1. The normal requirement for entry to all programmes is a good first degree (First or Second class) or equivalent in a relevant subject of an approved university or institution of higher education.
   
   
2. All candidates must satisfy the Programme Director that they are competent to pursue the programme. The right to refuse permission shall be reserved to the relevant Programme Director.
   
   
3. Candidates may apply for exemption from up to 40 credits of taught modules on the basis of prior certificated learning (APL) at Masters (M) level. The acceptance of such credit towards the award of a qualification shall be at the discretion of the Programme Director. No application for APL may be made towards the dissertation.

4. The programme is governed by the University's General Regulations.
   
   
5. The programme is full-time study only. The maximum periods of study are as follows:
   
   

   Postgraduate Diploma
   Full-time	12 months
   MSc
   Full-time	15 months

   
   
6. Candidates may apply to suspend from the programme temporarily for a specified period with the period spent in suspension not counting towards the period of candidature.
   
   
7. The programme may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, course work and projects as specified for individual modules.
   
   
8. Candidates for the MSc will be required to undertake a research dissertation on a topic to be agreed with their supervisor. Candidates must submit their dissertation by the deadline set by the Programme Director.
   
   
9. The Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Research Methods in Psychology programme runs for a full year from the beginning of October to the end of August.

10. Each module will be assessed according to the module description.
    
    
11. Assessment may include written assignments, research presentations and a dissertation (MSc candidates only).
    
    
12. The module pass mark and overall pass mark for the award of MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate is 40%.
    
    
13. Candidates who fail in any taught module(s) shall have the right to be re-assessed on one further occasion. Candidates fo the degree of MSc who fail the dissertation shall have the right to submit a revised dissertation on one further occasion.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. Candidates who have failed modules worth 40 credits or more will be granted one attempt only at any subsequent module. Candidates who fail this module will be deemed to have failed the programme and will have their registration terminated.
    
    
16. Candidates must pass the taught (Postgraduate Diploma) component of the programme with an overall mark of at least 40% in order to undertake the MSc.
    
    
17. Candidates who have passed the Postgraduate Diploma component but fail to satisfy the examiners for the dissertation, that is gaining a mark of 40% or higher, will be given one opportunity to re-submit their dissertation. However, if on re-submission the candidate fails to satisfy the examiners, the candidate will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma.
    
    
18. Candidates who progress to the MSc will submit a dissertation which needs to achieve an overall mark of 40% (Bare Pass).
    
    
19. 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.
    
    
20. 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.
    
    
21. Candidates for the degree of MSc who achieve an overall average of at least 70%, and who achieve a mark of over 70% for the dissertation, may be awarded the qualification with Distinction.
    
    
22. The degree of Master of Science in Research Methods in Psychology is awarded by Senate on the recommendation of the School of Psychology Board to postgraduate students who have successfully pursued a course of study as prescribed above to the satisfaction of the School of Psychology Board and have fulfilled any other University requirements.
    
    

Submitted by the Secretariat
Last reviewed: 04-Feb-2008
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