INDIVIDUAL PRINTED COVER TO BE SUPPLIED BY EXTERNAL RELATIONS

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1 INDIVIDUAL PRINTED COVER TO BE SUPPLIED BY EXTERNAL RELATIONS

2 The information in this document refers to the academic session Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this Handbook is accurate at the time of going to press (September 2015), excludes errors of fact, and avoids ambiguity or overstatement, but the text is issued "errors and omissions excepted". This Handbook has been prepared for students of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and is not intended for use outside of the School. The information contained herein may be changed from time-to-time by the School. In the event of any inconsistency between the information contained herein and any other document, or where an interpretation may be required, the decision of the Academic Registrar shall be final. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London. WC1E 7HT Telephone: + 44 (0) registry@lshtm.ac.uk September 2015

3 CONTENTS Remove sections not used Page Introduction and Welcome from the MSc Course Director The Masters Teaching Programme 1. Course of Study 1.1 Academic calendar 1.2 The MSc Structure 1.3 Overview of Timetable if included 2. Modules of study 2.1 Schedules of modules 2.2 Descriptions of modules 2.3 Module choices 2.4 MSc course description and module availability 3. The Project Report 4. Assessments and Examinations 4.1 The credit system for award of degrees 4.2 Assessments and Exams during the academic year 4.3 Assessment arrangements, rules and procedures 4.4 Guidance about plagiarism, cheating and other assessment irregularities 5. Tutors and Tutorials 6. Guidance on studying at LSHTM 7. MSc specific information info re staff, professional societies etc 8. Administrative arrangements, policies and facilities 8.1 Key contacts 8.2 Course administrative arrangements 8.3 School administrative arrangements 8.4 Guidance on School policies 8.5 Safety and security 8.6 Student support and study facilities Appendices I Module information II. MSc marking scheme III.. Guidance on preparations for assessments NOTE: There are a number of documents including Formal Policies and Regulations on the School s intranet at:

4 INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME FROM THE MSc COURSE DIRECTOR Course Director to add The following paragraphs to be used in all cases as part of this section This Course Handbook should be read in conjunction with the School s Formal Policies and Regulations, the Pre-Registration Web pages and your Offer Letter. The School s Formal Policies and Regulations can be found at: There are other useful documents held on the School s website such as information on study skills. Information on the history of the School can be found here: Name MSc Course Director

5 1. COURSE OF STUDY 1.1 Academic Calendar The teaching for each Masters course is divided into three terms as shown below. Academic Session Term Dates Autumn Monday 28 September Friday 18 December 2015 Reading week: Monday 9 November Friday 13 November 2015 Spring Monday 11January Thursday 24 March 2016 Reading week: Monday 15 February Friday 19 February 2016 Summer Monday 18 April Friday 16 September 2016 Examinations: Wednesday 08 June and Friday 10 June 2016 Project Report hand in: XX September 2015 Classes are scheduled throughout Terms 1 and 2, except during Reading Weeks. Classes are not held during Reading Weeks, but these periods are intended for academic study and other sessions such as study skills and IT workshops are scheduled. In Term 3, classes are held in the second half of the first five weeks of Term 3 (finishing on Friday 22 May 2015); revision sessions and project preparation sessions will be scheduled during the other half of those weeks. After a period of revision, the written examinations are taken in June. During the remainder of the academic year (June, July and August) students undertake work to produce a Project Report on an approved subject. HPPF, Vet Epi, Global Mental Health, One Health to change to suit their structure Commented [I1]: Please add in dates as follows: PHP Monday 5 September 2016 EPH Tuesday 6 September 2016 ITD Wednesday7 September The MSc Structure The Masters programme is organised on a modular basis so that students take a range of modules during the year. Each Masters course has an approved menu of compulsory and elective modules which students register for, as detailed in Section 2 of this Handbook. The academic year starts with a one-week Orientation Period for all students. During this time students are introduced to the School and its staff, given time to settle into London and to meet the other students on their course. They are also introduced to some essential study skills, given guidance about Term 1 modules and allocated to a personal tutor.

