularities

• Prior to the beginning of each examination, invigilators shall draw to the attention of candidates the seriousness of irregularities in examinations.
• If an invigilator suspects a student of examination irregularities the following steps shall be taken:
• The student shall be approached immediately.
• Any unauthorized material in the possession of
• the student, as well as his/her answer book and examination question paper, shall be confiscated
• Ensure that the incidence is witnessed by another person to verify the matter
• The student shall not be allowed to continue with that particular examination.
• The invigilator shall report in writing to the Deputy
• Provost for Academic Affairs within 24 hours;
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall require the student to submit a written statement concerning the incidence within 24 hours of receiving the invigilator’s report
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall set up an investigation committee which should complete the investigation within two weeks.
• The investigation committee shall submit the report to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, who shall in turntable the matter before the Academic Board.
• The Academic Board shall take appropriate action, and if need be make appropriate recommendations to Senate.
• While the matter is under investigation, the candidate may attempt other papers
• An internal examiner, who in the course of marking examination scripts or research or assignment papers suspects that an academic irregularity has taken place, shall report in writing the matter to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, through the respective Faculty Dean.
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs will follow the procedures vii) to ix) above.
• If it is established that the student committed an examination irregularity, he or she shall be expelled from the University forthwith.

Setting and Moderation of Examinations

• An Internal Examiner is normally an academic member of staff at the level of a Lecturer or above who has taught the course being examined.
• Supplementary and Special Examination papers shall be set simultaneously with the Regular University Examination papers.
• Examination papers shall be internally moderated by the Faculty/ Departmental Moderation Committee and External Examiners shall be involved after the examination.
• The moderated and sealed examination paper shall be sent to the Deputy Provost for Academics and/or the Examination Officer for safe keeping before the start of the examinations.
• Strict precautions shall be taken to ensure that there are no examination leakages.

Special Examinations

• A special examination is one which is taken at a time other than the regular examination period as the result of extenuating circumstances.
• A student may, in extenuating circumstance, be allowed to postpone sitting for an examination, provided he or she reports the matter in writing, before the examination to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs through the Dean of Students and the Dean of Faculty.
• Such a report shall be accompanied by authentic supporting documents.
• With the exception of emergency cases such requests must be submitted to the office of the DPAA at least 48 hours before a given exam is due to start.
• A student shall be deemed to be eligible for special examinations after receiving a letter of authorization to take special examinations from the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs.
• Special examinations shall be conducted at such time, coincident with supplementary examinations.
• When a student is allowed to sit for a special examination, he/ she shall be considered to be attempting the examination for the first time, and shall be accorded all of the rights provided for in the examination regulations.
• Special examinations shall not be availed to students who have absented themselves from regular examinations without written permission.   Such students shall receive “0” marks and a grade “E”

Supplementary Examinations

•  A supplementary examination is one which is taken by a student after he/she fails a paper in a regular or in a special examination.
• A student shall be allowed to sit for a supplementary examination only if he/she has failed in less than 50% of the prescribed examination papers.
•  The supplementary examination must be taken only in the failed paper(s)
• Supplementary examinations shall be conducted at a convenient time determined by the Academic Board within the concerned academic year.
•  The pass mark for supplementary examination is a “C” irrespective of the score.
•  A supplementary examination paper fee of Tsh. 50,000 must be paid for each supplementary examination paper provided to a student.
• The fee must be paid in advance to the finance department to cover the University’s expenses of providing a supplementary examination

Postponement of Studies

•   A student may, in extenuating circumstances postpone studies
• The student shall report the matter in writing, to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs through the Dean of Students and the Dean of Faculty.
• Such a report shall be accompanied by authentic supporting documents.
• A student may be allowed to postpone studies for a reason which in the opinion of the Academic Board is strong enough to prevent one from pursuing studies effectively.
• No student shall postpone studies without written permission from the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs.
•  Such postponement shall be for a semester or an academic year as the case may be.
•  The maximum period for a student to postpone studies shall be one year in the case of programmes of normal longevity of up to 4 years and 2 years for programmes of more than 4 years duration.
• A student may also be allowed to postpone studies for failure to pay student fees, deposits, and charges on grounds of ill health provided the postponement has been recommended by a competent medical practitioner and approved by the University.
• Re-admission for a student who postponed studies on the ground of ill health is subject to a recommendation by a competent medical practitioner and approval by the University.
• Where practical, such a student shall be allowed to continue with his or her studies from the point at which he or she was when taken ill.

