University of Southampton Calendar 2010/11


University Calendar 2011/12 Section IX : Academic Regulations - Faculty Natural and Environmental Sciences

Academic Unit	Ocean and Earth Science
Final Award	Bachelor of Science (Bsc) Master of Science (MSci) with exit awards of: Bachelor of Science Certificate of Higher Education Diploma of Higher Education Ordinary Degree
Programme(s)	These regulations apply to all undergraduate programmes in Ocean and Earth Science
Last modified	May 2010

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

Admissions

1.1	The specific admissions criteria for each programme are given on the SOES website and Undergraduate Brochure.
1.2	Applications from mature candidates and international candidates are welcome and will be considered on an individual basis.
1.3	All individuals are selected and treated on their relative merits and abilities in line with the University's Equal Opportunities Policy. Disabled applicants will be treated according to the same procedures as any other applicant with the added involvement of the Disability Office to assess their needs. Such applicants are therefore encouraged to make contact early and discuss their needs. The School will make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities (eg: hearing impairment, visual impairment, mobility difficulties, dyslexia), particularly the practical laboratory sessions, and we will attempt to accommodate students wherever possible.
1.4	Applicants are usually required to attend an interview.

Structure of Programme(s)

2.1	All undergraduate programmes in Ocean and Earth Science are full time degrees.
2.2	Masters programmes require four years of study and Bachelors require three years of study.
2.3	Transfer from BSc to MSci is normally permitted up to the end of Part 2. Transfer is conditional on the student having taken any modules that are compulsory for the MSci programme, and their having met the entry requirements and/or progression hurdles.
2.4	The programmes consist of a number of compulsory modules and optional modules. Some modules have pre-requisites and some modules are mutually exclusive. Detailed information can be found in the programme and module specifications which can be found on the SOES website.
2.5	Students must select their option choices for each semester of study before the start of the semester on or before the option choices deadline as notified by the Academic Studies Office.
2.6	It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that the combination of modules they have selected is valid and meets the requirements of their programme of study.
2.7	Students have until the end of week two of the semester in which to change their selections. Students changing their selection after the deadline are responsible for checking that there are no timetable clashes.
2.8	Students must submit their project preferences by the end of the semester before the start of the project on or before the deadline as notified by the project coordinator so that a project supervisor can be allocated.

Progression

MSci Geology (with study abroad); MSci Geophysics (with study abroad); MSci Oceanography (with study abroad)
A candidate enrolled on these programmes must achieve an aggregate mark of 65% at the end of Parts 1 and 2 and an aggregate mark of 60% at the end of Part 3.

MSCi Marine Biology (with study abroad
candidate enrolled on this programme must achieve an aggregate mark of 65% at the end of Parts 1 and 2 and also achieve a minimum mark of 40% in SOES1007. At the end of Part 3, students must achieve an aggregate mark of 60%.

MSci Geology; MSci Geophysics; MSci Oceanography; MSci Ocean, Earth and Climate Science
A candidate enrolled on these programmes must achieve an aggregate mark of 55% at the end of Part 2 and an aggregate mark of 60% at the end of Part 3.

MSci Marine Biology
A candidate enrolled on this programme must achieve an aggregate mark of 55% at the end of Part 2 and also achieve a minimum mark of 40% in SOES1007. At the end of Part 3, students must achieve an aggregate mark of 60%.

MSci Oceanography with French
A candidate enrolled on this programme must achieve an aggregate mark of 55% at the end of Part 2 and also achieve a minimum mark of 55% in FREN9021. At the end of Part 3, students must achieve an aggregate mark of 60%.

BSc Marine Biology with Oceanography
A candidate enrolled on this programme must achieve a minimum mark of 40% in SOES1007.

Assessment

4.1	The performance of candidates shall be assessed by the Board of Examiners in accordance with the School’s regulations governing examinations for the relevant programmes of study.
4.2	Students who do not achieve the appropriate level of performance will be required to successfully undertake additional study and/or re-examination during either the summer vacation or the following academic year before proceeding.

Award of Qualification(s)

5.1	The class of Honours awarded is determined by the weighted final average mark in accordance with University regulations.
5.2	Exit Awards: In accordance with University regulations.
*Regulations for BSc Ordinary Degree in Ocean and Earth Science*
5.3	At the end of Part II: Students who fail to meet the hurdle to progress to an Honours degree
	5.3.1	Students who fail to pass the hurdle in Part II in order to progress to Part III of an Honours degree, may be permitted to follow a restricted programme (see 5.3.2 below) for an Ordinary Degree, provided they have achieved a >30% aggregate at Part II and achieved the required pass mark in modules equivalent to 60 credit points.
	5.3.2	Students following an Ordinary degree programme: are not permitted to take level 3 modules equivalent to more than 60 credit points; are not permitted to take level 1 modules equivalent to more than 30 credit points in their third year; may be required to repeat failed level 2 modules equivalent to no more than 30 credit points.
	5.3.3	The School is responsible, on the advice of the tutor, for approving the scheme of study to be taken by an Ordinary degree student.
	5.3.4	In order to qualify for the award of an Ordinary Degree, students must obtain a minimum aggregate mark of 35% at the end of Part III. The aggregate mark used from Part II will be the higher of (a) the original mark or (b) the mark obtained following a referral examination, up to a maximum of 40%.
5.4	At the end of Part III: Students who fail to meet the requirements for the award of an Honours degree
	5.4.1	The School may recommend the award of an Ordinary degree to those students who have failed to achieve the required aggregate for an award of an Honours Degree. Such students should have achieved >35% aggregate at Part III and achieved the required pass mark in modules equivalent to 60 credit points.

Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork

Details are available from module coordinators, the Academic Studies Office and in the student handbook.

Other

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

Candidates are required to satisfy the academic and attendance requirements of the programme as laid out in the Programme Specification and the Student Handbook for the programme. Those failing to do so may have their course terminated.