University of Southampton Calendar 2010/11


University Calendar 2010/11 Section X : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Health Sciences

Academic Unit	Faculty of Health Sciences
Final Award	Bachelor of Midwifery (Hons)
Programme(s)	Midwifery
Last modified	July 2010

Reference should be made to the University's General Regulations found in Section IV and Section V (Higher Degree Regulations) of the University Calendar.

Except where an opt-out has been granted by the University (see below) the following academic regulations apply in addition to the General Regulations.

Note: this programme has been granted an opt-out relating to paragraph 4.5 of Section IV : General Regulations, Progression, Determination and Classification of Results

Admissions

Candidates for admission must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in Section IV of the University Calendar and meet the entry requirements for either school leaver or mature applicants stipulated for this profession.

Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to specific health requirements (consistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act [1995]). Prospective students are required to inform the Faculty of any health problems relevant to their future employment as a health professional. All students will be subject to an occupational health check.

Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to consideration of any criminal convictions. The programme is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act [1986]. Prospective students are required to inform the Faculty of all criminal convictions. All students will be subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Equality Statement
The Faculty wishes to make places available to a wide range of people who will make a useful contribution to the study and practice of midwifery. The University and the Faculty are committed to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities in which students are recruited on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the University. The aim of the policy is to ensure that no prospective or current student should receive less favourable treatment on any grounds that are not relevant to academic ability and attainment and state registration as a professional midwife.

The University’s Disability Equality Scheme includes an Action Plan which identifies the steps that the University is taking to improve the opportunities available to disabled students. Applications from candidates with disabilities are always considered and assessment of their abilities and needs undertaken sensitively.

Decisions are based on whether or not the applicant meets the admission criteria, whether the programme can be delivered to the applicant in a way that meets their requirements, making reasonable adjustments if necessary and whether at the end of the programme, the graduate would meet the competencies set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Accreditation of Certificated Learning (APL)
APEL/APCL will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the University regulations for APL, as well as the NMC regulations.

Structure of Programme(s)

The programmes leading to the award of Bachelor of Midwifery (Hons) shall be of 156 weeks duration. The maximum period of registration shall normally be five years. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension or interruption of studies. In line with NMC regulations, the award must be completed within five years of the commencement date.

In Year 1 students will study 120 credits at Level 4 (certificate) (60 ECTs)
In Year 2 students will study 120 credits at Level 5 (diploma) (60 ECTs)
In Year 3 students will study 120 credits at Level 6 (honours) (60 ECTs)

The outline of the content of each module shall be specified in the module outlines and made available to students on ‘Blackboard’.

Progression

Progression Regulations are as described in the University Calendar, Section IV : General Regulations; Progression, Determination and Classification of Results. For all programmes which lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, statutory regulations also apply.

The pass mark for each modules will be 40% for all levels. Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and practice experience to pass overall.

Module Referral
The criteria for module assessment referral are:

Failure to achieve a Pass/Fail assessment.
Where an assessment comprises of two or more components the minimum pass mark for a part must be 40% with an aggregate of 40% overall.
In order to meet NMC requirements in drug calculations, specified assignments must achieve 100% pass mark for this component.
In Year 1, meeting NMC requirements for completion of all assessment within 12 weeks of completing year 1 to progress to year 2 and year 2 to progress to year 3.
Non-attendance or late arrival more than half an hour after the start of an examination/presentation, or is required to leave the examination room.
Submission of an assignment 24 hours or more after the published deadline

Practice Experience Referral
A student will normally be required to retrieve a practice experience by:

developing a retrieval action plan in partnership with a mentor, academic tutor;
re-submitting the retrieval action plan documentation to be implemented within a set four-week practice period immediately following the summative practice assessment points at the end of Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3;
in Year 1, meeting NMC requirements for completion of all assessment within 12 weeks of completing year 1 to progress to year 2 and year 2 to progress to year 3.

A student completing Practice Experience 6 of the award (final practice experience), if referred, will normally:

undertake a new experience during an agreed period of extended time;
re-submit the assessment of practice documents 6-8 weeks after commencing the additional placement.

Progress to the Next Year of the Programme
A student will normally progress to the next level of the programme if he/she achieves a mark of 40% or more in all assignments, a Pass in all Pass/Fail assessments and fulfils all module completion requirements.

Year 1 Conditional Progression into Year 2, Year 2 Conditional Progression into Year 3
Students cannot normally progress from Year 1 to Year 2 and Year 2 to Year 3 with more than one module assessment oustanding.

Further Attempts/Second Attempts for Students off Award
All assessments must be submitted and successfully achieve a pass outcome in order for students to return to the award.

Termination of Registration
A student’s registration will normally be terminated following resit/retrieval assessments if he/she:

achieves a mark of 39 or below on a refereral attempt;
fails a Pass/Fail assessment on a referral;
does not attend, or is more than half an hour late for a resit examination, or is requested to leave the examination room;
submits a written further attempt assessment more than 24 hours after the stated deadline.

Assessment

Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and, when required, practice assessment to pass overall. Non-assessed work may also be a course requirement.

Candidates who exceed the specified word limitation (+/-10%) within a module will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their assessment mark.

Award of Qualification(s)

In order to qualify for the award of Bachelor of Midwifery (Hons) with registration on the Midwives Part of the Nursing and Midwifery register, candidates must:

have satisfied the entry requirements as set out in the Programme Specification;
have undertaken all the levels of the curriculum as appropriate to the award and passed all the required assessments (theory and practice);
have completed satisfactorily all practice assessment, practice experience and other coursework as required;
have met all the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for progression;
have met the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements of 50% hours of academic study and 50% hours of practice experience;
have met the NMC requirements of European Directives 80/154/EEC, 89/594/EEC and 2001/19/EC;
be judged as of good health and good character and worthy of admission to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register.

Students who are successful at all Level 4 assessments but are unable to complete the full award shall be eligible for the exit award of a Certificate in Health Studies.

Students who are successful at all Level 5 assessments but are unable to complete the full award shall be eligible for the exit award of a Diploma in Health Studies.

Any student who experiences grave or terminal illness/injury which prevents them from continuing on their award and achieving professional qualification, may be eligible for a posthumous award of aegrotat qualification named either Certificate in Health Studies, Diploma in Health Studies.

Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork

Practice experience forms an integral part of the programme and students are required to pass in order to be awarded.

Other

These regulations may be revised during the student's period of registration in accordance with the procedures approved by Senate.

Special Considerations
Compensation is not permitted on this programme. The treatment of special considerations is dealt with under separate Special Considerations procedures.