July 2013 SOAS (University of London) REGULATIO S !

OR "OSTGRA#UATE TAUG$T %ASTERS STU#E TS These regulations must be read in conjunction with the Regulations for Students and the Guidance notes, procedures, and classification schemes relating to Taught Masters Programmes. 1 #efinition 1.1 A postgraduate taught degree comprises a) a programme of study beyond the standard first degree level which assumes the general level of educational competence implicit in the award of a first degree and which extends over a period equivalent to a minimum of one calendar year full time! and a satisfactory overall standard in a scheme of assessment appropriate to the degree programme concerned.

b)

ote to t&e re'ul(tion" These degrees may include programmes of study that are conversion courses! in which graduates in one discipline acquire #nowledge and develop a set of s#ills in another discipline. 2 "ro'r())es of Study $.1 $.$ %&A% offers programmes of study leading to the award of the degrees of ''(! (A! ((us! ()es and (%c. A postgraduate taught degree programme will normally consist of four elements! being three taught courses *or equivalent where half courses are ta#en) and a dissertation! or ten elements! being eight taught courses and a dissertation counting as two elements. ,rogrammes may be offered in conjunction with other institutions outside %&A%.

$.+ 3

#ur(tion of "ro'r())es +.1 ,rogrammes of study will normally be organised into one or more of the following categories" a) b) a programme of full time study! comprising four elements! followed over a period of one calendar year. a programme of part time study of two calendar years with the elements arranged in the pattern $-$! 1..-$..! $..-1..! 1-+! or +-1. /or students ta#ing three elements in one year! the three elements must be made up of two taught courses plus the dissertation. %tudents ta#ing three full taught courses *or the equivalent including half courses) in one year are classified as full time for fees purposes. The dissertation will normally be ta#en in the second year. a programme of part time study of three calendar years arranged with the elements arranged 1-1-$! 1-$-1! $-1-1. The dissertation will normally be ta#en in the second or third year. 1

c)

d)

a programme of part time study of four calendar years with one taught course in each year! with the taught course chosen as the dissertation course normally ta#en in the final year *''( only). a programme of full time study! comprising ten elements! followed over a period of one calendar year0 a programme of part time study of two calendar years arranged with four elements in the first year and four elements and the dissertation *counting as two elements) in the second year0 a programme of part time study of three calendar years arranged with three taught elements in each of the first two years and two taught elements and the dissertation in the third year.

e) f)

g)

+.$ +.+ *

1nder +.1 above! an element constitutes a taught course! two taught half courses or the dissertation. %tudents must register at the beginning of their programme of study in the category of programme for which they have been offered a place.

+u(lifi,(tions for Entry 2.1 The general minimum entrance qualification for registration for a postgraduate taught degree is" a) an 1pper %econd 3lass 4onours degree of a 15 university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard obtained after a course of study extending over not less than three years in a university *or educational institution of university ran#)! in a subject appropriate to that of the programme of study to be followed0 or a professional or other qualification obtained by written examination and approved by %&A%.

b) 2.$

Applicants possessing alternative qualifications obtained by written examination may also be considered for registration for a taught postgraduate degree. They may be required to pursue a qualifying programme of study before being admitted or may have to pass a qualifying examination. 6n addition to 2.1 or 2.$! an applicant for registration will be required to meet any additional entrance requirements specified for the relevant programme. An applicant for registration will also be required to satisfy any specified 7nglish language requirements.

2.+ 2.2 -

.l(ss (ttend(n,e re/uire)ents (for students (d)itted in (nd (fter Se0te)1er 2010) ..1 or)(l e20e,t(tion of ,l(ss (ttend(n,e 6n order to benefit fully from their courses! students are expected to attend all relevant and8or required classes! which include! as appropriate to the course! lectures! tutorials! seminars! language classes! and practical sessions. ..$ Attend(n,e re/uire)ents

