Degree of Master of Science in Precision Medicine

The Taught Masters Programme in Precision Medicine is offered jointly by the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Strathclyde. The Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh contribute to the teaching. The regulations following are those promulgated by the University of Glasgow, the administering institution. 

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Science in Precision Medicine is governed by Resolution No. 648 of the Court of the University of Glasgow, the provisions of which are as follows:

1.   The Degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Precision Medicine may be awarded jointly by the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Strathclyde in such designations as may be prescribed by the Regulations.

2.   A Joint Management Committee will be formed in relation to the Programme. The composition, terms of reference and remit of the Joint Management Committee are as set out in the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the partner institutions.

3.   The Senate of the University of Glasgow may make Regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of these degrees. These are stated in §1 – §11 of the section entitled ‘Regulations’.

REGULATIONS

A student admitted onto the programme leading to the award of the Master of Science in Precision Medicine (the Programme) must follow the instructions issued on behalf of the relevant Schools and Departments of the partner institutions 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 of the Programme and may include further requirements associated with the award.

1.   Application of Regulations

Unless otherwise specified in these Programme specific regulations, the regulations of the administering university (the University of Glasgow) shall apply to all candidates on the Programme.

2.   Admission

a)   Entrance Requirements

Candidates must normally possess:

i)    at least a second class honours degree in a relevant subject e.g. Life Sciences or Pharmacy/Pharmacology; or

ii)   a qualification deemed by the Joint Management Committee to be equivalent to the above; and/or

iii)  professional or industrial experience deemed appropriate by the Joint Management Committee.

b)   Entrance Date

Candidates shall normally join the programme at the beginning of each academic year (September).

c)   Registration

All candidates shall normally be initially registered for the Masters degree. 

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.

4.   Programme Components

4.1   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) project 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.

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 project dissertation or other substantial independent work are as specified in the relevant Programme Document.

4.3   Recognition of Prior/External Learning or Experience

With the approval of the Programme Director, recognition of credits at Level 11 or equivalent may be given for prior/external learning or experience. This recognition will normally be based on relevance to the Precision Medicine theme and the award being sought. Credits taken more than five years prior to admission will not be accepted. The maximum permitted credit recognition is as follows:

Postgraduate Certificate 20 credits;

Postgraduate Diploma 30 credits;

Master of Science 45 credits.

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, 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.

6.2   For courses taught by the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Strathclyde, requirements may be imposed in relation to the eligibility to undertake assessment. Any such requirements will be stipulated in the relevant course documentation, which must be issued to candidates at the beginning of the course or as soon as possible thereafter.

6.3   The assessment of each course will be conducted by the institution teaching that course, with the course result determined in accordance with the assessment grading/mark schedule of that institution. In determining whether a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out in these regulations, the equivalence of course results recorded by the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Strathclyde to those recorded by the University of Glasgow shall be set out in the Programme Document.

6.4   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 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 project dissertation only if they have obtained a grade point average[2] 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. Exceptionally, a candidate may be permitted to progress to the project dissertation 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).

7.2   A candidate may be required to commence work on the dissertation or other substantial 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 dissertation or other substantial independent work has been submitted, it will be marked and a grade published.
• If the dissertation or other 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 dissertation or other 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 Dissertation

8.1   Where a candidate requires a higher grade in the project dissertation or other substantial independent work to satisfy the requirements set out in §9.1, reassessment of that 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 project dissertation or substantial independent work or to undertake further practical work.

8.2   Where at the time of publication of the grade achieved on the dissertation or other substantial work a candidate has exhausted all assessment opportunities on the taught courses referred to in §4 and their grade point average[2] is less than 12.0, a resubmission 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[2] 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 project dissertation or other 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.[4]

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 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 project dissertation or other 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 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 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 project dissertation or other 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 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 Exit 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   §10.4 and §10.5 refer 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.[4]

10.4  A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 14.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the award 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..

10.5  A candidate who has achieved a grade point average of 17.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the award 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.

11.   Academic Appeals

A candidate wishing to appeal against an academic decision relating to a course should follow the academic appeals procedure of the institution delivering that course; a candidate wishing to appeal against an academic decision made in relation to the overall Programme should follow the academic appeals procedure of the University of Glasgow.