University of Southampton Calendar 2007/8


University Calendar 2007/08 Section VIII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences

Programme Regulations for the Degree of Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation

For the purpose of these Regulations, 'the Board of Examiners' refers to examiners as constituted at Board of Examiners' meetings in March, June and September or, where appropriate, at the School Board following the relevant meeting of the Board of Examiners.

Admission
1.	The normal requirement for entry to the course will be a relevant first degree or professional qualification at an equivalent level in an appropriate discipline. Acceptance will be at the discretion of the Head of School. Candidates whose first language is not English are required to reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English, or otherwise demonstrate to the Director of the Language Centre of the University that they have an adequate command of both written and spoken English language to follow the course.
2.	The minimum classification normally expected for a degree entrant is 2:1. However, candidates with a 2:2 will be considered if they can demonstrate their commitment to the programme and potential for successful completion. Other appropriate qualifications might include, for example, a diploma in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, nursing, speech and language therapy, medicine or psychology. Candidates without a good first degree are expected to demonstrate evidence of advanced studies, a relevant professional qualification at a suitable level, plus a minimum of 12 months relevant post-qualifying professional experience.
3.	All candidates must satisfy the Programme Leader that they are competent to pursue the programme. Candidates must also be approved by the Head of Postgraduate Education at the School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences. The right to refuse permission shall be reserved to the relevant Programme Leader.
4.	Candidates may apply for exemption from up to 40 credits of taught modules on the basis of prior certificated learning (APCL) at Master's (M7) level. The acceptance of such credit towards the award of a qualification shall be at the discretion of the Programme Leader. No application for APCL may be made towards the dissertation.
5.	Candidates may register for one of the following:
	Postgraduate Certificate in Health and Rehabilitation (PGCert) Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Rehabilitation (PGDip) MSc in Health and Rehabilitation (MSc HR) Individual module(s)
Approved Programme of Study
6.	The programme structure is as follows:
	PGCert : 60 taught credits at M7 level PGDip : 120 taught credits at M7 level MSc HR : 180 credits at M7 level (120 taught credits plus a research dissertation of 60 credits) Individual modules : specified credits at M7 level
7.	The programme may be of full-time or part-time study.
	Normal Periods of Study Normal periods of study for the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation shall be one academic year for full-time study or two years for part-time study. The maximum period of study shall not exceed three years.
	Normal periods of study for the PGCert and PGDip will depend on units of study chosen.
8.	Candidates may apply to to the Programme Leader to suspend from the programme temporarily for a specified period which will not normally exceed twelve months. This suspension period will not count towards teh total period of candidature.
9.	The programme may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, course work, contract learning and projects as specified for individual modules. Candidates will select their modules in consultation with, and with the approval of, the Programme Leader.
10.	The School reserves the right to postpone optional modules if insufficient numbers of students are registered. Students will therefore be required to choose their preferred options and also indicate their second choice.
11.	When optional modules are over-subscribed, the School will reserve the right to offer students their second choice modules.
12.	Candidates for the MSc will be required to undertake a research dissertation that will normally be between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length on a topic to be agreed with the Programme Leader. Full-time candidates must submit their dissertation within one calendar year of registration for the MSc. Part-time candidates must submit their research dissertation within a maximum of 24 months of registration for the MSc.
13.	Academic staff within the School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences, and other staff approved for this purpose, will supervise MSc students' research projects. The Programme Leader will manage the appointment of supervisors.
14.	Students completing an optional module that incorporates patient/client involvement, eg: the Injection Therapy module, the Extending the Scope of Practice for the Allied Health Professional module or, in some cases, the dissertation module will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure Form. Students will be required to pay for this CRB check. All other students will be required to complete a Self-Disclosure form.

Assessment
15.	Each module will be assessed according to the module description. Assessments may include written assignments, examinations, practical work and a dissertation. In addition, candidates for the MSc may be required to attend a viva voce examination.
16.	The module pass mark and overall pass mark for the award of MSc is 50%.
17.	Candidates who fail to attend 80% of timetabled modular sessions will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their overall modular mark.
18.	Candidates who exceed the specified word limitation (+/- 10%) within a module will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their overall module mark.
19.	Candidates who fail in any taught module (up to a maximum of 40 credits) shall have the right to be re-assessed on one further occasion. Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail the dissertation shall have the right to submit a revised dissertation on one further occasion. Any referred assessment, if successful, will accrue a mark of 50%.
20.	Any further opportunity for re-assessment (in a taught module or the dissertation) shall be at the discretion of the relevant Board of Examiners and shall only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
21.	A student who fails a further taught module exceeding the set referral maximum of 40 credits at the first attempt will be deemed to have failed the programme and will have their registration terminated.
22.	A maximum mark of 50% will be awarded for successful Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning [APEL] and Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning [APCL] claims. Such claims will be clearly identified on candidates's transcripts.

Award of Qualifications
23.	Candidates who have satisfied the examiners and who have accumulated the requisite number of credits shall be awarded the qualification for which they have registered.
25.	Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail to achieve a pass mark in the dissertation (even after any permitted re-assessment) may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.
26.	No candidate may be awarded more than one qualification (Diploma or MSc) for the same programme of study.
27.	Candidates may be awarded a Distinction for the degree of MSc if they have achieved an average of at least 70% in taught modules, passed each module at the first attempt and attained a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation. Modules that have had successful APEL and APCL claims will not be included in this calculation enabling it possible for students with successful APEL and APCL claims to gain a Distinction award in the MSc programme.

SOBS	School of Biological Sciences
SHPRS Index	School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences
Medicine	School of Medicine
Nursing/Midwifery	School of Nursing and Midwifery
Psychology	School of Psychology