Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science in the Social Sciences and Postgraduate Degree Programmes

1. A candidate must normally be a graduate; a candidate who is not may be admitted to a programme on the approval of the Board of the School of Social Sciences.
   
   
2. A candidate may be required to undertake a period of preliminary study and to pass examinations as specified by the teaching programme concerned before undertaking the scheme of study.
   

3. The scheme of study will comprise lectures and other coursework. Provision may also be made for specialised study and options within the scheme of study.
   
   
4. A candidate is required to undertake the scheme of study over a period of not less than two semesters of full-time study or four semesters of part-time study.
   

5. All components of the scheme of study will be examined during and/or at the end of the period of study as specified by the School.
   
   
6. A candidate who fails initially to satisfy the examiners will normally be permitted to take referred examinations at dates to be specified by the School and, if successful at the appropriate level, be allowed eligibility to proceed to a Master's degree. Students who pass first time at Postgraduate Diploma only level are allowed to retake examinations and, if successful at the appropriate level, will be allowed eligibility to proceed to the Master's degree.
   

7. The Postgraduate Diploma of the University of Southampton (PGDipSoton) is awarded by Senate to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed the scheme of study and passed the assessment prescribed. The Postgraduate Diploma may be awarded with distinction.
   

8. A candidate who has qualified for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma at a satisfactory level may, with the approval of the Board of the School of Social Sciences, be permitted to undertake further study and research and to submit a dissertation. In the case of a full-time student, the period of study shall be three calendar months and the dissertation shall be submitted by 30 September of the year of qualifying for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. In the case of a part-time student, the period of further study shall be six calendar months and the dissertation shall be submitted by 30 December of the year following the year of qualifying for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. In exceptional cases, the School Board may approve a later date for the submission of the dissertation. In all cases, award of the Postgraduate Diploma shall be withheld pending the outcome under regulations 9 and 10 below.
   
   
9. A candidate who satisfies the examiners in the dissertation shall forego the award of the Postgraduate Diploma and be awarded the degree of Master of Science in the Social Sciences. The degree may be awarded with a distinction.
   
   
10. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the dissertation may either be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma of the University of Southampton or be permitted by the Board of the School of Social Sciences, on the recommendation of the Head of Teaching Programme, to resubmit a dissertation in a bound form within a period of six calendar months (full-time candidates) or twelve calendar months (part-time candidates).
    

Submitted by the Secretariat
Last reviewed: 09-Jul-2008
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