To satisfy the requirements of ..1! a student! unless absent for good cause *see ..9)! must satisfy the class attendance requirements specified for each course! which will be published. ..+ Attend(n,e (nd ot&er re/uire)ents for students re0e(tin' ( ,ourse %tudents who have applied for and have been given permission to repeat *: re attend) a course must meet the normal class attendance requirements for the course! and must submit fully and promptly all required coursewor#! and must underta#e all forms of assessment for the course! as if ta#ing the course for the first time. This includes underta#ing assessment in elements of assessment even if the mar# previously obtained in that element of assessment was .;< or more. ..2 Attend(n,e re/uire)ents for ,ourses t(3en (t ot&er .olle'es of t&e University of London %tudents ta#ing courses at other 3olleges of the 1niversity of 'ondon must comply with the attendance requirements of the course and 3ollege concerned. ... Students 4&o f(il to )eet t&e (ttend(n,e re/uire)ents ,rogramme 3onvenors will inform the 4ead of )egistry of the names of students who! after reasonable warning! fail to meet the attendance requirements of regulation ..$. The appropriate Associate =ean of the relevant /aculty or /aculties will review each case! and will decide what further action should be ta#en. %&A% may withdraw permission to ta#e examinations or terminate the programme of students who persistently fail to meet the attendance requirements. ..9 #eter)in(tion of 'ood ,(use A student>s ,rogramme 3onvenor will determine whether his or her failure to meet the class attendance requirements of regulation ..$ was for good cause. 3ertification will be required if the claim for good cause rests on medical grounds or other circumstances for which certification can appropriately be provided. 5 Assess)ent 9.1 the 9.$ Assessment will be conducted in accordance with the General Instructions for Appointment of Examiners and the Conduct of Examinations for Postgraduate Taught egrees. A candidate shall enter for assessment in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations for Students! the relevant individual programme requirements and General )egulation +.1. Re/uire)ent to undert(3e (ll ele)ents of (ssess)ent (nd e2()in(tion (for students (d)itted in (nd (fter Se0te)1er 2010) %tudents following a course for an ''(! (A! ((us! ()es or (%c programme must underta#e all elements of assessment and examination prescribed for that course. Therefore *unless prevented by illness or other adequate cause for which certification must be provided) students must underta#e each element of assessment and examination prescribed for the course! and must submit sufficient wor# to enable them to be assessed or examined. *%ee also regulation ? below.) 9.2 To be eligible for the award of a degree a candidate must satisfy the examiners in the assessment prescribed for the programme within a period of two years from +

9.+

the satisfactory completion of the prescribed period of study. The requirement to complete within this time limit ta#es precedence over the opportunities for re assessment! re examination and deferral *see regulations 9.@! 9.A and 9.1$..). 9.. The examination for each written paper shall ta#e place on one occasion each year in (ay8Bune after completion of teaching. =issertations must be submitted by 1. %eptember in the year in which they are underta#en. Assessment will be underta#en in the year in which the relevant courses have been followed. =eferral of any part of the assessment! including coursewor# and unseen written examination! may exceptionally be granted for reasons found acceptable in the particular case. =eferral will normally be to the next occasion upon which the unseen written examination is held *(ay8Bune of the following year) or the date for coursewor# submission in the academic year following. Applications for deferral should be made on the appropriate form to the 7xaminations and Assessment (anager. ote" /or deferral of dissertation submission! see regulation 9.1$. 9.@ A student who does not at her8his first entry pass an element may re enter that course assessment on one occasion only. %uch re entry will be at the next following assessment except where a student has been granted permission to defer re entry until the assessment in the subsequent year. The opportunity for re assessment8re examination is subject to a student completing the programme within the specified time limit C see regulation 9.2. A student who passes one or more elements or half elements but fails to satisfy the examiners overall will only be permitted to be reassessed in those elements or half elements that are failed. A student who fails to obtain a mar# of at least .;< *the pass mar#) in an element *see +.$ for definition) may attempt to redeem such a failure on one occasion only! by the following means. 9.A.1 /or courses where coursewor# counts for ;< to $;< of the overall mar# for the course and the unseen written examination for ?;< or more *#nown as D?;8$; coursesE)! re assessment will be by means of a written examination only. Any mar#*s) for coursewor# submitted as part of the assessment for that course will be carried forward and amalgamated with the mar# achieved in the resit examination. 9.A.$ /or courses where coursewor# counts for more than $;< of the overall assessment for the course !except for courses "hich are assessed #$ one piece of course"or% counting at &''( ) see #elo"* ! candidates may attempt to redeem their failure by resubmitting any items of coursewor# for which they have obtained a mar# below .;< *except coursewor# which is deemed non repeatable)! and by resitting the written examination for the course if they obtained a mar# below .;< in the original written examination. Any coursewor# mar#s of .;< or above! any coursewor# mar#s for non repeatable assessments and any written examination mar#s of .;< or above will be carried forward and amalgamated with the mar#s achieved in the re entry. 9.A.+ /or courses assessed by one piece of coursewor# counting at 1;;<! re assessment will consist of resubmission of the piece of wor# by the next normal deadline for submission of such wor#. This will also apply in cases where the wor# was not originally submitted for assessment and deferral had not been agreed *and where! therefore! a mar# of ;< will have been awarded).

