2020-21
Taught Masters Degrees at Edinburgh Theological Seminary
RESOLUTION
The Masters degrees listed in §11 below are governed by Resolution No. 682 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:
1. The Masters degrees listed in clause 11 of the section entitled 'Regulations' may be awarded by the University of Glasgow at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.
2. The Senate, may make Regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of the Degrees - these are set out in the section entitled ‘Regulations’.
3 A Joint Board composed of representatives of Edinburgh Theological Seminary and the Senate of the University of Glasgow shall be appointed to oversee the administration of the Degrees.
4. It shall be competent for the University Court, on the recommendation of the Senate, to recognise as teachers of the University for the purpose of the Degrees, such lecturers and officers Edinburgh Theological Seminary having responsibility for courses qualifying for the Degree, as may be proposed for such recognition by the Joint Board.
5. The Senate may appoint as an Examiner for the Degrees, but not as an External Examiner, any teacher recognised in accordance with Section 4.
6. The External Examiner(s) for the Degrees shall be appointed by the University Court on the recommendation of the Joint Board and the Senate.
REGULATIONS
A student admitted onto a programme leading to the award must follow the instructions issued by Edinburgh Theological Seminary and be aware of the content of 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 admitted to study for an award to which these Regulations apply, a candidate must have obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary or an equivalent degree from a University or Cognate Institution recognised for this purpose by the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Senate with the approval of the Higher Degrees Committee of the College of Arts, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Higher Degrees Committee’; provided that the Seminary Senate may, with the approval of the Higher Degrees Committee, admit a candidate with such other qualifications as it may approve for this purpose.
Alternatively, a candidate may be admitted provided they can satisfy the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Senate and the Higher Degrees Committee of their fitness to undertake advanced study.
2. Duration of Study
The minimum period of study for the award of a Masters degree is one academic year (12 months) of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study. The maximum period within which all candidates must complete the programme is five years from the date of initial registration.
3. Programme Components
3.1 In order to qualify for an award, a candidate must complete minimum credits[1] as follows:
i) For the award of a Masters degree: 180 credits, which includes both taught courses and a 60 credit (or more) dissertation or other substantial independent work.
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.
3.2 The taught courses will normally be undertaken during the academic session (September – June) and will comprise a research and study skills course (15 credits), three courses from the chosen field/s of study (35 credits each). Part-time candidates will be expected to complete one course per semester. The syllabus for each of the taught courses will be as stated in the Programme Document, and will proceed on a guided reading basis.
3.3 On the satisfactory completion of the taught courses, the candidate will write a 15,000 word dissertation (60 credits) on a topic of their own choice, approved by the Course Director, from within the area of one of the courses, under the guidance of a supervisor. Full-time candidates will be expected to submit this dissertation by 15 September of the year after the commencement of study. Part-time candidates will submit up to five years from enrolment.
4. Supervision
4.1 The Seminary Senate shall nominate to the Higher Degrees Committee a main supervisor for each candidate. The supervisor shall be a member of the Seminary staff recognised as a teacher of the University; and they shall submit a written report to the Seminary Senate at least once a semester on the progress of the candidate.
A second supervisor will be appointed for all candidates by the University’s Department of Theology & Religious Studies. The second supervisor may be appointed from within the Department of Theology & Religious Studies, or from another Department of the University having appropriate expertise.
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 Regulations.
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 Regulations published for that session.
6.2 The Internal Examiners for the Degrees shall normally be such members of Edinburgh Theological Seminary staff, recognised as teachers of the University, as are nominated by the Seminary Senate and approved by the Higher Degrees Committee.
6.3 The External Examiners for the Degrees shall be the Seminary’s External Examiners in Church History and Theology for the degree of BTh appointed by the University Court.
The Examiners shall conduct such oral and written examinations as stated in the Programme Document. A candidate may be required to present himself or herself for an oral or other examination.
6.4 In addition to being submitted to the external examiner, each dissertation shall be double-marked internally. In the case of a dissertation not approved for the Degree of Master of Theology, the Higher Degrees Committee, on the recommendation of the examiners, may permit resubmission of the thesis in a revised form under such conditions as may be prescribed in each case.
7. Progress
A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the dissertation only if they have obtained a grade point average[2] of 12.0 or above in the taught courses described in Regulation 3 with all credits at grade D3 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.
8. Reassessment of the Dissertation
Reassessment of the dissertation or other 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 dissertation or substantial independent work or to undertake further practical work.
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[2]of 12.0 or above in the taught courses described in Regulation 3, with all credits at grade D3 or above, and obtaining a grade D3 or above in the dissertation or other 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 at least 15.0 in the 180 or more credits completed on the programme; and
b) a grade point average of at least 14.0 in the taught courses; and
c) a grade of at least C1 in the dissertation or other 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 and 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 at least 18.0 in the 180 or more credits completed on the programme; and
b) a grade point average of at least 17.0 in the taught courses; and
c) a grade of at least B1 in the dissertation or other 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 and 17.9 the Board of Examiners shall have discretion to make the award with Distinction.
10. Requirements for the Award of a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate and Rules for Award of Distinction and Merit
10.1 The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma is a grade point average[2] of 9.0 in 120 credits, with not less than 80 of these credits at grade D3 or above.
10.2 The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate is a grade point average of 9.0 in 60 credits, with not less than 40 of these credits at grade D3 or above.
10.3 A candidate who has achieved at the first attempt a grade point average of 15.0 or 18.0 will be eligible for the award with Merit or Distinction respectively. Where the grade point average falls within the range 14.1 to 14.9 or 17.1 to 17.9 the Board of Examiners shall have discretion to make the award with Merit or Distinction respectively.
11. Degrees to which these Regulations Apply
The following degrees are governed by the above regulations:
Master of Theology (MTh) Missiology
Master of Theology (MTh) Scottish Church History & Theology
[1] In compliance with the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework a minimum component of the total credit must be gained from Masters level courses (level M/SCQF level 11) as follows: 150 credits for a Masters Degree, 90 credits for a Postgraduate Diploma, 40 credits for a Postgraduate Certificate.
[2] The grade point average is determined with reference to the schedule of grades and grade points contained in Schedule A and Schedule B of the University’s Code of Assessment. The grade point average is calculated by taking the product of each course’s weight and the candidate’s grade points and dividing the sum of these products by the sum of the courses’ weights. The weights shall correspond to the courses’ credit ratings unless specified otherwise in the relevant programme documentation. The grade point average is expressed to one decimal place (§16.34(a) of the Code of Assessment). In determining whether a candidate has satisfied requirements in relation to progress and award, no further rounding is permitted. Thus, a grade point average of 11.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 12.0.