University Calendar 2011/12
Section XII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Health Sciences



PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
 
ARCHIVE 2004/5
ARCHIVE 2005/6
ARCHIVE 2006/7
ARCHIVE 2007/8
ARCHIVE 2008/9
ARCHIVE 2009/10
Academic Unit Health Sciences
Final Award BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology) OR
BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Respiratory & Sleep Physiology)
Programme(s) Healthcare Sciences (full-time and part-time)
Last modified May 2011

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.


1. Admissions
 
Candidates for admission must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in the General Regulations and meet the entry requirements for either school leavers or mature applicants stipulated for this profession.   They must normally offer at least three A level passes (BBB) and, additionally, at least five GCSE passes at Grade C or above including English language, mathematics and a science subject.

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 healthcare science.  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 & attainment and registration as a healthcare science practitioner.

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 is 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 University of Southampton and the professional statutory body.


2. Structure of Programme(s)
 
The full-time programmes leading to the award Bachelor of Healthcare Sciences (Hons) shall normally be of 120 weeks duration (3 years full-time). The maximum period of registration shall normally be six years. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension or interruption of studies, in line with University of Southampton regulations.

The part-time programmes leading to the award Bachelor Healthcare Sciences (Hons) shall normally be of 4 years.  The maximum period of registration shall normally be no more than 8 years.  This period of registration will incorporate period of suspension or interruption of studies, in line with University of Southampton regulations.

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

The outline of the content of each module shall be specified in the module profile and made available to students on Blackboard (web based learning resource).


3. Progression
 
Progression Regulations are as described in the University Calendar, Section IV: General Regulations; Progression, Determination and Classification of Results.

The pass mark for all 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 grade in assessment.

  • Where an assessment comprises of two or more separate components, students must normally achieve a minimum of 40% in each component in order to pass.

  • Non-attendance for an examination or non-submission of an assignment (subject to University procedures for late submission).

  • Late arrival of more than half an hour after the start of an examination/presentation, or where a student is required to leave the examination room.
Practice Placement Referral

A student will normally be required to retrieve a referred practice experience assessment on one further occasion, if he/she refers a practice experience assessment.  A student will normally be required to retrieve a practice experience by:
  • developing a retrieval action plan in partnership with a mentor or academic tutor;
  • undertaking a new experience for five weeks maximum to retrieve a referred practice experience.
Transfer between Programmes

The Faculty operates a policy/process whereby students may request to transfer to another programme.  Transfers between academic programmes are confined to specific points in the programme journey and are governed by the programme structure in the Faculty and available capacity.

Termination of Registration

A student’s registration will normally be terminated following repeat assessments if he/she:
  • achieves a mark of 39 or below on a re-submitted attempt;
  • fails a Pass/Fail assessment on a repeat year submission;
  • does not attend, or is more than half an hour late for a repeat examination or is requested to leave the examination room;
  • late Submission of an assignment as described in the University Assessment Policy;
  • where there are fitness to practise issues or academic integrity issues (see Faculty/University policy).


4. Assessment
 
Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and, practice assessment to pass overall.

When attending for an examination you must produce either your university ID card or a form of photographic ID in which you are clearly identifiable. Students without photographic ID will not be permitted entry to the examination.

Work submitted up to 5 days after the deadline will be marked as usual.  The final agreed mark is then reduced by the factors detailed in the relevant University Policy. http://www.soton.ac.uk/quality/docs/Extensions_and_Late_Submission_Penalties.doc”.

Candidates who exceed the specified word limitation (by more than 10%) within a module will incur a 10% penalty reduction in their assessment mark.


5. Award of Qualification(s)
 
In order to qualify for the award of Bachelor of Healthcare Sciences with Honours, 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 placement assessment as required;

  • have met all the requirements for progression;

  • have met the MEE Training Board’s requirements of 60%  academic study and 40% of practice experience;

  • be judged as of good health and good character and worthy of admission to the professions of cardiac physiology and respiratory & sleep physiology professions.
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 an aegrotat qualification named either Certificate in Health Studies or Diploma in Health Studies dependent on the stage at which their studies were curtailed.


6. Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork
 
Practice placements form an integral part of the programme and students are required to pass in order to be awarded a BSc (Hons) Health Scientist.

Students are not permitted to continue in placement whilst progressing an academic appeal against a relevant body.


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

Compensation
Compensation is not permitted on this programme.

Special Considerations
Students are guided to the Special Considerations guidance in the University Calendar in particular the guidance relating to the deadlines for submission of Special Considerations forms. The treatment of special considerations is dealt with under separate Special Considerations procedures.

A student's performance may be worthy of special consideration if their performance in a relevant assessment has been adversely affected by exceptional circumstances outside their control and there is evidence to support such a claim.

Special considerations shall only apply to circumstances which can be clearly related to performance in particular elements of assessment.

The authority of the Special Considerations Board to make allowance for exceptional circumstances may be restricted in some programmes subject to Professional, Statutory or Regulatory requirements or because of the special requirements of particular programmes. In such cases, this will be made clear to students in programme documentation.

Fitness to Practice
Students are advised to acquaint themselves with the Faculty Fitness to Practise Policy which is used within the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Academic Integrity
Where issues of Academic Integrity are detected, the Faculty will follow the published Academic Integrity Regulations.  Where a case remains active prior to an examination board, a mark of 0 will be presented to the examinations.  This mark will then be amended by Chairs Action depending on the outcome of the Academic Integrity process.

The Faculty is moving to the use of Turnitin software as an educational resource to help students to help evaluate the originality of their own work.  Where Turnitin submission is required of work that will contribute to summative assessment and the student fails to submit, they will be awarded a mark of 0 for the component in question.

Academic Appeals
Students are guided to the Academic Appeals Regulations in the University Calendar.




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Last reviewed: 27-JuL-2011
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