Regulations Governing Taught Postgraduate Courses

***Amendments to Regulation 37 were last approved by the University Council at the meeting held on 17 May 2018, with changes taking immediate effect. The previous version, which applies to all decisions taken by Boards of Examiners prior to the 2 October 2017, can be viewed here.***

Notes

1. Where the post of a University official is named in the Regulation, this refers to the member of staff concerned or his/her authorised nominee.

 

2. Text in italics is included to provide explanation. Sub-headings in italics are intended to help users of the regulations to find the relevant section.

 This Regulation applies to taught postgraduate courses at the University. These courses fall within level 7 of the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. This Regulation sets out a list of qualifications awarded and general requirements and procedures. The Regulation should be read alongside the detailed information on individual courses, including course length and assessment methods, set out in the Course Regulations and departmental information.

37.1 Taught postgraduate qualifications covered by this Regulation

Masters degrees

Postgraduate Diploma

Postgraduate Certificate

Postgraduate Award

The Univesity defines a Master of Research (MRes) as a taught qualification, governed by this Regulation. Masters by Research ('MA/MSc/LLM by Research') degrees awarded on the basis of research are covered by Regulation 38: Governing Research Degrees. Integrated Masters degrees awarded following an integrated undergraduate course are covered by Regulation 8 for First Degrees.

 

37.2 Course and duration of study

1. Students may register for approved courses of study. In order to achieve a qualification a student must meet the requirements set out in the relevant Course Regulations.

 

2. The minimum and maximum periods of study for taught postgraduate courses as set out below is approved by the Senate. Information on the length of individual courses is set out in the Course Regulations.

Qualification	Full-time Minimum	Part-time Minimum	Part-time Maximum	Minimum credit at level 7
Master’s	1 year	2 years	8 years	180
Postgraduate Diploma	3 terms	6 terms	5 years	120
Postgraduate Certificate	1 term	2 terms	3 years	60
Postgraduate Award		1 year	1 year	20

 

3. Students registered for some part-time courses may be permitted to suspend their studies, if this is set out under the relevant Course Regulations, in line with the Regulation on Student Registration, Attendance and Progress.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

4. An applicant may request the accreditation for prior learning in line with the policy approved by the University. If accreditation is granted, the period of study may be reduced to take account of this, subject to the approval of the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies.

Changing registration to another course or qualification

5. A student may upgrade to a higher qualification subject to satisfactory progress, as specified at the time of admission to the course.

 

6. A student may, with the agreement of his/her department, seek permission from the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies to change mode of attendance or to transfer to a different taught postgraduate course or a research degree.

 

37.3 Examination procedures

1. Examination conventions must be in place for each course of study and are subject to approval as part of procedures for course approval and amendment. Examination conventions must set out the constitution for the Board of Examiners and specify the decisions open to the Board for each course. If an interim Board of Examiners is to be used, the examination conventions must also set out the constitution and remit of an interim Board, including the decisions open to it.

 

2. The membership of Boards of Examiners is appointed by the Steering Committee on behalf of the Senate on the recommendation of the Head of the Department concerned. The process for seeking approval for the membership of Boards of Examiners is set out by the Academic Office.

 

3. The quorum of the Board of Examiners shall be two-thirds of the full membership.

 

4. An external examiner must be present at a meeting of a final Board of Examiners that meets to take the decisions set out in section 4.2 below, unless prior approval has been obtained from the Vice-Chancellor, acting on behalf of the Senate. The decision of a final Board of Examiners is not valid without the assent of an external examiner.

 

5. An external examiner does not need to be present at a meeting of an interim Board of Examiners as set out in 4.1 below. However, the decisions set out in 4.1 (b) and (c) may only be taken in consultation with an external examiner.

6. Boards of Examiners are expected to abide by the requirements of the Senate Examination and Degree Conventions published by the Academic Office and the Policy on Remedying Failure in Assessments on Taught Postgraduate Degrees.

 

37.4 Decisions open to a Board of Examiners

Interim Boards

1. If a meeting of a Board of Examiners is used to determine whether students can proceed to the next part of the course, the Board shall reach one of the following decisions for each student:

(a) To permit the student to proceed to the next part of the course.

(b) To require the student to resit an examination, resubmit specified work or repeat a professional placement within a stated period. The Board may require the student to complete this successfully before proceeding.

(c) To require the student to withdraw from the course because of a failure to meet the requirements for proceeding to the next part of the course. In this instance the Board may recommend the award of an alternative qualification, if the student has met the requirements set out in the Course Regulations, or require the student to transfer to an alternative course if this is permitted under the Course Regulations.

Final Boards

2. A final Board of Examiners shall reach one of the following decisions for each student:

(a) To recommend the award of the qualification for which the student is registered.

 

(b) In the case of the award of a Master’s degree, to recommend the award of a Master’s degree with Distinction or a Master's degree with Merit.

 

(c) To require the student to resit an examination, resubmit specified work or repeat a professional placement within a stated period.

 

(d) To recommend the award of a qualification other than that for which the student is registered, if the student has met the requirements for the award set out in the Course Regulations.

 

(e) To require the student to transfer to an alternative course if this is permitted under the Course Regulations.

(f) To make no award.

3. If a Board of Examiners requires a resit or the resubmission of assessed work, this shall normally be as a final attempt.

4. The examiners may require a student to attend an oral examination, which must be completed satisfactorily in order to meet the requirements for the award of the qualification.

5. The recommendations of Boards of Examiners are subject to approval by the Senate.

Regulations applying to collaborative taught postgraduate courses

 

Jointly with Hong Kong Polytechnic University (37.6)

MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Business Management

MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Manufacturing Systems Engineering

 

Jointly with the University of Birmingham (37.7)

MA and Postgraduate Diploma in Italian Studies: Culture and Communication