2023-24
Degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master in Science
RESOLUTION
The Degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master in Science are governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations are set out with those Regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 605, as subsequently amended, are as follows:
1. The Degrees of Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master in Science (MSci) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the Colleges of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, and Science & Engineering, as Degrees in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulations.
2. The award of the Degree shall be governed by Resolution No. 582 - “Generic Regulations for the award of Degrees gained by the successful completion of Undergraduate Programmes” together with such Supplementary Regulations as are contained in this Resolution No. 605 - “Degree of Bachelor of Science and Master in Science”. The Supplementary Regulations are set out in the Schedule of Regulations attached to this Resolution.
3. The Degree of Bachelor of Science may be offered as a Degree in a Designated Subject, or as a Degree in a Designated Subject with Work Placement, or as a Degree with Honours in a Principal Subject, or as a Degree with Honours in a Principal Subject with Work Placement; the Degree of Master in Science may be offered as a Degree in a Principal Subject or as a Degree in a Principal Subject with Work Placement. The early exit awards of Diploma of Higher Education (General Science) and Certificate of Higher Education (General Science) shall be governed by the Generic Undergraduate Regulations.
REGULATIONS
1. Recognition of Prior Learning
A candidate may qualify for exemption from level 1 courses up to a maximum of 120 credits by obtaining passes in appropriate subjects at specified grades in approved school examinations at SCQF level 7, under such conditions as the Senate may prescribe in each case. Such credit shall be awarded by the Chief Adviser of Studies.
2. Maximum Period of Study
The maximum period of study, including full and part-time attendance, is normally as follows:
For the award of a BSc Designated degree - six academic sessions
For the award of a BSc Honours degree - six academic sessions
For the award of an MSci degree - seven academic sessions
3. Progress
The requirements referred to in Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10.1 and §15.2 are listed:
3.1 Annual Review of Progress
Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10 and §11 apply with the following additional requirements:
Unless subject to specific requirements on entry or following consideration by the Progress Committee, the normal requirements to progress as a full-time student are:
| Level 1: | The candidate must have obtained at least 80 credits; there must be a grade point average[1] of at least 8.0 over the best 80 credits; at least 60 credits must be at grade D3 or above. |
| Level 2: |
The candidate must have obtained at least 160 credits; there must be a grade point average of at least 8.0 over the best 160 credits; at least 120 credits must be at grade D3 or above; the candidate must have fulfilled level 1 entry requirements that allow entry to level 2 Science courses totalling 60 credits. The candidate must have obtained a minimum of 80 credits during level two; there must be a grade point average of at least 8.0 across the best 80 credits within level two; the candidate must have achieved D3 or above in at least 60 credits within level two. |
| Level 3: | The candidate must have obtained at least 240 credits; there must be a grade point average of at least 9.0 over the best 240 credits; at least 160 credits must be at grade D3 or above; at least 60 credits must be at level 2 or above. |
| Level 4: | The candidate must be qualified for entry to BSc in a Designated Subject (see §3.2) or BSc Honours programme (see §3.3). |
3.2 BSc in a Designated Subject
a) Admission Requirements
The following general requirements shall apply for admission to all level 3 courses:
i) The candidate must have completed qualifying courses totalling at least 240 credits, with a grade point average of 9.0, unless admitted directly to level 3.
ii) The candidate must have completed qualifying courses totalling at least 120 credits in Science subjects.
iii) The candidate must normally have achieve a grade of D3 in prerequisite level 2 courses.
b) Progress Requirements
To continue studying for a second or subsequent year at level 3, the candidate must have already achieved at least 40 credits at level 3 with a grade of D3 in the current session.
A candidate in Life Sciences[2] who achieves a grade of D3 or above in each 60 credit level 3 Life Sciences Designated Subject course and achieves a grade point average of at least 12.0 in those courses will be eligible for progression to year 4 of the BSc Honours programme.
