University Calendar 2013/14
Section IV : General Regulations
Progression, Determination and Classification of Results : Standalone Masters Programmes


PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
 
ARCHIVE 2007/8
ARCHIVE 2008/9
ARCHIVE 2009/10
ARCHIVE 2010/11
ARCHIVE 2011/12
ARCHIVE 2012/13
1. Introduction
  1.1 The following regulations apply to all Standalone Masters programmes (see Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CATS) Regulations), except in so far as exemption for particular programmes has been allowed under 1.3 below. They should be read in conjunction with the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes. In the case of part-time programmes the Regulations, including provision for Compensation and Referral, apply for the programme as a whole and not for each academic year over which the programme is taken.
  1.2 Where there are exceptional circumstances resulting in a student’s performance being worthy of special consideration, as defined in paragraph 3 of the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for All Credit Bearing Programmes, a Board of Examiners, on the recommendation of a Special Considerations Board, has the authority to set aside aspects of these regulations and seek alternative evidence, or offer alternative methods or times for re-assessment, to show that required learning outcomes have been achieved. Detailed guidance is given in the Quality Handbook.
  1.3

With the approval of the Chair of the University Programme Committee (UPC), Faculties may, with good cause (normally where this is necessary in order to meet the stipulations of Professional, Regulatory and Statutory Bodies (PSRB)), operate variations on the following progression scheme. Where Faculties operate approved variations on the scheme this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations in the Calendar and will be subject to regular review by UPC.
       
2. Programme Structure
  2.1 Standalone Masters programmes are constructed from Modules (normally including a dissertation Module) that are normally at level 7 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. However, some study may be at other levels as permitted by the CATS Regulations. Credit for a Module is awarded on successful completion of that Module.
  2.2 If programme regulations allow a student to take assessments in more Modules than are required by the programme specification for successful completion of the Programme classification decisions will be based on that combination of Modules which gives the best mark profile for the number of credits required in the programme specification and which is consistent with programme regulations (for example, in relation to Core and Compulsory Modules).1
  2.3 Programme regulations will state whether a student is required to pass one or more taught Modules prior to proceeding to the dissertation Module.
     
3. Progression
  3.1 In order to be awarded credit for a Module, the Module must be passed at the specified Module Pass Mark except as allowed in paragraph 3.2 below. The University standard Module Pass Mark for Standalone Masters students taking Modules at all levels will be 50. Where PSRBs require a Pass Mark that differs from the University standard this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations.
  3.2 Compensation: A student passing all Core Modules but failing to achieve the Pass Mark in non-Core Modules totalling no more than 15 ECTS points (30 CATS) for a Masters or Postgraduate Diploma, or no more than 10 ECTS points (20 CATS) for a Postgraduate Certificate, may be awarded credit provided no Module mark is less than the Qualifying Mark. Exceptionally, in Standalone Masters programmes with a 10 ECTS (20 CATS) credit architecture, Compensation may awarded in up to 20 ECTS (40 CATS) for Masters or Postgraduate Diploma and 10 ECTS (20 CATS) for Postgraduate Certificate.
     
4. Referral
  4.1 A student who fails to progress under paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 may take Referral assessments in failed Modules totalling not more than 15 ECTS (30 CATS). Exceptionally, in Standalone Masters programmes with a 10 ECTS (20 CATS) credit architecture, Referrals may be taken in up to 20 ECTS (40 CATS).
   
4.1.1 A student failing in Modules to a maximum of 30 ECTS/60 CATS of which 15 ECTS/30 CATS are Compensatable under 3.2 above may choose the 15 ECTS/30 CATS of failed Modules in which he/she refers, with the constraint that all Core Modules and any Modules in which the mark obtained is less than the Qualifying Mark must be taken.*
4.1.2 If a failed Module has a higher credit value than the student requires for progression, the student may nonetheless be referred in that Module.
    *analagous conditions apply for Modules totalling 20 ECTS/40 CATs of which 20 ECTS/40 CATS are Compensatable for Standalone Masters programmes with a 10 ECTS/20 CATS credit architecture.
  4.2 The marks achieved at Referral are inserted into the previous marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 are applied again to determine the award. However, the marks obtained at Referral will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to calculate the Average Mark carried forward to determine the award of merit or distinction.
  4.3 After Referral, where a student is unable to gain an award or where programme regulations do not allow them to proceed to the dissertation, the student may Repeat the programme under paragraph 5 below.
     
5. Repeat
  5.1 A student who has not progressed to the next part of the programme at the first attempt or after referral (where permitted) and who does not qualify to take Referral assessments under paragraph 4 above may Repeat the programme Internally or Externally as chosen by the candidate following academic counselling from the Faculty.
  5.2 Paragraph 2.13 of the Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes should be consulted regarding the right to Repeat for students sponsored by the University to enter the UK under the points-based visa system.
  5.3 Internal Repeat: An Internal Repeat will consist of all Modules, including those passed at the first sitting. The marks achieved at Internal Repeat will be inserted into the marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 applied again to determine the award. Marks for Modules in which the Pass Park was not obtained at the first attempt will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark; for all other Modules the actual mark obtained at Repeat will be used to calculate the Average Mark to determine the award of merit or distinction.
  5.4 External Repeat: An External Repeat will include only those Modules in which the Module Pass Mark was not obtained at the first attempt or at referral, and marks for Modules not Repeated will be carried forward. The marks achieved at External Repeat will be inserted into the previous marks profile and paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 are applied again to determine the award. Marks for Modules taken at External Repeat will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to calculate the Average Mark to determine the award of merit or distinction.
  5.5 The pass criteria for a student Repeating are the same as for the first attempt excluding the right of Referral. A programme may be Repeated only once. The programme of a student failing at Repeat will be terminated.
     
6. Dissertation
  6.1 The Pass Mark for the dissertation shall be the Module Pass Mark. A candidate failing to achieve the Pass Mark may submit a revised dissertation on one occasion only. The mark for a resubmitted dissertation will be Capped at the Module Pass Mark to determine the award of merit or distinction.
     
7. Awards
  7.1 An award of a Standalone Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate will be made on accumulation of the required number of credits as defined in the CATS Regulations.
     
8. Classified Awards
  8.1 Classification: Degree classification for a Standalone Masters degree or Postgraduate Diploma is based on the 100 point Mark Scheme for the final degree average as follows:
70 and over Distinction
60 - 69 Merit
These boundaries refer to the final average mark rounded to the nearest integer.
  8.2 Classification Algorithm: The class awarded shall be that within which the unrounded average falls or the next higher class if the unrounded average is within 2 marks of the higher class and at least 50% of the credit points are derived from Module marks in the higher class or above.
  8.3 Variations within Faculties: With the approval of the Chair of University Programme Committee (UPC), Faculties may with good cause (normally where required to meet the stipulations of PSRBs) operate variations on the above classification scheme. Where Faculties operate approved variations on this scheme, this will be stated in the relevant programme regulations in the Calendar and will be subject to regular review by UPC.
     
1 UPC, on 15 May 2013, agreed that students may not be permitted to study for credit modules additional to those required by the programme specification. This regulation is therefore waived for 2013-14 and will be removed from the Calendar in 2014-15 following the next review of the Regulations for Progression, Determination and Classification of Results; Standalone Masters Programmes (waiver approved by Senate Chair's action in August 2013). Students may audit modules (not for assessment or credit) outside the requirements of their programme in accordance with the Policy on the Auditing of Modules.

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Last reviewed: 23-Aug-2013
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