University of Southampton Calendar 2012/13


University Calendar 2012/13 Section XII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Health Sciences

Academic Unit	Health Sciences
Final Award	Master of Science
Programme(s)	Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care
Last modified	July 2012

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

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

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.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
APEL/APCL will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the University regulations for APL.

Structure of Programme(s)

The programme consists of three core specialty modules, a research methods module, a module of your choice from the University provision and a dissertation. Each module is a discrete unit of learning, designed around a particular theme:

Specialty core modules:

Specialist Practice in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care (15 ECTs)
Policy and Service Design in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care (15 ECTs)
International and Contemporary Perspectives of Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care (15 ECTs)

Optional Modules: minimum credit rating required = 7.5 ETCS or equivalent

Research Module:

e-Research Methods (10 ECTs)

Dissertation:

Dissertation Module (30 ECTs)

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

Normal Periods of Study
Normal periods of study for the MSc Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care shall be 15 months for full-time study or two to five years for part-time study. The maximum period of study shall not exceed five years.

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 Lead.

Candidates for the MSc will be required to undertake a dissertation that will normally be between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length on a topic to be agreed with the Programme Lead. Full-time candidates must submit their dissertation within fifteenth months of commencing the module.

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

Progression

Progression Regulations are as described in the University Calendar, Section IV: General Regulations; Progression, Determination and Classification of Results.

Assessment

Each module will be assessed according to the module profile. 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.

When attending for an examination you must produce either your university ID card or a form of photographic ID in which you are clearly identifiable. Students without photographic ID will not be permitted entry to the examination.

Work submitted up to 5 days after the deadline will be marked as usual. The final agreed mark is then reduced by the factors detailed in the relevant University Policy. http://www.soton.ac.uk/quality/docs/Extensions_and_Late_Submission_Penalties.doc”.

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 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. 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.

Merit or Distinction
For the purposes of calculating the average mark carried forward to determine the award of merit or distinction, the pass mark will be capped at 50%.

These boundaries refer to the final average mark (weighted by credits) rounded to the nearest integer. More information can be found in the Progression Regulations for Standalone Masters.

Exit Awards
Candidates who fail to achieve a pass mark in the dissertation (even after any permitted re-assessment) may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

Candidates who register on the MSc but who elect to exit the programme after achieving the core specialist modules (optional modules may not substitute) may normally be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care.

Candidates who register on the MSc but elect to exit the programme having achieved the core specialist modules and e-Research Methods and one optional module may normally be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care.

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.

Compensation
Compensation is not permitted on this programme.

Special Considerations
Students are guided to the Special Considerations guidance in the University Calendar in particular the guidance relating to the deadlines for submission of Special Considerations forms. The treatment of special considerations is dealt with under separate Special Considerations procedures at http://www.soton.ac.uk/quality/assessment/special_pol.html

A student's performance may be worthy of special consideration if their performance in a relevant assessment has been adversely affected by exceptional circumstances outside their control and there is evidence to support such a claim.

Special considerations shall only apply to circumstances which can be clearly related to performance in particular elements of assessment.

The authority of the Special Considerations Board to make allowance for exceptional circumstances may be restricted in some programmes subject to Professional, Statutory or Regulatory requirements or because of the special requirements of particular programmes. In such cases, this will be made clear to students in programme documentation.

Fitness to Practice
Students are advised to acquaint themselves with the University Fitness to Practise Policy which is used within the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Academic Integrity
Where issues of Academic Integrity are detected, the Faculty will follow the published Academic Integrity Regulations. Where a case remains active prior to an examination board, a mark of 0 will be presented to the examinations. This mark will then be amended by Chairs Action depending on the outcome of the Academic Integrity process.

The Faculty is moving to the use of Turnitin software as an educational resource to help students to help evaluate the originality of their own work. Where Turnitin submission is required of work that will contribute to summative assessment and the student fails to submit, they will be awarded a mark of 0 for the component in question.

Academic Appeals
Students are guided to the Academic Appeals Regulations in the University Calendar. Candidates who do not attend at least 80% of timetabled modular sessions will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their overall modular mark.