9.9

9.?

9.A

otes to t&e re'ul(tion" *1) Fritten examinations are held only in (ay8Bune each year. 3oursewor# must be resubmitted by the normal submission date for the relevant course in the academic year following that in which it was originally submitted. *$) 6f an item of coursewor# was not originally submitted! GresubmissionH is not permitted. 6f an item of coursewor# received a mar# below .;< because of late submission *i.e. it would have obtained a mar# of at least .;< had it not been submitted late)! any resubmission must be on a different topic as agreed by the course convenor. There can be no resubmission of non repeatable coursewor# or repetition of non repeatable elements of assessment such as seminar presentations without re attending the course *for definitions! see programme handboo#s). *+) The opportunity for re assessment8re examination is subject to a student completing the programme within the specified time limit C see regulation 9.2. 9.1; The overall mar# for any course*s) passed as a result of re entry following initial failure will be capped at .;< and reported as such in mar#s profiles and transcripts. The capped mar# will be used for the calculation of the overall degree result *,ass! (erit! =istinction). 6f a student is granted permission to reta#e a course *involving re enrolment! re attendance! submission de no+o of all coursewor# elements and the *re ) ta#ing of any written examination*s) prescribed for the course)! the new overall mar# obtained will not be subject to capping. #e(dlines for su1)ission of ,ourse4or3 9.11.1 The %&A% deadline for the submission of any coursewor# is 19.;; on the /riday immediately before the beginning of the (ay8Bune examination period of the academic year in which the course is ta#en. Io mar#s will be awarded for any coursewor# submitted after this deadline. 9.11.$ 3oursewor# which is submitted after the prescribed coursewor# deadline *but not after the %&A% deadline C see 9.11.1) will be mar#ed! but the mar# awarded will be reduced by the relevant %ub Joard of 7xaminers by $ percentage points for each wor#ing day *i.e. (onday to /riday) that the wor# is late *i.e. submitted after 19.;; on the day in question). This reduction of mar#s will not apply if the relevant %ub Joard of 7xaminers determines that there is good cause for the late submission. 3ertification will be required if the claim for good cause rests on medical grounds or other circumstances for which certification can appropriately be provided. KIote" DFor#ing dayE is any day (onday to /riday that %&A% is open! including such days in the vacations.L 9.1$ #e(dlines for dissert(tion su1)ission 6 for students (d)itted in (nd (fter Se0te)1er 20107 9.1$.1 The dissertation deadline is 19.;; on 1. %eptember of the year in which the dissertation is underta#en. This is the time and date by which a dissertation must be submitted to avoid the possibility of a penalty for late submission. 6f 1. %eptember falls on a %aturday or %unday! then the deadline is 19.;; on the (onday immediately following 1. %eptember. 9.1$.$ The %&A% deadline for the submission of a dissertation is 19.;; on +; %eptember. Io mar#s will be awarded for a dissertation submitted after 19.;; on +; %eptember! unless an application has been made and approved permitting submission in the following academic year. 6f +; %eptember falls on a %aturday or %unday! then the deadline is 19.;; on the (onday immediately following +; %eptember. .

