Degree of Master of Science in Genetic & Genomic Counselling (with Work Placement)

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Science in Genetic & Genomic Counselling (with Work Placement) is governed by Resolution No. 663 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1.   The Degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Genetic & Genomic Counselling (with Work Placement) may 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, 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 degree a candidate must normally have obtained a degree or equivalent.

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 five years from the date of initial registration.

3.   Programme Components

In order to qualify for the award of the degree a candidate must complete a minimum of 360 credits,[1] consisting of 150 credits of taught courses, two community placements (one of 20 credits and one of 30 credits), two clinical placements (one of 60 credits and one of 40 credits) and a research project leading to the submission of a 60 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 Regulations.

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 Regulations 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 and §8.

6.   Progress

6.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to undertake the community placements and clinical placements only if they have obtained a grade point average[2] of at least 12.0 in the 130 credits of taught courses required to be taken in year 1 of the curriculum with at least 75% of the credits at D3 or above and all credits at grade F3 or above.

6.2   Exceptionally, a candidate may be permitted to progress to the placements 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 any outstanding assessment opportunities (including reassessment and remedying incomplete assessment due to Good Cause).

6.3   A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the dissertation if they have obtained a grade point average of at least 12.0 in the 150 credits of taught courses referred to at §3 and has achieved grade D3 or above in each of the two community placements and in each of the two clinical placements.

7.   Reassessment of Placements and the Dissertation

Where, in order to satisfy the requirements set out in §8.1, a candidate requires a higher grade in a placement or the dissertation, resubmission of the assessed work for the placement or 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 relevant placement or dissertation or to undertake further practical work.

8.   Requirements for the Award of Masters of Science in Genetic & Genomic Counselling (with Work Placement) and Rules for Award of Distinction and Merit

8.1   A candidate will be eligible for the award of the degree on obtaining 150 taught credits referred to at §3 with a grade point average[2] of at least 12.0, with at least 75% of those credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade F or above, and obtaining 150 credits from four completed placements (comprising 50 credits from community placements and 100 credits from clinical placements) achieving a grade D3 or above for each placement, and obtaining 60 credits from the dissertation at grade D3 or above.

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 14.5 in the 360 credits completed on the programme; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 14.0 in the 150 credits of taught courses, a grade point average of at least 14.0 in the 50 credits of community placement, a grade point average of at least 14.0 in the 100 credits of clinical placement; and

c)   a grade of C1 or above in the dissertation.

8.3   §8.4 and §8.6 refer to the ‘weighted course grade profile’. This means the profile of course grades obtained across the 360 credits completed on the programme at the first attempt and weighted to reflect the relative credit weightings of the courses.[4]

8.4   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.2 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 360 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.

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 17.5 in the 360 credits completed on the programme; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 17.0 in the 150 credits of taught courses, a grade point average of at least 17.0 in the 50 credits of community placement, a grade point average of 17.0 in the 100 credits of clinical placement; and

c)   a grade of B1 or above in the dissertation.

8.6   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.5 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 360 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.

9.   Requirements for the Exit awards of Master of Science, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Genetics and Rules for the Award of Distinction and Merit

9.1   The exit award of Master of Science in Clinical Genetics may be awarded to a candidate who has obtained 120 of the taught credits referred to at §3 at a grade point average[2] of 12.0 with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade F3 or above, and who has obtained 60 credits from the dissertation at grade D3 or above.

9.2   §9.4, §9.6, §9.9 and §9.10 refer to the ‘weighted course grade profile’. This means the profile of course grades obtained across the 180 contributing credits at the first attempt and weighted to reflect the relative credit weightings of the courses.[4]

9.3   A candidate will be eligible for the award of Master of Science in Clinical Genetics with Merit on achieving at the first attempt:

a)   a grade point average of at least 14.5 in the 180 contributing credits; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 14.0 in the 120 credits of taught courses; and

c)   a grade of C1 or above in the dissertation.

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 contributing credits 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 Master of Science in Clinical Genetics with Distinction on achieving at the first attempt:

a)   a grade point average of at least 17.5 in the 180 contributing credits; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 17.0 in the 120 credits of taught courses; and

c)   a grade of B1 or above in the dissertation.

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 contributing credits 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.

9.7   The requirement for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Genetics is a grade point average of at least 9.0 in 120 taught credits, with not less than 80 of these credits at grade D3 or above.

9.8   The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Genetics is a grade point average of at least 9.0 in 60 taught credits, with not less than 40 of these credits at grade D3 or above.

9.9   A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 14.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the awards listed in §9.7 and §9.8 respectively with Merit. Where the grade point average 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.

9.10   A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 17.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the awards listed in §9.7 and §9.8 respectively with Distinction. Where the grade point average 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.