Degree of Master of Science

RESOLUTION

The Masters degrees listed in §11 are governed by Resolution No. 678 of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1.   The Masters Degrees listed in §11 of the section entitled ‘Regulations’ may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in the College of Science & Engineering.

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

These regulations apply to the degrees listed in §11.

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

The minimum period of study for the award of a Masters 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.

4.   Programme Components

4.1   In order to qualify for an award in respect of the programmes specified in §11, a candidate must complete minimum credits[1] 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 – June) 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[2] 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.

6.3   The threshold grade referred to in §16.6 of the Code of Assessment (Provision for Reassessment) shall be grade D for all courses on the degrees governed by these regulations. The number of grade points derived from the final result for a course following reassessment shall not be more than 9.

7.   Candidates for a Masters Degree: Progress

7.1   A candidate will be permitted to progress to preparation of the substantial independent work required by the degree, only if they either:

a)   have met the requirements in relation to taught courses specified in §9.1 for the award of a Masters degree; or

b)   have at the first attempt met the requirements specified in §10.1 for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma and can meet the requirements in relation to taught courses specified in §9.1 for the award of a Masters degree following reassessment in no more than 20 credits of courses.

7.2   A candidate who has commenced study midway through an academic session will be permitted to progress to preparation of the substantial independent work required by the degree, at the end of the session in which study was commenced only if they have at the first attempt met the requirements specified in §10.2 for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

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

7.4   A candidate 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.

7.5   Where a candidate is permitted or required to commence work on the substantial independent work before satisfying the progress requirements set out in §7.1 this 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 §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.

8.   Reassessment of the Substantial Independent Work

8.1   Where a candidate 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 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 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[2] of at least 9.0 in the taught courses described in §4, with at least 100 of these credits at grade D3 or above, and all credits at grade E3 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.[4]

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[2] of at least 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 at least 9.0 in 60 credits, with not less than 40 of these credits at grade D3 or above.

10.3   §10.4 and §10.5 refer 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.[4]

10.4   A candidate satisfying the requirements set out in §10.1 or §10.2 who has achieved a grade point average of at least 14.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate respectively with Merit. Where the grade point average 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.

10.5   A candidate satisfying the requirements set out in §10.1 or §10.2 who has achieved a grade point average of at least 17.5 at the first sitting will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate respectively with Distinction. Where the grade point average 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.

11.   Degrees to which these Regulations Apply

The following degrees are governed by the above regulations:

College of Science & Engineering

Master of Science (MSc) Aerospace Engineering

Master of Science (MSc) Aerospace Engineering & Management

Master of Science (MSc) Biomedical Engineering

Master of Science (MSc) Civil Engineering

Master of Science (MSc) Civil Engineering & Management