DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2014

Introduction

A

General Postgraduate Degree Regulations

Supervision

Thesis Length - Word Count

Additional Thesis Considerations

MPhil by Research

Programme-specific Regulations

Posthumous Awards

Aegrotat Awards

College of Humanities and Social Sciences Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

College of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

Introduction

Compliance

The degree programme regulations define the types of award, their key characteristics, and their grounds for award. These regulations apply to all categories of postgraduate study at the University of Edinburgh, except for those qualified by a Senatus approved Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding for joint or collaborative awards. Students must comply with any requirements specific to their degree programme as set out in the Degree Programme Tables, the relevant College Regulations and the University’s Assessment Regulations for the current academic session: www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-services/staff/assessment/assessment-regulations

The degree regulations are supported by the following Codes of Practice:

• Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students
• Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-services/policies-regulations/codes

These Codes of Practice, although not regulatory, provide essential information for staff and students.

The University awards the following types of postgraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates, with the credit points required as listed below.  The University’s postgraduate awards and degree programmes are consistent with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF, http://www.scqf.org.uk/) unless an exemption has been approved by the Curriculum and Student Progression Committee. The SCQF credit levels required for each programme are specified within the appropriate Degree Programme Table.

A

General Postgraduate Degree Regulations

Late Admission

Conflicting Studies

At the time of application, Masters by Research applicants may be invited to be registered for consecutive Masters by Research, followed by PhD study within the same School. This option may not be available in all Schools. Depending on the outcome of assessment the student will be invited to follow one of three routes:

1. Start First Year of Doctoral Programme.  If successful in the Masters by Research programme, the student graduates and also registers in the next academic session on the first year of the doctoral programme; or
2. Start Second year of Doctoral Programme.  Prior to the completion of the masters dissertation, the School is content that the quality of the student’s work merits treating the masters year as the first year of doctoral study.  No dissertation is submitted, no masters degree is awarded, and the student registers in the next academic session on the second year of the doctoral programme; or
3. Graduate with Masters by Research Degree and Exit.   If successful in the Masters by Research programme, the student graduates and permanently withdraws.

The University has the authority to recognise a student’s prior learning. Before approval is granted the College must be satisfied that the learning to be recognised provides an adequate current basis for the programme or courses as set out in the appropriate Degree Programme Table.  Colleges can approve RPL for research programmes up to a maximum of 360 credits. The maximum number of credits that the Colleges will grant RPL for taught programmes is:

• College of Humanities and Social Science: one-third of the total credits for the award for which the student is applying, i.e. 20 credits for a certificate; 40 credits for a diploma; and 60 credits for a masters; College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine: one-third of the total credits for the award for which the student is applying, i.e. 20 credits for a certificate; 40 credits for a diploma; and 60 credits for a masters;  and
• College of Science and Engineering: a maximum of 40 credits for a masters; no RPL credit are awarded for certificate or diplomas.

Before approval is granted the College must be satisfied that the learning to be recognised provides an adequate basis for the programme or courses as set out in the appropriate Degree Programme Table.  See also, the University’s Admissions Policy: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/student-recruitment/admissions-advice/admissions-policy/policies)

The University defines the prescribed period of study for each authorised programme.  These are as follows, unless the Curriculum and Student Progression Committee (CSPC) has approved a different prescribed period of study for the programme. The prescribed period of study for each programme is recorded in the offer of admission.

Study Period Table:  http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/AcademicServices/Regulations/StudyPeriodTable.pdf

Supervision

The student must have demonstrated by the presentation of a thesis and/or portfolio and by performance at an oral examination that the student is capable of pursuing original research making a significant contribution to knowledge or understanding in the field of study, relating particular research projects to the general body of knowledge in the field, and presenting the results of the research in a critical and scholarly way. Orals for re-submission may be waived by the Head of College.

Thesis Length - Word Count

The thesis must not exceed a maximum word count of 100,000.  There is no minimum word count.

Taught professional doctorates will have additional entrance, curriculum and examination requirements.  Information is provided in relevant Degree Programme Tables and programme handbooks. Students will be required to successfully complete the taught component, submit the thesis and/or portfolio and fulfil any placement requirements.

PhD (by Research Publications)

The portfolio of published work must consist of either one or two books or at least six refereed journal articles or research papers, which are already in the public domain. The total submission, including the critical review should not exceed 100,000 words.

