Overall the marks achieved in coursework, examinations and the final dissertation had to exceed a weighted threshold for the candidate to pass and be awarded a DMS.
Initially in the UK the qualification was accredited by the DMS committee of the DES, and later by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA).
It was originally accepted by the BIM as its core qualification for admission as a full member.
[1] The assessment for the few DMS courses which are still run in the UK is now almost without any formal examinations being required to be passed.
It is thus subjectively awarded on the basis of course performance only, according to the opinion of the academic staff responsible.