MBA in Construction and Real Estate. Assessment, progression and award regulations

Transcription

1 MBA in Construction and Real Estate Assessment, progression and award regulations 1. Guidance notes 1. Guidance notes will be issued to all candidates prior to examinations and shall form part of these regulations. 2. Read in conjunction 3. Ultimate authority / right to vary 2. These regulations should be read in conjunction with the Student Handbook sections headed Assignments, Examinations, Cheating and misconduct in examinations and assessed coursework, and Copyright, plagiarism and referencing. Information given in these sections is deemed to be part of these regulations and is therefore binding. 3. Assessment will be in accordance with the statutes and ordinances of the University of Reading. The College of Estate Management and/or the University of Reading may vary these regulations from time to time, such variations being effective upon their publication. Assessment 4. Assessment consists of 4. The assessment for the University of Reading distance-taught MBA in Construction and Real Estate consists of the following elements: a. two 2-hour unseen written examination papers and four assessed assignments per semester at Stage 1; b. two 3-hour unseen written examination papers and four assessed assignments per semester at Stage 2; c. assessed assignments and a dissertation at Stage Assessment table 5. You will be assessed in each module through a combination of written examination papers and/or assessed coursework. At Stages 1 and 2, assignment work counts for of the marks in each module. Stage 1 Semester A Assessment Weighting Module Credits Management Science Marketing Principles and Strategy Semester B Managerial Accounting Organisation and People Management

2 Stage 2 Semester A Development Strategy and Procedure Knowledge Management and Portfolio Management Semester B Development Finance and Appraisal Strategic Management and Management of Change and Innovation Stage 3 Research Methods each 20 Dissertation Report 100% Mark classification 6. Assessment classifications are as follows: Mark Interpretation % Distinction 60-69% Merit 50-59% Pass Failing categories 40-49% Below threshold standard (BTS) 0-39% Unsatisfactory work The difference between the two failing categories is that the range below threshold standard, whilst being deficient in some significant way, comes close enough to a pass standard to allow the possibility of an overall pass across the Programme. 7. Pass principles 7. The pass mark for each module is 50 overall (assignments and examination combined), with not less than 40 in each of the two assessment elements. The pass mark for the Dissertation module and the assessed Research Methods module are also set at 50. A maximum of 55 credits at below threshold standard can be carried forward to the final award but this allowance cannot include the credits from the Dissertation

3 8. Carry forward 8. You must complete the current assignments for each module and submit them by the required dates. In certain circumstances, however, you will be allowed to carry forward component marks from failed modules (see Regulation ). 9. Syllabus in force 9. You will be examined on the syllabus in force at registration. 10. New law 10. When law which is either new, or which amends or extends that referred to in the syllabus or study material, comes into operation, you must read the syllabus and/or study material as though such amending or extending law were mentioned. You will be expected to be aware of the general principles of such law which is passed up to six months preceding the examination, but will not be examined upon it in detail. 11. Research module 11 Deferral of dissertation at Level 3. a. If you wish to request a deferral of your dissertation, you must submit a fully argued case to the College, in writing and with appropriate supporting documentation, no later than two weeks before the published deadline for submission. Your request will be considered by the Course Director, who will decide whether a deferral should be granted. If your request for a deferral is approved, you will be required to submit your dissertation within one year of the original deadline date. b. If you fail to submit your dissertation by the published deadline, but provide appropriate written evidence of mitigating circumstances to the Results Board, that Board may at its discretion deem you NOT to have failed by non-submission and you will be allowed to submit at the next available opportunity. In all other circumstances non-submission will be dealt with under regulation. 12. Oral exam 12. At the discretion of the Results Board an oral examination may form part of any examination. 13. Discretion 13. The Results Board has the discretion to vary the above standards. All assessment marks are provisional and may be subject to moderation prior to confirmation by the Results Board.

