University of Southampton Calendar 2015/16


University Calendar 2015/16 Section X : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Health Sciences

Academic Unit	Health Sciences
Final Award	Master of Science (MSc)
Programme(s)	MSc Occupational Therapy [pre-registration]
Last modified	July 2015

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.

Admissions

Candidates for admission must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Courses as specified in Section IV of the University Calendar. They must normally offer at least a 2:1 honours degree (or higher). This will have been awarded within the last 3 years in a human biological or behavioural science, sports science or a health related profession in which human sciences, anatomy and physiology were included within the final year of the programme. Previous experience in healthcare and other qualifications will be taken into consideration in support of their application. The level of English proficiency accepted for the programme is IELTs at grade 7.0. Applicants with grade 6.5 will be accepted on the understanding that the student will need to re-sit the exam to achieve 7.0 if they wish to register and practise in the UK.

Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to specific health requirements (consistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act [2010]). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). All students will be subject to an occupational health 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 Occupational Therapy. 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 registration as a professional Occupational Therapist.

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 standards set by the HCPC.

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). This is to comply with statutory requirements laid down by the Health Act (1999) and the Health Professions Council. Prospective students are required to inform the Head of Programme of all criminal convictions. All students will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the University regulations for RPL.

Structure of Programme(s)

The programme leading to the degree of Master of Science Occupational Therapy [pre-registration] shall be of two years' duration. The maximum period of registration shall be four years to comply with requirements of the College of Occupational Therapists. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension of studies.

The outline of the content of each module shall be specified in the module profiles and made available to students on the 'Blackboard' virtual learning environment.

Progress from one level of the programme to the next will depend upon the successful completion of the appropriate examination and coursework requirements, and the satisfactory completion of clinical work and placements.

The first year of the curriculum shall extend over one calendar year (January-January) and include 15 ECTS at level 6, 30 ECTS at level 7 and 15 ECTS obtained through successful completion of placement experiences.

The second year of the curriculum shall extend over one calendar year (January-January) and includes 60 ECTS credits at level 7 and 22.5 ECTS credits obtained through successful completion of placement experiences.

Progression

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

Standard University progression regulations apply, except for the following variations, to meet COT, WFOT and HCPC professional requirements. Section IV: The General Regulations: Progression, Determination and Classification of Results Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes: Referral 4.1 and 4.3.

In exceptional circumstances, and in order to achieve the practice hours required by PSRB standards, students may conditionally progress to the next part of a Programme before all practice modules have been successfully completed. Any outstanding practice modules must be successfully completed by the end of the following placement period.

The pass mark for all theoretical modules will be 50%. The pass mark for all practice modules is 50% and satisfactory achievement of designated competencies, skills and criteria. Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and practice experience to pass overall. All practice placements must be passed and the level maintained during unassessed periods.

There is no compensation between any modules.

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. In accordance with the College of Occupational Therapists, students are permitted only one retrieval of each practice experience, therefore failure at a practice experience/placement will normally result in termination of their programme.

Failure to declare good health and character at the beginning of the academic year may result in termination of the programme. Progress from one level of the programme to the next will depend upon the successful completion of the appropriate examination and coursework requirements, and the satisfactory completion of clinical work and placements. Students will not normally progress from one part of the programme to the next with assessments outstanding.

Assessment

The performance of candidates shall be assessed by the Board of Examiners in accordance with the University's regulations governing examinations for the relevant programme(s) of study. Details of the assessment for individual modules are given in module descriptors held on the programmes Blackboard site.

Transfer between Programmes
The Faculty operates a 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 an unsuccessful repeated assessment in accordance with the University as specified in section IV of the University Calendar.

Award of Qualification(s)

Successful completion of this programme provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC. It is a legal requirement that anyone who wishes to practice using a title protected by the Health Professions Order [2001] is on the HCPC Register.

In order to qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Science Occupational Therapy [pre-registration], candidates must:

have satisfied the entry requirements as set out in the programme regulations;
have followed the approved curriculum and passed all the required assessments and examinations;
have completed all practical work, clinical placements and other coursework as required;
be judged as of good character and worthy of admission to the Health and Care Professions Council's register.

Students who are successful at all year one assessments but are unable to complete their full degree studies shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Studies (30 ECTS at level 7). This does not confer eligibility to register with the College of Occupational Therapists or the HCPC as a Occupational Therapist.

Students who are successful at all assessment except the Critical Inquiry Research Report shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Studies (60 ECTS at level 7). This does not confer eligibility to register with the College of Occupational Therapists or the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.

Students who are successful at all assessment except the Critical Inquiry Research Report, but who have successfully completed all of the required Clinical Placements, shall be eligible for the exit award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy (60 ECTS at level 7). This award provides eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Students who are successful at all year two assessments but are unable to successfully complete all the required clinical placements shall be eligible for the exit award of a Master of Science in Health Studies (90 ECTS at level 7). This does not confer eligibility to register with the College of Occupational Therapists or the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.

To qualify for a Distinction at Masters level the mean programme mark will be 70% or higher from the level 7 modules of study. In addition, the student will achieve a mean practice placement mark of 70% or over in the final two practice placements, and will have met all the programme completion requirements.

Any student who experiences grave or terminal illness/injury which prevents them from continuing on their programme of study and achieving qualification may be eligible for a posthumous or aegrotat degree named MSc in Health Studies. The award cannot be named as MSc Occupational Therapy [pre-registration] since the term 'Occupational Therapist' is a title protected under the Health Act (1999) for those who are fully qualified and registered as Occupational Therapists. This does not confer eligibility to register with the College of Occupational Therapists or the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.

Merit or Distinction
These boundaries refer to the final average mark (weighted by credits) rounded to the nearest integer.

To qualify for a Distinction at Masters level the final average mark (weighted by credits) will be 70% or higher from the level 7 modules of study.

To qualify for a Merit at Masters level the final average mark (weighted by credits) will be between 60 and 69% from the level 7 modules of study.

The class awarded shall be that within which the average falls or the next higher class if the unrounded average is within 2% of the higher class and at least 50% of the credit points are derived from Module marks in the higher class or above.

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 the MSc Occupational Therapy [pre-registration].

Other

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our programmes to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, these regulations may be revised during a student’s period of registration, however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student’s programme.

Students are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the University Calendar and the programme modules.

Fitness to Practise
Students are advised to acquaint themselves with the University Fitness to Practise Policy.