6 TERM 1 International Students Welcome 24 September - 25 September 2015 Orientation Period 28 September 2 October 2015 Term 1 modules 5 October - 18 December 2015 Reading Week 9-13 November 2015 TERM 2 Monday - Wednesday Wednesday Friday C1 module C2 module 11 January February 2016 Reading Week February 2016 D1 module TERM 3 D2 module 22 February March 2016 Commented [jh2]: Day falls on a Saturday 25 th is Good Friday: Issue surrounding D2 submission Revision and project preparation E module 20 April May 2016 Final revision & Examination Examinations 8 and 10 June 2016 Project Report End of Academic Year To be submitted by XX September 2015 Friday 16 September 2016 Commented [I3]: Please add in da5es as follows: PHP Monday 5 September 2016 EPH Tuesday 6 September 2016 PHP Wednesday 7 September Overview of MSc Timetable Add in MSc Specific summary of timetable if wished

7 2.0 MODULES OF STUDY 2.1 Schedules of modules Term 1 Students take modules taught on a linear basis throughout the term chosen in consultation with their tutor or MSc Course Director. or ITD Students spend ten weeks following core modules chosen in consultation with their tutor or MSc Course Director. Courses to use one or other of the above paragraphs. Term 2 In Term 2 there are four module slots. Each Term 2 module runs for two and a half days a week during a five-week period. Modules in the first half of the week (C1 and D1) begin on Monday morning and end on Wednesday lunch time, and those in the second half of the week (C2 and D2) begin on Wednesday afternoon and finish on Friday afternoon. Some modules are linked and may not be studied separately. These have been timetabled so that they run consecutively. Linked modules in timetable slots C1 and C2 or in D1 and D2 will thus be studied for five full weeks; linked modules in timetable slots C1 and D1 or C2 and D2 will be studied over ten half weeks. MSc IID should add the following: Students undertaking extended projects start this from the D-slot, halfway through term 2, as part of an Extended Project Theory module. Term 3 In Term 3 there is one module slot, known as the E-slot, with sessions between Wednesday lunch time and Friday afternoon for a five-week period. MSc IID should add the following: Students undertaking extended projects do not attend formal module classes but will be engaged in project work (often in labs) during this time. Part-time study MSc Course Directors to add details of how Part-time students work under current course regulations. Information will differ according to the type of part-time study, i.e. Part-time throughout 2 years or Descriptions of modules Descriptions of individual modules (Module Specifications) can be found at ex.html The Module Specifications contain the following information: General Information including credit value of the module, Module Organiser details etc. Aims, Objectives and Audience - indicate the goals of the module, the intended learning outcomes each student should achieve by the end of the module, and which students it is principally aimed at. Content - an overview of sessions and themes/topics covered. Teaching, Learning and Assessment - describes the teaching methods used and method(s) of assessment contributing towards the final degree result (note some Term 1 modules do not have an integrated assessment contributing to the final degree, but may carry out progress tests during the module). Timing and mode of study - indicates the dates, duration and timetable slot of the module, mode of study, and total learning time associated with the module. Learning time is divided into Contact Time spent in scheduled sessions such as lectures, seminars, practicals; Directed Self-Study such as directed readings,

8 work in study groups; Self-Directed Learning such as background reading, researching topics; and Assessment, Review and Revision including time spent on the module assessment and later related activities such as revision for final examinations. Application and Admission indicates any prerequisites (background knowledge or experience that students must have to be able to enrol), as well as information on class numbers and how students are prioritised to enrol where numbers are limited. For those MSc Courses offering Mixed Mode Insert details here of which modules may be swapped in and out Full details on taking Distance Learning Modules by Mixed Mode can be found on the School Intranet at: Please note: Students enrolled at the School on a Tier 4 Student visa are not permitted to take Distance Learning modules as part of their MSc programme. The Home Office's guidance states that any study under Tier 4 must be full-time, classroom based learning that takes places within the UK. Distance learning courses or modules do not meet this definition and therefore are not accepted by the Home Office as leading to an approved qualification. 2.3 Module Choices Tables in Appendix I show the modules grouped in alphabetical order by Term for your Masters course. Where the appears, this indicates that the module is compulsory for your Masters course. When the symbol appears, this indicates recommended modules. Where the symbol appears, these are optional modules and students must consult with their MSc Course Director or Tutor as to the advisability of following them. Where there is no symbol the module is not normally available to students on your Masters course but in exceptional circumstances special case approval may be granted. Students will be allowed to make a maximum of one special case choice which must be formally approved by the MSc Course Director and the relevant Module Organiser. Students wishing to make a special case choice should complete the Application for special approval of a module choice form (TSO-MOD2) providing written justification as to why they should be allowed to take this module and obtain the relevant signatures before submitting their module choices by the published deadline. The form can be found on the Division of Education web pages or can be supplied by your MSc Course Administrator. Commented [mf4]: Changed from II to I All module choices are subject to final approval by the MSc Course Director. Consider the following before making your choices: If you need help please ask your Personal Tutor or MSc Course Director. (i) read the MSc Course Description given overleaf in section 2.4; (ii) consult the charts showing the modules available in Appendix I; Commented [mf5]: From II to I (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) consider the outlines of each module which can be found in the Module Handbook at ook/index.html choices should not be made simply on the basis of this Handbook - the advice of MSc Course Directors and Personal Tutors should always be sought; Module Organisers can supply more information about particular modules; further information on Term 1 choices will be given during the Orientation Period;

