Degree of Master of Science (Dental Science)

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Science (Dental Science) is governed by Resolution No. 620 of the University Court which came into effect on 1 September 2010, as amended, with provision that:

1.    The Degree of Master of Science (Dental Science) (MSc (DentSci)) in the subjects indicated in Schedule A of the Regulationsmay be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (The College).

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

3.    The early exit awards of Master of Science (Dental Science) (MSci (Dent Sci)) Dental Science, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate are also included in the Regulations.

REGULATIONS

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

1.     Admission

Before being considered for admission to study for the MSc (Dent Sci), a candidate must be a Bachelor of Dental Surgery of a Scottish University or hold an approved equivalent qualification, and shall have been engaged for at least two years in the practice of dentistry. All offers of admission are conditional upon satisfactory health clearance.

2.     Duration

The minimum period of study for the award of the degree is two years. The maximum period within which all candidates must complete the programme is four years from the date of initial registration.

3.     Programme Components

In order to qualify for the award a candidate must complete a minimum of 360 credits, consisting of 260 credits of taught courses and a research project leading to the submission of a 100 credit dissertation, as specified in the relevant Programme Document.

4.     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 in the ‘University Fees and General Information for Students’ section of the University Calendar.

5.     Assessment

5.1   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.

5.2   Where a candidate remains enrolled on a course either:

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;

that course must normally (unless other provision is justified by good cause circumstances affecting the candidate) be counted towards the calculation of their grade point average for the purposes of §6, §8 and §9.

6.     Progress

6.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the dissertation only if they have obtained a grade point average[1] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses referred to in §3 with at least 75% of the credits at 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[2] 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 any outstanding assessment opportunities (including reassessment and remedying incomplete assessment due to Good Cause).

6.2   A candidate may be required to commence work on the dissertation or other substantial work before the assessment of the taught courses referred to in §3 has been completed. Such a requirement shall not indicate that the candidate has satisfied the requirements for award in relation to the taught courses. In the event that subsequently, after all opportunities at assessment have been exhausted, the candidate does not achieve the standard required in relation to the taught courses specified in §8.1, the candidate will not be eligible for the award of the Masters degree, and the following will apply:

• If the dissertation or other substantial independent work has been submitted, it will be marked and a grade published.
• If the dissertation or other substantial independent work has not been submitted but is substantially complete and no further supervisory input is required, the candidate may submit the work by the published deadline. The work will be marked and a grade published.
• If the dissertation or other substantial independent work is not substantially complete or requires further supervisory input, the work should be discontinued and no submission made. No grade will be published for the candidate.

7.     Reassessment of the Dissertation

7.1   Where a candidate requires a higher grade in the dissertation to satisfy the requirements set out in §8.1, reassessment of the dissertation will be permitted on one occasion only, under such conditions as the Examiners may prescribe in each case. Normally resubmission shall be no later than three months after the date of the meeting of the Board of Examiners. There is no automatic entitlement to repeat any previous practical work associated with the dissertation or to undertake further practical work.

7.2   Where at the time of publication of the grade achieved on the dissertation or other substantial work a candidate has exhausted all assessment opportunities on the taught courses referred to in §3 and their grade point average[1] is less than 12, a resubmission will only be permitted where the Board determines that no further supervisory input is required.

8.     Requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree and Rules for Award of Distinction and Merit

8.1   A candidate will be eligible for the award of the degree on obtaining 260 credits with a grade point average[1] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses described in §3, with at least 75% of those credits at grade D3 or better, and all credits at grade F or above, and obtaining 100 credits from the dissertation at grade D or better.

8.2   A candidate will be eligible for the award of Merit on achieving at the first attempt:

a)   a grade point average of 15 (equivalent to B3) or above in the 360 or more credits completed on the programme, and

b)   a grade point average of at least 14 (equivalent to C1) in the 260 credits of taught courses, and

c)   a grade of at least C1 in the dissertation.

8.3   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.2 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 360 or more credits completed on the programme at the first attempt falls within the range 14.1 to 14.9 the Board of Examiners shall have discretion to make the award with Merit.

8.4   A candidate will be eligible for the award of Distinction on achieving at the first attempt:

a)   a grade point average of 18 (equivalent to A5) or above in the 360 or more credits completed on the programme, and

b)   a grade point average of at least 17 (equivalent to B1) in the 260 credits of taught courses, and

c)   a grade of at least B1 in the dissertation.

8.5   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.4 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 360 or more credits completed on the programme at the first attempt falls within the range 17.1 to 17.9 the Board of Examiners shall have discretion to make the award with Distinction.

8.6   A candidate who fails to achieve the standard required at §8.1 but who obtains 360 credits with a grade point average of 9 (equivalent to D3) with all credits at grade F or above will be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

9.     Requirements for the Exit Awards of Master of Science (Dent Sci) Dental Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Science and Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Science and Rules for the Award of Distinction and Merit

9.1   The requirement for the award of a Master of Science (Dent Sci) Dental Science is 180 taught credits with a grade point average[1] of 12 (equivalent to C3) with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or better, and all credits at grade F or above.

9.2   The requirement for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Science is a grade point average of 9 (equivalent to D3) or above in 120 taught credits, with not less than 80 of these credits at grade D or above.

9.3   The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Science is a grade D or above in the 60 credits core taught course, as specified in the Programme Document.

9.4   A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 15 (equivalent to B3) at the first sitting will be eligible for the awards listed in §9.1, §9.2 and §9.3 respectively with Merit. Where the grade point average falls within the range 14.1 to 14.9 the Board of Examiners shall have discretion to make the award with Merit.

9.5   A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 18 (equivalent to A5) at the first sitting will be eligible for the awards listed in §9.1, §9.2 and §9.3 respectively with Distinction. Where the grade point average falls within the range 17.1 to 17.9 the Board of Examiners shall have the discretion to make the award with Distinction.

Schedule A

Subjects in which the MSc (Dental Science) may be offered are:

Endodontics