Leakage of Examinations

ea  Any act which results in a candidate or candidates having access to, or knowledge of examination questions or of any unauthorized materials related to the examinations, before the scheduled date and time of the examination, shall amount to leakage of examinations.

• Procedure for dealing with leakage of Examinations
• Any person suspecting leakage of a test or examination shall immediately report to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs.
• Where there are strong indications that an examination leakage has taken place, the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Provost shall cancel/ withdraw the examination and order a fresh examination to be set and administered.
• The Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs shall set up by a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspected leakage.
• Then investigating committee shall submit its findings to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, who shall in turntable them before the Academic Board and if necessary the Senate.
• The Academic Board shall then take appropriate action, and if need be make appropriate recommendation to the Senate.
• Where it is established that an examination leakage has taken place appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against those found responsible for the leakage

Instructions to Students and Invigilators

• Candidates shall acquaint themselves with the instruction on the front page of the answer books/examination papers.
• Candidates shall ensure that they write their examination numbers, titles, and the paper number on the answer books, including the continuation sheets.
• Examination Numbers will be issued each year and verified by the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs. The Numbers will be different from student Registration Numbers.
• Examination Numbers will be serialized in the following format:- e.g. TUMA/KCMUCo/MD/2013/250
• At all times during the examination, the examination numbers should be conspicuously placed on the desks.
• Candidates without examination numbers authorizing them to sit for the examination will not be allowed to sit for the examinations.
• No student shall be permitted to enter the examination room after the lapse of 30 minutes from the commencement of the examination.  However, if a candidate arrives before the first half-hour has passed; the Invigilator may use his discretion in extending the time limit for the candidate provided no candidate has already left the room.
•  No student will be allowed to leave the examination room during the first or last 30 minutes, except in cases of absolute emergency. Between these times, students may leave the room and be escorted to known common toilets. Students shall however sign out on leaving the examination room, and sign in when they re-enter the examination room.
•  Misreading the examination timetable will not be regarded as a ‘sufficient cause’ for missing an examination.
•  No books, bags, notes, rough papers, and any other paraphernalia should be taken by the candidates into the examination room. Candidates are not allowed to bring their own log tables and calculators in the examination room unless there is an express provision otherwise in case of a particular paper. Any unauthorized materials should be handed over to the Senior Invigilator before the examination starts.
•  Invigilators shall have the power to confiscate any unauthorized materials or aid brought into the examination room and to expel from the examination room any candidate who creates a disturbance in the examination room.
•   Invigilators shall have the power to expel from the examination room any student who creates a disturbance in the examination room.
•   A t the end of the examination, and on the instructions from the senior invigilator, candidates shall be required to stop writing and assemble their scripts. The students shall hand in his/her scripts to the invigilator and sign to that effect.
• If, for any reason, such as sudden illness or other sufficient cause, a candidate is unable to attend an examination he should report the circumstances to the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs at the earliest possible moment before the start of the scheduled examination.
•  A  candidate who fails to present himself for examinations will be deemed to have failed (‘E’ grade) that part of the examinations.
• These instructions shall remain in force unless amended by the Senate upon recommendations of the College Academic Board and the Senate sub-Committee for Academic and Curriculum Affairs (SCACA).

•  An External Examiner is normally a re-known academician in a University at the level of a Senior Lecturer or above possessing at least a Masters Degree in the field of his qualification.
• Senate shall appoint External Examiners on the recommendation of the College Academic Board, upon presentation of Curriculum Vitae by the External Examiner.
• External Examiners shall be approved by the College Academic Board in consultation with Senate.
• I f the current External Examiners are being invited for the last time, departments and Faculties shall start searching for new External Examiners to ensure their appointment within the first month of the following academic year.
•  External Examiners shall not have taught the subject to the students to be examined either as full time or part-time staff members of the University during the last four years.
•  External Examiners can be appointed for three years consecutively followed by a recess of three years and possible re-appointment.
• For older colleges, a bi-annual schedule for External Examiners shall be an option.
• For the new emerging colleges and new programmes, the annual schedule for External Examiners shall be continued.