9 (vii) there will be a Module Fair on Monday 9th November 2015 to assist with Term 2 and 3 choices. Important information and deadlines for module choices You must ensure that module choices for Term 1 are submitted by 2.00 p.m. Friday 2 October You must ensure that module choices for Terms 2 and 3 are submitted by 2.00 p.m. Friday 20 November The School only allows changes to module choice after these deadlines in exceptional circumstances. In no circumstances will changes be allowed after the first week of the module commencing. An Application to Change Module Choice form (TSO-MOD1), must be completed. This can be found on the Teaching Support Office area of the Division of Education web pages or can be supplied by your MSc Course Administrator. Failure to do so will mean that you are incorrectly registered for a module and will automatically receive a zero mark (fail) for any assessments associated with that module. It is thus very important to make your choices carefully by the deadlines shown above. MSc Course Directors, Personal Tutors, Module Organisers, the Faculty Taught Course Directors, Teaching Support Office and Registry staff are there to provide help and guidance; do not be afraid to ask. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this Handbook is correct at the time of going to print, circumstances may require that some modules are cancelled (or that others are changed). For example, this may occur if insufficient numbers of students opt to attend a module. There will be a limit on the number of students permitted to take laboratory-based Term 2 and 3 modules due to safety regulations so this may mean students making alternative choices. 2.4 MSc Course Description and module availability MSc Course Description from Module Handbook to be reproduced here

10 3. THE PROJECT REPORT A separate Project Handbook, which will be published on your MSc page on Moodle, provides details about the requirements for the Project Report and further guidance will be provided by MSc Course Directors during Term 1. The key points are as follows: Objectives of the Project Report The Project Report is the culmination of your MSc studies at the School. As an independent piece of research on a topic relevant to your course, it should demonstrate the learning, understanding and skills you have developed in the subject. Projects are a vital element of MSc work; they are assessed and will contribute towards a substantial proportion of your final degree result. The Project Handbook gives details of the specific project marking scheme used, as well as further guidance on the kind of learning objectives your Report will need to demonstrate to markers reading it. Project types/approaches Students select a type of project on a topic of their interest. Different types of Report may be undertaken for example an analysis of work done or data collected prior to or during the course; a comprehensive and original review of the literature on a relevant subject; a review of a policy issue using data from grey and other literature and/or from original sources to draw conclusions and make policy recommendations; etc. The course-specific section of the Project Handbook gives details of the types of project permitted. Project lengths The Project Handbook gives details of the recommended and maximum permitted length for Project Reports. Some courses will specify a word limit, while others will specify a maximum number of pages in a set format. The course-specific section of the Project Handbook gives details. Project supervision You will be allocated a supervisor for your Project Report; this may be your personal tutor or another member of staff. Supervisors act as advisors, not collaborators they will discuss your project with you and will usually review one draft of the Report (you will need to agree timing for this well beforehand); but, for example, they are not expected to correct your English. You should expect to do most of the work independently. The Project Handbook gives further guidance on what you can or cannot expect your supervisor or personal tutor to do to support you with your project. Gaining approval to start a project You are required to get approval for your project before you begin work beyond the planning stage. The School has rigorous processes for this, to ensure that the proposed topic is academically suitable for the course, that safety and risk considerations have been taken into account, and that any ethical implications are considered and specific ethical approval sought if necessary. Any projects involving human participants, or human data, must be given formal ethical approval by the School before they can proceed. The term human data includes any documentary data (e.g. case studies, records from interviews etc.), datasets or biological samples. The only projects which will not require ethical approval by the School are those not involving human data whatsoever, or for which the only human data involved is fully in the public domain (i.e. available to any member of the public without having to register for use) and cannot directly or indirectly enable the identification of living people. MScs One Health and Veterinary Epidemiology You are required to get approval for your project before you begin work beyond the planning stage. The Royal Veterinary College has rigorous processes for this, to ensure that the proposed topic is academically suitable for the course, that safety and risk considerations have been taken into account, and that any ethical implications are considered and specific ethical approval sought if necessary. Commented [T6]: For all courses EXCEPT MScs One Health, Vet Epi and GMH Commented [T7]: For all MSc One Health and Vet Epi students only. Please do add anything more specific to this, if necessary, from their equivalent of the Project Handbook, bearing in mind what has been written above and below for other students.

