NAPIER UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY S ACADEMIC REGULATIONS SECTION C : TAUGHT MASTERS REGULATIONS C1 Introduction C1.1 Section C : Taught Masters Regulations sets out specific regulations which apply to the postgraduate awards listed in Regulation A4.1b). In applying this section of the University's regulaty framewk, account must be taken of the regulations contained in Section A : General Regulations which apply to all programmes of study offered by the University. C2 Definitions C2.1 As a means of helping to ensure that the University's academic regulations are consistently interpreted and applied, the following definitions have been utilised: a) A Taught Masters award of the University equates to a Masters degree as defined in The framewk f qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland (QAA, January 2001). b) Taught Masters awards are differentiated by the volume of material and the associated credit achieved and not a difference in level standard. c) Taught Masters modules are at the same level (SCQF level 11). Taught Masters modules can be either standard non-standard modules as defined in Regulation A3.1o). d) Taught Masters programmes of study are designed to enable successful students to achieve an award of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma a Masters degree. Students may be admitted to any taught Masters programme of study providing the admission requirements have been met. e) The Masters Grading Scale is a 15-point scale which is used to define standards of perfmance in taught Masters modules and programmes of study University-wide. The Masters Grading Scale was approved by Academic Board in 2001 and is based on generic qualitative criteria f the grade of Masters awards at three standards; Distinction, Pass and Fail. Each grade is defined in terms of: knowledge and understanding; generic cognitive skills; practice (applied knowledge and understanding); communication, infmation technology and numeracy skills; and, autonomy, accountability and wking with others. Using the University s generic qualitative criteria f the grade of Masters awards as a guide, specific grading criteria f each scale grade shown in Table 1 will be approved by the University s validation process f all taught Masters modules and programmes of study. Page C1 of 7
Table 1 OVERALL GRADE Distinction Pass Fail SCALE GRADE D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 f) A taught Masters dissertation module equivalent will require a student to plan and execute a significant project of research, investigation development using a range of advanced and specialised skills as appropriate to the subject discipline. To enable students to effectively demonstrate such skills a taught Masters dissertation module equivalent must equate to at least 30 credits at SCQF level 11. A taught Masters dissertation module equivalent must be designed and approved in accdance with Regulations A5.3 and A5.4. C3 Taught Masters awards of the University C3.1 In addition to meeting the requirements of Regulation C3, to receive any taught Masters award of the University, a student must satisfy the requirements of Regulation A4.4. C3.2 A Post-graduate Certificate will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and gained a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11. C3.3 A Post-graduate Certificate with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and has gained a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11 of which a minimum of 30 credits must be at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least two separate standard non-standard modules. C3.4 A Post-graduate Diploma will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and gained a minimum of 120 credits at SCQF level 11. Page C2 of 7
C3.5 A Post-graduate Diploma with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements, has gained a minimum of 120 credits at SCQF level 11 of which at least either: a) a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least four separate standard non-standard modules. b) a minimum of 45 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which at least 30 credits at SCQF level 11 are achieved at a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least three separate standard non-standard modules, at least two of which must have gained a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. C3.6 A Masters degree will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and gained a minimum of 180 credits at SCQF level 11 of which at least 30 credits at SCQF level 11 must be derived from a dissertation module equivalent. C3.7 A Masters degree with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements, has gained a minimum of 180 credits at SCQF level 11 of which at least either: a) a minimum of 90 credits at SCQF level 11 are at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 must be gained from a dissertation module equivalent. b) a minimum of 75 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 must be gained from a dissertation module equivalent. At least 45 credits at SCQF level 11 must be at a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. C3.8 The minimum number of SCQF level 11 credit to be achieved by a student entering a programme of study at any point other than the start of Stage 1 befe being presented f a taught Masters award of the University is as follows: a) A Post-graduate Certificate will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and achieved a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11. Page C3 of 7
b) A Post-graduate Certificate with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and achieved a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least two separate standard non-standard modules. c) A Post-graduate Diploma will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and achieved a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11. d) A Post-graduate Diploma with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and has gained either: i) a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least four separate standard nonstandard modules. ii) a minimum of 45 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which at least 30 credits at SCQF level 11 are achieved at a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. This distinction calculation must include credit gained from at least three separate standard non-standard modules, at least two of which must have gained a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. e) A Masters degree will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and has gained a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11, of which a minimum of 30 credits must be gained from a dissertation module equivalent. f) A Masters degree with Distinction will be awarded to a student who has satisfied all programme specific requirements and has gained either: i) a minimum of 90 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 must be gained from a dissertation module equivalent. ii) a minimum of 75 credits at SCQF level 11 at a grade of D1 above on the Masters Grading Scale, of which a minimum of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 must be gained from a dissertation module equivalent. At least 45 credits at SCQF level 11 must be at a grade of D2 above on the Masters Grading Scale. Page C4 of 7
