Generic Regulations for Taught Masters Degrees - SRUC

The Masters degrees listed in §11 and §12 are governed by Resolution No. 552 of the University Court which came into effect on 1 October 2005, as subsequently amended, with provision that:

1.    The Masters Degrees listed in §11 – §12 of the section entitled ‘Regulations’ may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in the Colleges with which these Degrees are identified in these Regulations. Degrees listed in these clauses under the title ‘SRUC’ may be awarded by the University on the recommendation of that College.

2.    The Senate may make Regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of these degrees - these are stated in  §1 – §10 of the section entitled ‘Regulations’.

3.    The awards ofPostgraduate 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.     Application of Regulations

1.1   These regulations apply without modification to the degrees listed in §11.

1.2   These regulations apply also to the degrees listed in §12 subject to alternative requirements described in the relevant Programme Document. The requirements for these degrees may vary only in respect of duration of study (§3) or progress (§7) to reflect the requirements of professional or statutory bodies.

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 a Masters 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.[1]

4.     Programme Components

4.1   In order to qualify for an award in respect of the programmes specified in §11 and §12, a candidate must complete minimum credits[2] as follows:

i)    For the award of a Masters degree: 180 credits, which includes both taught courses and a 60 credit (or more) substantial independent work which should be appropriately supervised and may take the form of a dissertation or project.

ii)   For the award of a Postgraduate Diploma: 120 credits of taught courses.

iii)  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 Document. The length and nature of the substantial independent work is as specified in the relevant Programme Document.

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, insofar 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, §9 and §10[3] 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 substantial independent work required by the degree, only if they have obtained a grade point average[4] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses described 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 substantial independent work where it is judged[5] 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).

7.2   A candidate who has commenced study midway through an academic session will be permitted to progress to preparation of the substantial independent work, only if they have 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 substantial independent work where it is judged10 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).

7.3   A candidate may be required to commence work on the substantial independent work before the assessment of the taught courses referred to in §4 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 §9.1, the candidate will not be eligible for the award of the Masters degree, and the following will apply:

• If the substantial independent work has been submitted, it will be marked and a grade published.
• If the 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 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.

8.     Reassessment of the Substantial Independent Work

8.1   Where a candidate requires a higher grade in the substantial independent work to satisfy the requirements set out in §9.1, reassessment of that substantial independent work will be permitted on one occasion only, under such conditions as the Examiners may prescribe in each particular case. Normally, resubmission should 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 substantial independent work or to undertake further practical work.

8.2   Where at the time of publication of the grade achieved on the substantial independent work a candidate has exhausted all assessment opportunities on the taught courses referred to in §4 and has failed to satisfy the standard required in relation to the taught courses specified in §9.1 for the award of the degree, a resubmission of the substantial independent work will only be permitted where the Board determines that no further supervisory input is required.

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

9.1   A candidate will be eligible for the award of the degree on obtaining a grade point average[4] of 12 (equivalent to C3) or above in the taught courses described in §4, with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or better, and all credits at grade F or above, and obtaining a grade D or better in the substantial independent work.

9.2    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 180 or more credits completed on the programme, and

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

c)   a grade of at least C1 in the substantial independent work.

9.3    Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §9.2 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 180 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.

9.4    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 180 or more credits completed on the programme, and

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

c)   a grade of at least B1 in the substantial independent work.

9.5    Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §9.4 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 180 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.