11 MSc Global Mental Health You are required to get approval for your project before you begin work beyond the planning stage. The School and Kings College London have rigorous processes for this, to ensure that the proposed topic is academically suitable for the course, that safety and risk considerations have been taken into account, and that any ethical implications are considered and specific ethical approval sought if necessary. Students with a project supervisor based at the Institute of Psychiatry and whose proposed projects involve human participants or human data must be given formal ethical approval by Kings College London following their ethical approval processes before they can proceed. Students with a project supervisor based at the School and whose proposed projects involve human participants or human data must be given formal ethical approval by the School before they can proceed. The term human data includes any documentary data (e.g. case studies, records from interviews etc.), datasets or biological samples. The only projects which will not require ethical approval by the School or the Institute of Psychiatry are those not involving human data whatsoever, or for which the only human data involved is fully in the public domain (i.e. available to any member of the public without having to register for use) and cannot directly or indirectly enable the identification of living people. The Project Handbook gives full details of project approval procedures, including ethical approval. Commented [T8]: For GMH students only Commented [T9]: Or equivalent for MScs One Health, Vet Epi and GMH Project timescales and deadlines Because of the need to gain approval in good time before beginning work, you will need to start initial planning (thinking about your project topic, and developing an initial proposal) from early in the Spring term, if not before. While taking taught modules in the Spring term, you will also need to develop your proposal more fully, then get formal approval from your supervisor and Course Director(s), and possibly from other relevant persons such as the Ethics Committee. The main work of the project is expected to be undertaken over the summer, after the exams finish in June. Your final Report must be submitted by a set deadline. The Project Handbook sets out all key project dates and deadlines. Further information about projects The Project Handbook contains a great deal of further useful information or will direct you as to where to find out more on important topics such as laboratory and fieldwork safety, ethical approval, potential sources of funding, writing up your Project Report, recognising the contribution of others, and submission procedures and requirements for the final Project Report. Copies of past students projects are also available via the Library. Academic Writing The Academic Writing handbook also gives helpful guidance for writing up extended pieces of academic work like the project (especially how to cite and reference correctly). This is available at

12 4. ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS This section summarises the School's arrangements for assessment and examinations, leading to the award of credits, for Masters degree courses. More details are given in the Teaching Policies & Codes of Practice in the Formal Policies and Regulations at: and in the MSc Award Scheme given in Appendix II. Commented [mf10]: Changed from III to II The key points are given here. 4.1 The credit system for award of degrees All LSHTM MSc courses operate under the School s standard credit system. Credits are gained for passing the specific modules prescribed for the course (some of which may be compulsory), associated exams, and the project. These credits will be shown on final degree transcripts. Students are required to obtain 180 credits in total to be awarded a Masters degree. Commented [I11]: Course Directors should check carefully that the information included here is correct for their MSc as there are a number of differences between courses Major components of the credit system Each MSc has three major components Term 1 plus exams, modules in Terms 2 and 3, and the project as described in the following table: When What Credits Assessment Grades required to be awarded credits Term 1 (Oct-Dec) plus summer exams A range of taught modules of different sizes 60 credits (awarded as a block) Unseen written exams in the summer (Papers 1 & 2) Paper 1 = 1, and Paper 2 = 1, and Papers combined = 2 Terms 2 & 3 (Jan-May) Term 3 (June-Sept) 5 individual taught modules Research project 75 credits (15 credits per module) In-course assessment for each module A minimum mark of 2 is required for each module. (However, one module with a mark of can be compensated provided the combined GPA for all five modules is 2). 45 credits (a single piece of work) Project report (8,000-10,000 words) A minimum mark of 2 is required. Credits and learning time The credits assigned to different elements are based on the amount of time students are expected to spend on them. Each credit corresponds to 10 notional learning hours which will include all associated staff contact time (teaching, tutorials, seminars etc.), directed selfstudy (e.g. prescribed reading), self-directed learning (your own personal study, reading and research), and all assessment plus associated revision. Thus an MSc should entail approximately 1,800 hours of learning time. A one-year MSc is 51 weeks long, so full-time students should expect to study for approximately 36 hours per week normally more during term-time, and less during the periods between terms. Halftime students should expect to study for approximately 18 hours per week. Obtaining credits, and credit compensation Assessment uses a Grade Point Average (GPA) scheme, running from 5 (excellent) to 0 (very poor fail) and with a pass threshold of 2 (satisfactory). Full credits are awarded for passing each individual credit-bearing element. Credits are not awarded for failing, unless this can be compensated.

