Programmes of Study and Degree Regulations

Information on Degree Programme Tables and the Taught Assessment Regulations.

The Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study sets out the regulatory framework by which your programme of study is governed.

Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study (2024/25)

You must also follow the regulations and codes that govern the general context of your academic career at the University and any requirements specific to your degree programme, as set out in:

Degree Programme Tables (DPTs)
University's Taught Assessment Regulations

Degree Programme Tables (DPTs)

The Degree Programme Table (DPT) sets out the normal regulated path for a degree, showing compulsory and optional courses.

You will follow the curriculum for your chosen degree as set out in the DPT.

Degree Programme Tables (DPTs) (2024/25)

Taught Assessment Regulations

The Assessment Regulations set the minimum requirements and standards for students and staff, reflecting the academic goals and policies of the University.

Taught Assessment Regulations

Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme

Assessment of the Taught Components of all MSc programmes within the University is based on the University’s postgraduate marking scheme detailed below:

Mark (%)	Grade	Description
90-100	A1	An excellent performance, satisfactory for a distinction
80-89	A2
70-79	A3
60-69	B	A very good performance
50-59	C	A good performance, satisfactory for a masters degree
40-49	D	A satisfactory performance for the diploma and certificate, but inadequate for a masters degree
30-39	E	Marginal Fail
20-29	F	Clear Fail
10-19	G	Bad Fail

Degree and awards are determined by the programme’s Board of Examiners (BoE). The BoE is a committee consisting of internal and external academics that convenes 2 to 3 times per year and are tasked with the remit of:

overseeing the assessment process according the University’s regulations;
reviewing each student’s overall academic performance across the programme;
taking responsibility for looking at outcomes for students across all elements of courses for which the Board has responsibility, and ratifying the provisional marks for these courses;
awarding the final degree outcomes.

Progression from the Taught Component to the Research Project

Once the taught component of the degree is complete – i.e. once students have completed the 120 credits of study in Semester 1 and Semester 2 courses from September to May, the Progression Board will meet to decide if each student has met the progression requirements to allow them to continue onto the research project, or if they qualify for another award. The University Taught Assessment Regulation 56 states that in order for a student to progress onto the research project stage of the degree, students must:

Pass at least 80 credits (out of the 120 credits taken) with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses studied; and
Attain an average of at least 50% overall for the total 120 credits of study
Satisfy any other specific requirements for the masters degree programme, that are clearly stated in respective Programme Handbook.

Successful Progression

If a student has met the above progression requirements then they will continue on to do the project from May to August, and the Board will meet again in September/October to ratify the project results and award the degrees of either Diploma or MSc.

Failure to Progress

If the student has NOT met the above progression requirements then the BoE may review their spread of marks and decide if they meet the requirements for an alternative award - see the table in the 'Awards available' section below.

Borderline marks for progression and classification

Boards of Examiners will consider students whose marks are borderline for progression, award or classification purposes. Borderline students are considered within the range of 2% of a boundary, i.e. 68.00 - 69.99% for the award of Distinction and within the range of 2% of a boundary, i.e. 58.00-59.99% for the award of Merit.

All MSc Boards of Examiners in the School of Biological Sciences will take the following factors into account when considering borderline cases:

Individual student profiles of performance;
For borderline classification decisions, whether the overall performance in the taught element has sufficiently compensated for the performance in the dissertation, or vice versa, for the Board to be satisfied that the performance of the student overall is sufficient for the higher classification to be awarded. Students will not be eligible for the award of MSc with Merit or Distinction if both taught element and dissertation marks are in the borderline range: at least one must be in the higher band in order to be eligible for the higher award, unless Special Circumstances apply.
Any additional criteria as specified by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Awards available (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate)

General Postgraduate Certificate

Pass at least 40 credits with at least 40% in each
Attain an average of at least 40% in the 60 credits of courses studied
The Certificate may be awarded after the Semester One BoE, for example if a student couldn't continue their studies and had to withdraw from the programme early
The award of Certificate would be at the discretion of the BoE

Postgraduate Diploma

Pass at least 80 credits with at least 40% in each
Attain an average of at least 40% in the 120 credits of courses studied
The Diploma would usually be awarded at the summer/progression BoE as an early exit award because the student has not met the progression requirements. However, it can also be awarded at the final BoE because the student has failed to achieve the MSc

MSc

Pass at least 80 credits with at least 50% in each
Attain an average of at least 50% in the 120 credits of courses studied
Achieve a mark of at least 50% in the research project
The only reason a student would not be awarded the MSc at this stage is if they fail to achieve a mark of 50% or above in the research project. A student with a mark between 45 and 49% may resubmit the dissertation once

MSc with Merit

Have achieved an average of at least 60% for the 120 credits studied as part of the taught component
Achieve a mark of at least 60% in the research project
The award of MSc with Merit is at the discretion of the appropriate programme BoE

MSc with Distinction

Have achieved an average of at least 70% for the 120 credits studied as part of the taught component
Achieve a mark of at least 70% in the research project
The award of MSc with Distinction is at the discretion of the appropriate programme BoE

Resubmission of postgraduate dissertations or research projects

Students are entitled to one resubmission of the dissertation or research project for postgraduate Masters programmes where the student has achieved a mark of 45 to 49% at the first attempt (see Taught Assessment Regulation 58).

The relevant Board of Examiners will provide a student permitted to submit a revised dissertation or research project with a statement which outlines the deficiencies in their original submission. The student is also entitled to receive further written advice from their dissertation or research project supervisor on one occasion before resubmission. If the Board of Examiners agrees that the revised dissertation meets the requirements for a pass at Masters level, the student will be awarded the Masters degree. The recorded mark for the revised dissertation will be capped at 50%.

This article was published on 2024-06-17