London Metropolitan Business School

North Campus London Metropolitan Business School MA Digital and Experiential Marketing Postgraduate Course Handbook For admission in 2011-2012 DIEXMA-N

Postgraduate Academic Year 2011-2012 AUTUMN SEMESTER Start - End Welcome Programme 22 September 2011-30 September 2011 Teaching 3 October 2011-16 December 2011 Christmas Break 19 December 2011-6 January 2012 Teaching/revision 9 January 2012-13 January 2012 Examinations 16 January 2012-3 February 2012 Dissertation Deadline 20 January 2012 SPRING SEMESTER Welcome Programme (new February entrants only) 30 January 2012-3 February 2012 Teaching 6 February 2012-30 March 2012 Easter Break 2 April 2012-13 April 2012 Teaching 16 April 2012-4 May 2012 Teaching/revision 8 May 2012-11 May 2012 Examinations 14 May 2012-1 June 2012 Dissertation Deadline 18 May 2012 SUMMER STUDIES PERIOD Summer Studies Period 1 June 2012-31 August 2012 Resit Examinations 16 July 2012-27 July 2012 Reassessment Coursework 27 July 2012 Dissertation Deadline 31 August 2012 Note Masters courses are based on a teaching year designed to amount to 48 weeks in total In addition to these dates you need to be aware of other important events and deadlines throughout the year; such as coursework submission dates, publication of the exam timetable, publication of results, mitigating circumstances deadlines, programme planning deadlines. You can access these at: www.londonmet.acuk/pg-students

1 KEY CONTACTS Postgraduate Office: Stapleton House Postgraduate Office, room SH1-26 Administration Manager of the Postgraduate Office: Sara Carruthers Course Leader: Gareth Thompson Course Leader s Office: Main Campus teaching location: North

2 CONTENTS 1.0 WELCOME TO YOUR COURSE AND FACULTY 1.1 Using Your Handbook 1.2 Introduction to the Course 1.3 Key Features of Postgraduate Courses 1.4 Introduction to your Faculty 1.5 Location and Faculty Facilities supporting the course 1.6 Learning and Teaching on the Course 1.7 Research in your Faculty 2.0 BEING A STUDENT 2.1 Welcome Programme Checklist 2.2 Your first semester 2.3 Attendance, academic engagement and employment 2.4 Studying 2.5 Building Careers 2.6 Enrolment and Re-enrolment 2.7 Credit for previous learning 2.8 Module registration, course planning and approval 2.9 Your Timetable 2.10 Publication of Results and Transcripts 3.0 MANAGING YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE ON-LINE 3.1 Your University IT Account 3.2 Communication 3.3 Your Contact Details 3.4 Evision 3.5 WebLearn Online module resources 3.6 StARS 3.7 Course Committees 3.8 Students views on modules and courses 3.9 Postgraduate representation through the Students Union 4.0 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE 4.1 Postgraduate Office 4.2 Postgraduate Course Leader 4.3 Module Lecturers 4.5 Student Success through Learning Development 4.6 Student Services 4.7 Disabilities and Inclusion 4.8 Placements/study abroad 5.0 DISSERTATION OR PROJECT 5.1 Registration 5.2 Supervision Arrangements 5.3 Topic approval 5.4 Planning and Timing 5.5 Submission 6.0 MARKING AND ASSESSMENT 6.1 Academic Regulations 6.2 Marking and grades 6.3 Your responsibilities concerning Assessment 6.4 Academic Misconduct 6.5 Assessment Feedback 6.6 Submission of coursework 6.7 Examination Timetable

6.8 Past Examination Papers 6.9 Mitigating Circumstances 6.10 Assessment Board Appeals 6.11 Action in the event of failure to pass a module 6.12 University Criteria for Awards 6.13 Withdrawal from a module 6.14 Intermission of Studies 6.15 Mode of Study 6.16 Course Transfers 7.0 STUDY RESOURCES AND FACILITIES 7.1 Libraries and Special Collections 7.2 Academic Liaison Librarians and Subject Guides 7.3 Student feedback 7.4 ICT Services and Media Resources 7.5 Open Language Programme 8.0 COURSE SPECIFICATION 9.0 USEFUL INFORMATION 10.0 DIRECTORY OF MODULES FOR THE COURSE 11.0 INDEX OF KEY SOURCES OF INFORMATION 11.1 Relevant University Procedures 11.2 Useful online information 3

1 1.0 WELCOME TO YOUR COURSE AND FACULTY This is the Course Handbook for the MA Digital & Experiential Marketing. The staff of the London Metropolitan Business School warmly welcome you to London Metropolitan University North Campus and to the study of Digital & Experiential Marketing. 1.1 Using Your Handbook Your Course Handbook contains a wealth of information. Some of it will be of more relevance to you later in the course than at the start of your studies. You can access your Course Handbook either by logging into your Evision account or via the University s website at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/pg-course-handbooks We recommend that you read this Course Handbook thoroughly and carefully, as it covers many of the questions you will have about your course. Sections 3 and 4 in particular will help you locate the advice you will need. Section 11.1 contains an Index of key sources of information that you may need to access during your course. For more detailed information you will sometimes need to consult other sources, including: University Student Handbook - for details of important University regulations and procedures. It also provides information on university life and the support services available. The University Student Handbook can be accessed at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/student-handbook PostGrad-Line a comprehensive on-line source of postgraduate course and module information available at: https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/prog-plan/postgrad-line Postgraduate students webpage a comprehensive on-line resource for postgraduate students. Provides information about your course, timetables, details of timeslots and room numbers for most taught modules. Once you have completed enrolment and registration, you can view and print your personal timetable Please see: www.londonmet.ac.uk/pg-students The Course Specification (Section 8 of this handbook) defines the key features of your course, its aims, structure and learning outcomes, and includes all the modules you must study for the award. All postgraduate courses are governed by the University s Academic Regulations (www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations). It is your responsibility to be fully aware of the regulations which govern your studies as a postgraduate student of the University. Your course may in addition have some course specific regulations or may be governed by a Professional Body. Where relevant these are included in paragraph 32 of the Course Specification, contained within Section 8 of this handbook. You should also note that occasionally, the details in this Handbook, including the Course Specification, may be amended or revised, in order to improve the Course. The University is reviewing postgraduate education as part of its commitment to enhancing learning. This will not affect full-time students completing in September 2012. However, it is possible that this may affect a small number of part-time students. In the event of this occurring, any students affected will be advised during 2011-12. We would encourage you to participate as a Student Representative (see Section 3.6). We welcome your comments about the course or any suggestions for improvements. We wish you every success in your studies.

2 1.2 Introduction to the Course The combination of the Digital marketing and Experiential marketing disciplines makes this an exciting and unique programme of study. The MA in Digital & Experiential Marketing focuses upon the changes to marketing and brand management which digital media has made possible. The course is led by London Metropolitan Business School and draws upon expertise from the Faculty of Computing and the Department of Applied Social Sciences, to provide students with a holistic understanding of the roles and contribution that each discipline makes to the digital and experiential marketing processes. Cross faculty contributions will provide students with an academic foundation in the theories that underpin these exciting industries; while also augmenting theory with a framework of experiential learning that ensures that students possess the practical skills to make an effective contribution in a variety of industry contexts. Upon graduation students will understand the contribution that digital and experiential marketing makes to successful marketing campaigns, and brand management strategies; and will be confident in their knowledge of the marketing paradigm shift which is driving a dramatic change in consumer buying behaviour and decision making processes. MA Digital & Experiential Marketing integrates two exciting, and emerging academic disciplines and marketing industry practices. The course explores the nature of Digital Marketing and Experiential Marketing as distinct specialisations; while recognising that the two specialisations are inextricably linked. The course draws upon the competences of three educational centres (Business, Computing and Social Sciences) to deliver a holistic understanding of the roles and contribution of each discipline to the digital and experiential marketing process. Whilst providing students with an academic foundation in the theories that underpin the digital and experiential industries, the course augments theory with a framework of experiential learning to ensure that students possess the practical skills to allow them to make an effective contribution within the marketing industry and to face the challenges associated with the digital and experiential aspects of brand marketing. The course consists of six core modules. Additionally, you are required to complete a dissertation of 15,000 words.the dissertation is designed to provide an opportunity for students to undertake a substantial academic project relevant to the title of their qualification. Core modules Digital Marketing Experiential Marketing Data Mining Business Applications Brand Equity E-solutions and Digital Media Applications Marketing Research 1.3 Key Features of Postgraduate Courses The Course Specification (see Section 8) details your course curriculum and structure and you should study this carefully. Many features are defined by the Postgraduate Regulatory Framework, part of the University s Academic Regulations (see Section 11.1 of this handbook for details), which sets out general features common to almost all Masters courses. (i) Full-time students starting Masters programmes in the Autumn semester are taught over a 48- week year (an autumn and a spring semester and a summer studies period), requiring approximately 40 hours of study per week. For full-time students starting courses in February the workload is similar but is distributed over a longer study period and normally completed at the end