Functions of External Examiners

• To Examine the Quality of Examination Papers
• To read and grade Research Papers/Dissertations/Theses
• Attend Examiners Board Meeting
• Review the course content and curriculum
• Present a report on the examination to the Deputy Provost for Academics Affairs for presentation to the Faculty Board.
• To visit the Library/ Laboratory and give their advice regarding the Library Holdings/Laboratory Equipment in respect of the concerned programme.
• To grade Oral Defense (viva voce)

• External Examiners shall mark every script to ensure consistency in marking, internal examiners shall be required to have a proper marking scheme.
• The Head of Department, as the chief Internal Examiner, shall ensure standardization of marking between internal Examiners.
• After marking all the scripts, Internal Examiners shall enter Continuous assessment and the end of the year examination marks on the individual course mark sheets.
• All Internal Examiners are required to submit results, scripts, projects, and assessment materials and records to the head of departments at least 24 hours before viva voce examinations are conducted.
• Staff members failing to meet the set examination deadlines without good cause shall be subjected to disciplinary action according to prevailing regulations.
• The Head of Department shall give the scripts together with copies of the question papers, final marking schemes, and mark-sheets to the External Examiner on arrival. Records of continuous assessments and projects shall be kept by the Head of the department and be made available to the External Examiners.
• Th e External Examiner shall normally be expected to review extreme cases.

Processing by Departments

• A meeting of the Department Board of Examiners shall consider the result and make recommendations to the Faculty Board of Examiners.
• The External Examiners will be expected to attend the Departmental Board of Examiners’ meeting.
• The External Examiner shall provide a general overview of performance.
• The final mark in any subject shall be derived from continuous assessments and the end-of-year examinations.
• Unless otherwise approved by Senate, each course shall be graded out of a maximum of 100 marks.
• Continuous assessments as approved by the Senate shall vary depending on the nature of the course.
• The pass mark as approved by the Senate shall vary depending on the nature of the course in question.
• Unless otherwise specified by Senate, the Examination grading system shall be as follows.

Undergraduate Examinations

80             100%      A (Excellent)

70             79%       B+ (Very Good)

60             69%        B (Good)

50             59%        C (Pass)

40             49%       D (Fail /Supplementary)

0               39%        E (Fail)

Postgraduate Examinations

85             100%     A (Excellent)

75             84%        B+(Very Good)

60             74%        B (Good)

50             59%        C (Pass)

40             49%       D (Fail/Supplementary)

0               39%        E (Fail)

• The Semester Grade score shall be rounded up/down to one decimal place.
• The Final Grade score shall be truncated to one decimal place.
• After the Departmental Board of examiners meeting, all the relevant examination mark sheets shall be accurately completed, checked, and signed by the Internal Examiner, the Head of Department, the Dean (where applicable), and the External Examiner(s).
• All documents tabled during the Departmental Boards of Examiners Meeting shall be reclaimed from members of the Board at the end of the Meeting.
• Internal Examiners and External Examiners shall not divulge marks to students.
• All examination results are confidential until the Faculty Boards of Examiners consider them.

Processing by the Faculty Board of Examiners

• A meeting of the Faculty Board of Examiners shall be convened to consider the results and recommendations from the departmental Boards of Examiners and to make recommendations to College Academic Board which shall send its recommendations to the Senate.
• The External Examiners will be expected to attend the Faculty Board of Examiners.
• All documents tabled during the Faculty Board of examiners meeting shall be reclaimed from members of the Board at the end of the meeting.
• Members of the Faculty Board of Examiners shall not divulge marks or any of the Board’s deliberations to any student and unauthorized persons.
• The Faculty Board of Examiners shall forward the provisional results and recommendations to the College Academic Board for final decision and to Senate for approval.

