04.8 Word count/Word limits (for all students in non-research awards)

Owned by Stuart J
Last updated: Mar 13, 2024 by Registrar Department
1 min read

  1. The prescribed length of a written assessment is both a guideline for the amount of work to go into the topic and part of the educational objectives for the unit. It is an exercise in self-discipline which involves the selection of the appropriate material to develop the argument of the essay and support its conclusions. For this reason, word length limits are taken seriously.

  2. All written assignments should be kept to the prescribed length.  If written work exceeds the maximum length, it will not be returned to students but will be downgraded 5% per 100 words or part thereof. For example, 1 to 100 words over the limit would attract a 5% penalty, 101 to 200 words over would attract a 10% penalty, and so on.

  3. The prescribed word length (for all courses except MTh and PhD) excludes:

  • Title page,

  • Synopsis,

  • Bibliography

  • Bibliographic references  (e.g. Chavalas, “Did Abraham Ride a Camel?,” 64)

Any other text not specifically excluded is included, with the exception of appendices which are not counted for MTh and PhD students only.

Please Note: Bible references (eg. John 3:16) should be placed within the text of the essay and not relegated to a footnote, and will be included in the word count.

4. Only the references in footnotes are excluded from the word count, commentary and notes are included.

5. See “Late Submissions” for information on downgrades for late submission.