• The critical review must summarise the aims, objectives, methodology, results and conclusions covered by the work submitted in the portfolio.  It must also indicate how the publications form a coherent body of work, what contribution the student has made to this work, and how the work contributes significantly to the expansion of knowledge.  The critical review must be at least 10,000 words, but not more than 25,000 words in length.
• Students must either be the sole author of the portfolio of published work or must be able to demonstrate in the critical review of the submitted work that they have made a major contribution to all of the work that has been produced by more than one author.

These regulations may be supplemented by certain programme-specific regulations for degrees offered in collaboration with other institutions.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Awarded on successful completion of supervised clinical practice, written examination, assessed essay and research portfolio, including thesis, small-scale research projects and experimental case reports.
2. Mode of Study and Prescribed Period of Study.  The programme can be taken on a full-time or mixed full-time/part-time basis, but the first year is taken on a full-time basis only. The prescribed period of study is 36 months full-time, or between 48 and 60 months on a mixed full-time/part-time basis.
3. Thesis Length.  The thesis must not exceed 30,000 words unless, in exceptional cases, the college has given permission for a longer thesis.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Placement.  Students will undertake a practice placement, consisting of 300 hours of supervised counselling practice and 60 hours of counselling supervision.
2. Thesis Length The thesis will be between 35,000 and 45,000 words in length unless in exceptional cases the college has given permission for a longer thesis.
3. Resits.  A student who fails the practice placement may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, be offered a second opportunity to undertake the placement if in the opinion of the Board the failure was attributable to illness, hardship or other relevant circumstances beyond the student’s control. A repeat placement is to be completed within a further 24 months.
4. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).  In the case of formal, certificated study, up to 60 credits of prior learning at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF, http://www.scqf.org.uk/) level 11 may be recognised. In the case of non-certificated study, up to 20 credits of prior learning may be recognised.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  The degree of EdD may be awarded on the basis of successful completion of assessed essays, a research project and a thesis.
2. Prescribed Period of Study.  The prescribed period of study is 60 months part-time, but this may be increased to a maximum of 72 months.
3. Thesis Length. The thesis length should be no more than 75,000 words.

PHD in Composition in Music

Grounds for Award.  The student must compose to a high creative level as demonstrated both by the student presenting a portfolio of compositions as well as attendance at an oral examination.  The portfolio of compositions must comprise original work which:

1. is suitable for professional performance and worthy of publication;
2. shows competence in the ancillary technical skills appropriate to the chosen style;
3. contains material which presents a body of work such as could reasonably be achieved on the basis of three years postgraduate study;
4. is presentationally satisfactory & intelligible to any musician who might have to use it.

The degree specific regulations, when a student is submitting for award of PhD(eca) by means of a portfolio of artefacts, artworks and other practice-based outputs, are:

1. The portfolio of artefacts or artworks must comprise original work of a high creative level which is worthy of public exhibition and also an integral part of the contribution to knowledge made by the overall work of the candidate submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the PhD. It must show competence in the appropriate ancillary technical skills; must contain material which presents a body of work such as could reasonably be achieved on the basis of three years postgraduate study; must be satisfactory and intelligible in its presentation. There should also be a permanent record of the work; and
2. The portfolio of artefacts and artworks will be accompanied by a thesis of not more than 50,000 words (including bibliography and footnotes but excluding appendices).

The degree specific regulations, when a student is submitting for award of MPhil(eca) by means of a portfolio of artifacts, artworks and other practice-based outputs, are:

1. The portfolio of artifacts or artworks must comprise original work of a high creative level worthy of public exhibition. It must show competence in the appropriate ancillary technical skills; must contain material which presents a body of work such as could reasonably be achieved on the basis of two years postgraduate study; must be satisfactory and intelligible in its presentation. There should also be a permanent record of the work; and
2. The portfolio of artifacts or artworks should normally be accompanied by a thesis of not more than 20,000 words (including bibliography and footnotes but excluding appendices).