Processing by the College Academic Board

• All examination results shall be presented to College Academic Board after the Faculty Boards of examiners meeting.
• All examination results are not official until approved by the College Academic Board/or Senate.
• College Academic Board may accept, reject, vary or modify results and or recommendations from the Faculty Board of Examiners.
• Disclosure of the examination results shall be made by the College Academic Board not later than four weeks after the end of the examinations. The results shall be published, showing only the student’s examination number (for identification).
• No department or Faculty has the authority to alter examination marks/results once these have been approved by the Academic Board and the Senate
• The results for pass candidates shall be released in transcript form indicating percentage marks as well as letter grading in accordance with the grading system shown above in section 11.0 (g).
• Lost transcripts will be replaced at a fee of TShs 20,000/-.

  Processing by the Senate

• All the Constituent College Academic Board Reports on examinations shall be submitted to the Senate.
• The Senate shall direct or recommend to the College Academic Board the general conduct of examinations in the Colleges.
• The Senate shall lay down general policies on the involvement of external examiners and the conduct of examinations in the Constituent Colleges.
• The regulations/procedures in moderation of examinations in the Colleges shall be approved by the Senate.

Release of Examination Results

Final results of all students in every final examination shall be subject to review by the Faculty Board of Examiners, and University Senate/College Academic Board. Disclosure of the examination results shall be made by the College Academic Board not later than four weeks after the end of the examinations. The results shall be published, showing only the student examination number (for identification) and the letter grade obtained in the examination.

Student Disposal

Undergraduate Programmes

Student disposal shall be undertaken at the end of the second semester of each academic year.

professional, logbook, fieldwork attachment report, practical, and dissertation assessment will also determine whether a student will proceed to the subsequent year of study or graduate.

A  student passing in all prescribed semester courses shall proceed to the subsequent year of study or graduation.

A student who fails in < 50% of the prescribed courses shall be allowed to sit for supplementary examinations in the failed courses during the long vacation.

The maximum grade that shall be awarded where a

supplementary examination has been passed shall be “C”. The same applies to a repeated course.

• A candidate who fails Supplementary Examinations shall repeat the failed courses during the next academic year and sit for the examinations when they are scheduled. Repeating the courses shall include repeating the coursework.
• A candidate who fails after repeating the year of study will be discontinued from studies.
• A candidate with a GPA of less than 2.0 after the
• Supplementary Examinations shall be discontinued.
• A student who fails in ≥50% of the prescribed courses in either semester shall be discontinued from studies in either semester.

In addition, students may also be discontinued from studies due to the following reasons:

Failure to attend scheduled examinations or tests unless caused by unavoidable extenuating circumstance

Committing examination/academic irregularities;

• Committing disciplinary offenses as described in the “Tumaini University Students’ by-laws”;
• Absconding from studies;
• Absconding from tests or examinations
• Failure to attended at least 80% of the scheduled semester class periods for each course
• Missing more than 10 consecutive days of class
• Examination irregularities;
• Failure to pay student fees, deposits, and charges
• Ill-health if recommended by a recognized medical practitioner

Master of Public Health (MpH) Programme

• Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) will be at the end of each cluster. Each module in each cluster must be passed independently
• A pass mark of 50% is required for each module.
• No student will be allowed to sit for a modular examination if he/she did not attend more than 80% of the contact hours in that module.
• Class assessment of each module will contribute a 30% score and the CAT at the end of each module will contribute 70%.
• Students will be allowed to supplement a failed module only once.
• Students must pass all the modules. They will be allowed to do a maximum of three supplementary examinations in failed modules in the whole course.
• All module assessment work must be submitted by the specific dates or a penalty of 5% per day will be deducted from unexcused overdue work, or if the penalty period of five days is exceeded the candidate will be deemed to have failed that assignment.
• There will be a Dissertation assessment

