2022-23

Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence & Strategic Studies

The Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence & Strategic Studies is offered jointly by the University of Glasgow, Charles University, Prague, and Dublin City University, Ireland or the University of Trento, Italy (the ‘Partner Institutions’). The regulations are those promulgated by the University of Glasgow, the coordinating institution.

RESOLUTION

The Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence & Strategic Studies is governed by Resolution No. 679 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1.   The Degree of International Master (IntM/IM/Mgr./IM₅₂) may be awarded jointly by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the College of Social Sciences and by Charles University, Prague, and Dublin City University, Ireland or the University of Trento, Italy.

2.   The Senate may make regulations governing the award of the Degree which are subject to the approval of the University Court - these are set out in the section entitled ‘Regulations’ below.

REGULATIONS

A student admitted onto the programme must follow the instructions issued by 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’ Guide) which will contain further details on the Programme and may include further requirements associated with the award.

1.   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.

2.   Duration of Study

The minimum period of study for the award of the degree is 24 calendar months. The maximum period for full-time study is 48 calendar months of registered study.

3.   Programme Components

In order to qualify for the award of the degree a candidate must complete a minimum of 240 credits[1] [120 ECTS equivalent] including taught courses and a 60 credit [30 ECTS] research portfolio.

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, 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.

5.2   The assessment of each taught 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 Partner Institutions to those recorded by the University of Glasgow shall be set out in the Programme Document. The result for the research portfolio will be determined in accordance with the assessment schedule of the University of Glasgow.

5.3   a)   Courses for which the candidate has registered must be counted towards the calculation of the candidate’s grade point average for the purposes of §6 and §8 unless other provision is justified by good cause circumstances affecting the candidate.

b)   This regulation applies where course registration continues: i) on the date on which the first summative assessment for that course is to be submitted; or ii) on such other date as may be specified in the course document for that course.

c)   This regulation does not apply to the Czech State Examination referred to in §8.1 or to any modern language courses undertaken as part of the programme, the results from which will not contribute to calculation of the candidate’s grade point average.

6.   Progress

6.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the research portfolio only if he or she has obtained a grade point average[2] of at least 12.0 in the taught courses referred to in §3 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.

6.2   A candidate may be required to commence work on the research portfolio before the assessment of the taught courses referred to in §3 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 §8.1, the candidate will not be eligible for the award of the Masters degree and the following will apply:

• If the research portfolio has been submitted, it will be marked and a grade published.
• If the research portfolio 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 research portfolio 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.   Reassessment of Research Portfolio

7.1   Where a candidate requires a higher grade in the research portfolio to satisfy the requirements set out in §8.1, reassessment of that research portfolio 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 research portfolio or to undertake further practical work.

7.2   Where at the time of publication of the grade achieved on the research portfolio a candidate has exhausted all assessment opportunities on the taught courses referred to in §3 and has failed to satisfy the standard required in relation to the taught courses specified in §8.1 for the award of the degree, a resubmission will only be permitted where the Board determines that no further supervisory input is required.

8.   Requirements for the Award of the International Masters Degree and Rules for Award of Distinction and Merit

8.1   A candidate will be eligible for the award of the Degree on obtaining:

a)   a grade point average of at least 12.0 in all the taught courses within the programme, as specified in §3, with at least 75% of these credits at grade D3 or above; and

b)   all credits at grade F3 or above; and

c)   grade D3 or above in the research portfolio; and

d)   grade D3 or above in all components of the Czech State Examination (comprising written and oral examination).

8.2   §8.3 and §8.4 refer to the ‘weighted course grade profile’. This means the profile of course grades obtained across the taught courses and the research portfolio at the first attempt and weighted to reflect the relative credit weightings of the courses.[3]

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 14.5 across the taught courses and the research portfolio; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 14.0 for the taught courses; and

c)   grade C1 or above for the research portfolio.

Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out in §8.3 (b) and (c), and the grade point average for the 240 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.

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

a)   a grade point average of at least 17.5 across the taught courses and the research portfolio; and

b)   a grade point average of at least 17.0 for the taught courses; and

c)   grade B1 or above for the research portfolio.

Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out in §8.4 (b) and (c), and their grade point average for the 240 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.   Transfer of Registration

A student who is unable to complete the programme may transfer their registration to the MSc Global Security, offered by the University of Glasgow, which has provision for the additional exit awards of Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma.

10.   Academic Appeals

A candidate wishing to appeal against an academic decision relating to a course should follow the academic appeals procedure of the Partner 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.

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