3 of the following Spring semester. Part-time students undertake the equivalent overall workload over a longer period of study, normally at least two years. (ii) The standard Masters award requires 180 credits at level M: normally 120 credits for the taught elements and 60 credits for the Dissertation or Project. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as specified Masters courses in Human Resource Management, which require 180 credits, and the MBA at 220 credits. (iii) Most postgraduate modules are equivalent to 20 credits. Typically, a full-time student studies modules equivalent to 60 credits per semester (normally 3 modules), with 15 weeks of teaching, revision and assessment activities for each module. (iv) The taught elements of postgraduate courses are mainly compulsory core modules and normally include one concerned with research methodology and project development and practice, in preparation for the dissertation or project. Some courses may include designate modules, which can be chosen from a specified list for the course, or elective modules, which can be chosen from any available at postgraduate level. (v) All taught modules and the dissertation or project module, are marked on a percentage scale, with a pass/fail threshold of 50%. (vi) Based on the final aggregate of average percentage results, Masters awards are graded as: Masters (50-59%), Masters with Merit (60 69%), or Masters with Distinction (70% plus) (vii) While most students will aim to achieve the full Masters qualification, all Masters courses offer the subsidiary awards of Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma (both available with Merit or with Distinction) for students unable to complete their full programme of study. The full list of awards and their requirements is as follows: Award Credits at level M Modules Required Masters 180 credits (Level 7) 6 modules + dissertation (60 credits) Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits (Level 7) 6 modules Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits (Level 7) 3 modules 1.4 Introduction to London Metropolitan Business School Following its successful launch in August 2007, London Metropolitan Business School (LMBS) became one of the largest Business Schools in Europe with ambitions and capabilities to match this international profile. With over 200 full-time academic staff, 9,000 students, and a wide selection of distinctive undergraduate and postgraduate courses, LMBS continues our tradition of being a major and comprehensive provider of business and management education in the country. We are the only mainstream UK Business School located within the city of London. Our vision is to be the leading international Business School in our chosen markets, through innovation and the development of global networks. Our mission is to enable individuals and organisations to realise their potential through the provision of excellent business and management education. A key feature since our launch has been the growth in our external networking reach to include a significant number of high profile Visiting Professors drawn largely from the private and public sectors. They impact on our curriculum, engage in master classes, and provide placement opportunities for some of our ablest students. For example, over the past three years four students have spent month long placements at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shadowing the Chief Economist there (who is a Visiting Professor) and

4 working on research projects. Another Visiting Professor, highly placed within the Institute of Directors (IOD) has provided opportunities for a number of our students to benefit from networking closely with that organisation. A more recent initiative is to enhance our close business connections further by getting external organisations more directly involved and associated with our curriculum content and delivery. Whilst LMBS remains committed to serving London s business communities it also has an international reach with global research and collaborative partners. Indeed, this is as it should be given the global city status of London with its strong local-global links and international business-finance-cultural-consumer orientation. Indeed, students studying with us in London get the opportunity to be at the heart of what has been called the world s favourite market place. 1.5 Location and Business School Facilities Supporting the Course LMBS is currently based at two University campuses. At the City campus, the School is located in the Moorgate Building and at the North campus, in Stapleton House. Teaching mainly takes place in these buildings but large classes may be timetabled in other University buildings on the respective campuses. A key feature of the LMBS student experience is the provision of resources to enhance learning. As well as a well-stocked library and modern ICT labs using cutting-edge technology, our facilities include a Bloomberg Research Trading Room where you can get hands-on experience of a dealing room. All courses are supported by a virtual learning environment, Weblearn, and we continue to invest in learning materials and platforms. Currently we are working with our counterparts at other Universities and with outside agencies to enhance our electronic learning resources further. Accommodation and facilities for students at each site include lecture theatres, classrooms, learning resources, administrative and student support facilities and refreshment and social facilities. At Moorgate and Stapleton House you can also find the offices of our employer engagement unit 'Business Works' - which has links with a large number of companies and organisations and assists students in obtaining work placements and internships, provides networking opportunities, organises employability events, enterprise related activities, and other career-facing communication platforms. Business School students also benefit from the modern facilities in the wider University. These include the Graduate School, designed by the world renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, and new sports and fitness facilities located in the state of the art Science Centre. 1.6 Learning and Teaching on the Course LMBS endeavours to provide students with an excellent learning experience that is current, academically challenging and vocationally relevant. An emphasis is also placed upon developing students personal transferable skills and attributes in order that they can progress to rewarding careers. We work in partnership with students to develop their knowledge and skill set, provide value-added experiences, and enhance their future employment opportunities. We strongly encourage students to engage in extracurricular activity and have a large number of vibrant and thriving student societies within the Business School which have a vocational and practitioner orientation. Our students also have the opportunity to engage in national competitions such as the IBM Business Challenge and Prince's Trust. The most recent subject review of our teaching, student support and course provision by the UK Government s Quality Assurance Agency awarded business and management education top marks and so placed it in the top 5% of UK Business Schools. In addition, the School s commitment to teaching has been recognized nationally and is reflected in the award of National Teaching Fellowships, Lecturer of the Year, and other awards to staff. LMBS offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of undergraduate courses in the UK with study opportunities delivered by eight sizeable subject groups looking at the business world from a variety of connected perspectives:

5 Accounting and Business Law Economics Finance and Financial Services Management, Strategy and Leadership Business Analysis, Information Systems, Transport and Logistics Human Resource Management Marketing and Communications Tourism, Sport and Creative Industries We strive to offer flexible degree schemes, committed and expert teaching, a supportive learning environment, and strong links with employers and professional bodies, ensuring currency, relevance and a commitment to providing the maximum professional accreditation and exemption opportunities for our students that we are able. As stated earlier, we recognise the need to develop the employability of our students and all courses are purposely designed to develop both subject and transferable skills, such as team-working and communication, which are so valued by employers. The Business School has strong links with employers and professional bodies. We encourage students to take advantage of opportunities for gaining work experience whilst on their course. To this end our Business Works unit is available to offer assistance to students in obtaining placements and internships. Recent employers we have worked with include Air France, Arsenal Football Club, Barclays Bank, BBC Worldwide, Chester Boyd, HSBC, Limelight Projects, Orient Express and the Hilton Hotel Group. We can also help students secure work experience abroad. Recent overseas based employers of our students include: Disney Florida and Paris, Rail Europe, DICR Europe Ltd, Eurocity Consultants (Brussels), Dunas Hotel (Grand Canaria), Siemens (Germany), Orient Express Hotels and Trains and Cruises Worldwide. Professional bodies we work with include the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, British Academy of Management and Royal Aeronautical Society. Although much of the world can now be found in London, we do recognise that students can greatly benefit from studying abroad. The University s study abroad programmes provide students with an opportunity to study in another country and further strengthen their CVs. Some exchanges are supported financially and teaching is in English. Whatever course you are following, the opportunity exists to study in Europe for a semester under the Erasmus/ Socrates schemes. For those that remain in London for their studies they will be able to exchange ideas with students from over 100 countries. Additionally, through our links with universities throughout the world, alongside the fact that LMBS staff reflect an international outlook and/or background, and have experience of teaching in a global city, means that much of our curriculum content is underpinned by recognition of the global trends impacting on the business world. Given the above, it should come as no surprise to find that our graduates can be found working in many countries and in all sectors of the economy. Some of the organisations where our students have found employment include: BP, Coutts Bank, Daiwa, Deloitte and Touche, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Forte UK, Marks and Spencer, Rank Xerox, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Virgin.

6 1.7 Research in the Business School Research is a very important aspect of the Business School s work. It underpins the curriculum, sustains excellence in our teaching, supports consultancy, promotes relations with national and international partners and sustains an academic and intellectual ethos within the School. Research in the Business School is wide ranging in terms of the issues we address. We are, however, developing a distinctive profile and reputation around a number of research themes which characterise our mission, values and subject strengths, including economics, financial services, entrepreneurship, social enterprise, cultural and creative industries, world markets, governance, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, employment and equal opportunities, business analysis, professional and managerial practice and pedagogy. Through multi and inter-disciplinary research we can address real-world problems which are rarely amenable to single disciplinary solutions. Our partnerships with corporate, public sector and other educational organisations also provide us with a strong base for carrying out policy and practice-based and transnational research. Research in the Business School is mainly organised around a number of Research Centres. Currently these are: Cities Institute Management Research Centre (MRC) Comparative Organisation and Equality Research Centre (COERC) Centre for International Business and Sustainability (CIBS) Centre for Corporate Responsibility (CCR) Transport Research and Consultany (TRaC) Centre for Research in Marketing (CERMARK) Centre for Business Education Research (CEBER) Centre for Research in Cultural Industries Management (CeRCIM) Centre for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): Banking, Economics and Finance Centre for Research in African Business (proposed) These Centres undertake pure and applied research and consultancy in their fields. They also organise workshops, seminars and conferences, often with a strong international dimension, produce working papers and reports and publish articles in academic and practitioner journals. Senior staff are also represented on the editorial boards of these publications.