9.11

9.1$.+ A dissertation that is submitted after the dissertation deadline of 19.;; on 1. %eptember but before the %&A% deadline of 19.;; on +; %eptember will be mar#ed! but the mar# awarded will be reduced by the relevant %ub Joard of 7xaminers by $ percentage points for each wor#ing day *i.e. (onday to /riday) that the wor# is late *i.e. submitted after 19.;; on the day in question). This reduction of mar#s will not apply if the relevant %ub Joard of 7xaminers determines that there is good cause for the late submission. 3ertification will be required if the claim for good cause rests on medical grounds or other circumstances for which certification can appropriately be provided. KIote" DFor#ing dayE is any day (onday to /riday that %&A% is open! including such days in the vacation.L 9.1$.2 %tudents who submit a dissertation after 19.;; on 1. %eptember but before 19.;; on +; %eptember must submit it in the normal way. 6f there is medical evidence or evidence of other extenuating circumstances relating to the late submission! the evidence must be attached to the dissertation submission form when the wor# is submitted. There is no procedure for granting submission extensions in the period 1. to +; %eptember or in advance of this period. Io member of staff has the authority to grant such an extension *this includes dissertation supervisors! ,rogramme 3onvenors! Associate =eans! /aculty &ffice staff and )egistry staff). 9.1$.. %tudents who wish to apply for a long term deferral of submission *for submission in the period 1 &ctober to 1. %eptember in the year following that in which the dissertation is underta#en) must do so by means of the dissertation submission deferral application form! obtainable from the 7xaminations and Assessments (anager *examsMsoas.ac.u#). The results for dissertations approved for submission in the period 1 &ctober to 1. %eptember of the year following will be considered by the relevant %ub Joard of 7xaminers in Iovember of the year following. The award date! if the student is successful! will be 1 =ecember. There will therefore be a yearEs delay in the award in the case of long term deferral. The opportunity to apply for a long term deferral is subject to a student completing the programme within the specified time limit C see reg. 9.2. 9.1+ Or(l e2()in(tion ,overin' ( ,(ndid(te8s entire field of study (for students (d)itted in (nd (fter Se0te)1er 2013) The examiners may test any candidate by means of an oral examination! which may cover the candidateEs entire field of study. *Iote" This oral examination is a viva voce examination in addition to any other prescribed methods of assessment and examination. 6t is distinct from the oral examination which may! for instance! form part of the assessment for a language acquistition course.) 9 %(r3in' of over6len't& ,ourse4or3 (nd dissert(tions @.1 %cope of the policy. The policy set out in this regulation covers courses assessed wholly or partly by coursewor#. 6t covers coursewor# of all sorts! including essays! reports and dissertations. Ford limits. The word limit prescribed for each piece of assessed coursewor# is a maximum. Assessments are designed to enable students to achieve excellent mar#s without writing to the limit. There is consequently no specific penalty for wor# that is under length. 1nder length wor# is dealt with by the normal provisions of the mar#ing scheme. ,rovision of a word count. %tudents must provide an accurate word count on the cover sheet for all coursewor# submitted for assessment. 7xaminers will normally give students the benefit of the doubt and will regard small undeclared 9

@.$

@.+

over runs as genuine errors of calculation! but significant inaccuracies in declared word counts will be treated as an offence under the regulation governing examination and assessment offences. @.2 =efinition of word count. Ford count is defined as the number of words contained in the submitted wor# including quotations! footnotes! titles! abstracts! summaries and tables of contents. Appendices and bibliographies are not included in the word count. Appendices will not normally be mar#ed and they must not include material essential to the argument developed in the main body of the wor#. Ford count" special provisions. Fhere wor# is expected to include significant amounts of non textual content *e.g. musical or mathematical notation or linguistic structure diagrams)! specific word count guidance will be provided for each assignment. Fhere wor# is expected to include the presentation of foreign language material with significant use of interlinear glosses and idiomatic translations! specific word count guidance will be provided for each assignment. ,enalty scale for over length coursewor#

@..

