University Calendar 2011/12
Section X : 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 Foundation Degree (Science)
Certificate in HE
Programme(s) Health and Social Care
Health and Social Care Studies
Last modified July 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 in Section IV of the University Calendar and meet the entry requirements for either school leaver or mature applicants stipulated for this professional route.

Candidates may be accepted with a range of vocational and academic qualifications or relevant experience. All candidates are considered on their merit and must be aged 18 or above by the commencement of the course.

Admission to, and continuation on, the course is subject to specific health requirements (consistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999). Prospective students are given the opportunity to declare health problems or disabilities on application. All students will be subject to an Occupational Health check and must be declared fit for practice placement.

Admission to, and continuation on, the course is subject to consideration of any criminal convictions. The programme is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1986). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999). Prospective students are required to declare any criminal convictions on application. All students will be subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Equality Statement
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 students should receive less favourable treatment on any grounds that are not relevant to academic ability and attainment.

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.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
APEL/APCL will be considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the University regulations for APL.


2. Structure of Programme(s)
 
The Foundation Degree (Science) in Health and Social Care shall be of two years' duration if studied full time or three years' duration if studied part-time using the recommended flexible organisation of modules. The maximum period of registration shall normally be five years. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension of studies.

Students employed in health or social care settings may register for individual modules as part of a Continuing Professional Development Plan and, on satisfactory completion of that module, may be awarded the appropriate credit.


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

In order to progress from one level of the programme to the next students must successfully complete the appropriate examination and coursework requirements, work-based learning placements and other practical work in the particular level of study.

The pass mark for each module 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.

  • 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.
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 referral attempt;

  • fails a Pass/Fail assessment on a referral attempt;

  • 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.


4. Assessment
 
In each year students will be examined by means of in-course assessments, work-based learning assessments and formal examinations.

Compensation: Exam Board may decide that a strong performance (likely to be 60% or over) by a student in one part of level 2 may be used as the basis for the award of credit in respect of a failed performance elsewhere, with the exception of work-based modules up to a maximum of 20 CATS points.


5. Award of Qualification(s)
 
In order to qualify for the award of the Foundation degree (Science) in Health and Social Care candidates must have:
  1. satisfied the entry requirement;

  2. followed the approved curriculum and passed all the required assessments and examinations;

  3. completed to pass-level all practical work, work-based learning placements and other coursework as required.
Students who are successful at all level 1 assessments but are unable to complete their full degree studies shall be eligible for the exit award of a Certificate of Higher Education in Health and Social Care Studies.

Any student who experiences grave or terminal illness/injury which prevents them from continuing on their programme of study and achieving graduation can be offered a posthumous or aegrotat award named Certificate of Higher Education in Health and Social Care Studies.


6. Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork
 
Successful completion of all work-based learning modules is essential to pass the programme requirements.


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.


Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 17-Aug-2011
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