7 2.0 BEING A STUDENT Undertaking study at postgraduate level is likely to involve new and different methods of working compared to your previous experience. You will study more specialised subject matter at a more advanced level, relatively quickly and over a shorter period. You will be expected to pursue your studies with a greater degree of independence than at undergraduate level and to set your own learning objectives within the framework of the course. The remainder of this section highlights the general features and expectations associated with postgraduate study. 2.1 Welcome Programme Checklist Following the Welcome Programme and Course Introductory Meeting, you should check that you have received the following: an ID card (including library number and computer network username) an email address a course timetable the location of your Postgraduate Office the location of your Faculty Administrative Office the location of your main learning centre and IT facilities the name of your Course Leader If you arrived late you will still need to obtain the items above and there will be a late Welcome session for you. Contact your designated Postgraduate Office to ensure you know what to do and where to go to get started. Classes commence from Monday 3 October 2011, immediately following the Welcome Programme. 2.2 Your first semester After your welcome, you will find yourself in the first week of formal teaching, where you will meet the module lecturers, who will often be giving the main lecture for the module, and other teaching staff, who may be taking seminars or workshop groups. In this period you will also undertake an induction process/programme which will normally last between 1-3 weeks depending upon your course, which will help guide you through your semester and prepare you for your Masters Level course more generally. This induction period will be specifically designed with your disciplinary area in mind and will be different from course to course. However, at course level you should expect to receive information on the following as a minimum: a) Welcome and Induction by Course Leader to the course b) Introduction to course materials and handbooks c) Guidance on student/staff roles, rights, responsibilities and expectations d) Further support with understanding any timetabling information e) Course specific requirements regarding Library etc f) Role of the Postgraduate Offices g) Any Health & Safety requirements e.g. Lab protocols h) Specific Study Skills as necessary i) Mitigating Circumstances j) Policy on Plagiarism k) Personal Tutorial arrangements l) Election of Student Representatives (STARS) In addition, your Course Leader will be able to point you in the direction of other introductory materials or sessions run by other University departments, for example, Library Services, Student Services or the Students Union.

8 This induction schedule will culminate in one of two social events hosted by the University and the Students Union. These will take place three weeks into your first semester and you are welcome to attend one of these sessions which will be held at both campuses. Your first semester usually involves mainly compulsory (core) modules covering essential subject contents and skills elements in your area of study. During this first semester you will meet with your Course Leader who will discuss your study programme and advise you on how to plan your studies for the second semester if you did not do this at the start of the course. 2.3 Attendance, academic engagement and employment Your success depends upon full and regular attendance at all classes, seminars, lectures, workshops, tutorials and the completion of all of your module assessment(s), including your dissertation. Our records show that students who do not attend all their classes are at very high risk of failure. The University s Academic Regulations make it clear that attendance and full academic engagement are requirements of your registration on your course. The content of modules is progressive, so if you miss a session you will need to catch up. However, we do recognise that for some postgraduate students there may be occasions where your absence is unavoidable; in such circumstances, we strongly recommend that you contact your Course Leader or Module Tutor/Lecturer. If you are having ongoing difficulties with attendance or committing fully to your postgraduate studies please contact your Postgraduate Office for advice on what to do. Please note - for international students, the University is required by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to confirm that you are in regular attendance. The University looks carefully at the evidence of your attendance and academic engagement and full-time students who fall below these requirements can find themselves being moved to a part-time programme. This can have serious implications for you and your course. In the case of part-time students, if you fail to meet attendance and academic engagement requirements the University may withdraw you from some of your modules. In some circumstances this can also lead to you being required to leave your course. We recognise that you may need to undertake part-time work, but strongly advise you not to take employment of more than 15 hours a week if you are a full time student (should you need to take employment of more than 15 hours per week we recommend you register as a part-time student). The University s Employment Service, in Student Services, can help you find a suitable part-time job that can enhance your employability and complement your studies. (https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers) 2.4 Studying As a postgraduate student, you will be seeking to develop your learning at more advanced level and your course will provide many opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills. To make the most of these you will need to develop a strategy for your studies, planning ahead, managing your time effectively and reflecting on your learning. Assessment is an important feature of study at postgraduate level. Each module booklet sets out detailed assessment requirements and learning outcomes, providing a focus for your studies. There are various forms of assessment and modules often involve a combination of examination and coursework or presentation. It is important that you understand clearly the expectations and deadlines for each item of assessment. You should be aware that all the various coursework assessments and examinations have to be completed for the achievement of your final award. In addition to attending the timetabled sessions, you will need to study in your own time. You should expect to spend 12-14 hours per week on each module, making a 40 hour per week commitment for a full-time student. Part-time students need to plan a similar time commitment for each module, but will generally be taking fewer modules at any one time.

9 Independent study is particularly important when planning work for your dissertation or project. This is a substantial piece of work, to be developed and completed over a relatively lengthy period, with much of the writing concentrated in the final stages. Working closely with your assigned supervisor, you will need to plan your work carefully, with initial discussion to define the topic, preparatory research and reading, planning the structure of the research and final report, writing and re-writing particular sections and drafts. Please be respectful of the learning environment and remember to switch off your mobile phone before entering all classes and study areas. In summary: plan your learning strategy; allocate enough time; attend all of your module lectures, tutorials and other sessions; start assignments well in advance; seek advice and help when you need to; use the learning resources offered; and, enjoy the learning experience! 2.5 Building Careers At London Metropolitan University we pride ourselves in taking seriously your future employment potential. Whether you are studying for a postgraduate qualification in order to seek employment, developing an existing career or to engage with new career opportunities we will prepare and support you in this transition by developing the attributes and skills that employers need and by training your mind to deal with complex questions. Your course has been designed with the involvement of employers at a variety of levels and for many of you, your award will be accredited by a professional body recognised directly or indirectly by the industry to which it serves. All Masters level qualifications will enable you to specialise or to become more highly specialised in an area of employment or practice related to a particular profession. All of our Masters graduates will normally be equipped to continue academic study at a higher level, for example for a PhD or a professional doctorate. Graduates of a Masters level qualification will typically develop a range of key skills including: being able to use initiative and take responsibility, solve problems in creative and innovative ways, make decisions in challenging situations, continue to learn independently and to develop professionally, including the ability to pursue further research where appropriate, and communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media. These skills have been identified by the government as being critical in curtailing the continued shortage of higher level skills within the wider UK economy and we believe that you will be best placed following graduation in developing your career aspirations. You need to be effective and adaptable in challenging times, so we offer a range of services to support you including a career planning service. To see more details on how we prepare you for employability visit: www.londonmet.ac.uk/buildingcareers 2.6 Enrolment and Re-enrolment Enrolment is an annual process. The first time you enrol you will need to provide evidence of your identity and the qualifications which formed the basis of your offer from the University. You will also need to pay your tuition fees or demonstrate how these will be paid. The University ID card you receive at enrolment contains your library number and computer network username and allows entry to the University s buildings. Provided you fully completed the enrolment requirements your card should work throughout the year. If it stops working then please seek advice from your Postgraduate Office. By signing the enrolment form you confirm that you accept and will follow the University s regulations If you are studying on a part-time basis over more than one academic year or need to return to complete your studies, you will need to re-enrol online usually from around mid-august. Re-enrolment is necessary for your ID card to be reactivated for the new academic year. There will be a deadline for this so it is important that you complete this before the start of the next academic year.

10 2.7 Credit for previous learning If you already hold a qualification (for example from another college) that may exempt you from part of your course, you may apply for Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL). Similarly, if you have undertaken work, paid or voluntary, that has resulted in learning skills or knowledge equivalent to a module you will be studying you may apply for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Collectively these are known as Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). It is important to be aware that any application for APL credit in respect of postgraduate studies must be based on prior learning or experience at a suitably advanced level. This means that it is not normally possible to accredit prior learning at undergraduate level, even if the content may appear similar. The University operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), where 1 European credit (ECTS) is equivalent to 2 UK credits (CATS). Thus, each taught module of 20 credits is normally equivalent to 10 ECTS credits, and a full Masters of 180 UK credits is equivalent to 90 ECTS. If you wish to claim for APL please contact your Postgraduate Office or refer to the Index (Section 11) of this handbook for further information. 2.8 Module registration, course planning and approval Your Course Leader should provide the information you will require in order to choose your modules. Core Modules are compulsory for your course, but your course may also offer Designate Modules, which can be chosen from a specified list. Additionally, you may be allowed to take Elective Modules, which can be chosen from any available at postgraduate level. Further information about modules and their timeslots can be found on PostGrad-Line: https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/prog-plan/postgrad-line. When you carry out module registration you may be able to choose some time slots, subject to capacity of the class, if the module(s) run more than once. You are more likely to get your first choices if you register on time. Programme Planning Deadlines: 2011/12 Module Registration Dates Autumn Semester 2011/12 Starters Spring Semester 2011/12 Starters 22 September 30 September 2011 7 October 2011 14-25 November 2011 20 January 2012 30 January 3 February 2012 10 February 2012 March/April 2012 18 May 2012 Module Choice Events during Welcome Programme 1 Deadline for confirmation of Autumn Semester programmes 2. Confirmation of Spring Semester Modules 3 Autumn Semester Dissertation Deadline 4 Module choice exercise for students continuing their studies in 2012/13 Spring Semester Dissertation Deadline 4 Module Choice Events during Welcome Programme Deadline for confirmation of Spring Semester programmes Module choice exercise for students continuing their studies in 2012/13 31 August 2012 Summer Dissertation Deadline Summer Dissertation Deadline

