1. Candidates must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Courses as specified in Section IV of the General Regulations. In addition, the normal requirement for entry to the courses is a good first degree, or equivalent qualification, of an approved university in a health, or health-related, field.

2. Candidates without a good first degree may nonetheless be admitted to a course but will be expected to provide evidence of a relevant professional qualification at a suitable level, plus several years post-qualifying professional experience at least some of which must be at a responsible level, and to satisfy the Course Director that they are competent to pursue the course of study proposed.

3. Candidates satisfying the entry requirements may be admitted to courses provided they are accepted by the relevant Head of School and the Faculty of Medicine Health and Biological Sciences. The right to refuse admission to particular courses of study shall be reserved to the relevant Head of School.

4. Candidates will register for either the Master of Science or the Diploma in Research Methods in Health, or for a named Certificate.

Approved courses of study

5. The Masters course consists of 120 M level credits which shall normally be taken over either two semesters and a summer period of full-time study, or an equivalent period of part-time study pursued in not less than 24 months and not more than 60 months. The Diploma course consists of 72 M level credits which shall be taken over either two semesters of full-time study or an equivalent period of part-time study. Certificate courses shall each consist of 24 M level credits and each module will normally be completed within one semester.

6. The Certificate courses will each consist of two taught modules. The Diploma course will consist of three Certificates, comprising six taught modules in total. Candidates for the Masters degree will undertake three Certificates and shall be required to undertake a research Dissertation:

   	Credits
   Certificate 1: Research in Health (Foundations)
   Module 1: Using sources and understanding research methods
   Module 2: Carrying out research in practice	24
   plus
   Certificate 2: Research in Health (Quantitative Methods)
   Module 1: Epidemiology for Health Service Research
   Module 2: Statistical analysis and the applications of quantitative research	24
   plus
   Certificate 3: Research in Health (Qualitative Methods)/Getting Research into Practice)
   Module 1: Design, data collection & analysis of qualitative methods
   Module 2: Research into practice: dissemination & implementation	24
   award Diploma	72
   plus
   Dissertation	48
   award Master of Science	120

   Students may apply to the Course Director to include other appropriate, postgraduate level, University of Southampton modules and Certificates within their academic pathway for the Diploma and MSc up to a maximum of 24 credits.

7. The courses may include lectures, practical work, course work and projects as specified for individual modules. Candidates shall select their modules in consultation with and with the approval of the Course Director. Candidates are responsible for attending required classes, seminars, lectures, and practical sessions, and must complete assignments and examinations at the appropriate time. Persistent absence may constitute grounds for termination of course or may be taken into account when assignment or examination marks are awarded.

8. Candidates for the Masters degree will be required to undertake a research Dissertation which will normally be between 15,000-20,000 words and which, for full-time students, will normally be submitted by 30 September following their entry to the course.

9. The supervisor for any candidate for MSc, Diploma or Certificate courses will be the Course Director.

Progression

10. Candidates registered for Certificates or the Diploma who wish to progress to the Diploma or Masters degree course respectively may apply to do so providing they have satisfied the relevant requirements of attendance and assessment rules and have accumulated the requisite number of credits at M level.

Assessment

11. Each module will be assessed according to the module description. This may include written assignments, examinations, and a Dissertation (for Masters candidates only). In addition, candidates may be required to attend a viva voce examination.

12. The module pass mark and overall average course pass marks for candidates for the Master's degree, the Diploma and a Certificate is 50%.

Compensation

13. Candidates for the Master's degree or Diploma who fail to achieve at least 50% in every module may, nonetheless, be awarded the degree or Diploma provided that their overall average for the course is at least 50% and they have no more than two failed modules with marks not less than 40%. The Master's Dissertation may not be compensated.

14. Candidates for Certificates who fail to achieve at least 50% in both modules may nonetheless be awarded the qualification provided that their overall course average is at least 50% and they have no mark less than 40%.

Award of qualifications

15. Candidates who have attended an approved course satisfactorily, who have satisfied the Examiners of their course, and who have accumulated the requisite number of credits at M level will be awarded the relevant qualification ie the MSc in Research Methods in Health, the Diploma in Research Methods in Health, or a named Certificate.

16. Candidates who qualify for the award of a Diploma in Research Methods in Health will be required to relinquish previous awards of Certificates. Candidates who qualify for the award of the Master's degree in Research Methods in Health will be required to relinquish the previous award of Diploma in Research Methods in Health.

17. Candidates for the Master's degree who fail (even after any permitted reassessment) to achieve a mark of at least 50% in the Dissertation may be awarded the Diploma provided that they have achieved an overall course average of at least 50%.

Distinction

18. Subject to the Examiners' judgement, candidates for the Master's degree or Diploma who satisfy the relevant attendance and assessment criteria and who achieve an overall course average of at least 70% may be awarded the qualification with Distinction.

Reassessment

19. Candidates who fail in any taught module shall normally have the right to one further opportunity to satisfy the Examiners at the next normal examination opportunity. Candidates for the Master's degree who fail the Dissertation shall normally have the right to submit a revised Dissertation. Full-time candidates for the Master's degree must normally submit their revised theses by 1 February following the first failed submission.

20. Any further opportunity to satisfy the Examiners in any module, including the Dissertation, after the second attempt shall be at the discretion of the Faculty of Medicine Health & Biological Sciences and shall only be accorded in exceptional circumstances.