3.3 BSc Honours Programme
a) Admission Requirements
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1 shall apply with the following additional requirement:
i) The candidate must have completed an additional 20 credits at level 2, bringing the total requirement for level 2 credits to 60.
b) Progress Requirements
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §10.2 shall apply.
The candidate must have met the requirements for the award of the Designated Degree (see §5.1).
3.4 MSci Programme
a) Admission Requirements
The following general requirements shall apply for admission to the third year of an MSci programme:
i) The candidate must have completed qualifying courses totalling at least 240 credits, with a grade point average of at least 12.0.
ii) The candidate must have completed qualifying courses totalling at least 140 credits in Science with a grade point average of at least 12.0.
iii) The candidate must have completed qualifying courses totalling at least 60 credits at level 2 or above in Science with a grade point average of at least 15.0.
b) Progress Requirements
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §10.3 shall apply.
3.5 Admission to Qualifying Courses
Admission to any qualifying course may be restricted if the number of candidates wishing to enrol exceeds the number of places available. Where there are more applicants for a particular course than there are places available, selection of candidates shall be based on criteria published in the Programme or Course Handbook.
3.6 Transfers from Part-time to Full-time Study
A part-time candidate may apply to the Chief Adviser of Studies in the relevant School or College for transfer to full-time study. In considering such an application, the Chief Adviser shall take into account the candidate’s progress so far.
4. Science Courses
Science subjects, and courses in these subjects, shall be as defined below. In addition, candidates may take courses in non-Science subjects, subject to the provisions of §3.2 - §3.4.
Recognised Science qualifying courses are currently as follows:
4.1 Courses contributing to the awards of BSc Designated, BSc Honours and MSci offered by the Schools of Chemistry, Computing Science, Geographical & Earth Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, and from the Life Sciences Portfolio.[2]
4.2 Other courses contributing to the awards of BSc Designated, BSc Honours and MSci offered by the School of Humanities in Archaeology and the School of Engineering in Electronics & Electrical Engineering.
4.3 For the purposes of the Intercalated Degree of BSc combined with the Degree of MBChB, BDS, or BVMS, the courses constituting the first two or three sessions, depending on the curriculum of the MBChB, BDS, or BVMS are recognised as Science qualifying courses. Recognition of these courses will be subject to review in the event of substantial changes in the MBChB, BDS, or BVMS curriculum.
4.4 Standard Curricula
a) Generic Undergraduate Regulation §6.2 applies. In addition, full-time students will normally take no less than 100 credits. Each part-time candidate shall enrol for courses totalling a maximum of 100 credits in each session.
b) In year 1 full-time candidates must normally enrol for Science courses totalling at least 80 credits.
5. Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree
5.1 Degree of Bachelor of Science in a Designated Subject
In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14, the candidate must satisfy the following:
a) The 360 credits required must include:
i) at least 200 credits in Science; and
ii) at least 120 credits at level 2 or above in Science, with a grade point average[1] of at least 8.0, and with at least 60 of these credits at grade D3 or above.
b) Where the Designated Subject is a single subject, the credits in (a) must include courses in that subject at level 3 or H or M, totalling at least 80 credits with a grade point average of at least 9.0.
c) Where the Designated Subject is a combination of two subjects, the credits in (a) must include courses at level 3 or H or M totalling at least 40 credits with a grade point average of at least 9.0 in each of these subjects separately.
d) Any special requirements of the Designated Subject specified by the School and approved by the Colleges of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, and Science & Engineering.
The Degree of BSc in a Designated Subject shall be awarded with Merit if the candidate has a grade point average of at least 12.0, or with Distinction if the candidate has a grade point average of at least 15.0, both overall and in the Designated Subject (or Subjects in a combined degree) at level 3. To meet this requirement in degrees other than those in Life Sciences,[2] the best 80 credits at level 3 may be used in the case of a Designated Degree in a single subject and the best 40 credits from each contributing subject in the case of a combined Designated Degree.
