The changes for the campus MSc are currently being submitted for approval at Royal Holloway.

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1 QASL 26/24 Information Security: change to scheme of award Rationale At QASL 25 in January 2014 it was noted that the equation used to classify postgraduate Information Security students was different to the stard requirement for degrees at Royal Holloway, University of London. The campus version of the postgraduate Information Security programme is being realigned to satisfy Royal Holloway requirements commencing with the intake in September In line with that, the distance learning version is also being updated in the same way for that intake. The changes for the campus MSc are currently being submitted for approval at Royal Holloway. Description of the change Classification will no longer be determined by performance in core, options project Rather, students will have to pass at least 140 credits worth of assessment i.e. the project at least four of their six taught modules (regardless of whether they are core or optional) with unpassed modules at a minimum of 40%. In particular, students also will now have to pass the project. Further details can be found in the table below. Two years notice will be given to current students. New students will be classified under the new scheme of award from existing students from There are comparable changes to the postgraduate diploma. Exit award The changes also widen the circumstances in which a postgraduate diploma can be awarded. In particular, the project can now form part of the assessment for the postgraduate diploma. The project (60 credits) must be passed also two out of three taught modules (20 credits each) with any unpassed module at a minimum of 40%. Benefit An External Examiner has expressed concerns about the current scheme of award which allowed students who had failed the project to be awarded the masters degree. In his External Examiner s report, one examiner wrote that the rules of the course mean that a tiny hful of students emerge with an MSc despite having submitted mediocre projects. The change to the regulations will make this much less likely to happen. Recommended Action To note these changes are undergoing approval at Royal Holloway are expected to be approved for the distance learning programme s regulations. Colin Walter Programme Director, Royal Holloway University of London Matthew Cox Programme Manager, Corporate Performance Quality March 2014

2 Information Security Scheme of award MSc in Information Security 8.1 To be considered for the award of the MSc in Information Security, a student must have: attempted the examinations dissertation for all three elements of the degree: the Core element [comprising four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] the Project element [comprising one examination one dissertation] obtained an average of at least 50% in the Core element obtained an average of at least 50% over the three elements (where the Core element is weighted 50%, the Options element weighted 25% the Project element weighted 25%) obtained an average of at least 40% in each of the Options the Project elements, with an average of at least 50% in one of these. MSc in Information Security 8.1 To be considered for the award of the MSc in Information Security, a student who has an effective date of registration prior to 1st September 2014 must have: attempted the examinations dissertation for all three elements of the degree: the Core element [comprising four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] the Project element [comprising one examination one dissertation] obtained an average of at least 50% in the Core element obtained an average of at least 50% over the three elements (where the Core element is weighted 50%, the Options element weighted 25% the Project element weighted 25%) obtained an average of at least 40% in each of the Options the Project elements, with an average of at least 50% in one or both of these. To be considered for the award of the MSc in Information Security, a student who has an effective date of registration on or after 1st September 2014 must have: attempted the examinations dissertation for all three elements of the degree: the Core element [comprising four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] the Project element [comprising one examination one dissertation] obtained an overall module average of at least 50% (where each module is weighted according to its credit value, namely 60 for the project 20 otherwise) obtained at least 40% in every Core Options module

3 8.2 To be considered for an award with distinction for the MSc in Information Security, a student must have: obtained an average of at least 70% over the three elements (where the weight of the Core element is double that of the Options Project elements) obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the three elements (i.e. in the Core, Options Project elements). A student who has made more than one attempt at the examination for a module will not normally be considered for the award of distinction. 8.3 To be considered for an award with merit for the MSc in Information Security, a student must have: obtained an average of at least 60% over the three elements (where the weight of the Core element is double that of the Options Project elements) obtained a minimum of 50% in each of the three elements (i.e. the Core, Options Project elements). Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security 8.4 To be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information obtained at least 50% in at least four of the Core Options modules obtained at least 50% in the Project element. N.B. From, including, the academic session , all students will be assessed under the clause pertaining to an effective date of registration on or after 1st September To be considered for an award with distinction for the MSc in Information Security, you must have: obtained an overall average of at least 70% (using the same weighting as applies in 8.1). obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the three elements (i.e. in the Core, Options Project elements). If you have made more than one attempt at the examination for a module you will not normally be considered for the award of distinction. 8.3 To be considered for an award with merit for the MSc in Information Security, you must have: obtained an overall average of at least 60% (using the same weighting as applies in 8.1). obtained a minimum of 50% in each of the three elements (i.e. the Core, Options Project elements). Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security 8.4 To be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information 3

