University of Southampton Calendar 2014/15


University Calendar 2014/15 Section X : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Health Sciences

Academic Unit	Health Sciences
Final Award	Master of Science (MSc)
Programme(s)	MSc Physiotherapy [pre-registration]
Last modified	July 2014

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

Candidates for admission must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Courses as specified in Section IV of the University Calendar. They must normally offer at least a 2:1 honours degree or better in a biological or behavioural science, a sports science or a health related profession in which the foundation sciences and research methods were covered; two A level passes and, additionally, at least five GCSE passes at Grade C or above. English Language, Mathematics and a science subject must be offered either at A level or GCSE. Candidates with a previous degree in a relevant subject, completed in the previous three years, at a lower classification will be considered on an individual basis. Previous experience in health care and other qualifications will be taken into consideration in support of their application

Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to specific health requirements (consistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999) and the Health Professions Council. Prospective students are required to inform the Head of Programme of any health problems relevant to their future employment as a health professional. All students will be subject to an occupational health check.

Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to consideration of any criminal convictions. The programme is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1986). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999) and the Health Professions Council. Prospective students are required to inform the Head of Programme of all criminal convictions. All students will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the University regulations for RPL.

Structure of Programme(s)

Progress from one level of the programme to the next will depend upon the successful completion of the appropriate examination and coursework requirements, and the satisfactory completion of clinical work and placements.

The first year of the curriculum shall extend over one calendar year (January-January) and include 30 CATS/15 ECTS credits at level 6, 60 CATS/30 ECTS credits at level 7 and 60 CATS/30 ECTS credits obtained through successful completions of placement experiences.

The second level of the curriculum shall extend over one calendar year (January-January) and includes 120 CATS/60 ECTS credits at level 7 and 40 CATS/20 ECTS credits obtained through successful completion of placement experiences.

The programme leading to the degree of Master of Science Physiotherapy [pre-registration] shall be of two years' duration. The maximum period of registration shall be four years. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension of studies.

The outline of the content of each module shall be specified in the module profiles and made available to students on 'Blackboard'.

Progression

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

For all programmes which lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health and Care Professions Council, statutory regulations apply. For this reason, all our pre-registration programmes are exempt from section 3.3 (regarding compensation) and section 4.1 (regarding referral of assessments) of the General Regulations.

In order to progress from one level of the programme to the next, students must successfully complete the appropriate examination and coursework requirements, practice placement and other practical work in the particular level of study.

Module Referral and Retrieval
The criteria for module assessment referral are:

Failure to achieve a Pass in a Pass/Fail assessment.
Where an assessment comprises of two or more components the minimum pass mark for each part must be 50%.
Non-attendance or late arrival more than half an hour after the start of an examination/presentation, or is required to leave the examination room.
Submission of an assignment 24 hours or more after the published deadline.

Termination of Registration
A student’s registration will normally be terminated following resit/retrieval assessments if he/she:

Achieves a mark of 49% or below on a re-submitted/resit attempt for M level modules and 39% or below for placements and modules assessed at UG level.
Fails a Pass/Fail assessment on a re-submission/resit.
Does not attend, or is more than half an hour late for a resit examination or is requested to leave the examination room.
Submits a written further attempt assessment more than 24 hours after the stated deadline.

Assessment

To graduate from the programme, students must have satisfactorily completed all assessment components including the required practice placement hours.

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. https://sharepoint.soton.ac.uk/sites/ese/quality_handbook/Handbook/Assessment%20Framework.aspx.

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

Award of Qualification(s)

Successful completion of this programme provides eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It is a legal requirement that anyone who wishes to practice using a title protected by the Health Professions Order 2001 is on the HCPC Register. For more information, please see the HCPC website.

In order to qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Science Physiotherapy [pre-registration], candidates must:

have satisfied the entry requirements as set out in the programme regulations;
have followed the approved curriculum and passed all the required assessments and examinations;
have completed all practical work, clinical placements and other coursework as required;
be judged as of good character and worthy of admission to the Health and Care Professions Council's register.

Students who are successful at all year one assessments but are unable to complete their full degree studies shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Certificate of Allied Health Studies (60 credits at level 7).

Students who are successful at all assessment except the Critical Inquiry Research Report and all the required Clinical Placements shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Diploma of Allied Health Studies (120 credits at level 7).

Students who are successful at all assessment except the Critical Inquiry Research Report but who have successfully completed all of the required Clinical Placements shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy. (120 credits at level 7). This award provides eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Students who are successful at all year two assessments but are unable to successfully complete all the required clinical placements shall be eligible for the exit award of a Master of Science in Allied Health Studies (180 credits at level 7).

Any student who experiences grave or terminal illness/injury which prevents them from continuing on their programme of study and achieving qualification may be eligible for a posthumous or aegrotat degree named MSc in Allied Health Studies. The award cannot be named as MSc Physiotherapy [pre-registration] since the term 'Physiotherapist' is a title protected under the Health Act (1999) for those who are fully qualified and registered as Physiotherapists.

Merit or Distinction
These boundaries refer to the final average mark (weighted by credits) rounded to the nearest integer.

To qualify for a Distinction at Masters level the final average mark (weighted by credits) will be 70% or higher from the level 7 modules of study.

To qualify for a Merit at Masters level the final average mark (weighted by credits) will be between 60 and 69% from the level 7 modules of study.

The class awarded shall be that within which the average falls or the next higher class if the unrounded average is within 2% of the higher class and at least 50% of the credit points are derived from Module marks in the higher class or above.

Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork

Practice Placements form an integral part of the programme and students are required to pass in order to be awarded the MSc Physiotherapy [pre-registration].

Students are not permitted to continue in placement whilst progressing an academic appeal against a relevant body.

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.

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.