University of Southampton Calendar 2009/10


University Calendar 2009/10 Section IV : General Regulations Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes

1.	Age of Candidates
	1.1	The University of Southampton admits students on individual merit and does not discriminate on the grounds of age. Some programmes of study are bound by external professional or placement requirements concerning age. Where the age of an applicant would raise issues of safety, child protection, personal support or issues of care, the Head of Registry Services should be notified in order to invoke appropriate measures to investigate and assess the situation prior to an offer being made.
	1.1

2.	Candidates with Current UK Qualifications
	2.1	Undergraduate Programme of Study
		Candidates for admission to programmes of study who have achieved current UK qualifications must satisfy the relevant School and specific programme requirements in addition to the general University requirements outlined below. Candidates will normally be expected to have passed three subjects of the General Certificate of Education Advanced level (GCE A level) or equivalent in other current UK qualifications. Current UK qualifications are regulated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). A limited list of examples of current UK qualifications which could be considered for entry is found in appendix one. Candidates will normally be expected to have passed General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE) in English and Mathematics at grade C or above, or equivalent. The University of Southampton Recruitment and Admissions Committee will review annually guidance on the equivalence of UK and non UK qualifications to be used when assessing applications. The University of Southampton will normally be guided by the University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) tariff, the National Recognition Information Centre website and senior academic judgement of prior experience of qualifications when determining equivalence of qualifications. Candidates for admission must satisfy the appropriate admissions tutor(s) that their academic qualifications are sufficient to enable them to undertake the programme of study. In addition to the general entry requirements, candidates for admission may be required to take an additional admissions test for some programmes. Additional examinations can also be required to qualify for School or programme bursaries. Please refer to the relevant School and specific programme requirements.
	2.2	Higher Degree
		The School concerned may declare eligible for admission to a programme leading to a higher degree: a graduate of a University in the United Kingdom or any other appropriate institution of higher education; a candidate not being a graduate whose qualifications have been specially approved for this purpose by the Faculty concerned.
3.	Candidates with UK Qualifications that are no longer offered
	3.1	Candidates with UK qualifications that are no longer offered must have achieved a qualification previously approved by the QCA or prior statutory body or have otherwise satisfied the Faculty concerned. Examples are an Ordinary Level Certificate or Higher National Certificate or Diploma awarded before the establishment of BTEC, pre-GCE school leaving examinations, AO-levels, Advanced Extension Awards (AEA) and Vocational GCE A levels.
	3.2	Candidates not possessing any of the qualifications outlined in sections 2.1 and 3.1 may be admitted to a first degree programme provided they can submit evidence of previous serious study and attainments which indicate the capacity to pursue the proposed programme successfully. Examples of such evidence include recent study with the Open University or another institution of higher education, successful completion of an approved Access course or of one of the University's 'Return to Study' courses, or recent relevant work experience. In such cases, eligibility for admission is subject to the approval of the Faculty concerned.

4.	Candidates with non-UK Qualifications
	4.1	Candidates with non UK qualifications will normally be expected to have qualifications of an equivalent standard to those outlined in section two of these regulations, and should also meet the programme specific requirements. Candidates from countries whose education systems offer fewer than 13 years of formal education, or whose qualifications have not been judged by the University of Southampton to be equivalent, may be required to provide evidence of additional study, such as A-levels or a recognised foundation programme. A list of examples of non UK qualifications currently considered acceptable for entry is in appendix one, however qualifications at an appropriate level from countries not listed will also be considered.

5.	English Language Requirements
	5.1	In addition to any of the above qualifications, candidates whose first language is not English are required either: to reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English (see Appendix 2) or to offer a first degree from a UK university that has been taught and assessed in English, or to have been instructed and assessed in English and come from a country which appears on the list of those exempt from testing (see Appendix 3).
	5.2	Although the candidate may have satisfied the English language requirements listed in 5.1 above, the Faculty, with advice from the Centre for Language Study, may recommend that the student take a pre/in-sessional programme, or If the candidate cannot provide any of the requirements listed in 5.1, the candidate must otherwise demonstrate to the Faculty that they have an adequate command of both written and spoken English language to follow the proposed course. The original English language certificate is required as evidence in all cases except where online verification is available; ie: IELTS results.

