Degree of Master of Science

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Science is governed by Resolution No. 558 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1.   The Degree of Master of Science (MSc) may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in each of its Colleges; the Degrees of Master of Science (Adult & Continuing Education), Master of Science (Adult & Continuing Education (Teaching Adults)), Master of Science (Adult & Continuing Education (Community Development)) and Master of Science (Inter-professional Science Education and Communication) in the College of Social Sciences, the Degree of Master of Science (Medical Science) and the Degree of Master of Science (Veterinary Science) in the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences.

2.   The Degree of Master of Science may also be awarded on the recommendation of SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College).

3.   The Degree of Master of Science or the Degree of Master of Science (Inter-professional Science Education and Communication), or the Degree of Master of Science (Medical Science) or the Degree of Master of Science (Veterinary Science) may be conferred (a) as an Honorary degree upon persons who have done work deserving of such recognition in any School in the Colleges of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and Science & Engineering, (b) iure officii upon any person holding office in the University who is not already a graduate of the University.

4.   The Senate may make regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of these Degrees – these are set out in the section entitled ‘Regulations’.

REGULATIONS

1.   Candidates for the Degree may undertake, subject to the decision of the College concerned, research in accordance with the requirements of Schedule A.[1]

Such research shall be prosecuted in the Uni­versity of Glasgow or in another institution recognised for the purpose by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate, except as provided under Section 4.

2.   Before being admitted to study qualifying for the Degree of Master of Science, every candidate must satisfy the following conditions, namely:

a)   i)   they must have obtained a Degree in a University or College recog­nised for this purpose by the University Court on the recommen­dation of the Senate; or

ii)   they must have obtained a diploma or certificate recognised as equivalent to a Degree for this purpose by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate; or

iii)   in the case of the intercalated Master of Science (Veterinary Science), they must be registered on and have successfully completed three years of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery; or

iv)   in exceptional circumstances, they must have obtained such other qualification(s) as may be recognised for this purpose by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate; and

b)   they must have fulfilled such other entrance requirements as may be specified for a particular programme of research; and

c)   they must have satisfied the Senate of their fitness to undertake advanced study.

3.   a)   Candidates may be permitted to pursue research on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Full-time candidates must devote the major part of the day to their studies; provided that candidates shall be subject to the same provisions regarding minimum periods of study as full-time candidates if they have pursued their studies while holding appointment as a member of the teaching staff of the Uni­versity of Glasgow, or as a Research Assistant or Research Fellow of the University of Glasgow paid through the Finance Office or directly by a grant-awarding body approved by the University Court.

b)   The minimum period of study for each candidate shall be determined by the appropriate College at the time of their admission, according to their qualifications and other relevant factors, and shall normally be:

i)   for full-time candidates, either 12 months or two academic years of full-time study;

ii)   for part-time candidates, either two or three academic years of part-time study.

c)   To qualify for the shorter minimum periods of study specified in (b), candidates should normally possess a Degree with Honours of the First or Second Class of an approved University, or a qualification deemed equivalent by the College concerned.

d)   Where the longer minimum period of study has been initially pre­scribed but the candidate has made sufficient progress, the Senatemay subsequently reduce the total period of study to not less than 12 months of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study as appropriate.

4.   The Senate may for special reasons permit a candidate, whether full-time or part-time, to prosecute part of their studies elsewhere, provided that normally at least half of the candidate’s total period of study is prosecuted in the University of Glasgow or in a recognised Institution.

5.   The College concerned shall designate for each candidate a supervisor who shall report at least once a year to the College Graduate School on the progress of the candidate.

Schedule A: Master of Science by Research

1.   Research Students within the meaning of Ordinance 350 (General No 12) may be candidates for the Degree of Master of Science, or Master of Science (Medical Science) or Master of Science (Veterinary Science) in any appropriate area of study in the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and Science & Engineering and Social Sciences.

2.   On completion of the prescribed period of research, each candidate shall present a thesis embodying the results of their work. The thesis must be in English. The thesis may be either a record of original research, or a critical review of existing knowledge. In either case, either a written or an oral examination, or both, may be required, and candidates shall be notified of such requirements through their supervisors.

3.   In no case shall the thesis required from a candidate be submitted before the completion of 12 months from the date of their admission as a research student. Except by special permission of the Senate, a thesis may not be presented after the lapse of 12 months from the date on which the candidate ceases to be a registered student.

4.   Application for examination for the Degree of MSc, or the Degree of MSc (Medical Science) or the Degree of MSc (Veterinary Science), must be submitted in accordance with the procedures of the appropriate College, details of which may be obtained from the College Graduate School on request.

5.   A Committee of Examiners shall be appointed to examine the thesis of each candidate. The Committee shall consist of one or more members appointed by the Senate, together with one or more external examiners appointed by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate. The Examiners shall conduct such oral and written examinations as they may desire or as the Senate may prescribe in each case, but in no case shall the examination of the thesis constitute less than half of the final assessment.

6.   A candidate must submit their thesis electronically as directed by the Graduate School and this must conform to University Library specifications published at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/formattingyourthesis/. The thesis must include a summary (250-1,000 words), which must be accompanied by a declaration by the candidate that it has been composed by themself. The candidate must also state the extent to which they have availed themself of the work of others, and must further state which portions of the thesis, if any, they claim as original.

7.   If the Examiners consider that the thesis, portfolio, or project work has not achieved the standard required for the award of the Degree, the candidate may be permitted to revise the thesis, portfolio or project and resubmit it, on one occasion only, under such conditions as the Examiners may prescribe in each particular case. Normally, resubmission should be no later than six months after the date of the meeting of the Board of Examiners.

8.   If approved for the degree, an electronic copy of the thesis shall be deposited with the University Library and must conform to University Library specifications published at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/formattingyourthesis/. It is the University's normal practice to permit computer download of the electronic copy through its repository service, Enlighten. Such access may, however, be restricted under provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Schedule D: General Provisions

1.   a)   The list of institutions recognised for the purpose of Regulation 4 is available from Research & Innovation Services.