11 1 Students should plan for the whole 2011/12 programme. 2 Students confirm their programme of study for the year and may not vary their Autumn Semester programme after this point 3 Students may make amendments to their Spring Semester programme (they cannot reduce the number of modules studied). 4 It is unlikely that students will be in a position to take their dissertation at this stage, but it is just possible that they may have sufficient credit at entry to do so. 2.9 Your Timetable The University timetable operates from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm, Monday to Friday. You will be given a course timetable at the Course Introductory Session. This gives timeslots and rooms for all modules on your course. Once you have registered your modules you can get a print out of your individual timetable for the current semester at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/pg-course-information. Your timetable will change each semester, and will be available on the web shortly before the start of each semester. If you do not have a course timetable please contact your Postgraduate Office without delay. 2.10 Publication of Results and Transcripts At the end of each semester Assessment Boards confirm marks and awards. The Postgraduate Offices are responsible for providing these results to you via Evision. www.londonmet.ac.uk/evision (refer 3.4 below) An official transcript will be posted to you at your home address on the completion of your course. There is no charge for this end of course transcript but a fee will be payable for any subsequent transcripts. For reason of employment or to provide proof of study at the University during your course, you may need a formal transcript, stamped by the Postgraduate Office. There is a fee for these transcripts, payable at the time of request. Requests should be made to the Postgraduate Office, who aim to produce transcripts within 5 working days of request.

12 3.0 MANAGING YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE ON-LINE 3.1 Your University IT Account You use the same account to access all University IT systems. Your account name is printed at the top of on the ID card that you receive at enrolment and is 7 characters in length (e.g. ABC1234). Your password will be set initially to be your date of birth (DDMMYYYY) so you should change to something secure when you first log in. You can change your password and set details for resetting your password at: http://my.londonmet.ac.uk 3.2 Communication We do our best to keep you informed of what you need to know at all times. We use the Web to provide much of the information you need so it is essential to familiarise yourself with the University website. At other times we will use email to contact you so it is essential that you check your University email on a regular basis. 3.3 Your Contact Details The University will contact you by letter, phone, or email, perhaps to arrange a meeting, to provide you with information, or to respond to a query. It is therefore essential that you keep your contact details up to date on your student Evision account. Increasingly, we use email to communicate and keep you informed. You will also have been allocated a University email address, which is your 7 character account (see 3.1 above) e.g. ABC1234@my.londonmet.ac.uk. Even if you already have an email account that you will continue to use you should regularly check your London Met account or set up an auto forward, as important messages will be sent to your University email address. 3.4 Evision Evision is the University s online facility that allows you to access your personal student record, and is where you print your coursework coversheets and other forms that you may need. You also re-enrol via Evision and view information showing your attendance at classes. You can view your: Personal and contact details (can be updated online) Registered modules Enrolment and progression Tuition fee details Record of coursework deadlines and submissions Mitigating Circumstances decisions Module results (available from notified date of publication) Details of final award For more information please check: www.londonmet.ac.uk/evision 3.5 WebLearn Online module resources WebLearn provides online support for your modules, enabling you to communicate with your tutor and other students. Course materials, information and assessments are available on WebLearn as well as study programmes materials and such as Writing and Communicating at University. WebLearn requires your user name and password and can be accessed at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/tltc/weblearn

13 THE STUDENT VOICE 3.6 StARS Feedback from students is vital to the University to find out how well the teaching, guidance and other services are working. This is obtained in different ways, including via Student Academic Representatives (StARs) who, supported by the Students Union, provide direct feedback from students on the course and raise any issues on their behalf. You will have the opportunity to stand for election as a StAR or to elect a fellow student. 3.7 Course Committees A Course Committee is normally convened each semester to review a set of modules and courses and provide quality assurance. Key staff, including module and course lecturers, attend these meetings and student input is received via your StARs. 3.8 Students views on modules and courses Students views are obtained by a variety of means such as focus groups and web-based questionnaires. While staff welcome informal feedback from students, module lecturers will produce formal monitoring reports which cover areas such as teaching, student feedback and assessment. Reports and action points agreed are available from both module and course reviews. 3.9 Postgraduate representation through the Students Union The University is proud to work with the Students Union which now has a Postgraduate Officer whom you may wish to contact about any student, pastoral or social issue. To contact the Students Union please access: http://www.londonmetsu.org.uk/

14 4.0 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE 4.1 Postgraduate Office The Postgraduate Office is the key administrative service to support you in your studies throughout your time at the University. You will be assigned to the Postgraduate Office linked to your course, normally in the building where the subject teaching staff are located. It will be here that you go with timetable queries, to plan your modules, to hand in your coursework, to collect letters you may need, and to ask any questions about your studies. You should also contact your Postgraduate Office in relation to the following issues: Queries about your enrolment status or the fees that you have been charged; Queries about your timetable or the modules that are registered for you; If your ID card is not working; Submit a module query, a claim for mitigating circumstances, an appeal, or get advice about examination arrangements; Advice on claiming credit for previous study or experience; Help you contact your course leader; Obtain standard letters and council tax exemption certificates; Visa extension letters for international students; Advice on the consequences of withdrawing. Each group of courses has a Course Administrator and you will become familiar with them throughout your time at the University. Your Postgraduate Office will also contact you if you are missing classes or not submitting work on time. The offices are normally open throughout the academic year but can also be contacted by phone or email see www.londonmet.ac.uk/registry When contacting your Postgraduate Office, please always quote your student number as it enables staff to access your information quickly and so respond to your query. 4.2 Postgraduate Course Leader Course leaders are the main contacts for personal academic advice, including programme planning and approval, and are also responsible for the day-to-day organisation of their course and liaising with academic and administrative staff. They can be a source of valuable advice for other matters also and should be tour first port of call if problems arise. They are able to: provide you with academic advice on all aspects of your studies and progress explain the implications of assessment results and associated feedback on your academic performance advise you on managing and planning your studies; refer you to Student Services for support regarding personal problems, housing, health and finance Your Course Leader can also write you a reference, for a job application for example. 4.3 Module Lecturers Module lecturers are members of academic staff who lead the modules contributing to your programme of study and are key to your learning experience. They should be your first port of call for advice on any topics you do not understand following a lecture or seminar. All Module lecturers have office hours these are set times during the week when they are available for consultation. For each module there will be a Module Booklet.

15 4.5 Student Success through Learning Development Some students may need extra help with their studies, sometimes for a particular module or, more generally, across their programme. This might include help with presentations, essay writing and critical analysis. It is always best to seek help in good time and to take advantage of the range of additional classes, courses and resources available. For the full range of study and skills programmes and to find out more about the Learning Development Unit, please visit: www.londonmet.ac.uk/ldu/ 4.6 Student Services We provide a range of advice, information, guidance and counselling services to support you in achieving your academic aims, We provide advice on issues including. Academic Financial Personal Faith Careers/employment Disability Accommodation Student development Extra curricular activities Visit our web site www.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices to find out how we can help you make your time at London Met both enjoyable and successful 4.7 Disabilities and Inclusion The Student Advisers (Disability and Inclusion) can assist you if you have a disability, long-term medical or mental health condition or Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. dyslexia). Support can include: Special examination arrangements Help with finding an academic support worker Screening if you think you have a Specific Learning Difficulty Assistance to apply for study-related funding www.londonmet.ac.uk/disabilities www.londonmet.ac.uk/dyslexia-disabilities If you are eligible for support, the Advisers can help you obtain a range of adjustments depending on the level of need identified. This may include: Practical Assistance: specialist tutors (specific learning difficulties), note-takers, or communication support Specific Adjustments to Study-Related Services: extended library loans (week loans only) or accessibility related rooming adjustments Teaching-Related Adjustments: internal needs assessment report to identify needs to Academic Staff Assessment Specific Adjustments: exam adjustments, coursework certificates or alternative assessment arrangements. Please Note There are some aspects of course assessment that cannot be changed. These are known as competence criteria. To be identified as competence criteria the assessed items must be essential to the course and all students must be able to fulfil these criteria. Although in such situations it may not be possible to alter the format of the assessment, you may still be entitled to adjustments (e.g. extra time or an amanuensis).