6.	Annual Review of Admissions Regulations
	6.1	The Regulations and accompanying lists at appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 are reviewed annually by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Recruitment and Admissions) in consultation with colleagues. This Admissions Review Group meets annually. Any decisions made are implemented in the following recruitment cycle. The amended version of the regulations is taken to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee (AQSC) to be approved. Decisions made are reported to the following Recruitment and Admissions Network meetings.
	6.2	The Admissions review Group will also meet on an ‘as and when’ required basis, at the discretion of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Recruitment and Admissions).
	6.3	Schools that would like their English language requirements to differ from the standard University of Southampton requirements should submit a case to be considered by the Admissions Review Group for approval.

7.	University Commitment
	University commitmentThe University will at all times seek to operate admissions regulations that are fair and are in accordance with the law of the United Kingdom, and the University's Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations. This includes specific compliance with legislation relating to discrimination (eg Race Relations Amendment Act, Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act, Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, etc) and the University's Equal Opportunities Policy Statement. This includes a commitment that the University will 'actively assist groups that experience disadvantage in education and employment to benefit from belonging to the University' and 'actively seek to widen participation to enable students that do not traditionally participate in Higher Education to do so’.

Updated by the Admissions Review Group, 18 May 2009

APPENDIX 1
List of current qualifications offered in the UK
General Certificate of Education Advanced level (GCE A level) General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary level (GCE AS level) General Certificate of Education Advanced level in applied subjects (GCE A level) General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary level in applied subjects (GCE AS level) BTEC Nationals OCR Nationals Scottish Highers Scottish Advanced Highers Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma Extended Diploma Cambridge pre-U Principal Subjects and Diploma General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) at national framework level three or higher National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) at national framework level three or higher
List of example non-UK qualifications
The International Baccalaureate The European Baccalaureate Overseas GCE and School Certificate examinations comparable to the UK equivalents Australia - Year 12 Certificate of the relevant state authority in Australia Austria - Reifeprufungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis Belgium - Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs Bulgaria - Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie Canada - Senior Matriculation Certificate of the relevant provincial state authority Cyprus - South Apolytirion or Lise Diplomasi Czech Republic - Maturitni Zkouška / Maturita Denmark - Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF) or Bevis for Studentereksamen Estonia - Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus or Riigieksamid (State Examinations) Finland - Ylioppilastutkinto / studentexamen (Matriculation Examination) France - Baccalauréat or Baccalauréat avec Option Internationale Germany - Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife / Abitur Greece - Apolytirion Hungary - Erettsegi / Matura India - All India Senior School Certificate, Indian School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificates awarded on completion of Standard XII if awarded by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) and Metro State Boards (Delhi, Maharashtra, Chennai, Kolkata, Kamataka) Ireland - Leaving Certificate Italy - Esame di Stato (from 1999) Latvia - Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu Lithuania - Brandos Atestatas (from a Gymnasium or Secondary School) Luxembourg - Diplôme de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires Malta - Advanced Matriculation (AM) or Matriculation Certificate Examination (from the University of Malta) Malaysia - Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan (STMP/Advanced Certificate of Education) Netherlands - Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) (Gymnasium A/B and Atheneum A/B) Diplomas Norway - Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole Poland - Matura Portugal - Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários Romania - Diploma de Bacalaureat Slovakia - Maturitná skúška / Maturita Slovenia - Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School-Leaving Diploma) Spain - Curso de Orientación Universitaria (COU) / Título de Bachillerato / Selectividad Sweden - Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola United States of America - Advanced Placement (AP) examinations of the American College Board Other qualifications gained outside the United Kingdom which are listed as equivalent to British entry requirements in the International Comparison section of the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) website
18 May 2009

APPENDIX 2 : Accepted Tests and Test Scores for English Language Certification

The required certification in English Language should normally have been obtained within the last two years. Tests currently approved are:

British Council/Cambridge IELTS, TOEFL, internet-based TOEFL are nomally acceptable at the following grade/score levels (for exceptions please see below):

IELTS	6.5
TOEFL paper-based test	580
TOEFL internet-based test	92

Programmes accepting lower IELTS, TOEFL and internet-based TOEFL equivalent scores/grades:

For all Foundation programmes:

IELTS	5.5
TOEFL paper-based test	527
TOEFL internet-based test	71

For admission to research degrees in Engineering and Science disciplines:

IELTS*	6.0
TOEFL paper-based test	553
TOEFL internet-based test	81

Some programmes require higher scores. A number of programmes specifically require the following grade/score levels:

IELTS*	7.0
TOEFL paper-based test	617
TOEFL internet-based test	105

Specific examples include the International Part-Time PhD Pathway – Distance Learning Mode in the School of Humanities, PhDs at Winchester School of Art, School of Law’s LLM programme, MSc Audiology, School of Medicine Bachelors of medicine, MSc and postgraduate research programmes and a number of BSc programmes in the School of Health Sciences. Applicants are advised to contact individual School admissions tutors for definitive programme requirements.

For the full list of IELTS and TOEFL equivalences please see Appendix 4.

AEB test in English for Educational Purposes (TEEP) (Grade 4 throughout).
Brunei/Cambridge GCE O level English (grade C or above); Brunei/Cambridge GCE A level English (grade C or above).
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (Grade C or above).
Cambridge International Examinations English O-level (used in Malaysia) (Grade C or above).
Certificate in Advanced English (Cambridge) (Grades A - B).
Certificate of Attainment in English (London) (Levels 5 - 6).
GCE O-level or GCSE in English (Grade C or above).
IGCSE English as a Second Language (used in Cyprus, the Middle East and Argentina) (Grade C or above).
International Schools: Undergraduate applications where the medium of instruction and assessment is English in an international school.
JMB University Entrance Test in English for Speakers of Other Languages (Pass).
Nigeria: West African Examinations Council Year 12 Certificate in English (WASSCE) (grade C6 and above).
Northern Consortium of British Universities (NCUK): EAP module - B for all courses at the University.
Successful completion of either a pre-sessional course or the qualifying course offered by the University's Centre for Language Study.
University of Reading: Test in English for Education Purposes (TEEP).
Warwick Higher Education Foundation Programme: 55% for all courses at the University.

The following qualifications are also acceptable:

Abitur with a minimum score of 11 out of 15 or 2 out of 6 in English Language as a Leistungskurs.
European Baccalaureate with a minimum 7.5 in English as the First Foreign Language L2 or First Foreign Language - Advanced L2A.
International Baccalaureate (Syllabus A1: Grade 4 at either Higher or Standard level; Syllabus A2: Grade 5 at Higher level or Grade 5 at Standard level where the IB subjects have been studied through the medium of English; Syllabus B: Grade 5 at Higher level).
India English Exam for CBSE and ISC exam boards with a minimum score of 70%.
Norwegian Vitnemål with minimum score of 4 in English.

18 May 2009

APPENDIX 3 : Countries where no Separate Test of English Language Proficiency is required as long as education has been through the medium of English
(See Section 4.1 of Admissions to Degree Programmes).

Students whose first language is not English meet the University’s requirement by virtue of having been taught and assessed in English and who come from countries which appear on this list.

Anguilla
Antigua
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Canada (if education has been through the medium of English)
Cayman Islands
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
Heard Island
Jamaica
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Malta
Mauritius
McDonald Island
New Zealand
Niue
Norfolk Islands
Papua New Guinea
Saint Kitts
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sierra Leone
Singapore
South Africa
Swaziland
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
United States of America
Western Samoa
Zambia
Zimbabwe

(18 May 2009)

APPENDIX 4 : Table of IELTS and TOEFL Test Score Comparisons

IELTS	TOEFL paper-based test	TOEFL internet-based test
4.5	477	53
5.0	500	61
5.5	527	71
6.0	553	81
6.5	580	92
7.0	617	105

(18 May 2009)