Master of Science(MSc) Programmes

• I n order for a candidate to be allowed to sit for the final module examination he/she must have attended at least 80% of the allocated class hours of the respective module.
• Class attendance of ≥80% hours but for genuine reasons the student could not sit for a scheduled examination, the student will be allowed to sit for a special (individual) examination anytime during the year of study.
• Class attendance of ≥70% hours, for genuine reasons, a decision can be made on whether the candidate has sufficient knowledge to sit for the examination at his/ her own risk.  Otherwise, the candidate should repeat the module in the following year.
• Each module will be examined after its completion through a written and/or practical examination, the module assessment test (MAT).
• There shall be one continuous assessment test CAT and the average score for CATs for each module will constitute 40% of the total modular score,
• The written examinations shall constitute 60% of the total marks obtained from the end of the module assessment test (MAT).
• The pass mark for all the modules, graded individually, shall be 50% and students must pass all the modules.
• A student who fails several modules but totals to less than one-third of the total coursework credits shall be allowed to supplement.
• If a student fails a module, he/she shall be allowed to sit for a supplementary examination any time before the end of the academic year. If a student fails a supplementary examination he/she shall be discontinued from the programme.
• A student who fails several modules totaling  ≥one-third of the total coursework credits shall be discontinued from the programme.
• N o student shall be allowed to repeat modules totaling to 1/3 of the total coursework credits. Such a student should repeat the whole year when there are sufficient reasons to do so such as sickness or other unforeseeable circumstances.
• The decision on supplementary examination, discontinuation, or repetition of a year shall be made by the statutory College Committees anytime during the academic year.
• If a student repeating a year fails more than one module he/she will be discontinued immediately.

Dissertation assessment

 Master of Medicine (MMed) Programmes

• The Common Basic Sciences Modules 1-8 in semester 1 and the Basic Sciences Modules 9 and 10 specific for the specialty concerned, will be assessed on the last day of the Module by a Module Assessment Test (MAT).
• At the end of Semesters 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, each resident will be assessed by End of Semester Assessment Tests (ESAT’s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 – see above schedule), consisting of the following three elements:
• A written paper, (30%)
• A clinical examination, (30%)
• The Log Book over the past semester, (40%)
• At the end of Semester 6, (ESAT 5) is peculiar as it carries dissertation marks as follows:
• Clinical examination 20%
• Log Book performance 10% (no written paper)
• The completed, defended, and accepted dissertation 70%.
• At the end of semester 6, there will be a dissertation assessment and defense of the dissertation during an oral examination.
• At the end of semester 8 (end of 4th year of training), candidates have to appear for a Final University Examination, consisting of
• Written paper: 40% of the marks
• A clinical examination: 50% of the marks
• An oral examination: 10% of the marks
• Candidates must pass both the written and the clinical components separately.
• Each MAT, each ESAT, the dissertation, and the Final University Examination at the end of semester 8 have to be passed separately.
• Residents who have failed up to four (4) of the 8 Basic Sciences MATs (of modules 1-8) at the end of semester 1 will be allowed to supplement each at the beginning of semester 2 (or earlier). Those failing more than four (>4) will be discontinued.
• Residents who have failed at the end of semester 2 up to 2 of the MATs 9 and 10 and ESAT 1, will be required to sit for supplementary MAT(s) at the end of semester 2 or ESAT before the start of the next academic year. Grades obtained for MATs and ESATs obtained in the first and second semester of a year can be accumulated to determine the fate of the candidate.
• In case a candidate fails the supplementary MAT(s) or ESAT, she/he will be required to repeat the whole year 1. A repeating candidate failing again a supplementary examination will be discontinued on academic grounds.
• In case a candidate fails more than six (>6) of either the 10 MATs or the one ESAT during year one, she/he will be discontinued from studies on academic grounds.
• In case a candidate has already failed ≥5 Basic Sciences MATs at the end of semester 1, she/he can be discontinued at the end of semester 1.
• Apart from formal academic assessments, professional assessment based upon logbook and quarterly progress reports also determines whether a resident passes to the next year of training.
• Residents shall be admitted to semester 7 (of year 4) after they have passed their dissertation with a grade of C or above (C, B, B+ or A).
• Marks obtained during the MATs of the Basic Sciences Modules 1-10 and the ESATs 1-6 at the end of semesters 2-7, shall be included in the grade for the Final University Examination (end of year 4). The course work (all 10 MATs and 6 ESATs from Semester 1 to 7) and the dissertation will contribute together 60% to the final grade (10 MATs =250, 6 ESATs = 600 and dissertation = 150, total = 1000) and the Final University Examination at the end of semester 8 will contribute 40% to the final grade.
• A candidate who fails the Final University Examination at the end of year 4, shall be allowed to appear for a supplementary examination provided the candidate’s period of MMed programme registration does not exceed 5 years.

