Regulation C6

1. Scope

1.1 These Regulations shall apply to students registered on Levels 6 and 7 of an Integrated Master’s Degree.

1.2 Students registered on Level 4 or 5 who intend to proceed to the Integrated Masters Degrees covered by this Regulation shall during Level 4 and 5 be subject to the provisions of Regulation C3 Bachelors Degrees.

1.3 The Definitions as set out in Regulation C3 shall also apply to this Regulation.

1.4 The Definition of Level 7 as set out in Regulation C7 Taught Postgraduate Degrees shall also apply to this Regulation.

2. Admission

2.1 Any student offered admission under these regulations shall be required to, as a minimum:

(a) meet such general entrance requirements as may be specified by Senate from time to time; and

(b) meet any particular requirements for the course applied for; and

(c) enrol in each session with the University by a date to be determined by the University Executive Committee; and

(d) provide a valid UK contact address at all times whilst enrolled as a student; and

(e) students who do not abide by points a-d will be withdrawn from the University

2.2 In line with the University’s APL Policy, applicants may be admitted with advanced standing if they hold up to 240 credits at Level 4 or above, provided that no exemption shall be accorded for Level 6 or Level 7 modules.

2.3 Course regulations will specify whether combined honours and single honours students are eligible to transfer onto an Integrated Masters programme. This transfer would normally be completed prior to the start of Level 6 but students who study on a Bachelors programme which shares all or at least the compulsory modules with the Integrated Masters programme may transfer during the study of Level 6 up to the start of semester 2.

2.4 Applicants requiring student visa route sponsorship to study in the UK must not only meet the entrance criteria for the course but also the requirements, rules and responsibilities of the UK Home Office for sponsorship. Therefore, an offer of a place does not guarantee automatic student visa route sponsorship and is at the discretion of the University.

3. Course Regulations

3.1 There shall be course regulations in a form approved by Senate.

3.2 All course regulations shall require the approval of Senate.

4. Modules

4.1 The credit value for any module shall be determined by reference to a common currency whereby one unit of credit represents the typical outcome of 10 hours of study.

5. Structure of the Masters Award

5.1 A programme of study leading to the award of an Integrated Master’s degree under this Regulation shall consist of modules to the value of at least 480 credits, including the following:

(a) at least 120 credits at Level 4 or higher;

(b) at least 120 credits at Level 5 or higher;

(c) at least 120 credits at Level 6 or higher;

(d) at least 120 credits at Level 7.

6. Time-Limit

6.1 The time-limit for a Student to complete their programme of study shall be as stated in Regulation C1.

7. Assessment

7.1 All modules shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation C3.8.

7.2 The minimum mark for a pass in each module at Level 6 shall be 40%. Where a student satisfies the examiners in a module, they shall be awarded the appropriate credits at the specified level.

7.3 Where the board of examiners has confirmed that a student has failed one or more Level 6 modules and reassessment is still available, the student may then be reassessed in any Level 6 modules completed with a mark below 40.

7.4  The minimum mark for a pass in each module at Level 7 shall be 50%. Where a student satisfies the examiners in a module, they shall be awarded the appropriate credits at the specified level.

8. Appropriate Engagement With Studies and Assessments

8.1 Any student failing to engage appropriately with their studies within two weeks of a final academic warning being issued may be withdrawn from the University by the Director of Student and Academic Services or nominee at any stage in the programme.  Failure to engage appropriately with studies shall include non-attendance at compulsory learning and teaching events and/or failure to submit assessments without prior consent.

8.2 Any Student failing to engage appropriately with assessments, without prior consent, may be withdrawn from the University by the Academic Registrar or nominee within two weeks of the formal communication of each semester’s module results to Students.  A Student will be deemed to have failed to engage with their assessments if they obtain a mark of 10 or below in 50% or more of the modules they have studied in the most recent semester.

8.3 Any student who is withdrawn as a result of 8.1 or 8.2 above will forfeit their entitlement to undertake any remaining assessment opportunities upon their failed modules, including assessment opportunities granted as a result of exceptional circumstances.

9. Student Health and Wellbeing

9.1 Students must be in an adequate state of physical and mental health to enable them to continue with their studies. Information on Leave of Absence, which may be an option for those needing a break from their studies to support their health and wellbeing, is included in Regulation B4 Fitness to Study.

10. Progression

10.1 To progress from Level 5 of a BSc/Integrated Master’s Degree to Level 6 of the Integrated Master’s Degree a student must:

(a) satisfy the normal requirements for progression from Level 5 to Level 6 as set out in Regulation C3.11.3 and:

(b) obtain an average of at least 50% across all Level 5 modules unless otherwise specified in the course regulations.

