2022-23
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
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) 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) 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 & 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 & Comparative Education
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) Sustainable Tourism & Global Challenges
Master of Science (MSc) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
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, §10.3 and §10.5 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).