2021-22

Generic Regulations for Taught Masters Degrees - College of Social Sciences

The Masters degrees listed in §11 and §12 are governed by Resolution No. 552 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

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 (Scotland’s Rural College)’ 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 of 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.   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,[3] 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 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 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[4] 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[5] of at least 12.0 in the taught courses described in §4 with at least 75% of the credits at grade D3 or above and all credits at grade F3 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[6] 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 at least 12.0 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 above and all credits at grade F3 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[6] 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[5] of at least 12.0 in the taught courses described in §4, with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade F3 or above, and obtaining a grade D3 or above in the substantial independent work.

9.2   §9.4 and §9.6 refer to the 'weighted course grade profile'. This means the profile of course grades obtained across the 180 or more credits completed on the programme at the first attempt and weighted to reflect the relative credit weightings of the courses.[7]

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 14.5 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 C1 or above in the substantial independent work.

9.4   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §9.3 (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 14.4 the Board of Examiners shall make the award with Merit where at least 50% of the weighted course grade profile comprises grades of B or above.

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 17.5 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 B1 or above in the substantial independent work.

9.6   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §9.5 (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 17.4 the Board of Examiners shall make the award with Distinction where at least 50% of the weighted course grade profile comprises A grades.

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[5] 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 14.5 or 17.5 will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate with Merit or Distinction respectively.

10.4   §10.5 refers to the 'weighted course grade profile'. This means the profile of course grades obtained on the contributing credits at the first attempt and weighted to reflect the relative credit weightings of the courses.[7]

10.5   Where a candidate has achieved at the first attempt a grade point average of between 14.1 and 14.4 or between 17.1 and 17.4 the Board of Examiners shall make the award of Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate with Merit or Distinction where at least 50% of the weighted course grade profile comprises grades of B or above, or A grades, respectively.

11.    Degrees[8] to which these Regulations Apply

The following degrees are governed by the above regulations:

College of Social Sciences

Master of Accountancy (MAcc) International Accounting & Financial Management

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Education (MEd) Childhood Practice & Leadership

Master of Education (MEd) Children’s Literature & Literacies

Master of Education (MEd) Inclusive Education: Research, Policy & Practice

Master of Education (MEd) Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

Master of Education (MEd) Middle Years Education

Master of Education (MEd) Professional Practice with PGDE

Master of Education (MEd) Religious Studies (Religion, Education & Culture)

Master of Finance (MFin) International Finance

Master of Global Business (MGB)

Master of Laws (LLM) Corporate & Financial Law

Master of Laws (LLM) Intellectual Property & Digital Economy

Master of Laws (LLM) International Commercial Law

Master of Laws (LLM) International Competition Law & Policy

Master of Laws (LLM) International Economic Law

Master of Laws (LLM) International Law

Master of Laws (LLM) International Law & Security

Master of Laws (LLM) Law General

Master of Letters (MLitt) Environment, Culture & Communication

Master of Letters (MLitt) Managing Health & Wellbeing

Master of Medical Law and Ethics (MMLE)

Master of Research (MRes) Criminology

Master of Research (MRes) Equality & Human Rights

Master of Research (MRes) Global Health

Master of Research (MRes) Global Migrations & Social Justice

Master of Research (MRes) Global Security

Master of Research (MRes) Human Rights & International Politics

Master of Research (MRes) International Politics

Master of Research (MRes) International Relations

Master of Research (MRes) Law

Master of Research (MRes) Management

Master of Research (MRes) Political Communication

Master of Research (MRes) Public Policy Research

Master of Research (MRes) Sociology & Research Methods

Master of Research (MRes) Urban Research

Master of Science (MSc) Applied Carbon Management

Master of Science (MSc) Applied Social Research

Master of Science (MSc) Asset Pricing & Investment

Master of Science (MSc) Community Development

Master of Science (MSc) Corporate Governance & Accountability

Master of Science (MSc) Criminology & Criminal Justice

Master of Science (MSc) Data Analytics for Economics & Finance

Master of Science (MSc) Development Studies

Master of Science (MSc) Digital Society

Master of Science (MSc) Drug & Alcohol Studies

Master of Science (MSc) Economic & Financial Sector Policies

Master of Science (MSc) Economic Development

Master of Science (MSc) Economics, Banking & Finance

Master of Science (MSc) Education, Public Policy & Equity

Master of Science (MSc) Education for Sustainable Futures in Adult, Youth & Community Contexts

Master of Science (MSc) Educational Studies

Master of Science (MSc) Enhanced Practice in Education

Master of Science (MSc) Environment & Sustainable Development

Master of Science (MSc) Environment, Development & Globalisation

Master of Science (MSc) Environmental Risk Management

Master of Science (MSc) Environmental Science, Technology & Society

Master of Science (MSc) Equality & Human Rights

Master of Science (MSc) Europe & International Development (Politics & Economics)

