If you have poor academic performance, you will be invited to a meeting called a continuation review meeting. These incremental meetings are designed to support your progression through your degree programme and to provide opportunities to get back on track.

Continuation Review Step 1 Meeting

The first trimester you fail more than 10 credits in a trimester and/or fail to remediate a module after three attempts you will be invited to a continuation review step 1 meeting. 

You will meet with a member of the Social Sciences team.

Continuation Review Step 2 Meeting

The second trimester you fail more than 10 credits in a trimester and/or fail to remediate a failed module after three attempts you will be invited to a continuation review step 2 meeting.

You will meet with the Programme Director for your programme (or their nominee) and a member of the Social Sciences team.

Continuation Review Step 3 Meeting

The third trimester you fail more than 10 credits in a trimester and/or fail to remediate a failed module after three attempts you will be invited to a continuation review step 3 meeting.  

You will meet with the Programme Director for your programme (or their nominee) and a member of the Social Sciences team.

It is important that you get the support that you need and follow the academic plans developed to help you get back on track.  If sufficient academic progress is not made in the trimester following the Continuation Review Step 3 Meeting, your case will be reviewed, and you could be discontinued from your programme.

If you fall under the continuation policy you will receive an email after the release of final results inviting you to the relevant continuation review meeting. The email will include a link to Google calendar where you can see available meeting slots.  You can hover over each appointment slot before selecting it to check whether it will be taking place in person or on Zoom.  You can select a meeting slot that suits you and it will automatically be added to your calendar. The location for the meeting will be included in the meeting information (e.g. Zoom link or office number).

Some tips for booking a meeting:

• Please use your UCD Connect account when booking an appointment.
• Please make sure that their Google Calendar is set to the Irish time zone/country. This can be updated in calendar settings.
• If you cannot see any available appointments you may need to click ‘Next available appointment slot’’ (middle of the page) to view available appointments.  
• If there are no meeting slots available after clicking on ‘Next available appointment slot’ please contact (opens in a new window)socialsciences@ucd.ie to request a meeting.

Before attending a continuation review step meeting it can be useful to reflect on the trimester in question.  

You may find it useful to consider the following questions:

1. How did the trimester go and were you surprised by your results?
2. Are there areas where you feel like you would benefit from additional support?
3. What will be different about the coming trimester?

It can also be useful to become familiar with the rules around progressing stage and options for remediating failed modules (e.g. resits and repeats) and consider what you would like to do.

You can see information on progression rules and other useful terms explained here.

Extenuating circumstances are serious unforeseen circumstances beyond a student's control that prevent them from meeting the requirements of their programme. A student affected by illness or a family situation, for example, can submit an extenuating circumstances application that may be taken into consideration by the relevant Module Coordinator/Exam Board. 

For more information on making an Extenuating Circumstances application please see the Social Sciences website. Please note that students who wish to submit a retrospective Extenuating Circumstances application (after the deadline) should make contact with the Social Sciences Office in advance.

Student Advisers

Every programme in UCD has a dedicated Student Adviser who can offer you time and space to explore any concerns you may have in relation to personal, emotional or academic circumstances, and who can provide you with advice and guidance in relation to UCD’s policies, procedures and services. To make an appointment with one of the Social Sciences Student Advisers you can contact (opens in a new window)kieran.moloney@ucd.ie or (opens in a new window)holly.dignam@ucd.ie. Mature students can also contact (opens in a new window)emma.somers@ucd.ie. 

Other university supports

There is a range of support available for Social Sciences students to help you get the most from your time in UCD. You can find a list of support available on the Social Sciences website.