1. Matriculation is the formal admission of a student to a course of study leading to a degree of the University. The qualifications for matriculation and for admission to courses of study other than those leading to a degree shall be prescribed in Regulations.
   
   
2. Except with the permission of the Senate, candidates for admission to any course of study leading to a degree, diploma or certificate awarded by the University must have reached the age of seventeen years not later than the first day of October in the year of their proposed admission. Candidates must have the appropriate qualifications or have been exempted therefrom in accordance with Regulations.
   
   
3. Upon admission to the University, students become entitled to the full privileges of membership of the University and are bound by the corresponding obligations to conform to the Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University and to comply with decisions of the Senate.
   
   
4. Possession of the appropriate qualifications for entry upon any course of study shall not entitle any person to matriculation or to be otherwise admitted to the University, and the University reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant for admission.

1. In order to qualify for a Degree other than an honorary, an ex-officio or an ad eundem degree in the University, every candidate must have:
   
   
   1. matriculated as a student of the University in accordance with the Ordinances and Regulations,
      
      
   2. satisfied any additional requirements for entry prescribed for particular courses,
      
      
   3. pursued the appropriate course of study for the prescribed period, satisfactorily completed any course requirements and passed the required examinations,
      
      
   4. paid as and when required the fees prescribed and any other sums due to the University, and
      
      
   5. complied with such Ordinances and Regulations as may be relevant.
      
      
2. Subject to the authority of the Senate to grant remission of not more than one semester, the minimum period of study for a Bachelor's degree shall be six semesters (nine terms) or such longer period as may be specified in the Regulations for a particular programme.
   
   
3. The minimum period of study for any degree of a standing higher than Bachelor shall be prescribed in Regulations.
   
   
4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above but subject to the provisions of the Charter and Statutes and to the stipulation set out hereafter the Senate may permit students who have attended courses of study or passed examinations at other Universities or places of learning to count these courses and examinations as equivalent to such courses of study and examinations in the University of Southampton as the Senate shall determine. The degree of Bachelor shall not be awarded to any student who is not already the holder of a degree unless he or she shall have pursued an approved course of study in the University extending over at least one semester (two terms) and totalling 80 credit points. The postgraduate degree of Master shall not be awarded to any student who has not pursued an approved course of study in the University extending over not less than one semester and prepared a dissertation.
   
   
5. In order to qualify for a Diploma or Certificate in the University every candidate must have:
   
   
   1. satisfied the requirements for entry upon the appropriate course of study as prescribed by the regulations relating to the particular Diploma or Certificate,
      
      
   2. pursued the appropriate course of study for the prescribed period, satisfactorily completed any course requirements and passed the required examinations,
      
      
   3. paid as and when required the fees prescribed and any other sums due to the University, and
      
      
   4. complied with such Ordinances and Regulations as may be relevant.
      
      
6. Periods of study for Diplomas and Certificates shall be prescribed in Regulations.
   
   
7. For the purposes of this Ordinance study in any institution affiliated to the University and leading to a qualification awarded by the University shall, in respect of that qualification, be regarded as study within the University of Southampton.

1. University Examinations whether taken at one time or in sections and whether involving formal written examination, oral examination, the submission of occasional essays or any other prescribed form of assessment shall be the general responsibility of Boards of Examiners. Subject to the authority of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body) and of the Senate, each Board of Examiners shall be jointly responsible for setting and marking any formal written examination papers together with oral and practical examinations as appropriate.
   
   
2. The Boards of Examiners shall consist of at least the following members and such other members as may be required by Regulations:
   
   
   1. Doctor of Design, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Music, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Science in the Social Sciences, Doctor of Laws, Master of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine
      For each candidate three examiners, of whom two shall be external examiners.
      
      
   2. Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy
      For each candidate two examiners, of whom one shall be an external examiner.
      
      
   3. Other Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates
      For each course two examiners in every subject or group of subjects, of whom one shall be an external examiner.
      
