Generic Regulations for Taught Masters Degrees and Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas Delivered by Online Distance Learning - College of Social Sciences

The Masters degrees listed in §11 and §12 are governed by Resolution No. 687 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.

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

3.1   The minimum period of study for the award of a Masters degree is two years. The maximum period within which all candidates must complete a Masters programme is six years from the date of initial registration.[1]

3.2   The minimum period of study for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma is two years. The minimum period of study for a Postgraduate Certificate is one year. The maximum period within which all candidates must complete a programme leading to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate is four years from the date of initial registration.

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, 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 to June) in blocks commencing in September, January and April 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 Regulations 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[3] 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's progress on the programme will be considered as follows:

a)   After two academic sessions: A candidate for a Masters degree, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Postgraduate Certificate who after two academic sessions of registered study has achieved fewer than 60 credits will be permitted to remain registered on their programme of study only if they have obtained a grade point average[4] of at least 7.0 on their completed credits.

b)   After completion of 60 credits: A candidate for a Masters degree or a Postgraduate Diploma who after completion of 60 credits of the taught courses described in §4 has obtained a grade point average of at least 7.0 will be permitted to progress to the subsequent 60 taught credits on the programme.

c)   After completion of 120 taught credits: A candidate for a Masters degree 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 of at least 12.0 in the 120 credits of 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.

7.2   The Programme Document may specify a course or courses in respect of which a specific grade is a minimum requirement of progression.

7.3   Exceptionally, a candidate for a Masters degree 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 of the degree 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.

7.4   Progress from Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma

• A candidate registered for a Postgraduate Certificate may progress to study for a Postgraduate Diploma where such a programme is available in the same subject if the candidate has obtained a grade point average of 9.0 in 60 credits, with not less than 40 of these credits at grade D3 or above.
• A candidate registered for a Postgraduate Diploma may progress to study for a Masters degree where such a programme is available in the same subject if the candidate has obtained a grade point average of 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. The Programme Document may specify a course or courses in respect of which a specific grade is a minimum requirement of progression.

8.   Reassessment of the Substantial Independent Work

8.1   Where a candidate for a Masters degree 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[4] 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.[5]

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[4]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.[5]

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 and Awards to which these Regulations Apply

The following degrees and awards are governed by the above regulations:

College of Social Sciences

Certificate in End of Life Studies

Certificate in Inclusive Education: Research, Policy & Practice

Certificate in Marketing

Certificate in Leadership & Learning

Diploma in End of Life Studies

Diploma in Inclusive Education: Research, Policy & Practice

Diploma in Marketing

Master of Education (MEd) Educational Leadership

Master of Science (MSc) Education

Master of Science (MSc) End of Life Studies

Master of Science (MSc) Marketing

Master of Science (MSc) Museum Education