16 Placement support If you are required, as part of your course, to go on placement, we can provide assistance to ensure that the placement is suitable for you and for any required adjustments to be discussed and organised as appropriate. You may be entitled to government allowances. You are strongly advised to contact us for help with funding applications. For full information on the types of funding available: www.londonmet.ac.uk/disabilities www.londonmet.ac.uk/dyslexia-disabilities 4.8 Placements/study abroad Boost your career with an accredited professional work placement project You will be aware that in addition to qualifications, relevant professional experience can help you progress in your career. Employers are interested in graduates who have extended their learning experience by practically applying academic knowledge in the workplace. BusinessWorks at LMBS offers students the opportunity to take an assessed work placement project within their postgraduate degree programme to enhance their professional knowledge and competencies. 20 credit work placement project optional module (MNPW89N) This elective module requires you to undertake a 30 day or 210 hours work-based project in a working environment related to your subject, either during the summer or part-time during the semester. Often students are able to use their current employment for the module or can work with a Careers Consultant to help them find suitable experience. The assessment leads you to explore the business environment through the application of academic knowledge, to reflect upon your personal development and consider your future career plans. BusinessWorks has offices at both North and City campus. In addition to assisting students with work placements, we provide guidance on how to access a variety of self-development opportunities to help you develop essential professional skills and enjoy your time at University. Moorgate: Rooms MGS-53-54 Tel: 020 7320 1462 / 1671 / 1461 Stapleton House: Room SHG-36 Tel: 020 7133 3957 / 3972 www.londonmet.ac.uk/lmbs/business-works Follow us on Twitter @BusinessWorks4U bus.works@londonmet.ac.uk

17 5.0 DISSERTATION OR PROJECT 5.1 Registration You register for your Masters Dissertation or Project in the same way as for your other modules - see section 2.8 Module Registration, Course Planning and Approval. Once you are registered for your dissertation/project, you are expected to submit it in the period for which you are registered. The University s standard assessment arrangements and mitigating circumstances procedures apply (see below for information on withdrawal and mitigating circumstances). Formal requirements for your dissertation are set out in detail in the Dissertation/Project Module Booklet for your course. Please note that some postgraduate courses will require you to have passed research methods before you can begin your Dissertation/Project. The main aspects are summarised below: 5.2 Supervision Arrangements Supervisors are allocated before the beginning of the supervision period. Course leaders, research methods lecturers and dissertation co-ordinators seek to match up the interests of staff with the topics chosen by students. The dissertation proposal is the basis on which these decisions are made. The dissertation proposal written by the student explains the problem under investigation and the research plan which is proposed for solving the problem. In some cases the statement of the problem will require reference to an industry sector and an aspect of management theory. This is the beginning of the literature review. Details of student / supervisor allocation are posted on the Weblearn site directly before the supervision period starts. Student s role Students are responsible for managing their dissertations. Appreciating the following should help the process run smoothly and ensure that students get the most from their supervisor: Be familiar with this document, the marking guidelines and supervision instructions on Weblearn In the long run this will save time and avoid unnecessary questions. Ensure regular and appropriate communication with the supervisor: Students must meet with their supervisors early in the process. All course leaders should organise some sort of dissertation workshop and make sure that supervisors are introduced to supervisees The nature of supervision is a matter of agreement between the supervisor and the student. Many supervisors are happy to work via email exchanges and telephone. Others want to see the student face-to-face. We try to accommodate the needs of students who cannot remain in London during their dissertation research; however, an initial meeting must take place face-to-face. And a plan must be agreed on with the supervisor. It must be remembered that Postgraduate Masters courses are of 12 month, or 15 month duration Lecturers are often on leave in August and December, immediately prior to submission dates. September and January are also frequently busy months for marking and course administration. Students should not expect supervisors to have endless availability at these times. Planning and time management are therefore very important. Prepare for meetings / communications: You are required to complete the Supervisor Meeting Log Sheet (available for download from WebLearn) for every meeting. This will help you, with the support of your supervisor, to plan your dissertation project, reflect upon your progress and plan long and short-term objectives. Students should send the supervisor a copy of the dissertation proposal AND the feedback before the initial meeting. Students should try to develop their own ideas / thoughts on possible solutions before contacting the supervisor. Due to limited supervisory time available, supervisors cannot be expected to comment on draft chapters more than once. Usually there will not be time to re-examine amended work. It is therefore

18 extremely important that students present polished chapters rather than rough drafts and pay close attention to feedback. Feedback should be expected within ten working days of work submitted. Spelling and grammar matter. But please note: it is the responsibility of the student NOT the supervisor to correct them. Students should ensure timely input from the supervisor on key factors such as: Confirmation that objectives are appropriate and feasible. Checking appropriateness of the research method. Approval of the research instrument. Type and level of analysis Act on supervisor s recommendations: Supervisors are experienced in research and dissertation writing. Not heeding their comments wastes supervision input, and will result in an inferior dissertation. Supervisor s role Understanding the role of the supervisor from the outset can also help ensure that the student-supervisor relationship is a productive one. The supervisor s role includes the following: Provide up to 7.5 hours input for each student: This includes face-to-face meetings, email communications; time spent reading student material, providing feedback. Supervisory time is not an infinite resource and must be well-managed At the initial meeting: Agree the ground rules for supervision. Recap on the nature of the student-supervisor relationship. Encourage the student to develop an appropriate timetable for research and meetings, in order to make the proposed submission date. Discuss availability and preferred means of contact. Provide guidance at relevant points in the research process. For example: Discuss the expected dissertation structure to ensure a clear framework Clarify and suggest how to refine research objectives. Guide reading and the literature review. Check appropriateness of the research method. Approve the research instrument. Read through / comment on draft chapters once, where they are provided in a timely manner Offer advice on appropriate dissertation standards, in particular in relation to the dissertation format (see next section). Keep a record of student progress: An effective way of doing this is to create a Word file for each student, recording details of meetings, email communication, tasks the student has been recommended to undertake, feedback given,. A suggested Progress Log is given on page 26 of this Handbook. Coordinate dissertation marking with second-markers and write up feedback for the student. Feedback should be given to the Postgraduate Centre once marks are agreed. Communicate with the dissertation coordinator if any particular difficulties arise. 5.3 Topic approval As discussed in Sec 5.2 above, students will develop their topics for the dissertation in the Marketing Research module prior to beginning the supervision process; when all taught modules are complete. At the beginning of the supervision period a meeting will be arranged between students and supervisors to begin the dissertation. A Postgraduate Masters Dissertation Handbook will be made available to MA Marketing students to guide them through the tough but enjoyable task of researching and writing the dissertation.

19 You should also consult the University s Code of Good Research Practice which can be accessed at: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research/the-research-and-postgraduate-office/current-students/researchethics.cfm to see whether these guidelines raise any issues for your own research, and discuss them with your supervisor. 5.4 Planning and Timing Students are required to submit two bound copies of the dissertation to the Assessment Unit soft binding is acceptable, indeed preferred. (Hard-bound documents are more expensive and require a longer lead-time; the dissertation must, however, be bound; stapling is NOT enough.) Annually there are three submission dates in January, May and September. For Full-time students the recommended submission date if they start their degree in Autumn Semester is the following September (i.e. 12 months after starting). Those starting their degree in Spring Semester should submit in May the following year. Part-time students starting in the Autumn Semester would normally submit dissertations in May of their second year of study. Part-timers starting in the Spring Semester would normally submit work in January of their second year (i.e. about 24 months after their start date). You should also consult the University s Code of Good Research Practice which can be accessed at: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research/the-research-and-postgraduate-office/current-students/researchethics.cfm to see whether these guidelines raise any issues for your own research, and discuss them with your supervisor. 5.5 Submission You must submit two copies of your dissertation/ project. One copy will be available for you to collect after marking and the other may be kept by the University, for reference. Both copies should be securely bound so that pages cannot easily be removed, lost or replaced. It is helpful if at least one of the copies is bound with front and rear boards rigid enough to hold the dissertation upright on a shelf, and has a navy blue cover with gold lettering. (Your Postgraduate Office can provide a list of thesis binders. You should expect to pay around 15-20 per volume). There are three standard deadline dates for submission in every academic year. The dates for 2011/12 are: Deadline Autumn Semester 20 January 2012 Spring Semester 18 May 2012 Summer Period 31 August 2012 Dissertations/Projects must be submitted at your Postgraduate Office

20 6.0 MARKING AND ASSESSMENT 6.1 Academic Regulations The University s Academic Regulations govern all aspects of assessment and those concerning postgraduate assessment can be found in Section 4.2 (www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations). 6.2 Marking and grades The University provides you with marks and grades for the work that you submit for assessment. The detailed requirements of assessment in each module are specified in module booklets, together with indicative assessment criteria associated with different levels of performance and results. Each component of assessed work is assigned a percentage mark with a pass/fail threshold at 50%. At postgraduate level, degrees are awarded according to the overall average mark obtained for all modules and the dissertation, with classification thresholds for each grade of award as follows: 70% and above Masters degree with Distinction 60% - 69.99% Masters degree with Merit 50% - 59.99% Masters degree 0% - 49.99% Fail At the end of each semester, module results and awards are confirmed by Assessment Boards (Subject Standards Boards and Awards Boards). Assessment Boards uphold the academic standards of your course and ensure that each student is treated fairly and equally through the assessment process. 6.3 Your responsibilities concerning Assessment You have a responsibility to ensure that all coursework assessments are completed in accordance with the published deadlines and that all examinations are attended in accordance with the published timetable. While there are opportunities to be re-assessed in assignments and examinations (see 6.11 below) you should be aware that, under the University s Academic Regulations, if you pass the module on reassessment your overall module mark will be capped at the bare pass mark level of 50%. 6.4 Academic Misconduct You are also responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is your own, and that it is appropriately referenced. The University does not tolerate cheating of any kind. You are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the Academic Misconduct Procedures, which list a range of categories of academic misconduct and associated penalties, covering instances of academic misconduct (plagiarism, collusion, exam cheating). From the outset of your studies you should receive information and guidance on referencing conventions and group work activities and on how to ensure that you do not contravene the University s Procedures. If you are unsure about referencing, paraphrasing or group work activities, you should seek advice as soon as possible from the Module Tutor, your PAA or the Students Union. An interactive guide on preventing plagiarism containing student views on plagiarism, interactive demonstrations on how to reference and quizzes can be accessed at: http://learning.londonmet.ac.uk/tltc/learnhigher/plagiarism/ Further information can be accessed at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-misconduct