      
3. The external examiners shall satisfy themselves as to the standard of the examinations and of the marking and assessment in each subject or group of subjects for which they were appointed. They shall not necessarily be required to mark individual scripts, but they shall if they so desire have access to all such scripts and to all essays, laboratory books or other written work contributing to the result of the examination. They shall satisfy themselves about the general arrangements for the assessment of oral and practical work contributing to the result of the examination but they will not necessarily be expected to participate personally in the assessment of such work.
   
   
4. External examiners shall be appointed annually by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body). External examiners shall be eligible for reappointment provided that no external examiner shall hold office for more than four years consecutively.
   
   
5. Examiners other than those appointed under section 4 above shall be appointed annually by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body) from amongst the Professors and those who hold posts of professorial equivalence, Readers, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers and other teachers of the University or of the affiliated institution concerned.
   
   
6. The examiners shall not be required to accept the examination scripts or other work of any candidate who has not:
   
   
   1. satisfied the requirements laid down in Ordinances and Regulations or been exempted from any such requirements by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body); or
      
      
   2. paid the fees prescribed.
      
      
7. Each Board of Examiners shall report the results of the examinations to the Board of the School concerned (or other authorised body).  Except in the case of degrees awarded solely on the basis of research, the Board of Examiners shall draw up a list, arranged as prescribed in Regulations, of successful candidates for each award; the Chair who shall have been appointed by the Board of Examiners, shall sign the list and communicate it to the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body).  The Dean or other authorised person shall countersign the lists received from the Boards of Examiners and forward them to the Senate together with the recommendations of the Board (or other authorised body) for the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates and where appropriate recommendations for the re-examination of unsuccessful candidates. In the case of degrees awarded solely on the basis of research the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body) shall forward to the Senate its recommendations for the award of the degrees.
   
   
8. University examinations shall be specified in Regulations.

1. Except as otherwise provided in respect of Honorary Degrees or in this Ordinance, the degrees, diplomas, certificates, fellowships, scholarships, prizes and other distinctions of the University shall be awarded by the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Senate on the recommendation of the Board concerned.
   
   
2. The Senate may, on the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body), award any degree of the University to any person who has been admitted to the same or an equivalent degree of another University.
   
   
3. This paragraph was repealed by Council on 15 March 2007.
   
   
4. If any candidate having completed the whole or a substantial part of his or her course is prevented by illness or other sufficient cause from completing sufficient part of an examination (leading directly to a degree, diploma or certificate) to satisfy the examiners in accordance with the relevant Regulations, that candidate may be awarded an aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate. Such award may be made upon the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body) and upon such other conditions as the Senate may decide provided that the candidate shall not be exempted from presenting a thesis or dissertation where such is prescribed, and further provided that the candidate shall not be given honours or placed in a class or division¹.
   
   
5. No person shall be awarded a degree, diploma or certificate unless he or she has paid the fees prescribed and any other sums due to the University.
   
   
6. The Senate may for good reason withdraw and cancel any degree, diploma, certificate or other distinction which it has previously awarded. A decision to withdraw and cancel an award may only be taken with the support of at least two-thirds of the members present.

1. With the approval of both the Senate and the Council any degree of the University may be conferred as an Honorary Degree.
   
   
2. Recipients of Honorary Degrees shall be presented at a Congregation of the University by a person appointed for the purpose by the Vice-Chancellor.

1. Degrees shall be conferred at a Congregation of the University to be held for that purpose at such time and place as may be determined by the Senate provided that a Congregation shall be held at least once a year. Degrees shall be conferred by the Chancellor, or in the absence of the Chancellor by one of the Pro-Chancellors, the Vice-Chancellor, the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro Vice-Chancellor.
   
   
2. Except in the case of candidates in the affiliated institutions and of candidates for Honorary Degrees, candidates shall be presented at Congregations by the Dean of the Faculty (or Director of Research Centre) concerned, provided always that in the event of illness or other unavoidable absence the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint another member of the Faculty to make the presentation. Candidates in the affiliated institutions shall be presented at Congregations by a person appointed for the purpose by the Vice-Chancellor.

Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 19-Jan-2011
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