10.2 To progress from Level 6 to Level 7 a student must at least satisfy the requirements under Regulation C3 for the award of an Honours Degree in the Lower Second Class Honours category.

10.3 Any student who fails to satisfy the requirements in paragraph 10.2 above shall revert to Honours Degree candidature and be considered for the award of an Honours Degree under the provisions of Regulation C3. The honours degree award title shall be such as is specified in the relevant programme specification.

11. Award

11.1 To qualify for the award of a Master’s Degree, a candidate must:

(a) have enrolled with the University before proceeding to the prescribed programme of study; and

(b) have paid all prescribed fees and charges; and

(c) have satisfactorily completed an approved full-time or part-time programme of study, within the maximum period of time defined by Ordinance.

11.2 A student who has pursued a programme of study consisting of modules to the equivalent of at least 480 credits and has satisfied the examiners in:

(a) a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4 or higher;

(b) and a minimum of 120 credits at Level 5 or higher;

(c) and a minimum of 120 credits at Level 6 or higher;

(d) and a minimum of 120 credits at Level 7;

shall be awarded the Master’s Degree.

11.3 Programme regulations shall state whether any condonement is available whereby credit will be awarded to a student for one or more modules of up to 45 credits* in total with a mark between 30 and 39 across Levels 4, 5 or 6 (with no more than 30 credits* at any one level of study) as well as one or more modules of up to 35 credits* in total with a mark of between 40 and 49 at Level 7.  [*excluding those classed as ‘Qualified Fails’.]

11.4 Only students who fail to achieve an integrated Master's degree at the first attempt and have a reassessment opportunity available on any failed Level 7 modules will be offered reassessment of those failed modules capped at 50%. These students will remain eligible for an integrated Master’s degree if reassessment is successfully completed to the standard required for an integrated Master’s degree. Any student who fails to satisfy the requirements for the award of an integrated Master’s Degree after such reassessment has taken place shall revert to Honours Degree candidature and be considered for the award of an Honours Degree under the provisions of Regulation C3. The honours degree award title shall be such as is specified in the relevant course regulations and the relevant course regulation shall specify whether students be entitled to any accreditation by a professional statutory or regulatory body.

12. Classification of Award

12.1 Students who have attained the required standard shall be awarded the degree with honours classification as follows:

(a) First Class Honours which is awarded based on an average module mark of at least 70%; OR an average module mark of at least 67% AND at least 60 Level 7 credits all gained from modules with a mark of 70 or higher.

(b) Second Class Honours Division I which is awarded based on an average module mark of at least 60%; OR an average module mark of at least 57% AND at least 60 Level 7 credits all gained from modules with a mark of 60 or higher.

(c) Second Class Honours Division II which is awarded based on an average module mark of at least 50%; OR an average module mark of at least 47% AND at least 60 Level 7 credits all gained from modules with a mark of 50 or higher.

12.2 For the purpose of the Master’s Degree with honours classification, modules shall contribute to the average module mark calculation as follows:

(a) Level 5 modules = 20%

(b) Level 6 modules = 30%

(c) Level 7 modules = 50%

12.4 Posthumous

(a) Any taught award of the University may be conferred posthumously where the death of a student occurs prior to their completion of the requirements for their award. A posthumous award may be accepted on the student's behalf by a parent, spouse or other appropriate individual. The award conferred in such circumstances will normally be as a minimum the next exit award for which the student would have been eligible, based on the stage of the programme of study they had commenced at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor in their capacity as Chair of Senate. All posthumous awards are unclassified.

(b) If the death of a student occurs after they have completed all the requirements for an award the award will not be considered posthumous and will, therefore, be classified. An award made in such circumstances may still be accepted on the student’s behalf by a parent, spouse, or other appropriate individual.

12.5 Aegrotat

(a) An Aegrotat award for incomplete study is an unclassified award that may be conferred in exceptional circumstances, such as in cases where a student's ability to complete an award is permanently compromised by severe illness once extenuating circumstances processes have been fully considered and followed as applicable. All Aegrotat awards are unclassified. All taught awards are available as Aegrotat awards, with the exception of degrees which are subject to fitness to practice requirements which shall not be awarded Aegrotat awards. The Pro Vice-Chancellor in their capacity as Chair of University Exam Board may exercise their discretion to recommend conferment of an Aegrotat award where the appropriate criteria have been met. As an Aegrotat award is a final exit award. It must be considered to be the conclusion of a student's study on a particular course and the implications of this must be agreed with the student prior to consideration of the award by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Chair of University Exam Board. Before a recommendation for an Aegrotat award is submitted, the student must have indicated that they are willing to accept the award and they understand that this involves waiving the right to be reassessed.