13 A borderline fail of an element can be compensated (i.e. credits awarded, without a requirement to re-sit) by better performance across the larger component of which it is part. As indicated under Major components of the credit system, this means: One summer exam grade between 1.00 and 1.99 may be compensated provided the overall grade for the exam component (both papers and the Term 1 practical) is at least 2.00 One Term 2 or 3 module grade between 1.00 and 1.99 may be compensated provided the overall grade for all five modules taken in Terms 2 and 3 is at least 2.00 Commented [I12]: Delete if not appropriate Re-sits Any student who does not gain credits for a certain element of their degree, as a result of failing particular assessments, will need to re-sit the failed assessment(s). Assessments can be re-sat only once, so if a re-sit is required it is absolutely essential to pass it in order to still be able to gain the credits necessary to pass the degree. Failing one module will not necessarily require a re-sit. If a student fails just one module with a grade between 1 and 1.99, but manages to achieve an average GPA of 2.00 or higher across all five modules (including the one failed) in Terms 2 and 3, this compensates for the failed module and allows credits to be awarded for it, with no re-sit required. However, for students who fail more than one module, or fail any module with a GPA below 1.00, a re-sit will be required. Exam Boards meet in the summer to review module grades, and any students who need to re-sit will be informed in August. Module re-sit dates or deadlines will be set for late September. Failing to gain credits for the summer exams (i.e. obtaining an overall exams GPA below 2.00) will always require a re-sit of the failed paper(s) the following summer. Failing a project will require a re-sit on a basis prescribed by the Exam Board. Timing and requirements will depend on the issues identified; standard requirements will be either (i) to revise and resubmit within a two-month timescale; (ii) to collect new data and update the project, for submission by the following year s deadline; or (iii) to do an entirely new project, for submission by the following year s deadline. Degree classification For students who have obtained sufficient credit and are hence due an award, degree classifications of Pass or Distinction are determined using LSHTM s MSc Marking Scheme, given in Appendix II. Grades from modules, exams and the project are combined to calculate a degree GPA. Commented [mf13]: From III to II The degree GPA will be weighted 30% from the examined Term 1 component (25% [or 20%] from the summer exams and 5% [or 10%] from the Term 1 practical), 40% from assessed Term 2 and 3 modules (averaging grades from the best 4 grades out of 5 [or always counting grades from modules A and B, and then with the best (4-N) grades of out of (5-N) always being counted]), and 30% from the project. [First highlighted line above should be edited to show summer-exams-to-practical weighting of 25%:5% for MM, MS or TMIH, or 20%:10% for MEDiC or MP; or remove this line for all other courses] [Second highlighted line above should be edited for Epi, IID, MBID, MEDiC or PH (all streams) to indicate any N specific modules whose grades must always be counted. All other courses should just leave as averaging grades from the best 4 grades out of 5.] Degree GPA scores of 4.3 or above constitute distinctions, and any in the range 4.15 to 4.3 will be considered by the Exam Board for the potential award of a distinction.

14 Level of credits At LSHTM, all Masters modules or credit-bearing Masters course elements such as projects are benchmarked at Masters level (in line with Level 7 of the English national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications). 4.2 Assessments and Exams during the academic year Assessment in Term 1 There is no formal assessment during Term 1 teaching Or MEDiC, MP only The formal assessment in Term 1 consists of a practical examination which helps to determine the award of credits for Term 1 (based on a Term 1 gradepoint average from across the summer exams and the practical, weighted 2:1 respectively). The practical examination for this MSc course consists of xxxxxxxxxx. Or MM, MS,TMIH only The formal assessment in Term 1 consists of a practical examination which helps to determine the award of credits for Term 1 (based on a Term 1 gradepoint average from across the summer exams and the practical, weighted 2:1 respectively). The practical examination for this MSc course consists of xxxxxxxxxx. The award of credits for Term 1 is [also] determined by the summer exams, which consist of two equally-weighted three-hour written examination papers. Paper 1 tests the specific content of the teaching in Term 1; while Paper 2 tests ability to integrate the knowledge acquired during the whole course, building on Term 1 material and learning. [Individual courses may wish to amend or expand on the above description of summer exam papers where relevant] Term 1 is worth a total of 60 credits. Many Term 1 modules also have progress assignments for monitoring purposes; these do not count towards the award of credit or the final degree. Assessment in Terms 2 and 3 Formal assessment in Terms 2 and 3 consists of assessment tasks for each module studied, used to determine the award of credits. Details of each module s assessment are provided in the Reader/Handbook for that module. Each of the five modules taken in Terms 2 or 3 is worth 15 credits, so in total they are worth 75 credits. Project Report The Project, worth 45 credits, is undertaken over the summer and written up as a Project Report for submission by a deadline in early September. Please see the Project Handbook for further details. 4.3 Assessment arrangements, rules and procedures Extenuating Circumstances Students who encounter exceptional, short-term events which are outside of their control during their course of study may request to have these taken into consideration as

