These FAQs have been set up to help explain the new Marks Transfer processes which started in March 2026. We recommend reading the main guidance before the FAQs. The FAQs have been grouped into three categories:
Set up of Blackboard grade columns/submission points
Why am I not seeing automatically set up columns in my Blackboard site?
Typically this is caused by incorrect or missing data in SITS. To have columns set up, the module must be active, have a module leader, a due date/time (except for exams) and an assessment item type (which controls what is created in Blackboard). If the assessment item type is wrong then the wrong thing may be created. Please contact the Digital Education team for support if you are not clear what data is missing.
I deleted the automatically set up columns – how can I get them back?
Please contact the Digital Education team for support.
I have the wrong type of column set up automatically on my Blackboard site, what should I do?
If you need an assignment but have a weighted total or regular column, or vice versa, please contact the Digital Education team for support as soon as possible, preferably ahead of any student submissions or marking. It is likely you have the wrong assessment item type in SITS.
Can I use a grade column or submission point copied from the previous year’s Blackboard site?
No, you must use the grade columns/submission points which were automatically set up for the current academic year. For this reason we strongly recommend never copying the whole Assessment nor Reassessment section nor submission points from one Blackboard site to another, as there is an increased likelihood of confusion and additional work.
Can I create a column myself and still transfer marks to SITS?
No, you must use the automatically set up columns to transfer marks back to SITS. You will only see columns created automatically in the approval tool.
How should I handle students with Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) or stage 2 extensions?
If a student has submitted work this should be marked. A mark of zero should be given to students who have not submitted. Module leaders do not need to check if a student has an accepted EC or stage 2 extension. Please see the ‘Principles for Entering Marks in Gradebook’ for further information about this.
How should I handle Academic Conduct cases?
Please see the ‘Principles for Entering Marks in Gradebook’ for further information about this.
How do I manage reassessment marks?
Please see the ‘Principles for Entering Marks in Gradebook’ for further information about this.
What if I am using a schema to show a UGD category to students instead of a mark (e.g. high 2.1)?
Blackboard transfers the underlying mark to SITS, so it is not necessary to change the schema before transferring marks, but you may wish to in order to have confidence about which marks are being transferred.
What if I am using a schema to convert a range of marks to a UGD categorical mark?
This may be problematic as the original underlying mark would be transferred rather than the UGD mark. You should consider if you need to use this method, though there may be a workaround which can be discussed with the Digital Education team.
What if I have a mark which is not out of 100 points, such as a Blackboard test?
Ideally the points possible for any mark should be out of 100 as this is the easiest to transfer, but there is a workaround for tests which are not out of 100. Please contact the Digital Education team for assistance.
Submitting module marks to Assessment Teams
How do I send marks to the Assessment Teams using the new Mark Transfer tool?
First, read the guidance on Submitting Module Marks to Assessment Teams to ensure you should use the tool for transferring directly to SITS. You can find the Mark Transfer Tool in Blackboard module sites. There are instructions on how to use it.
Who should transfer marks to SITS?
Usually, module leaders will transfer marks to SITS. However, other staff on the Blackboard site can do this in case the module leader is not available (e.g. sickness absence).
When should I transfer marks?
When you have a full set of task marks (e.g. after 5 and 10 day extensions have been marked) i.e. module leaders should only transfer marks once for each task. Please do not transfer partial sets of marks.
Do marks have to be posted to students before transferring to SITS?
No, we have configured it so that marks do not have to be posted to students.
I’ve already entered all the marks in a column I made myself. Can I transfer these?
No, they cannot be transferred in that column. Ideally this scenario should not happen, but if it has, please contact the Digital Education team for support with moving the marks to the correct place.
I have approved the wrong marks in the transfer tool, what do I do?
If it is the same day that you have approved them, then you can unapprove them in Blackboard before they are extracted to SITS after midnight.
If is not the same day that you have approved them, they will have transferred to SITS and you will need to complete the Mark Amendment Form.
What happens after I’ve approved my marks in the transfer tool?
Approved marks will transfer to SITS overnight.
The Assessment Team in Registry Services will process the marks and produce module reports in line with agreed timescales.
When will marks be available to students on My Student Record?
Marks will not be automatically available to students on My Student Record. The Assessment Team in Registry Services will release module marks in line with agreed timescales.
