University of Southampton Calendar 2009/10


University Calendar 2009/10 Section VIII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health Sciences

School	School of Health Sciences
Final Award	Master of Science (MSc)
Programme(s)	MSc Health and Rehabilitation
Last modified	23 July 2009

Reference should be made to the University's General Regulations found in Section IV and Section V (Higher Degree Regulations) of the University Calendar.

Except where the School has been granted an opt-out by the University (see below) the following academic regulations apply in addition to the General Regulations.

Admissions

The normal requirement for entry to the course will be a relevant first degree or professional qualification at an equivalent level in an appropriate discipline. Acceptance will be at the discretion of the Head of School. Candidates whose first language is not English are required to reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English, or otherwise demonstrate to the Director of the Language Centre of the University that they have an adequate command of both written and spoken English language to follow the course.

The minimum classification normally expected for a degree entrant is 2:1. Other classifications or appropriate qualifications might include, for example, a diploma in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, nursing, speech and language therapy, medicine or psychology. Candidates without a good first degree are expected to demonstrate evidence of advanced studies, a relevant professional qualification at a suitable level, plus a minimum of 12 months relevant post-qualifying professional experience.

All candidates must satisfy the Programme Leader that they are competent to pursue the programme. Candidates must also be approved by the Associate Director at the School of Health Sciences. The right to refuse permission shall be reserved to the relevant Programme Leader.

Candidates may register for one of the following:

Postgraduate Certificate in Health and Rehabilitation (PGCert)
Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Rehabilitation (PGDip)
MSc in Health and Rehabilitation (MSc HR)
Individual module(s)

Equality Statement
The University of Southampton confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities in employment and for students. Individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the University. The aim of the policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee, prospective student or student, should receive less favourable treatment on any grounds which are not relevant to good employment practice for staff or to academic ability and attainment for students. The University is committed to a programme of action to make the policy fully effective.

APEL/Credit Transfer
APEL/APCL will be considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the University regulations for APEL/APCL.

The decisions about the equivalence of your learning will be informed with reference to the relevant programme specifications and statements of learning outcomes. The School will assure itself that the learning derived from your prior accredited study is equivalent to that of the learning that might otherwise have been achieved by following the MSc in Health and Rehabilitation modules. No application for APCL may be made towards the dissertation module.

A maximum mark of 50% will be awarded for successful Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning [APEL] and Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning [APCL] claims. Such claims will be clearly identified on candidates transcripts.

Structure of Programme(s)

The programme structure is as follows:

The programme may be of full-time or part-time study.

Normal Periods of Study
Normal periods of study for the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation shall be one academic year for full-time study or two years for part-time study. The maximum period of study shall not exceed five years.

Normal periods of study for the PGCert and PGDip will depend on modules of study chosen.

Candidates may apply to the Programme Leader to suspend from the programme temporarily for a specified period which will not normally exceed twelve months. This suspension period will not count towards the total period of candidature.

The programme may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, course work, contract learning and projects as specified for individual modules. Candidates will select their modules in consultation with, and with the approval of, the Programme Leader.

Candidates for the MSc will be required to undertake a research dissertation that will normally be between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length on a topic to be agreed with the Programme Leader. Full-time candidates must submit their dissertation within one calendar year of registration for the MSc. Part-time candidates must submit their research dissertation within a maximum of 24 months of registration for the MSc.

Academic staff within the School of Health Sciences, and other staff approved for this purpose, will supervise MSc students' research projects. The Programme Leader will manage the appointment of supervisors.

Progression

Candidates who fail in any taught module (up to a maximum of 40 credits) shall have the right to be re-assessed on one further occasion. Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail the dissertation shall have the right to submit a revised dissertation on one further occasion. Any referred assessment, if successful, will accrue a mark of 50%.

A student who fails a further taught module exceeding the set referral maximum of 40 credits at the first attempt will be deemed to have failed the programme and will have their registration terminated.

Any further opportunity for re-assessment (in a taught module or the dissertation) shall be at the discretion of the relevant Board of Examiners and shall only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Assessment

Each module will be assessed according to the module description. Assessments may include written assignments, examinations, practical work and a dissertation. In addition, candidates for the MSc may be required to attend a viva voce examination.

The module pass mark and overall pass mark for the award of MSc is 50%.

Candidates who exceed the specified word limitation (+/- 10%) within a module will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their overall module mark.

Award of Qualification(s)

Candidates who have satisfied the examiners and who have accumulated the requisite number of credits shall be awarded the qualification for which they have registered.

Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail to achieve a pass mark in the dissertation (even after any permitted re-assessment) may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma. No candidate may be awarded more than one qualification (Diploma or MSc) for the same programme of study.

Candidates may be awarded a Distinction for the degree of MSc if they have achieved an average of at least 70% in taught modules, passed each module at the first attempt and attained a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation. Modules that have had successful APEL and APCL claims will not be included in this calculation enabling it possible for students with successful APEL and APCL claims to gain a Distinction award in the MSc programme.

Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork

Not applicable.

Other

These regulations may be revised during the student's period of registration in accordance with the procedures approved by Senate.

Candidates who do not attend at least 80% of timetabled modular sessions will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their overall modular mark.