15 extenuating circumstances. Strict criteria apply: this is only relevant for short-term illness, bereavement or significant personal problems which have affected a student s performance in an assessment, prevented them from taking the assessment, or affected their ability to prepare sufficiently for an assessment. All requests must be accompanied by appropriate evidence. If extenuating circumstances are granted, you can be allowed a new attempt at the assessment at a later date. This will involve a different task or exam, a lot like a re-sit, except that it will not count as a re-sit. Please see guidance notes at: ance.pdf and request form at: est_form.doc. Note that this procedure does not apply for issues that could have been foreseen and notified to staff in advance of the assessment date or deadline. In such cases, you should either request an extension or deferral from your Faculty Taught Course Director ahead of the assessment date/deadline, or apply under the Special Arrangements procedure which can, for example, allow adjustments to be made for students with disabilities. Special Arrangements for undertaking assessments Special arrangements can be made for students undertaking assessments in cases of illness or disability, for example, extra time in examinations for dyslexia, or special chairs for students with back problems. Students should disability@lshtm.ac.uk early in Term 1 and be prepared to provide documentary evidence of any condition. Regulations for examinations and other timed assessments Students will be issued with a set of regulations with their Admissions Notice for the summer examinations and it is your responsibility to read the regulations carefully and to abide by them. However, you should be aware that the regulations also apply to timed module assessments as follows: All candidates are required to observe the instructions given by the Chief Invigilator, Invigilators, or other members of School staff responsible for the conduct of the examinations. Candidates should arrive at the examination venue at least 15 minutes before the advertised start time of the examination. When instructed to do so by invigilators, candidates must deposit their coats and personal belongings in the designated area of the examination room. Candidates should then take their place at their examination desk. All electronic devices must be left with candidates personal belongings and switched off. Candidates are not permitted to open the question paper of their examination until advised to do so by the Chief Invigilator. Failure to observe this regulation will constitute an examination offence. Except for water, no food, drink or chewing gum may be brought into the examination room (unless permission has been granted for medical reasons). If a candidate arrives more than half an hour late for an examination it is at the discretion of the Chief Invigilator to permit a candidate entry to the examination. Additional time to compensate for the delayed start may be permitted in exceptional circumstances. Candidates are not permitted to leave the examination room during the first half hour or final fifteen minutes of the examination Candidates needing to leave the examination room temporarily (eg. for a toilet break) should raise their hand and remain seated at their desk until an invigilator arrives to provide assistance. The invigilator will escort you from the examination room.

16 At the end of the examination candidates must remain seated at their desk until all examination materials have been collected and the Chief Invigilator has advised that they can leave the room. Candidates are not permitted to take any examination materials (answer booklets, question papers, etc) from the examination room. If caught in possession of any examination materials this will constitute an examination offence. Candidates should ensure that their candidate number is written on each answer booklet as it appears on their admission notice. All rough workings should be completed in answer booklets and crossed through upon completion. If a candidate requires supplementary answer booklets they should raise their hand and wait for assistance from an invigilator. All supplementary answer booklets should be attached inside the back of the relevant answer booklet. All answers should be written in English unless you are instructed otherwise. A candidate who wishes to inform the School of any extenuating circumstance which may have affected their performance during an examination must apply for extenuating circumstances within two weeks of the assessment. Further details are available at: Submission of assessments All module assessment tasks must be completed and handed in by the specified deadline for that module. For Term 2 and 3 modules, this date will be no later than the last day of the module (and may be earlier) - Wednesday for C1 and D1 modules and Friday for C2, D2 and E modules. Details of arrangements for submission of a module s assessment task, including the deadline, will be provided and must be adhered to. Project Reports must be handed in by XX September 2016 at the latest. Late Submission of assessments If a module assignment is submitted up to one week late, the mark will be lowered by one grade; if it is more than one week late, it will be considered a failure and students will automatically be given a zero mark (fail). Commented [I14]: Please add in dates as follows: PHP Monday 5 September 2016 EPH Tuesday 6 September 2016 ITD Wednesday 7 September 2016 Project Reports handed in late will automatically be given a zero mark (fail). If there are exceptional personal or health reasons that mean you will find it difficult to meet a deadline, you must contact your Faculty Taught Course Director in advance to request an extension of the deadline. Assessments handed in late without prior agreement will be penalised as described above. Marking of assessed work The School uses a standard assessment system, marking against six gradepoints: integers from 0 to 5. Grades 2 and above are pass grades (grade 5 can be seen as equivalent to distinction standard); whilst grades below 2 are fail grades. Single pieces of work, such as essays, will normally be assigned an integer grade in this way. Where multiple pieces of work are combined to give an overall result, such as groupwork plus individual work both contributing towards an overall module mark, you will normally be given separate integer grades for the separate pieces of work; with your overall grade being a gradepoint average (GPA in the range 0 to 5, and not necessarily an integer) which is based on averaging the individual grades against a pre-set weighting.

