2022-23

DEGREE OF MASTER OF RESEARCH

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Research in Zoonoses and the Epidemiology of Animal Infectious Diseases is governed by Resolution No. 702 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1. The Degree of Master of Research in Zoonoses and the Epidemiology of Animal Infectious Disease may be awarded by the University of Glasgow on the recommendation of Scotland’s Rural College (‘SRUC’).
2. The Senate may make Regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of the Degree - these are stated under ‘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 the award must follow the instructions issued on behalf of SRUC 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 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 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.

3.   Programme Components

3.1   In order to qualify for the award, a candidate must complete minimum credits[1] as follows:

i)   For the award of the Masters degree: 180 credits, which includes 60 credits of taught courses and two 60 credit research projects, Epidemiology Project 1 and Epidemiology Project 2. The research projects are comprised of substantial independent work which should be appropriately supervised.

ii)   For the award of a Postgraduate Diploma: 60 credits of taught courses and Epidemiology Project 1.

iii)  For the award of a Postgraduate Certificate: 60 credits of taught courses.

3.2   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 research projects is 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 of the ‘University Fees and General Information for Students’ section in 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   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, §8 and §9[2] 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.

6.   Candidates for a Masters Degree: Progress

6.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to Epidemiology Project 2 only if they have obtained:

a)  a grade point average[3] of at least 12.0 in the 120 credits comprising 60 credits of taught courses referred to in §3 and Epidemiology Project 1, with at least 75% of those credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade F3 or above; and

b)  a grade of D3 or above in Epidemiology Project 1.

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 Epidemiology Project 2 where it is judged[4] 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).

6.2   A candidate may be required to commence work on Epidemiology Project 2 before the assessment of the taught courses referred to in §3 and Epidemiology Project 1 has been completed. Such a requirement shall not indicate that the candidate has satisfied the requirements for award in relation to those components. In the event that subsequently after all opportunities at assessment have been exhausted the candidate does not achieve the standard specified in §6.1, the candidate will not be eligible for the award of the Masters degree, and the following will apply:

a)  If Epidemiology Project 2 has been submitted, it will be marked and a grade published.

b)  If Epidemiology Project 2 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.

c)   If Epidemiology Project 2 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 the Research Projects

7.1   Where a candidate requires a higher grade in Epidemiology Project 1 and/or Epidemiology Project 2 to satisfy the requirements set out in §6.1 and/or §8.1, reassessment of the research project(s) 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 project(s) or to undertake further practical work.

7.2   Where at the time of publication of the grade achieved on Epidemiology Project 2 a candidate has exhausted all assessment opportunities on the taught courses referred to in §3 and on Epidemiology Project 1 and has failed to satisfy the standard required in relation to the taught courses and/or Epidemiology Project 1, specified in §8.1 for the award of the degree, a resubmission of Epidemiology Project 2 will only be permitted where the Board determines that no further supervisory input is required.

8.   Requirements for the Award of the 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[3] of at least 12.0 in the 120 credits comprising 60 credits of taught courses referred to in §3 and Epidemiology Project 1, with at least 75% of those credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade F3 or above; and

b)  a grade D3 or above in both Epidemiology Project 1 and Epidemiology Project 2.

8.2   §8.4 and §8.6 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]

8.3   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 120 credits comprising 60 credits of taught courses and Epidemiology Project 1; and

c)   a grade of C1 or above in both Epidemiology Project 1 and Epidemiology Project 2.

8.4   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.3 (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.

8.5   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 120 credits comprising 60 credits of taught courses and Epidemiology Project 1; and

c)   a grade of B1 or above in both Epidemiology Project 1 and Epidemiology Project 2.

8.6   Where a candidate has satisfied the requirements set out at §8.5 (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.

9.   Requirements for the Award of a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate and Rules for Award of Distinction and Merit

9.1   The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma is a grade point average[3] of 9.0 in 120 credits, with not less than 90 of these credits at grade D3 or above. 

9.2   The requirement for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate is a grade point average of 9.0 in 60 credits, with not less than 45 of these credits at grade D3 or above.

9.3   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.

9.4   §9.5 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]

9.5   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.

[2] Except for §10.2 and §10.3 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[5] Illustrations of weighted grade profiles are given in the Guide to the Code of Assessment.