21 6.5 Assessment Feedback Assessment feedback is a critical part of your learning experience and supports successful achievement on your course. Feedback can be: diagnostic it provides an indicator of your aptitude and preparedness for study and can identify your strengths and weaknesses. formative it provides you with feedback on progress on your work. The work may or may not contribute to the overall module grade. summative it provides a measure of achievement or failure in respect of your performance in relation to intended learning outcomes for a piece of assessment. During your course you will probably receive feedback in a number of different forms. in teaching sessions to the whole class or to you individually; orally or in writing; written using a feedback sheet on your work; during the module as well as at the end. Your assessment tasks may be set for submission during the semester or towards the end of the semester. You should note carefully the following details For coursework submitted up to the end of teaching week 9 of a semester i) Your marked coursework and accompanying feedback should normally be returned to you during module sessions. Alternative arrangements may be made, for example, where the assessment involves bulky pieces of coursework. For coursework submitted after teaching week 9 of a semester i) Your tutor s feedback (without the coursework) will be available for collection either from your module lecturer or from the Postgraduate Office. ii) The marked work with your tutor s comments will be available for collection two weeks after the formal publication of the result. iii) Any unclaimed work will be kept for a period of 6 months following publication of the result, after which it will be destroyed. All arrangements for coursework and feedback return will normally be stated in module booklets. This should include: due dates for coursework submission; dates when coursework feedback will be distributed in class (for work submitted up to the end of week 9); dates when coursework feedback can be collected from the module lecturer or the Postgraduate Centre (for work submitted after week 9); the format by which assessment feedback will be given; the process by which coursework can be collected two weeks following the publication of the result concerned. 6.6 Submission of coursework When handing in coursework you must ensure that you have understood and followed all the instructions provided by the module lecturer. Your coursework should be accompanied by a securely attached barcoded coursework coversheet printed from Evision. Unless you are given formal guidance to do otherwise (e.g. for some design work or work to be submitted via WebLearn), written coursework must be submitted only to the Postgraduate Office in the building that

22 the module is taught. Work handed in to tutors prior to, or on the confirmed coursework deadline date, does not constitute a valid submission and will not be processed. It is important that you retain both your submission receipt (this is an electronic receipt sent to your University email address and also available to view on your Evision account) and a copy of the coursework until the results are published on Evision. Full details of the coursework submission process, including how to obtain coursework cover sheets, can be accessed at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/coursework-exams 6.7 Examination Timetable Examinations take place during Weeks 13, 14 and 15 of each semester and during the Summer Reassessment period in July. (See inside cover of this handbook for 2010/11 dates). The examination timetable is published three weeks prior to the start of each examination period at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/examtrack 6.8 Past Examination Papers These are available online at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/coursework-exams 6.9 Mitigating Circumstances Students who are unable to attend an examination must contact their Postgraduate Office on or before the date of the exam. A claim should also be made under the procedures for Mitigating Circumstances which, if accepted, will result in an opportunity to redo the exam without penalty in the summer period. Students who are unable to submit coursework by the due date should also make a claim under the mitigating circumstances process but are also expected, where possible, to submit the assignment within two weeks of the due date with an explanation of the reasons for lateness. Students who do not submit assessment and do not notify the University of the reasons for this in advance will not be eligible for reassessment and may be required to leave the course. For further information access: www.londonmet.ac.uk/mitigation If you think you are likely to need to make a claim under these procedures you are advised to contact your Postgraduate Office in advance of the due date. Claims of mitigating circumstances must be submitted to the Postgraduate Office on the appropriate form, attaching independent supporting evidence of the particular circumstances that affected your studies. Forms should be printed from: www.londonmet.ac.uk/mitigation The deadlines for the submission of claims are published at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/mitigation, but also on notice boards outside the Postgraduate Office. Prior to submitting a claim for Mitigating Circumstances you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the Mitigating Circumstances Criteria (Section 10.3 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations 6.10 Assessment Board Appeals There are only three grounds on which students may appeal against the outcome of an assessment board decision. These are very specific and an appeal may not be made in respect of an academic judgement or in respect of a rejected claim of mitigating circumstances. The University operates a strict 5 working day

23 deadline for submission of appeals, following the publication of the result(s) concerned. Refer to the Index (Section 11.1) for sources of further information. Appeals in respect of impaired academic performance due to mitigating circumstances may be made only in relation to an exam or to an assessed piece of work that was submitted by the published deadline. If successful, the assessment/reassessment concerned will be voided and any mark achieved must be surrendered. A further assessment/reassessment will then be granted, at the next opportunity, in place of the voided attempt. Such appeals WILL NOT be considered in relation to work submitted during the late coursework period (as defined in 6.9 above). Prior to submitting an Appeal you should familiarise yourself with the Procedures for the submission of Appeals (Section 10.4 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations 6.11 Action in the event of failure to pass a module Reassessment A student who attempts the final component of assessment in a module shall normally be entitled to be reassessed on one occasion in any module for which a failing mark has been awarded. Reassessment takes place during the summer resit period following the academic session in which the module was taken. However, reassessment of a dissertation shall take place at the next available assessment point (i.e. January for September submissions, May for January submissions and September for May submissions). Under the University s Academic Regulations, if you pass the module following reassessment, your overall module mark will be capped at the bare pass. A student who does not attempt the final component of assessment in a module will only be permitted reassessment if they have notified the University (normally in advance of the date of submission/date of examination). Where the reasons given are documented and meet the criteria for Mitigating Circumstances (see Section 6.9), a student will be entitled to be assessed during the summer period as if for the first time and will be entitled to the full range of marks for the module. Where a request for a deferral of assessment is made but the claim does not satisfy the criteria for Mitigating Circumstances, the University may agree a reassessment opportunity but any passing module mark will be capped at a bare pass. If you have received failing marks in three or more modules (60 credits) in a level you will be required to undertake a review of your academic performance with your Course Leader or nominee. On the basis of this review, you may be required to leave the course or seek admission on to a different course. You should ensure that you familiarise yourself with the University regulations on reassessment (Section 4.2 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations Retaking a module If, after reassessment, you still have not passed a module, you may need to re-register and to take the whole module again. You are only permitted to re-register any module on one occasion and a fee may be charged for re-registrations. 6.12 University Criteria for Awards The Postgraduate Awards Framework, the list of all of the University s postgraduate awards, can be found at the beginning of Section 4.1 of the Academic Regulations. Section 4.2 of the Academic Regulations details the minimum criteria for all the University s postgraduate awards.

24 WITHDRAWAL, INTERRUPTION OR TRANSFER 6.13 Withdrawal from a module Normally once you have a registered programme for the academic year it cannot be changed. You have until the end of week 2 of the first semester to withdraw from a module without academic or financial penalty. After this point you are expected to complete every module registered against your record and to pay any fee due for your registered programme. For further information and advice please contact your Postgraduate Office. Withdrawal from a module is not permitted after Week 2 of the first semester and students with unforeseen circumstances, which prevent completion of an assessment or a module, should submit a claim of mitigating circumstances. (See section 6.9). Requests to substitute modules for the second semester of study must be submitted by the University s specified deadline for such requests and shall be subject to University approval. Such requests shall only be considered where there is no reduction in the total number of modules registered. 6.14 Intermission of Studies There may be circumstances that arise in the year that make it difficult for you to continue on your course or part of your course. If this is the case you should in the first instance, contact your Postgraduate Office, who will advise you of the options available to you. You may need to see your Course Leader and/or Student Services. Intermission of studies is only possible in exceptional cases and you will need to provide evidence of your circumstances that confirms it is not possible for you to continue on your course. Intermission can have as financial implications (where applicable) and on your status in the UK if you are an international student. During an approved intermission of studies you will not be eligible to sit examinations, submit coursework or undertake any other form of assessment. The maximum period of intermission permitted is two years and the maximum period in which to qualify for a Masters degree (including any agreed intermission) is six years. If you intermit without prior approval you will be deemed to have withdrawn from your course and you may not be allowed to recommence at a later date. For further details go to: www.londonmet.ac.uk/intermission 6.15 Mode of Study Your mode of study is determined by the University based on the number of modules that you have registered for a particular semester (Refer to Section 4.1, Regulation 13 of the Academic Regulations). While students are permitted to change their mode of study at the end of a semester, they must be clearly registered as either full-time or part-time for each whole semester. This is because the funds allocated to the University by the Higher Education Funding Council (England) relate to the number of students registered in each mode. You should be aware that a change in mode of study is a formal University process and you should therefore seek advice from your Postgraduate Office or Student Services before making any decision. 6.16 Course Transfers If you intend to change course, you should seek advice from your Postgraduate Office.