17 Individual assessments will have their own specific requirements and marking criteria. However as a general guide, the table below gives examples of criteria that might typically apply for different types of assessments, such as multiple choice questions (quantitative) or essays (qualitative). Grade point Simple general criteria for qualitative work (e.g. essays or other written assignments) 5 A comprehensive discussion of the topic giving all relevant information, showing in-depth critical understanding of the topic, going beyond conventional answers, and bringing in additional relevant ideas or material. 4 A full discussion of the topic that includes all relevant information and critical evaluation. 3 The major points are discussed, but relevant, though less important considerations, are omitted. 2 Sufficient relevant information is included but not all major points are discussed, and there may be some errors of interpretation. 1 A few points are included, but lack of understanding is shown together with use of irrelevant points. 0 None of the major points present; many irrelevant points included and a serious lack of understanding. or Not submitted. Simple general criteria for quantitative work (e.g. multiple choice questions, mathematical questions, laboratory spot tests) All correct. Almost all correct, none incorrect. Most correct, a few incorrect allowed. Essential parts correct (to be defined), some incorrect. Many correct but essential part (to be defined) incorrect or unknown. Some correct, essential part incorrect. or Not attempted. Grading and Feedback procedures Assessed work which contributes to the final degree result is marked independently by two members of staff. Where discrepancies in marks occur, the two members of staff discuss jointly and agree a final mark. In some cases, the work may be referred to a third member of staff or an external examiner. A selection of assessed work is reviewed by the external examiner. Marking of assessed work is done anonymously - which means the staff are not aware of which student s work they are marking - except where the assessment method precludes anonymity. You will be assigned a candidate number for this purpose which must be used for submission of assessed work. You will receive comments on your in-course assessment tasks to aid learning. You will usually be given feedback within three weeks of the deadline for handing in the work in term time, or by the end of the first week the next term. All marks reported to students during the year are strictly provisional until confirmed by the Board of Examiners. Some guidance on preparation for assessment tasks is given in Appendix III. Commented [mf15]: Changed from IV to III

18 Participation in a course In order to be awarded a Masters degree or a School Diploma, students must have participated fully in the WHOLE of the period of study specified for that degree. The learning experience for all students, in activities such as seminars, group work, practical exercises and field trips are dependent on student participation and students are therefore expected to attend, be properly prepared, and actively participate in such activities. If a student persistently fails either to attend or willingly participate in such required activities, the MSc Course Director may judge that the student has not fulfilled the requirements for the award of the degree. This will be reported to the relevant Board of Examiners. Regardless of the marks obtained in any assessed course work submitted by the student, the Board may decide to refuse to award the degree on the grounds that the student has failed to participate fully in the course. No such decision shall be taken by the Board without considering any extenuating circumstances reported to it and, in all cases, with an oral examination of the student. The Head of Registry or his/her representative will attend Boards of Examiners meetings. 4.4 Guidance about plagiarism, cheating and other assessment irregularities Introduction As a student of LSHTM, you are expected to comply with the School s standards and expectations in all your scholarly activity especially assessments, examinations and research. The following notes cover key points you should be aware of when undertaking assessed work, including: The School s definitions of assessment irregularities things you must not do in your work. Please be aware that breaches of these rules, whether intentional or unintentional, will be treated very seriously and may result in penalties which affect your degree. Guidance about how to ensure your work follows the rules the main principle is to cite and reference the work of others in an appropriate way, so as to avoid plagiarism. A worked example is given in Appendix III. Commented [mf16]: Changed from IV to III If you are unfamiliar with concepts like correct referencing or avoiding plagiarism, then you are strongly encouraged to read through the Academic Writing handbook available at This gives much more detailed guidance on these and other topics, and is also designed as a resource you can dip back into when you want to find out more about something specific e.g. how to reference different types of source like journal articles, books, web-pages, etc. Otherwise, please consult your tutor, Course Director or supervisor if you are having any difficulties with assessed work, need clarification, or are in any doubt about what is permissible. Declaration on plagiarism and cheating All students are required to sign a statement confirming that they have read the School s definitions of plagiarism and cheating (which follow); that all work submitted is and will be their own; and that failure to comply with the School s policies may be penalised. This declaration also covers consent for the School to upload relevant documents and information to external services or third parties, in order to identify potential plagiarism or irregularities. LSHTM definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the copying or use of the work of others, whether intentionally or unintentionally, as if it were your own. Such work may come from any source whether published or unpublished, in print or online including words, images, audio recordings, diagrams, formulae, computer code, performances, ideas, judgements, discoveries and results.