Master of Science (MSc) European Politics & Law

Master of Science (MSc) Finance & Economic Development

Master of Science (MSc) Finance & Management

Master of Science (MSc) Financial Economics

Master of Science (MSc) Financial Forecasting & Investment

Master of Science (MSc) Financial Risk Management

Master of Science (MSc) Financial Technology

Master of Science (MSc) Global Economy

Master of Science (MSc) Global Health

Master of Science (MSc) Global Migrations & Social Justice

Master of Science (MSc) Global Movements, Social Justice & Sustainability

Master of Science (MSc) Global Security

Master of Science (MSc) Housing Studies: Services & Delivery

Master of Science (MSc) Human Resource Management

Master of Science (MSc) Human Rights & International Politics

Master of Science (MSc) Intellectual Property, Innovation & the Creative Economy

Master of Science (MSc) International Banking & Finance

Master of Science (MSc) International Business & Economic Development

Master of Science (MSc) International Business & Entrepreneurship

Master of Science (MSc) International Corporate Finance & Banking

Master of Science (MSc) International Development

Master of Science (MSc) International Financial Analysis

Master of Science (MSc) International Human Resource Management

Master of Science (MSc) International Management & Design Innovation[9]

Master of Science (MSc) International Management for China

Master of Science (MSc) International Planning & Urban Policy

Master of Science (MSc) International Politics (China)

Master of Science (MSc) International Relations

Master of Science (MSc) International Strategic Marketing

Master of Science (MSc) International Strategic Marketing (EIA)[10]

Master of Science (MSc) Investment Banking & Finance

Master of Science (MSc) Legal & Political Thought

Master of Science (MSc) Management

Master of Science (MSc) Management & Sustainable Tourism 

Master of Science (MSc) Management with Enterprise & Business Growth

Master of Science (MSc) Management with Human Resources

Master of Science (MSc) Management with International Finance

Master of Science (MSc) Management Research

Master of Science (MSc) Media Communications & International Journalism

Master of Science (MSc) Media, Culture & Society

Master of Science (MSc) Museum Education

Master of Science (MSc) Political Communication

Master of Science (MSc) Psychological Studies

Master of Science (MSc) Public Policy & Management

Master of Science (MSc) Public & Urban Policy

Master of Science (MSc) Quantitative Finance

Master of Science (MSc) Racism, Imperialism & Resistance

Master of Science (MSc) Sociology

Master of Science (MSc) Strategic Marketing

Master of Science (MSc) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Master of Science (MSc) Tourism, Heritage & Development

Master of Science (MSc) Tourism, Heritage & Sustainability

Master of Science (MSc) Transnational Crime Justice & Security 

Master of Science (MSc) Urban Analytics

Master of Science (MSc) Urban Policy Analysis

Master of Science (MSc) Urban Transport

Master of Science (MSc) Working with Communities (Social Sciences)

Master of Science (MSc) Young People, Social Inclusion & Change

12.   Degrees[8] which include Variations to Clauses 3 and 7

College of Social Sciences

Master of Education (MEd) Academic Practice

Master of Education (MEd) Adult Education, Community Development & Youth Work

Master of Education (MEd) Educational Studies

Master of Education (MEd) English Language Teaching

Master of Education (MEd) Inclusive Education

Master of Education (MEd) Professional Learning & Enquiry

Master of Research (MRes) Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies

Master of Science (MSc) City Planning

Master of Science (MSc) City Planning & Real Estate Development

Master of Science (MSc) Real Estate

Master of Science (MSc) Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies


[1] For programmes with a minimum period of study of three years, the maximum period within which candidates must complete the programme is six years from the date of initial registration.

Where a candidate has progressed to study under §8 of the Generic Regulations for Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas that candidate’s duration of study for the Masters degree shall be counted as the period since first registration for the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.

[2] 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.

[3] For any degree programme requiring more than 180 credits for the award of the Masters degree, the credit requirement will be stated in the Programme Specification and Programme Document.

[4] Except for §10.2 and §10.3 where only 60 credits will be counted in the calculation of the grade point average for a Postgraduate Certificate, and any excess credit will be discarded in such a way as to maximise the grade point average while meeting all other requirements of the regulations.

[5] 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. For example, a grade point average of 11.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 12.0.

[6] This judgment is normally made by the Board of Examiners or in cases where there is no scheduled meeting, the Convener of the Board of Examiners.

[7] Illustrations of weighted grade profiles are given in the Guide to the Code of Assessment.

[8] Each of these degree programmes also offer awards of Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate with the same title (see §10).

[9] Delivered in conjunction with The Glasgow School of Art.

[10] Taught jointly with La Escuela de Ingenieria de Antioquia, Columbia.

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