Science Progress Committee (COSE-SPC)

The remit of the COSE-SPC is to deal with matters concerning the progression to the next level for undergraduate students in non-Honours years, normally in levels 1 and 2 of their degrees.

Minimum progression requirements

The University set out minimum requirements for all level 1 and 2 undergraduate students. These are summarised below.

By the end of level 1, students must have:

  • obtained at least 80 credits
  • a grade point average of at least 8 across the best 80 credits
  • 60 credits at D3 or better.

By the end of level 2, students must have:

  • obtained at least 160 credits
  • a grade point average of at least 8 across the best 160 credits
  • 120 credits at D3 or better.
  • at least 60 credits of science courses at level 2
  • obtained at least 80 credits within their 2nd session
  • a grade point average of at least 8 across the best 80 credits within their 2nd session
  • 60 credits at D3 or better within their 2nd session.

Meeting these requirements only ensures a student can remain as a student.  For all undergraduate science degrees, there are additional degree requirements that students also need to meet. Students who meet the minimum progression requirements (given above), but who do not meet the additional degree requirements to advance on their current degree, will usually not be considered by the COSE-SPC.  Such student’s cases will be considered by the School that manages their degree. Students should check with their Adviser of Studies to understand the specific degree requirements they need to meet to progress on their current degree.

Example of a GPA calculation

Most course grades are returned with a primary grade and secondary band, for example C3, C (primary) and 3 (secondary), and each grade has a corresponding point on a 22-point scale.  If a student was returned

CourseCreditsGradeGrade
22 point scale
Grade points
(Credits x Grade 22 point scale)
Course 1 20 B1 17 340
Course 2 20 C3 12 240
Course 3 40 D3 9 360
Course 4 40 A5 18 720

this student's GPA would be (340+240+360+720)/120=13.83.

 

Membership of COSE-SPC

  • Chief Adviser of Studies for Science (Convenor)
  • Senior Adviser of Studies for School of Chemistry*
  • Senior Adviser of Studies for School of Computing Science*
  • Senior Adviser of Studies for School of Geographical and Earth Sciences*
  • Senior Adviser of Studies for School of Mathematics and Statistics*
  • Senior Adviser of Studies for School of Physics and Astronomy*
  • Clerk to the Committee (attending)

* or nominated replacement

Quorum

A quorum for any meeting of the COSE-SPC will be the Convenor and any three of the School representatives.

Meeting timetable

The COSE-SPC will normally meet twice each academic year.

  1. In Late June, after the publication of the results from the main spring exam diet.
  2. In early September, after the publication of the results from the reassessment diet.

Academic Standing

A few days after the publication of course grades, either in June after the main April/May exam diet or in September after the reassessment diet, the COSE-SPC will compare the grades achieved by each student to the minimum progression requirements and the additional degree progression requirements and allocate them an Academic Standing.  Most students will be allocated one of the following two Academic Standings.

Academic StandingDescriptionAction
Progress Student has met all requirements for their current degree and can progress to the next level. Moved to next year of study
In Review Student has met all minimum progression requirements but does not meet progression requirements on their curretn degree. Reviewed by School
In Review Student has not met all minimum progression requirements. Referrred to CODE-SPC

Students can view their current Academic Standing via their Student Centre under Academics > My Results > View My Grades.

Students may find they have no Academic Standing, it may appear different, or they may be unclear on what requirement(s) were missed if they were returned ‘In Review’.  They should contact their Adviser of Studies for clarification.

How the COSE-SPC works

In June

All undergraduate level 1 and 2 science students who are referred to the COSE-SPC after the results of the April/May exam diet will be considered individually. Based on the outcome of these discussions, most referred students are sent an email from the College Office (copied to their Adviser of Studies and Senior Adviser) with advice on all potential steps forward.  In most cases, students will be advised to engage will all reassessments available to them during the August reassessment diet.

In September

Most cases referred to the COSE-SPC in June are again discussed individually. Based on the outcome of the August reassessment diet, most students will fall into one of the following categories.

  1. After completing reassessments, the student has now met minimum progression requirements and can either progress to the next stage or they still fail to meet progression requirements on their current degree. In the latter case, the student will be contacted by their School for further advice.
  2. The student has still not met minimum progression requirements and cannot remain a student within science. The student will be sent an email from the College Office (copied to their Adviser of Studies and Senior Adviser) with advice on all possible steps forward.
  3. The student may be permitted to repeat their current year of studies. In this case, the student will be contacted by their School for further advice.

Request a repeat year

Undergraduate level 1 and 2 students who are referred to the COSE-SPC and believe that they have experienced circumstances outwith their control that affected their performance and prevented them from engaging with their courses can request to repeat their current year of study (either in full or in part).

Students who would like to request a repeat year should send an email to science-chief-adviser@glasgow.ac.uk detailing their circumstances and including relevant supporting evidence. Students should detail how they intend to resolve all circumstances in future. Alternatively, students can contact their School’s Senior Adviser directly.

In most cases, requests to repeat a year will be decided at the next available COSE-SPC meeting. On some occasions, circumstances and evidence can be reviewed outwith a COSE_SPC meeting to determine if a repeat year can be permitted at that stage.

Further questions

Students should contact their Adviser of Studies in the first instance to ask any questions.

If, for whatever reason, their Adviser of Studies is unavailable, they should contact their School’s Senior Adviser of Studies or science-chief-adviser@glasgow.ac.uk with any questions.