19 To avoid plagiarism: Where any use or mention is made of the work of others, it should be acknowledged. A recognised citation system should be used. Quotations must accurately refer to and acknowledge the originator(s) of the work. Direct quotations, whether extended or short, must always be clearly identified. Paraphrasing using other words to express the ideas or judgements of others must be clearly acknowledged. Work done in collaboration with others must appropriately refer to their involvement and input. Use of your own past work should be referenced as clearly as the work of others. Key points you should be aware of include Sources: You must acknowledge all sources from which you have drawn whether published works such as journal articles or books; grey literature such as conference proceedings or reports from organisations and government agencies; material from the internet, whether or not it has a named author; or unpublished materials such as lecture/tutorial notes or other students work. If re-using any of your own previous work, e.g. elements of essays done for other assessments, you should clearly indicate this. Quotations: You must always clearly identify any directly copied quotations (such as sentences, phrases or even striking expressions), e.g. by placing them inside quotation marks, followed by a clear citation. Paraphrasing: You must equally clearly indicate where you have paraphrased or summarised another person s words, ideas or judgments by referring to that person in your text (e.g. by giving a reference in a bracket after the paraphrasing, or in a footnote) and including the work referred to in your reference list. Referencing: You should use a recognised citation system throughout your work the two most common are Harvard and Vancouver and provide a full reference list at the end. Precise requirements will vary depending on the assessment you have been asked to carry out. Comprehensive guidance about how to cite and reference correctly is given in the Academic Writing handbook. Note that failure to observe the rules, even unintentionally, may constitute plagiarism and be penalised accordingly. Most cases of plagiarism are not due to students deliberately copying the work of others and trying to pass it off as their own, but because information they used was not appropriately acknowledged or referenced. It can be easy to copy text but forget to add the appropriate reference; but you must make every effort to avoid doing so, or else you run the risk of committing plagiarism. Detecting plagiarism and the Turnitin service LSHTM staff have a responsibility to ensure that all students' assessed work is marked fairly and equitably this includes checking for plagiarism, to ensure that no-one gains an unfair advantage. Staff have considerable expertise in identifying plagiarism, and all markers look out for assessment irregularities and have access to a variety of tools to assist them. The School uses the plagiarism detection service Turnitin UK, which is widely used by universities across the country. Any work you submit for assessment may be crosschecked using Turnitin. This is done anonymously, by candidate number, and this material cannot be seen by others unless permission is given by School staff. LSHTM definition of cheating: Cheating is a deliberate attempt to deceive in order to gain advantage in an assessed piece of work, including coursework, in-module assessments and examinations. This covers a range of offences, from significant instances of plagiarism to exam misconduct.

20 Key points you should be aware of include: The essence of the School s policy on cheating is that you must not engage in any deliberate deception in order to gain advantage in formal assessment or evaluation. This applies to all forms of assessment e.g. coursework assignments, presentations, groupwork, module tests, formal examinations, or research project reports. Submitting someone else's work, knowledge or ideas, while pretending that they are your own, constitutes cheating. Serious forms of plagiarism, fraud, collusion or personation, or any deliberate failure to comply with assessment regulations, are all liable to constitute cheating. The use of commercial essay banks, essay-writing services or any similar cheat sites is highly likely to constitute cheating. Any inappropriate activities under exam conditions, e.g. bringing unauthorised materials into an exam room, will also constitute cheating. Other types of Assessment Irregularities The School s policies also define other types of assessment irregularities which you must avoid, such as collusion, personation or fraud. More detailed explanations are given in the Academic Writing handbook. You should also be aware that strict rules govern what is or is not permissible under formal exam conditions. Any exam hall offences or misconduct will be treated extremely seriously. Assessment Irregularities procedure The School s formal Assessment Irregularities procedure for taught courses including masters degrees, as established under the Regulations, is available via the Registry web pages at: sessment_irregularities_procedure.pdf The procedure sets out how any allegations will be investigated, and the potential penalties that may be applied. In the event that an allegation or case arises which affects you, anything you are required to do will be clearly communicated and explained. Your personal tutor, your Course Director(s) or the Registry can be asked for further advice. Penalties Where an assessment irregularity is identified and confirmed, a range of penalties may be invoked e.g. a reduction of the grade, or an outright fail for the piece of work with a requirement to re-submit. The nature and extent of each case will differ, so there is no standard set of prescribed penalties in relation to specific offences. However, severe offences may result in students having their registration on a programme terminated, or even being excluded from entry to any further School examinations or future degree/certificate awards from the School. The above details are not intended to frighten you; occasional slips in attribution or similarity of text may happen with even the most diligent student. All relevant factors will be taken into account in consideration of any case, and students will be presumed innocent unless the contrary can be established through formal procedures and on the balance of probabilities. However, please do not be tempted to copy material; plagiarism and other offences are easy to detect, and the risks are very high. It is not unusual for one or two students a year to fail an entire module or even their entire degree course due to assessment irregularity issues, including plagiarism.