5.2 Degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) with Honours
Each candidate must meet the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16. Additionally, the Principal Subject for the Degree of BSc with Honours shall be, as shown in Regulation 7, either:
a) one of the single subjects shown as such in List 1(a) (‘Single Honours’); or,
b) one of the combinations of subjects shown as such in List 1(b) (‘Combined Honours’)
as approved by the Colleges and the Senate.
The calculation of the final BSc Honours classification is normally based on a contribution of 50% from final year courses and 50% from third year courses where these courses are of equal credit rating. Exceptions to this are noted below with the third and final year percentage contributions given in brackets.
Archaeology (40:60), Chemistry, including Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry and Materials Chemistry (25:75), Computing Science including Software Engineering (40:60), Geographical & Earth Sciences (40:60), Mathematics (40:60), Degrees from the Life Sciences Portfolio (25:75).
5.3 Degree of Master in Science
5.3.1 Each candidate must meet the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §17. Additionally, the Principal Subject for the Degree of MSci shall be, as shown in §7, either:
a) one of the single subjects shown as such in List 1(a) (‘Single Honours’); or,
b) one of the combinations of subjects shown as such in List 1(b) (‘Combined Honours’)
as approved by the Colleges and the Senate.
The calculation of the final classification for the MSci award is normally based on weightings from years 3, 4 and 5 within the range 10:20:70 and 20:30:50. Exceptions to this are noted below.
Astronomy, Physics and Statistics are equally weighted across years 3, 4 and 5; Mathematics (24:36:40).
5.3.2 For the degree of MSci with work placement as specified in §7, a work placement shall be undertaken in an industrial, research, or similar establishment. The College shall approve a proposed work placement only if it is satisfied that the work to be undertaken will make a substantial contribution to the objectives of the candidate’s Degree programme. The work shall be supervised by a responsible person approved by the College, and shall be monitored by a member of academic staff of the University of Glasgow nominated by the College. Candidates require a grade of C3 or above for the work placement to be eligible for the award of MSci.
5.4 Early Exit Points
5.4.1 Certificate of Higher Education (General Science)
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13 shall apply with the following additional requirements.
A candidate may be awarded the Certificate of Higher Education (General Science) where at least 80 of the credits are in Science courses as defined in §4.1 and §4.2.
5.4.2 Diploma of Higher Education (General Science)
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §12 shall apply with the following additional requirements.
A candidate may be awarded the Diploma in Higher Education (General Science) where at least 140 of the credits contributing to the award are in Science courses as defined in §4.1 and §4.2.
5.4.3 Degree of BSc in a Designated Subject with Work Placement
The Degree of BSc in a Designated Subject may be awarded ‘with Work Placement’ to a candidate on the MSci programme who has achieved at least a grade D3 for the work placement of an MSci degree and is qualified for the award of a BSc in a Designated Subject as in §5.1. The degree shall be awarded with Merit and Distinction as specified in §5.1; the work placement will not contribute to the grade point average for these calculations.
5.4.4 Degree of BSc (Honours) with Work Placement
The Degree of BSc (Honours) may be awarded ‘with Work Placement’ to a candidate on the MSci programme who has achieved at least a grade D3 for the work placement year and is qualified for the award of Degree of BSc Honours as specified in §5.2. The calculation of the final BSc Honours classification is based on weightings from levels 3 and H as stated in §5.2.
5.4.5 Degree of BSc (Honours) as an MSci Exit Point
A candidate who fails to complete the final year of a five-year MSci programme may be awarded a BSc Honours Degree subject to the candidate satisfying published School conditions for such an award, consistent with Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16.