25 7.0 STUDY RESOURCES AND FACILITIES 7.1 Libraries and Special Collections We hope you will make full use of the study facilities, specialist library staff and extensive range of print and electronic resources available to support your studies and help you succeed. London Met students have access to our five libraries located at Calcutta House, Commercial Road, Holloway Road, Ladbroke House and Moorgate and two internationally acclaimed special collections. The Special Collections are The Trades Union Congress Library Collections which is a major research library for the study of all aspects of trade unions, employment and collective bargaining both historical and contemporary coverage. This is located on the ground floor of the Holloway Road library. The Women s Library, located next to Calcutta House building, is the oldest and most extensive collection of women s history in Europe. It is also a cultural centre and students are encouraged to attend the busy public events programme discounts for students are available. The Collections are reference only but they are an excellent source of information for essays especially for dissertations. For more information go to: www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk www.londonmet.ac.uk/sas/library-services/tuc/ All University libraries have a large range of up-to-date information and resources. The electronic resources include e-journals, e-books, and databases, which are also accessible outside the University, via the library catalogue at: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/ Holloway Road library, re-designed in early 2011, houses plenty of new computers, comfy informal learning spaces, techno booths, teaching rooms and a café area. All the libraries have open access networked PCs and printers, copying and media facilities to support your studies. In designated areas you can get wireless access to the Internet using your own laptop look out for the MetNet signs. All the libraries offer group and silent learning zones and there are group study rooms which can be booked. To save you time, there are many self-service facilities including borrowing and returning items, renewals and reservations. The web based catalogue is easy to use and can be accessed both on and off campus. Information on our services, library opening hours, borrowing rights, resources and contacts can be found at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/library 7.2 Academic Liaison Librarians and Subject Guides Academic liaison librarians are qualified to provide learning support and information skills training and ensure that the appropriate information resources you need are available throughout your course. Your librarian can help you acquire valuable information literacy skills which will enable you to locate, retrieve, evaluate and use the most relevant resources for your research for specific assignments and projects. This is done in a variety of ways from drop-in workshop sessions to bespoke course group sessions planned in conjunction with academic staff and based on your learning objectives. They publish guides and online tutorials to resources specific to your subject area which are a good starting point when you need support. You can talk to your academic liaison librarian in person during one of the regular drop-in sessions at all libraries or, if you prefer, send an email with your enquiry. They are always happy to help. For further information: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-services/services/sessions.cfm

26 To access subject guides and find your academic liaison librarian go to: www.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-services/subject-help/subjects/index.cfm 7.3 Student feedback Library Services are always looking at ways to improve what we offer you and welcome your views. Please go to our Comments and Suggestions link on our web pages http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-services/comments.cfm or email your Learning Resources Manager http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-services/services/conman.cfm 7.4 ICT Services and Media Resources Many classrooms are equipped with fixed Audio-Visual installations, including overhead projector, PC, whiteboard and screen. The University has a number of computer studios, offering both specialist and general-purpose software, running mainly on PCs, but some on Apple Macs. Access ICT facilities can only be accessed through using individually assigned IDs and passwords. General-purpose PC and Mac studios are provided and supported by IT support staff. Most are open-access to students except when booked for teaching. Support staff Support is provided throughout the day through dedicated onsite teams, with Student Helpdesks located in Tower Building, Calcutta House, Commercial Road, Eden Grove, Ladbroke House, Moorgate and Spring House. Telephone support is available evenings and weekends every day of the year. Details can be found on the support webpage: http://my.londonmet.ac.uk Opening Hours For full details of opening hours, refer to: http://my.londonmet.ac.uk Students can access many of the University s computing facilities from home or another workplace via the Internet. Student Printing Laser printing is available throughout the University. A fee is charged. FURTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES 7.5 Open Language Programme In addition to their main programme of study, the University offers all postgraduate students the opportunity through the Open Language Programme, to learn (or gain fluency in) one of a wide range of languages. For the majority of courses an additional fee payment is charged should you wish to pursue this. Before registering for an OLP module you will need to be assessed so that you can be placed at the appropriate level; these assessments are made by the Open Language Programme at key points in the year. The languages available are usually: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Learning is achieved through a combination of taught sessions and independent study packs, both of which are essential to make real progress. For further information please visit: www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/hal/olp

27 8.0 COURSE SPECIFICATION 1. Name of course and highest award MA Digital & Experiential Marketing 2. Scheme Postgraduate 3. Total credit for course 180 4. Possible interim awards PG Cert, PG Dip 5. Awarding/validating institution/body London Metropolitan University 6. Teaching institution 7. Course also accredited by 8. Professional body exemptions/accreditation 9. External subject benchmarks The course complies with the QAA Subject benchmark statements for General Business and Management. In particular the course will provide a study of organisations, their management and the changing external environment in which they operate and prepare students for a career in business and management by enhancing lifelong learning skills. The benefits of this sort of personal development are expected to contribute to society at large. In addition the course will also provide a broad, analytical and highly integrated study of business and management; specifically the interrelationships and the interconnectedness between the Digital and Experiential sectors of the marketing industry. This business and management degree is strongly related to practice and therefore will provide a strong link between the development of skills and the employability of graduates. 10. UCAS code (undergraduate only) 11. London Met course code PMST 12. Route code DIEXMA-N - MA Digital and Experiential Marketing 12. JACS code 13. Source of funding 14. Approved to run from Sept 2010

28 15. Mode of attendance ftd, ptd 16. Expected duration of course 1 year fulltime, 15 months for Feb start, 2 years part time 17. Organised work experience/sandwich year/year abroad Not applicable 18. Career education, information and guidance Due to the nature of the disciplines represented in the programme, the applied characteristic shall be emphasised along with an awareness of the diverse range of marketing career pathways open to graduates. Through the exploration of digital marketing topics, students shall be exposed to career pathways in digital platform design and development, and data mining, which lead to careers in market intelligence and marketing campaign design. The exploration of experiential marketing will expose students to a further career path associated with the nature of brand characteristics and how these may be interpreted into live brand experiences. It is because of this complexity and diversity in career pathway which can be viewed as individual routes, or holistically, that students shall be required to attend a once-a-semester tutorial. This tutorial, led by the course leader and supported by a careers advisor, shall take the form of a student centred group discussion that explores the variety of career choices available. 19. Admissions Autumn and Spring 20. Teaching location North 21. Home academic department London Metropolitan Business School 22. Course Leader Gareth Thompson 23. Main educational aims of the course The educational aims of the course are: 1. To draw upon the competences of three educational centres (Business, Computing and Social Sciences) to deliver a holistic understanding of the roles and contribution of each discipline to the digital and experiential marketing process. 2. To provide students with an academic foundation in the theories which underpin the digital and experiential industries. 3. To augment theory with a framework of experiential learning to ensure that students possess the practical skills to allow them to make an effective contribution within the marketing industry and to face the challenges associated with the digital and experiential aspects of brand marketing. 4. To develop a high degree of graduate-ness in the students, to enhance the ability of individuals to operate as effective learners, independently or collaboratively, and to provide the transferable skills to ensure graduates operate successfully in a variety of business contexts. 25. Course learning outcomes Knowledge and Understanding On completing the course, students will know and understand the theories and intellectual constructs which underpin, and contribute to, digital and experiential marketing as academic disciplines

29 On completing the course students will know and understand the contribution that digital and experiential marketing makes to successful marketing campaigns, and brand management strategies On completing the course students will posses a critical understanding of the interconnectedness of digital marketing and experiential marketing, and the allied disciplines that contribute to the success of these media platforms. The academic content of the programme focuses on a paradigm shift; the migration of marketing budgets and brand strategies to the internet, and the re-adjustment in consumer buying behaviour and decision making processes. Cognitive intellectual skills The most important intellectual skills developed in the course are the analysis of complex data sets in the form of primary and secondary data, in off-line and web-based formats, and the interpretation of this data in the form of market intelligence and marketing information, and in the form of recommendations applicable to practice Further intellectual skills shall incorporate the evaluation of experiential and digital marketing case studies to provide critical and strategic responses Students shall be able to synthesise theoretical concepts taught within a classroom context, and apply interpretations of theory, through individual and group based active learning, to provide practical responses to business problems Transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice Graduate-ness, in the form of transferable skills development shall be delivered through a variety of formal and informal mechanisms embedded within the programme Teamwork and verbal communication skills shall be delivered through group projects and presentations Creative and entrepreneurial skills shall be delivered through experiential learning that simulate business problems, and problems based on industry practice Research and analytical skills shall be delivered through seminar activities, assignments and the dissertation Written communication skills and IT skills shall be delivered through written assignments and computer lab based seminar activities Subject-specific practical skills Competency will be developed in the origination of live brand experiences for recognised branded products or services Competency will be developed in devising and developing digital multimedia online solutions to marketing problems Competency will be developed in using searching and disseminating online and offline data