@.9

(ar#s will be deducted for wor# that exceeds the prescribed word limit on a sliding scale" E2,ess Len't& 1p to and including1;< (ore than 1;< up to and including $;< (ore than $;< up to and including +;< (ore than +;< %(r3 #edu,tion ("er,ent('e 0oints) . percentage points 1; percentage points 1. percentage points The wor# may be submitted and will be accepted. 6t will not be mar#ed but will be assigned a grade of ;.

@.@

)evision and resubmission of coursewor# that has been subject to a penalty for being over length. &ver length coursewor# for which the mar# after penalty is .; or more may not be revised and resubmitted. &ver length coursewor# for which the mar# after penalty is 2A or less may not be revised and resubmitted if the course of which it forms a part has been passed. &ver length coursewor# for which the mar# after penalty is 2A or less may be revised and resubmitted if the course of which it forms a part has been failed *unless the course is an ?;8$; course C see regulation 9.A.1). 6f resubmission is permitted it will be on the normal submission date in the academic year following! and will be subject to the coursewor# being a repeatable element of assessment. 3apping of the overall mar# for the course will apply as appropriate. 3oursewor# subject to a penalty for late submission (nd to a penalty for over length. 6f coursewor# is submitted late (nd is over length! the penalty for late submission will be applied first. 6f! as a result! the coursewor# mar# is 2A or less then if resubmission is permitted *see @.@ above) the coursewor# must be on a new topic *see regulation 9.A note $).

@.?

E2()in(tion entry (for students (d)itted in (nd (fter Se0te)1er 2010) To be eligible to enter for and ta#e an unseen written examination for a course! students must have satisfied the attendance requirements of regulation .. %tudents who fail to meet the attendance requirements of regulation . may have their permission to enter for the examination withdrawn. To receive credit for an unseen written examination! students must also have underta#en each element of assessment and submitted all coursewor# prescribed for the course! and must have submitted sufficient wor# to enable them to be assessed *see regulation 9.+).

S0e,i(l Assess)ents "(nel @

A.1

General %tudents may apply to the %pecial Assessments ,anel *%A,). Applications must be made in writing via the 7xaminations and Assessments (anager. The deadlines for submissions are set out in this regulation and in the document Procedure for the Consideration of Special Assessment Arrangements ! copies of which may be obtained from the 7xaminations and Assessments (anager. 6f the application is made on medical grounds! it must be supported by a medical certificate and8or statement*s) from suitably qualified practitioner*s).

A.$

Absence through short term illness! accident or short term good cause %tudents may apply to the %A, if they are prevented from attending any examination or from submitting coursewor# for a course assessed solely by coursewor#! if the cause is short term illness! accident! or other short term good cause acceptable to the %A,. All applications must state the course for which a candidate is applying for special assessment arrangements and be accompanied by supporting documentation such as a medical certificate. The deadline for applications to be received is the /riday immediately following the last examination held in the relevant (ay8Bune examination period. %tudents are not eligible to apply to the %A, if they are absent from an examination without good cause! or if they fail without good cause to submit coursewor# for a course assessed solely by coursewor#. %tudents are not eligible to apply to the %A, if they attended an examination or submitted coursewor# for a course assessed solely by coursewor#! but are dissatisfied with their performance. 6f there were extenuating which students consider affected their performance! they should supply details to the 7xaminations and Assessments (anager by the appropriate deadline.

A.+

%tudents with long term disabilities! long term health problems or long term good cause %tudents may apply to the %A, for special assessment on grounds of long term disabilities! long term health problems! or long term good cause acceptable to the %A,. The application must be made in writing to the 7xaminations and Assessments (anager at least three months before the beginning of the relevant examination period. All applications must be accompanied by supporting evidence such as a medical certificate or up to date statement*s) from suitably qualified practitioner*s).

10

otifi,(tion of Results 1;.1 1;.$ After the examiners have reached a decision! students will be notified by the =irector of %tudent and )egistry %ervices of the results of their courses A diploma will be delivered to each student who has been awarded a degree. The date of award of the degree will be +1 Buly or +1 =ecember.

11

Sus0ension of re'ul(tions Applications for suspension of these regulations may be approved by the relevant Associate =ean. 6f suspension is approved! the case will be reported in anonymous form to the next meeting of the relevant /aculty 'earning and Teaching 3ommittee.