6. Other Information on Awards
6.1 Study for the awards of BSc and MSci (listed in §7 and §8) at the University of Glasgow
Normally, the Principal Subject in the curriculum for the Degree of BSc with Honours or the Degree of MSci shall be the candidate’s sole subject of study during the session immediately preceding their final examination, except by prior agreement of the Schools concerned. The study of the Principal Subject shall extend over not less than two sessions of full-time study; and where the Principal Subject itself is not studied over at least three sessions, the study of the Principal Subject shall be preceded by the study of appropriate cognate subjects.
A candidate who is exempted from courses on the basis of studies undertaken elsewhere (as described in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §4) shall attend courses in the University of Glasgow for at least one session for the Degree of BSc in a Designated Subject, or for at least two sessions for the Degree of BSc with Honours or the Degree of MSci. Each candidate for the Degree of BSc with Honours or the Degree of MSci must attend the University of Glasgow during the final year of their curriculum, except where that final year is an approved work placement year, and may be required by the Head of School concerned to attend the University of Glasgow during the final two years of their curriculum.
A candidate in Life Sciences[2] may not enrol for a level 3 study abroad year followed immediately by a work placement (MSci) year.
A candidate in Life Sciences may enrol for a study abroad single semester (Semester 1) in level 3 and remain eligible to apply for a work placement (MSci) year.
7. Degrees to which these Regulations Apply
The following degrees in lists 1(a) and 1(b) are governed by the above Regulations.
List 1(a) Single Degree Subjects
| Subject | BSc Designated Subject | BSc (Hons) Principal Subject | MSci Principal Subject | MSci Principal Subject with Work Placement |
| Anatomy[3] | * | * | * | |
| Animal Biology[3] | * | |||
| Aquatic Biology[3] | * | |||
| Archaeological Studies | * | |||
| Archaeology | * | |||
| Biochemistry[3] | * | * | * | |
| Biomolecular Sciences[3] | * | |||
| Chemical Physics | * | * | * | * |
| Chemical Studies | * | |||
| Chemistry | * | * | * | * |
| Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry | * | * | * | * |
| Computing Science | * | |||
| Earth Studies | * | |||
| Electronic & Software Engineering | * | |||
| Environmental Geoscience | * | * | ||
| Genetics[3] | * | * | * | |
| Geography | * | * | ||
| Geology | * | * | * | |
| Human Biology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Human Biology & Nutrition[3] | * | * | ||
| Human Life Sciences[3] | * | |||
| Immunology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Infection Biology[3] | * | |||
| Informatics | * | * | * | |
| Marine & Freshwater Biology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Mathematics | * | * | * | |
| Mathematics & Statistics | * | |||
| Materials Chemistry | * | * | * | |
| Microbiology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Molecular & Cellular Biology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Molecular & Cellular Biology (with Biotechnology)[3] | * | * | * | |
| Molecular & Cellular Biology (with Plant Science)[3] | * | * | * | |
| Neuroscience[3] | * | * | * | |
| Pharmacology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Physics | * | * | * | |
| Physics with Astrophysics | * | * | * | |
| Physiology[3] | * | * | * | |
| Physiology & Sports Science[3] | * | * | * | |
| Physiology, Sport Science & Nutrition[3] | * | * | ||
| Psychological Studies | * | |||
| Psychology | * | |||
| Software Engineering | * | |||
| Sports Science[3] | * | |||
| Statistics[4] | * | * | * | * |
| Theoretical Physics | * | * | ||
| Zoology[3] | * | * | * |
List 1(b) Combined Degree Subjects
| Subject Combination | BSc Designated Subject | BSc (Hons) Principal Subject | MSci Principal Subject |
| Accounting and Mathematics | * | * | |
| Accounting and Pure Mathematics | * | * | |
| Accounting and Statistics | * | * | |
| Applied Mathematics and Business and Management | * | ||
| Applied Mathematics and Economics | * | ||
| Applied Mathematics and Physics | * | * | * |
| Applied Mathematics and Statistics | * | * | * |
| Archaeology and Earth Science | * | * | |
| Archaeology and Geography | * | * | |
| Astronomy and Mathematics | * | * | * |
