Format

It is nothing to do with me as I do not set the rules! However three observations:

– PDF does not pick up the word count
– all university students in the UK usually have to submit work in MS WORD (and in fact many lay down a particular font that must also be used)
– normally a PDF file is a much larger electronic file than the Ms Word equivalent. It would therefore probably (a) slow down the submission process and (b) as all submissions are retained in an electronic repository it would probably increase the technological storage requirements considerably and such a cost would then end up being passed on to all students in the form of an even higher submission fee.

So I think it is perfectly reasonable for OBU to have this rule and it is unlikely ever to change. If you are fearful that the format might be changed on the market’s PC then do a covering note saying that you have checked your format and it was fine so if they experience problems could they check they are viewing it in MS WORD? Load your note as an appendix and call it ‘Note on formatting to marker’.