2020-21
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts (SRUC) and Bachelor of Science (SRUC)
RESOLUTION
The Degrees of Bachelor of Arts (SRUC) and Bachelor of Science (SRUC) are governed by Resolution No. 609 of the University Court, with provision that:
1. The Degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) (SRUC) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) (SRUC) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in SRUC (the College) as Degrees in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulations.
2. The Senate may make regulations governing the award of the Degrees which are subject to the approval of the University Court - these shall be as stated under ‘Regulations’.
3. The Degrees may be awarded either as General Degrees or as Degrees with Honours in such subjects as may be prescribed by Regulation.
4. The programmes for the Degrees shall be administered by the College which shall, subject to Senate approval where appropriate, be responsible for the content and conduct of programmes and examinations and other methods of assessment, the admission and progress of students and related matters. The day-to-day management of each Degree programme shall be the responsibility of a management team appointed by the College.
REGULATIONS
1. Introductory and Definitions
The definitions set out in the Glossary of Terms apply to these regulations.
2. Duration of Study
A full-time candidate for a degree shall, subject to §3, normally attend for at least three academic sessions for a general degree and at least four for a degree with Honours. A part-time candidate shall, subject to §3, normally attend for at least four academic sessions for a general degree and at least five for a degree with Honours. There is no set maximum period of study. Candidates may continue their studies provided that they comply with the progress regulations set out at §7.
3. Recognition of Prior Learning
3.1 Assessed prior experiential learning can be counted for credit on these degrees. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) requires that appropriate learning has demonstrably taken place as a result of that experience. The procedure for approval of such credit is set out in the University’s APL policy.The appropriate Programme Leader is responsible for assessing whether acceptable evidence has been presented to demonstrate that the claimed prior learning is broadly equivalent to the learning that would otherwise have been assessed during the degree programme. The particular evidence that is required depends upon the nature of the learning for which accreditation is sought, and is determined by the Programme Leader, acting on the advice of the appropriate course leader(s).
The maximum limit for the award of such credit is 10% of the credits associated with the degree programme.
3.2 Non-university examinations can permit entry with advanced standing. Such examinations give entry with advanced standing as follows:
a) applicants with an HNC or HND in an appropriate subject will be considered for entry to year 2 or year 3, respectively;
b) applicants with a Foundation degree in an appropriate subject will be considered for entry to year 3.
4. Composition of Degree Programmes
The curriculum shall be specified in terms of core and elective courses[1], as described in the appropriate programme specification and programme handbooks. The courses listed shall not necessarily all be available in each session; the choice of a curriculum shall be subject to this limitation and to that imposed by timetables.
The majority of courses can be studied independently of others. However, some courses may have one or more prerequisite or co-requisite courses, details of which shall be given in the relevant course descriptors and programme handbooks.
5. Approval of Curriculum
The curriculum of each candidate must be approved at the start of each session by the candidate’s Year Tutor. Once approved, the curriculum may not be altered except with the approval of a Year Tutor.
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, except that:
a) the grading system adopted for courses in years 1 and 2 shall be that appropriate to their status as SQA HN Units; and
b) the provisions of §16.6 − §16.13 of the Code of Assessment regarding reassessment are replaced by §11.
7. Progress
7.1 The progress of candidates shall be reviewed annually.
7.2 Progression from year 1 to year 2 will normally depend upon attaining a pass in each course from the approved curriculum and therefore the successful completion of the 15 course equivalents[2] (120 credits).
7.3 To progress to the third year a candidate must normally have obtained 240 credits from the approved curriculum.
7.4 In year 3, a candidate who attains the requisite standard in the examinations and the assessment of course work shall be eligible for the award of the general degree. Alternatively, they shall be eligible to proceed to a fourth year leading to the degree with Honours. The requisite standard is that specified in §9.1.
7.5 The minimum achievement required for progression of a part-time candidate is determined by the Programme Leader acting on the advice of the appropriate Year Tutor.
8. Administration of Progress
8.1 Decisions on progression of any candidate who fails to meet the minimum requirements for progression are taken by the Board of Examiners. Mitigating circumstances should be discussed with the appropriate Year Tutor and notified in writing to the Programme Leader.
8.2 Appeal against decisions of the Board of Examiners may be made following the Code of Procedure for Appeals set out in the Degrees Awarded in Conjunction with the SRUC section of the University Regulations.
9. Award of a General Degree
9.1 The candidate, to be eligible for the award of a general degree, must have obtained at least 360 credits and achieved an overall grade point average[3] of 9.0. Within these 360 credits:
a) at least 120 must be at SCQF level 8 or higher; and
b) at least 60 credits studied in year 3 must be at SCQF level 9 or higher; and
c) 105 credits (7 course equivalents) studied in year 3 must be at grade D3 or above and the remaining 15 credits (1 course equivalent) in year 3 at grade E3 or above.
9.2 The general degree shall be awarded with Merit where the grade point average is at least 12.0, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.0.
9.3 Where the candidate has accumulated more than 360 credits, the credit counted in the calculation of the grade point average shall be reduced to 360 credits by discarding all of the credit for certain of the courses in such a way as to maximise the grade point average while meeting all other requirements of the regulations.
9.4 The general degree may be awarded to candidates on Honours programmes who fail to meet the requirements of the Honours degree, including any progress requirements, provided that the requirements of §9.1 are met.
10. Award of an Honours Degree
10.1 To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, the candidate must have obtained at least 480 credits, including (a) at least 90 credits at SCQF level 10 and (b) a grade D3 or above for a piece of independent work worth at least 30 credits.
10.2 The class of Honours awarded is determined by the grade point average calculated from the eight year 4 course equivalents and one course equivalent representing the grade point average for year 3.
11. Reassessment
11.1 In years 1 and 2, two attempts at each assessment shall normally be allowed during the academic year. In the case of SQA HN Units this will usually be within the period when a course is being delivered.
11.2 For degree courses in years 1, 2 and 3, a candidate who is awarded grade D3 or above for a course after the first assessment diet shall not normally be allowed a reassessment. Any other candidate shall be entitled to re-assessment during a defined period, normally a week during early August. The grade awarded as a result of the re-assessment shall be no higher than D3. A candidate who fails the re-assessment is entitled to repeat the year once, paying the appropriate fee.
12. List of Degree Programmes
Bachelor of Arts (SRUC)
The Degree may be awarded as a General Degree or as a Degree with Honours in any one of the following subjects:
Rural Business Management
Bachelor of Science (SRUC)
The Degree may be awarded as a General Degree or as a Degree with Honours in any one of the following subjects:
Agricultural Technology
Agriculture
Applied Animal Science[4]
Garden & Greenspace Design
Horticulture
Horticulture with Plantsmanship
Sustainable Food Production & Land Use
Wildlife & Conservation Management
[1] The term ‘course’ refers to components of the overall degree programme and has the same meaning as ‘module’ which is commonly used at SRUC.
[2] The term ‘course equivalents’ is used here to encompass courses with different credit ratings. The majority of courses are single-weighted and have a credit rating of 8 (years 1 and 2) or 15 (years 3 and 4), although some courses, for example the Honours project, may be double- or triple- weighted.
[3] 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 achieved a required grade point average, no further rounding is permitted. For example, a candidate achieving a grade point average of 8.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 9.0.
[4] An Intercalated BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Science may also be awarded to candidates who, after successfully completing the first three years of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery at the University of Edinburgh, enter the Honours year of the Applied Animal Science degree programme and meet the minimum requirements for final year.