University of Southampton Calendar 2014/15


University Calendar 2014/15 Section XIII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Social and Human Sciences

Academic Unit	Southampton Education School
Final Award	Professional Doctor of Education (EdD) Exit awards: Postgraduate Certificate in Education Studies (PCES) Education Research Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Education Research MSc Education Research MPhil (Research Methodology
Programme(s)	Professional Doctor of Education (EdD)
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

1.1

Entry requirements
Students:

must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in Section IV of the University Calendar;
must satisfy the General Regulations for Research Degrees with a Major Taught Component;
must satisfy the necessary programme requirements as set out in the programme specification (outlined below).

We will consider any applicant who can show evidence of ability and background adequate to undertake the programme. Typically, applicants are expected to have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent professional qualification) plus a Master's Degree and a minimum of two years' experience as a professional educator or educational administrator. Additionally, international students are required to have an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or above (or equivalent), with no individual score lower than 6.0.

1.2

Equal opportunities
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 procedure as any other applicant with the added involvement of the Enabling Services Office to assess their needs.

Structure of Programme(s)

2.1

The General Regulations for Research Degrees with a Major Taught Component apply to this programme. In addition:

2.2

Modes of study
The scheme of study will comprise attendance at 12 modules comprising an appropriate mix of taught compulsory and taught elective modules, in research methods and substantive topics from the ESRC Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) and the Southampton Education School (SEdS) research training programme, and the completion of a research thesis.

All students will be assigned a personal tutor during the taught phase and a research supervisor who will be responsible for supervision of the student's progress on their thesis.

Students are required to undertake the scheme of study over a period of not less than three years' and not more than four years' full-time study, or not less than four years and not more than seven years' part-time study.

The Programme Specification provides further detail including modules, credits and content.

Progression

All students will be registered for the EdD. To be able to progress onto the research phase students will be required to achieve 60% or higher in at least six of the assignments and no less than 50% in the remainder (60 ECTS/120 CATS). A student failing to meet the pass mark will be provided with the opportunity to resubmit the failed assessments to obtain the required pass (known as referral). A student failing to pass at referral will be provided with the opportunity to repeat the module or, in the case of more than one fail, to repeat the year (known as repeat). Failure following repeat will result in termination of the programme of study. If students successfully complete all 12 assignments but do not achieve the required balance of grades needed for progression to the research phase they may be offered the option of undertaking a MSc dissertation (15,000 -17,000 words) and if successful exit with an award 'MSc Education Research'.

Alternatively, students may choose to exit earlier following successful completion of six or twelve assignments at 50% with the prospect of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education Studies (PCES) Education Research or a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Education Research, respectively.

Assessment

Candidates are required to successfully complete:

A portfolio of coursework of 30,000 words based on a range of 12 assignments from across the 12 taught modules. Permission to proceed to the thesis stage will be given by the Southampton Education School and (subject to scrutiny by an external examiner) on the basis of meeting the progression requirements noted above.
A research thesis of 45,000 words.
An oral examination.

Students must attend 80% of each module. Those unable to meet this criterion will be asked to repeat the module(s) concerned.

Should a student fail to successfully complete the thesis without good reason, they may be recommended for the award of Master of Philosophy (Research Methodology).

Award of Qualification(s)

The programme follows the General Regulations for Research Degrees with a Major Taught Component.

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.

Students are required to satisfy the academic and the Attendance and Completion of Programme Requirements as set out in section IV of the University calendar, the programme specification and the programme handbook. Those failing to do so may have their course terminated (see University Calendar Section IV: Transfer, Suspension, Withdrawal and Termination).