There will be a Dissertation assessment  Degree award

To be awarded a Master’s degree in the respective programme of Tumaini University Makumira, the candidate must have completed and passed the course work, dissertation, and Final Examinations within the stipulated time.

Dissertation Assessment MPH, MSc, and MMed

All dissertations shall be assessed first based on the written document, followed by a viva voce assessment (oral defense).

Examiners will be:

• One External Examiner who is an expert in the field of the research topic from outside KCMU College / KCMC. In the absence of an external examiner, there will be 4 internal examiners and one of them (not the supervisor) will take the role of the external examiner, independently from the other internal examiners.
• The supervisor of the dissertation and 2-3 academic staff members of KCMU College.
• The supervisor(s) will not give marks for the written document nor during the oral defence

 Assessment of the written document (the dissertation)

• The dissertation must be accepted and approved by the supervisor(s).
• The dissertation will be made available to the appointed External Examiner
• The External Examiner shall be required to submit a written report to the DPS within a period of 3 weeks from the date of receiving the dissertation.
• The appointed internal examiners will at the same time receive the written document in order to prepare themselves for the viva voce.

Viva-voce assessment (oral defense)

All candidates shall appear for a viva voce examination (oral defense).

   Final grade

• The results of the assessment by the External Examiner will be reported to the panel of examiners after the viva voce and shall carry 60% of the final grade.
• The common grade reached by the assessment panel during the viva voce (without the supervisor) shall carry the remaining 40% of the final grade.
• The contribution for the research proposal should be considered out of 40% above

Appeal by Students for Failure in Examination

• Only appeals for Unfair Marking shall be entertained. The appeal must be lodged within 14 calendar days (weekend inclusive) from the date of releasing the results.
• The Investigation Committee of the College Academic Board shall make the necessary investigation and report to the College Academic Board.

The Academic Committee shall submit a report to the Senate which shall deliberate on the issue upon receiving a report from the Academic/Curriculum Committee of the Senate.

Classification of Degrees

Candidates must pass the courses before they are awarded the degrees.

Classification of awards will vary depending on the nature of the course concerned.

Grade Point Average:

• Courses shall be weighted by multiplying the points associated with the final grade of a given course by the number of credit hours assigned to that course. A student’s overall performance is calculated by dividing the total number of credit points of all courses taken by the total number of course credit hours taken:

 Grade Point Average (GPA) =  Weighted Total Points for all  Courses Taken /  Total Number of Course Credit Hours Taken

 Undergraduates

Policy Governing Loss of Certificate.

In case of loss or total or partial destruction of the original certificate or a copy thereof, the University College (Office of the DPAA or such other office as the DPAA may authorize in writing) may issue a copy or another certificate on condition that:

The applicant produces a sworn affidavit and Police Report.

The certificate so issued shall be marked COPY across it and shall be issued only once.

The replacement certificate will not be issued until the period of 12 months from the date of such loss has elapsed; except that such replacement may be issued within a shorter period where there has been partial destruction of the original certificate or of a copy thereof;

Th e applicant must produce evidence that the loss has been adequately publicly announced (cuttings from two widely circulated News Papers) with a view to its recovery in an officially recognized form or manner in the applicant’s home country or where the loss is believed to have taken place;

A  fee of TShs 20,000.00 in respect of Tanzania student or USD 30.00 in Money Order in respect of foreign students, or such other fee as may be prescribed from time to time by the University, shall be charged for the copy of certificate issued.

Re-Admission after Discontinuation

Students who have been discontinued from a programme on grounds other than examination/academic irregularities, disciplinary offences or absconding from tests or examinations, may be readmitted subject to having fulfilled the following requirements:

• At least one year has passed since the dismissal
• A student previously dismissed for failing scheduled examinations is subject to the student providing evidence of extra-mural studies to improve his/her academic standing.
• A student previously discontinued for failing to pay fees, deposit and other charges has paid all the dues. Where practical, such a student shall continue with his/ her studies from the point at which he/she was before discontinuation.