4 Security, a student must have: attempted the examinations for both elements of the Postgraduate Diploma: the Core element [comprising of four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] obtained an average of at least 50% in the Core element obtained an average of at least 50% in the Options element. 8.5 To be considered for an award with distinction for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security, a student must have: obtained an average of at least 70% over the two elements (where the Core element is weighted two thirds the Options element is weighted one third) obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the Core Options A student who has made more than one attempt at the examination for a module will not normally be considered for the award of distinction. 8.6 To be considered for an award with merit for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security, a student must have: Security, a student who has an effective date of registration prior to 1st September 2014 must have: attempted the examinations for both elements of the Postgraduate Diploma: the Core element [comprising of four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] obtained an average of at least 50% in the Core element obtained an average of at least 50% in the Options element. To be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security, a student who has an effective date of registration on or after 1st September 2014 must have: attempted the examinations for both elements of the Postgraduate Diploma: the Core element [comprising of four compulsory core modules]; the Options element [comprising two modules chosen from a list of options] obtained an overall average of at least 50% (where all modules have equal weight) obtained at least 40% in every module obtained at least 50% in at least four modules. N.B. From, including, the academic session , all students will be assessed under the clause pertaining to an effective date of registration on or after 1st September To be considered for an award with distinction for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security, you must have: obtained an overall average of at least 70% over the two elements (where the Core element is weighted two thirds the Options element is weighted one third). obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the Core Options If you have made more than one attempt at the examination for a module you will not normally be considered for the award of distinction. 8.6 To be considered for an award with merit for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security, you must have: 4

5 obtained an average of at least 60% over the two elements (where the weight of the Core element is double that of the Options element) obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the Core Options obtained an overall average of at least 60% over the two elements (where the weight of the Core element is double that of the Options element). obtained an average of at least 50% in each of the Core Options Intermediate awards 9.3 An intermediate award or awards (i.e. a related certificate or diploma) may be granted to a student registered for the MSc in Information Security in the following circumstances: At the discretion of the Board of Examiners, a student who does not complete the programme of study or who does not satisfy the Examiners (at the level required for the award) in all subjects may be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. Such students will be required to have satisfied the Examiners (at the level required for the award concerned) in the subjects that comprise the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. At the discretion of the University, a student may be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security provided that they have satisfied in full the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. The award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security will be with effect from the year in which the student satisfied the requirements for that award. Intermediate awards 9.3 An intermediate award or awards (i.e. a related certificate or diploma) may be granted to a student registered for the MSc in Information Security in the following circumstances: At the discretion of the Board of Examiners, a student who does not complete the programme of study or who does not satisfy the Examiners (at the level required for the award) in all subjects may be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. Such students will be required to have satisfied the Examiners (at the level required for the award concerned) in the subjects that comprise the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. At the discretion of the University, a student may be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security provided that they have satisfied in full the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security. The award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security will be with effect from the year in which the student satisfied the requirements for that award. Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security as an intermediate or exit award 8.7 If you registered for the MSc degree in Information Security you may be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma as an exit award if the regulations do not allow you to complete the requirements of the MSc degree but you do satisfy the requirements for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. In this event, the date of award for the Postgraduate Diploma will be the year in which you satisfied the requirements for that award. 5

6 8.8 If you registered for the MSc degree in Information Security you may be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma as an exit award if the regulations do not allow you to complete the requirements of the MSc degree but you have attempted all assessment components for at least 120 credits worth of modules including the project, for these modules, obtained an overall average of at least 50% (where each module is weighted according to its credit value, namely 60 for the project 20 otherwise) obtained at least 40% in each module obtained at least 50% over at least 100 credits worth. In this event, the date of award for the Postgraduate Diploma will be the year in which you satisfied these requirements. 8.9 The Postgraduate Diploma in Information Security as an intermediate or exit award may be awarded with merit or with distinction according to the rules in , where, if applicable, the clause about elements is extended to include the Project element. 6