4 14. QA approval 14. All results are recommended to the Faculty Examiners Meeting by the Results Board and given final approval by the Senate of the University. Progression (in case of failure). Retake requirement. If you receive a mark below 40 for any modules, or if you receive a mark below 50 for modules beyond your 55 credit allowance (referred to in regulation 7) you will be required to retake those modules at the next available opportunity, normally one year later. If you achieve not less than 50 in either the assignments or the examination for each module to be retaken, you will normally be entitled to carry the mark for one element forward to your next attempt. You must also pay a retake fee of approximately half the original module fee. If you do not sit the retake examination at the first available opportunity, a full module fee will be payable. If you fail the dissertation due to poor quality of work or inexcusable non-submission, you have the right to resubmit the dissertation on one further occasion within one year of the original date for submission. 16. Fail due to illness 16. If you fail due to illness or other reasonable absence and have properly notified the College and provided supporting evidence, you will be deemed not to have sat and will not lose an attempt. However, you will still need to retake the module(s) at the next available opportunity, normally one year later. If you achieve not less than 50 in either the assignments or the examination for each failed module, you will normally be entitled to carry the mark for one element forward to your next attempt. You will also need to pay a retake fee of approximately half the original module fee. If you do not sit the postponed examination at the first available opportunity, normally one year later, a full module fee will be payable. 17. Compensate 17. A maximum of 55 credits at below threshold standard can be compensated by pass standards in the other credits from the full MBA Programme. 18. Attempts 18. You are allowed THREE attempts at each module. 19. Trailing 19. At the discretion of the Results Board, you may trail either coursework or examination retakes for one module to combine with the normal semester diet in the following year. In these circumstances, you may study a maximum of two and a half modules in any one semester. This regulation applies whether you have failed or been deemed not to have sat.

5 20. Award implications of retake 20. If any module has to be retaken, this disqualifies you from receiving either Merit or Distinction final awards. 21. Due diligence 21. If you fail any module at the final attempt the Results Board will look carefully at your results. If due diligence has been shown, the Results Board may recommend an alternative to expulsion from the course. 22. Condoning modules 22. In exceptional circumstances the Results Board retains the right to recommend a condonement of a failed module. 23. Max duration 23. The maximum time permitted in which to complete the course is normally six years Appeals procedure 24. Appeal reg If you consider that you have a genuine and well-founded reason for asking for your examination result to be reviewed, you must consult the College of Estate Management Head of Exams and Progression as soon as possible after the publication of the result. Examination scripts are not remarked after the Results Board unless an error has occurred. 25. Appeal reg If your grievance cannot be settled within the College, you have the ultimate right to put your case to the Senate Standing Committee on Examination Results, and should contact the Assistant Registrar (Examinations) of the University of Reading. 26. Appeal reg The decisions of the University Senate are final. 27. Credits required & designation Award 27. You will be awarded the MBA in Construction and Real Estate from the University of Reading on successful completion of 180 credits. You will be entitled to use the designatory letters MBAConstRealEst, or simply MBA. Graduation ceremonies are held by the University in July and December each year. Information about the ceremony, arrangements for guests, etc. is sent to prospective graduates by the University Graduation Office.

6 28. Classification criteria 28. Final awards will be based upon the following criteria: DISTINCTION: [A Weighted Average Mark of 70 or more over 180 credits a mark of 60 or more for the dissertation no credits below 40.] OR : [A Weighted Average Mark of 68 or more over 180 credits a mark of 70 or more in at least 90 credits a mark of 60 or more for the dissertation no credits below 40.] MERIT: [A Weighted Average Mark of 60 or more over 180 credits no credits below 40.] OR : [A Weighted Average Mark of 58 or more over 180 credits a mark of 60 or more in at least 90 credits no credits below 40.] PASS: [A Weighted Average Mark of 50 or more over 180 credits no more than 55 credits below 50 no credits below 40] OR : [A Weighted Average Mark of 48 or more over 180 credits a mark of 50 or more in at least 90 credits no more than 55 credits below 50 no credits below 40.] FAIL: A performance which fails to fulfil the criteria for the above classifications. It should be noted that the above criteria imply the necessity for all students to get at least 50 in the Dissertation in order to graduate to the MBA award.

7 29. Intermediate awards 29. You can be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma dependent upon the successful completion of 120 credits with a minimum of 80 credits at M level of the Masters Programme. A Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded to students who achieve 60 credits with a minimum of 40 credits at M level. In each case, the award is only made if the course member leaves the programme after Year 2 or Year 1 respectively, or fails to achieve a pass grade in the following year and subsequently leaves the programme without being awarded the MBA. 30. Ancillary awards 30. Twelve months after successful completion of the MBA you can apply for the RICS Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management (PGDipProjMan if an RICS Member, PGDipProjMan(RICS) if not). Holders of this qualification who are also RICS Members can become chartered project management surveyors.