C4 Admission regulations C4.1 In addition to meeting the requirements of Regulation C4, all taught Masters programmes of study offered by the University must satisfy the requirements of Regulation A6. C4.2 The minimum entry requirement f admission to a taught masters programme of study is either: a) possession of an Honours degree; b) possession of other qualifications experience which demonstrate that the applicant possesses appropriate knowledge and skills at SCQF level 10. C4.3 A potential student who does not meet the entry requirements set out in Regulation C4.2 may be admitted to the University as an Associate Student. a) An Associate Student must be registered on two standard size taught Masters modules (30 credits at SCQF level 11). b) Successful completion of 30 credits at SCQF level 11 may allow an Associate Student to be admitted to a taught Masters programme of study. c) Any SCQF level 11 credit gained as an Associate Student may count towards a taught Masters award of the University. C5 Assessment regulations C5.1 In addition to meeting the requirements of Regulation C5, all taught masters programmes of study offered by the University must satisfy the requirements of Regulation A7. C5.2 To pass a taught masters module at the first attempt, a student must achieve a minimum grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale. a) If only one component is used a minimum component grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale must be achieved. b) If two components are used the module grade will be based on the weighted grades achieved f each component of assessment, and no individual grade f a component of assessment may fall below a grade of F1 on the Masters Grading Scale. c) There is no minimum grade requirement f individual elements of any component of assessment. Page C5 of 7
C5.3 To pass a dissertation module equivalent associated with a programme of study at the first attempt, a full-time taught Masters student must achieve a minimum grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale within six trimesters of registration f the programme of study. C5.4 To pass a dissertation module equivalent associated with a programme of study at the first attempt, a part-time taught Masters student must achieve a minimum grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale within twelve trimesters of registration f the programme of study. C5.5 Taught Masters students will be permitted a maximum of one re-assessment attempt in each module. a) To pass a taught Masters module at a re-assessment attempt, a student must achieve a minimum grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale. b) If only one component of assessment is used a component grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale must be achieved. c) If two components of assessment are used the module grade will be based on the equal weighting of the grades achieved f each component of assessment and no individual grade f a component of assessment may fall below grade F1 on the Masters Grading Scale. d) The maximum grade that can be obtained from a re-assessment attempt is a grade of P1 on the Masters Grading Scale. e) In the event of a student achieving a lower grade from the re-assessment attempt than that achieved in the first assessment, the higher of the two grades will be the one considered by the Programme Board of Examiners. C5.6 A student must take their re-assessment attempt within three trimesters of the initial failure being confirmed by the Programme Board of Examiners. a) F a student starting in trimester 1: i) An assessment will be taken as a first attempt in January; ii) A re-assessment opptunity will be provided by the University in August; iii) A final re-assessment opptunity will be provided by the University in the following January. b) F a student starting in trimester 2: i) An assessment will be taken as a first attempt in June; ii) A re-assessment opptunity will be provided by the University in August; iii) A final re-assessment opptunity will be provided by the University in the following June. Page C6 of 7
c) F a student starting at any other time: i) The timing of the first assessment opptunity and the re-assessment opptunity will be comparable and equitable to that defined in Regulation C5.6a) and Regulation C5.6b); ii) The maximum period of time must be approved via the University s validation process and must be clearly set out in the relevant programme handbook. d) F students on an overseas collabative programme of study. i) The timing of the first assessment opptunity and the re-assessment opptunity will be comparable and equitable to that defined in Regulation C5.6a) and Regulation C5.6b); ii) The maximum period of time must be approved via the University s validation process and must be clearly set out in the relevant programme handbook and collabative agreement. C5.7 The University will provide taught Masters students with access to re-assessment instruments at the earliest possible opptunity. a) A student may choose to be re-assessed at any available earlier opptunity than that set out in the relevant programme handbook. b) If a student chooses to take this option it will count as their re-assessment opptunity. C6 Continuation of study regulations C6.1 In addition to meeting the requirements of Regulation C6, all taught Masters programmes of study offered by the University must satisfy the requirements of Regulation A8. C6.2 A Programme Board of Examiners may award a student a compensaty pass in one standard size taught Masters module (15 credits at SCQF level 11) at any Programme Board of Examiners following the initial failure providing the student has achieved a grade of F1 on the Masters Grading Scale in that module. a) To award a compensaty pass the Programme Board of Examiners must be satisfied that the student s overall perfmance across all other modules being considered is deemed to be satisfacty to enable them to continue with their studies to exit with an award of the University. C6.4 In considering a student s ability to continue to study towards a taught Masters award of the University the Programme Board of Examiners must take account of Regulation A6.2 and Regulation A10.6c). Page C7 of 7