| Astronomy and Physics | * | * | * |
| Chemistry and Mathematics | * | * | * |
| Computing Science and Economics | * | ||
| Computing Science and Geography | * | * | |
| Computing Science and Physics | * | * | * |
| Computing Science and Psychology | * | ||
| Computing Science and Statistics | * | * | |
| Finance and Mathematics | * | * | |
| Finance and Statistics | * | * | |
| Geography and Mathematics | * | * | |
| Mathematics and Business & Management | * | ||
| Mathematics and Economics | * | ||
| Mathematics and Philosophy | * | ||
| Mathematics and Physics | * | * | * |
| Mathematics and Psychology | * | ||
| Mathematics and Statistics | * | * | * |
| Psychological Studies and Computing Science | * | ||
| Psychological Studies and Mathematics | * | ||
| Psychological Studies and Statistics | * | ||
| Psychology and Neuroscience | * | * | |
| Psychology and Statistics | * | ||
| Pure Mathematics and Business & Management | * | * | |
| Pure Mathematics and Economics | * | * | |
| Pure Mathematics and Philosophy | * | * | |
| Pure Mathematics and Physics | * | * | |
| Pure Mathematics and Psychology | * | * | |
| Pure Mathematics and Statistics | * | * | |
| Statistics and Business & Management | * | ||
| Statistics and Economics | * | * |
8. Degrees which include Variations to Clauses 3.3 b), 3.4 b), 5.2 and 5.3
Degrees governed by §1 - §6 above with variations to §3.3 b) and §5.2:
BSc (Hons) Computing Science
BSc (Hons) Software Engineering
BSc (Hons) Electronics & Software Engineering
Amended §3.3 b) and §5.2 apply:
3.3 b) Progress Requirements
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §10.2 applies with the following additional requirements:
a) grade E3 or above in all courses;
b) grade D3 or above in 100 credits.
5.2 Degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) with Honours
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16 applies with the following additional requirements:
a) achieve grade E3 or above in all courses in the final year;
b) achieve grade D3 or above in 100 credits in the final year.
The calculation of the final BSc Honours classification is based on a contribution of 60% from final year courses and 40% from third year courses where these courses are of equal credit rating.
Degrees governed by §1 - §6 above with variations to §3.4 b) and §5.3:
MSci Computing Science
MSci Software Engineering
MSci Software Engineering with Work Placement
Amended §3.4 b) and §5.3 apply:
3.4 b) Progress Requirements
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §10.3 applies with the following additional requirements:
a) grade E3 or above in all courses;
b) grade D3 or above in 100 credits.
5.3 Degree of Master in Science
5.3.1 Generic Undergraduate Regulation §17 applies with the following additional requirements:
In order to graduate, a candidate must:
a) achieve grade E3 or better in all courses in the final year;
b) achieve grade D3 or better in 100 credits in the final year.
The calculation of the final classification for the MSci award is based on weightings of 24:36:40 from years 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
5.3.2 For the degree of MSci with Work Placement a work placement shall be undertaken in an industrial, research or similar establishment. The College shall approve a proposed work placement only if it is satisfied that the work to be undertaken will make a substantial contribution fo the objectives of the candidate's Degree programme. The work shall be supervised by a responsible person approved by the College, and shall be monitored by a member of academic staff of the University of Glasgow nominated by the College. Candidates require a grade of C3 or above for the work placement to be eligible for the award of MSci.
[1] 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 achieved a required grade point average, no further rounding is permitted. For example, a candidate achieving a grade point average of 8.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 9.0.
[2] 'Life Sciences' refers to degrees and awards from the Life Sciences Portfolio as noted in §7, List 1(a).
[3] These degrees are part of the Life Sciences Portfolio which are offered in the following Schools: Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; Infection & Immunity; Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; Molecular Biosciences; Psychology & Neuroscience.
[4] Also available as a Double degree arrangement with the University of Bologna.