Degree of Master of Research

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Research is governed by Resolution No. 645 of the University Court which came into effect on 1 September 2012 with provision that:

1.    The Degree of Master of Research (MRes) may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in the College of Arts.

2.    The Senate may make Regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of this Degree. These shall be stated under ‘Regulations’.

3.    The award of Postgraduate Certificate is also included in the Regulations.

REGULATIONS

A student admitted onto a programme leading to the award must follow any instructions issued on behalf of the relevant School and be aware of the content of the Programme Specification and any Programme Document (often referred to as the Programme or ‘Course’ Handbook) which may contain further details on the Programme including, in some cases, further requirements associated with the award.

1.     Application of Regulations

These regulations apply to the degrees listed in §10.

2.     Admission

Before being considered for admission to study for an award to which these Regulations apply, a candidate must normally have obtained a degree or equivalent.

3.     Duration of Study

The minimum period of study for the award of the Degree is 12 calendar months. The maximum period for full-time study is 24 calendar months of registered study. The maximum period within which all candidates must complete the programme is five years from the date of initial registration.

4.     Programme Components

4.1   In order to qualify for an award in respect of the degrees listed in §10, a candidate must complete minimum credits[1] as follows:

i)    For the award of a Masters degree: 180 credits, which includes both at least 60 credits of taught courses and a dissertation or other substantial independent work worth at least 90 credits.

ii)   For the award of a Postgraduate Certificate: 60 credits of taught courses.

4.2   The taught courses will normally be undertaken during the academic session (September – June) and are specified in the relevant Programme Specification. The credit weighting of the dissertation or other substantial independent work may be 90, 100 or 120 credits. The curriculum for a candidate must be agreed with the Programme Convener.

5.     Minimum Requirement for the Award of Credits

Credits for courses contributing to a candidate’s curriculum shall be awarded subject to the fulfilment of required conditions. The minimum requirements for the award of credits are set out in the Code of Assessment at §16.40 – §16.44 of the ‘University Fees and General Information for Students’ section in the University Calendar.

6.     Assessment

6.1   For each academic session, assessment and reassessment are, in so far as not modified by these regulations, governed by the Code of Assessment which is contained in the ‘University Fees and General Information for Students’ section of the University Calendar published for that session.

6.2   Courses for which the candidate has registered must be counted towards the calculation of the candidate’s grade point average for the purposes of §7, §8.1 and §9 unless other provision is justified by good cause circumstances affecting the candidate. 

This regulation applies where course registration continues:

a)   on the date on which the first summative assessment for that course is to be submitted; or

b)   on such other date as may be specified in the course document for that course.

7.     Candidates for a Masters Degree: Progress

7.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the dissertation, or other substantial independent work required by the Degree, only if he or she has obtained a grade point average[2] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses referred to in §4 with at least 75% of the credits at grade D3 or better and all credits at grade F or above. The Programme Document may specify a course or courses in respect of which a specific grade is a minimum requirement of progression. Exceptionally, a candidate may be permitted to progress to the dissertation or other substantial independent work where it is judged[3] that the candidate’s performance offers a reasonable prospect of that candidate’s reaching the standard required for the award of the Masters degree following reassessment.

7.2   A candidate who has commenced study midway through an academic session will be permitted to progress to preparation of the dissertation, or other substantial independent work, only if he or she has obtained a grade point average of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses assessed by the end of the session in which study was commenced, with at least 75% of the credits at grade D3 or better and all credits at grade F or above. The Programme Document may specify a course or courses in respect of which a specific grade is a minimum requirement of progression. Exceptionally, a candidate may be permitted to progress to the dissertation or other substantial independent work where it is judged39 that the candidate’s performance offers a reasonable prospect of that candidate’s reaching the standard required for the award of the Masters degree following reassessment.

8.     Requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree

8.1   A candidate will be eligible for the award of the Degree on obtaining a grade point average[2] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses referred to in §4, with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or better, and all credits at grade F or above, and on being awarded a Pass following examination of the dissertation or other substantial independent work in accordance with the provisions of §8.2.

8.2   The examiners of the candidate’s dissertation or other substantial independent work will recommend one of the following outcomes:

a)   the dissertation or other substantial independent work be awarded a Pass unconditionally.

b)   the dissertation or other substantial independent work be awarded a Pass subject to certain minor corrections of detail or of presentation specified by the examiners. These shall not involve changes of substance to the dissertation or other substantial independent work. The corrections shall normally be carried out within one month of receipt of the specifications to the satisfaction of the internal examiner.

c)   the dissertation or other substantial independent work be awarded a Pass subject to certain changes of substance in a specific element or elements of the dissertation or other substantial independent work specified by the examiners. These shall not involve a revision of the whole dissertation or other substantial independent work or of a major proportion of it. The revisions shall be carried out within a timescale determined by the examiners and shall be confirmed by both the internal and external examiners.