30 26. Course structure diagram DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSES AUTUMN ENTRY Course Title: Digital & Experiential Marketing Course Type: Masters Course Leader: tbd Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points M a s t e r s Notes Autumn MKP028N Digital Marketing c 20 LMBS Autumn MKP027N Experiential Marketing c 20 LMBS Autumn MKP003N Marketing Research c 20 LMBS Spring MKP005N Brand Equity c 20 LMBS Spring CCP160N Data Mining Business Applications Spring CMP010N E-solutions and Digital Media Applications Summer Period MKPP29N Dissertation Digital & Experiential Marketing c 20 FoC c 20 DASS c 60 LMBS, FoC & DASS PG Cert PG Dip Any combination of modules to the value of 60 points Any combination of modules to the value of 120 points DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSES SPRING ENTRY Course Title: Digital & Experiential Marketing Course Type: Masters Course Leader: tbd Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points M a s t e r s Notes Spring MKP005N Brand Equity c 20 LMBS Spring CCP160N Data Mining Business Applications Spring CMP010N E-solutions and Digital Media Applications c 20 FoC c 20 DASS Autumn MKP028N Digital Marketing c 20 LMBS Autumn MKP027N Experiential Marketing c 20 LMBS Autumn MKP003N Marketing Research c 20 LMBS Spring MKPP29N Dissertation Digital & Experiential Marketing c 60 LMBS, FoC & DASS PG Cert PG Dip Any combination of modules to the value of 60 points Any combination of modules to the value of 120 points

31 DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE AWARD TITLES Level Title of available award Notes P G Digital & Experiential Marketing PG Dip Masters C e r t Digital & Experiential Marketing Digital & Experiential Marketing 27. Assessment diagram DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSES Assessment MKP028N Digital Marketing Fundamen tals CCP160N Data Mining Business Applications MKP003N Marketing Research MKP027N Experiential Marketing MKP005N Brand Equity CMP010N E-solutions and Digital Media Applications MKPP29N Dissertation Digital & Experiential Marketing Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Unseen exam EXU 50% Coursework CWK 60% 12 50% 11 60% 14 50% 12 60% 12 30% 70% 8 14 Oral presentation ORL 50% 9 Group Project GRO 40% 8 40% 12 40% 9 Dissertation/ Project DIS 100% 28. Additional general comments (if appropriate) 29. Standard University entry requirements, inc APEL/AP(E)L A good UK honours degree or equivalent, minimum 2.2, in marketing, communications, a business discipline, computing, or other areas which are supplemented by relevant business experience. Applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree will require a minimum of three years of marketing experience within industry. 30. Career opportunities Opportunities upon graduation are wide ranging, including roles within a corporate marketing department delivering live brand experiences or digital marketing campaigns. Job roles may include brand management, account management, business development, digital marketing management, integrated marketing, strategic management, experiential marketing, and consultancy. The course further prepares graduates for entrepreneurial roles, given the nature of the experiential marketing industry. 31. Course summary MA Digital & Experiential Marketing integrates two exciting, and emerging academic disciplines and marketing industry practices. The programme explores the nature of Digital Marketing and Experiential Marketing as distinct specialisations; while recognising that the two specialisations are inextricably linked.

32 Digital Marketing serves the growing demand by industry and consumers alike to utilise electronic and online applications to market products and services. Increased use of technology by consumers has lead to the need for socially connecting activities where customers can engage directly with brands through live brand experiences devised through experiential marketing. 32. Course Regulatory Schedule The course shall conform to both University Scheme and University Academic Regulations. 9.0 USEFUL INFORMATION 10.0 DIRECTORY OF MODULES FOR THE COURSE Core modules Digital Marketing This module introduces students to the current practices relating to digital media and marketing. It also presents theoretical frameworks and models which are relevant to digital marketing practice as the discipline develops. It begins by situating digital marketing within the business functions of an organisation and its integrated marketing communications. It then examines the development of supporting technologies for digital marketing which enable web design, online advertising, email and search marketing, customer relationship management and loyalty. The module examines the role of social media in marketing, other new media developments and the evaluation of digital marketing campaigns. Data Mining Business Applications Data mining is an important emerging technology for discovering valuable 'knowledge' for businesses by analysing data from large databases and other data repositories. The technology has been increasingly and successfully used in a wide range of business applications, facilitating the possible identification of hidden patterns/correlations among datasets and the prediction of future trends for businesses. This module aims to develop an understanding of the data mining technology for business applications. It introduces the concepts and practical techniques/tools for data mining in a business context. It also allows the students to gain awareness of the latest developments in data mining, particularly in an Internet-enabled business environment. The module is designed to help equip the students with useful skills in applying data mining techniques in a modern business environment. Experiential Marketing Experiential Marketing is an emerging industry which has developed from early theories proposed by a number of authors, such as Pine & Gilmore (1999). This module critically explores the relationships between the founding theories of Experiential Marketing, whilst delivering the creative components of industry practice. In this module students will analyse the relationship between concepts of Traditional Marketing, Digital Marketing, the Brand, and Experiential Marketing; and investigate the practical aspects of developing and delivering Live Brand Experiences. Brand Equity The brand has become the primary business asset for most companies, in all sectors of the marketplace. This module will create a strong analytical base for understanding how brands are built. Students will analyse the components of brand equity and assess different measures of brand strength and value. Brand assets are described and measured in terms of awareness, associations, and degrees of loyalty and perceptions of quality, and financial value. This module will enable students to understand how brand strategies influence these asset categories. E Solutions and Digital Media Applications This module introduces students to the applications of new media technologies and electronic services. Students will evaluate and analyse current and future trends in the digital media industries and identify the application of communication technology to business and everyday life. Students will learn to evaluate and address the needs of a client group and produce e-solutions appropriate for such needs. Marketing Research - This module provides a practical insight into marketing and social research. Training is given in secondary, qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Throughout the module students are

33 encouraged to develop their research skills as well as their dissertation research proposals, which must be described in the context of the research process. Dissertation The dissertation is a significant (60 credit) module that provides an opportunity for the student to undertake a substantial piece of research in an aspect of the field of digital and experiential marketing. The student is expected to demonstrate a synthesis of the knowledge and skills developed throughout the course. This is the largest piece of assessed work undertaken on the course and is seen as the clearest expression of your ability to study at Masters level. Research This postgraduate course draws significantly on the research carried out by staff in the London Metropolitan Business School, The Faculty of Computing and the Department of Applied Social Science. The University has an active research culture and supports a number of research institutes and research centres. The Centre for Research in Marketing is engaged in a range of projects in corporate and marketing communications, international marketing, non-profit and voluntary sector marketing fields. London Met's Department of Applied Social Sciences is an exciting multidisciplinary department which has achieved national recognition. For example, researchers in the Media, Information and Communications area of DASS have been awarded 180k by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to explore the impact of television s digitalisation and its convergence with digital media on the future of public service broadcasting. The Faculty of Computing has a number of research centers including Digital Media Research Group which conducts theoretical and applied research into the development of digital multimedia artifacts and applications.

34 11.0 INDEX OF KEY SOURCES OF INFORMATION 11.1 Relevant University Procedures: Procedure Academic Misconduct Full procedure in the Academic Regulations (Section 10.5) Full Procedure & notes in the University s Student Handbook Further information/guidance available at: www.londonmet.ac.uk/academicmisconduct Appeals against decisions of Assessment Boards APL Procedures (Section 10.4) (Section 10.1) (Notes only) www.londonmet.ac.uk/appeal Limits to the amount of APL, which can be claimed, are detailed within the Awards Framework and Regulations that regulate your course. www.londonmet.ac.uk/credit Complaints Procedure Fees and enrolments (Section 9) Fees: www.londonmet.ac.uk/fees-and-refunds Enrolment: www.londonmet.ac.uk/evision/online-reenrolment.cfm Intermission (Suspension of Studies) Mitigating Circumstances Postgraduate Assessment Regulations Postgraduate Awards Framework, Scheme Regulations & Course Structure (Section 9.1) (Section 10.3) (Section 4.2) (Section 4.1) (including deadlines) www.londonmet.ac.uk/intermission www.londonmet.ac.uk/mitigation www.londonmet.ac.uk/coursework-exams

11.2 Useful online information: Faculties and Professional Service Departments Academic Regulations Examination Timetable (and Exam Track) Evision Learning Development Unit Postgraduate Offices Postgraduate Students PostGrad-Line Programme Planning Student Handbook Student Services Timetable information WebLearn https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk www.londonmet.ac.uk/academic-regulations www.londonmet.ac.uk/coursework-exams www.londonmet.ac.uk/examtrack www.londonmet.ac.uk/evision www.londonmet.ac.uk/college-of-london/ldu www.londonmet.ac.uk/registry www.londonmet/pg-students https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/prog-plan/postgrad-line www.londonmet.ac.uk/evision/progplan www.londonmet.ac.uk/student-handbook https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices www.londonmet.ac.uk/pg-course-information www.londonmet.ac.uk/tltc/weblearn