The Master of Fine Art is gained upon the successful completion of 240 Credits at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF, http://www.scqf.org.uk/) Level 11. The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students will be assessed by a combination of practical studio work with theoretical and written studies, including professional practice elements.
2. Prescribed Period of Study.  The period of study will be 21 months full-time.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students will undertake two practice placements
2. Prescribed Period of Study. The period of study will be 21 months full-time.
3. Re-Sit Options.  A student who fails a unit of academic assessment other than the dissertation on the first occasion may be allowed one further attempt to complete the assessment requirements. A student who fails a practice placement may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, be offered a second opportunity to undertake the placement.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students will be assessed by essays, examinations, a placement report and a dissertation. An oral examination will be required in the Chinese language and may be required for other courses.  Provided that the dissertation reaches a postgraduate diploma standard, it may be revised in order to reach the masters level within a further maximum period of three months. Students must work in the University of Edinburgh and in a Chinese institution approved by the Programme Director.
2. Prescribed Period of Study. The period of study will be between 24 and 36 months, full-time.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Mode of Study and Prescribed Period of Study. The period of study is between 36 and 60 months part time.
2. Recognition of Prior Learning. The total number of exemptions which may be granted for any student is 90 credits.
3. Grounds for Award.  Students will be assessed directly or synoptically on each course taken. In accordance with the national guidelines, courses are assessed on a pass/fail basis. Students who fail a course will be permitted a further attempt to pass the assessment of that course within three months of the result being made known to the student.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students will be assessed on each course through coursework (assignments, portfolios, reports and oral assessments) and through school visits by SQH field assessors in the case of course 5. In accordance with the national agreement all courses are assessed only on a pass/fail basis. Students who fail a course will be permitted one further attempt to pass the assessment of that course within six weeks of the result being made known to the student.
2. Mode of Study and Prescribed Period of Study. The programme is available by part-time study only, and the period of study is between 27 and 60 months.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students will undertake a practice placement, consisting of at least 150 hours of supervised counselling practice and 30 hours of counselling supervision.
2. Mode of Study and Prescribed Period of Study.  The period of study will be 24 months full time or 48 months part-time. Each student must complete the requirements of the degree before the expiry of a further 12 months.
3. Re-Sits.  Students who fail a unit of academic assessment other than the dissertation on the first occasion may be allowed one further attempt to complete the assessment.  A student who fails the practice placement may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, be offered a second opportunity to undertake the placement. A repeat placement must be completed within a further 24 months.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Collaboration. The 2-year programme is collaborative, between the universities of Edinburgh, Durham and Manchester, and is funded through the ESRC. The first year of study for all students is taken at Edinburgh. An intensive course is taken in an Arab country during the summer, followed by year two at the primary institution.
2. Progression. Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 will be decided by the University of Edinburgh’s Board of Examiners, after completion of the taught element, and before the students commence their summer placement in an Arab country. Decisions on progression to Year 2 will be conditional on each student’s satisfactory completion of the period of residence abroad.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Mode of Study and Prescribed Period of Study.  The period of study is 13 weeks full time.
2. Assessment Type.   Students will be assessed on each unit through coursework, examination and a research project linked to a placement. All units are assessed only on a pass/fail basis. Students who fail a unit will be permitted one further attempt to pass the assessment of that unit within six weeks of the result being made known to the student.

1. A text of not more than 50,000 words; and
2. A portfolio, performance(s), recording(s), and/or other musical output containing original or interpreted pre-existing works such as composition, installation, sound design, interactive music software etc. Such work would be supported by documentation of the process (e.g. video, photographs, recordings, sketches, studies, web pages) by which it was made.

Grounds for Award. There are three possible variations for final submission, which combine the submission of audio-visual material and a thesis:

1. audio-visual material to a maximum of 1 hour documentary film or 100 photographs, plus an extended critical essay of 25,000 - 30,000 words; or
2. audio-visual material to a maximum of 40 minutes documentary film or 70 photographs, plus an extended critical essay of 45,000 - 50,000 words; or
3. audio-visual material to a maximum of 20 minutes documentary film or 40 photographs, plus an extended critical essay of 65,000 - 70,000 words.

Grounds for Award.  The programme will be delivered by a series of advanced level design exercises and projects, engaging with structural, environmental, cultural, theoretical and aesthetic questions. Students must pass the Academic Portfolio for exemption from ARB/RIBA Part 2.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Prescribed Period of Study - Masters.  The period of study is 15 months.
2. Prescribed Period of Study – PG Dip and PG Cert.  Students on the PG Certificate in Public Policy may complete this full-time over 4 months or part-time over a two year period. On successful completion of the PG Certificate, students may transfer to the PG Diploma in Public Policy (within a three year time period). Students on the PG Diploma in Public Policy may complete this full-time over 9 months or part-time over a four year period. On successful completion of the PG Diploma, students may transfer to the Master Public Policy programme (within a three year time period).
3. Grounds for Award.  Students will complete a compulsory programme of courses in the first and second semesters, comprising eight 15-credit courses, and a three-month placement in a policy organisation on which the Capstone Project/dissertation will be based. Students who decide not to complete the Capstone Project may, at the discretion of the College, be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy. 
4. Resits.  Students who fail a unit of academic assessment other than the Capstone Project on the first occasion may be allowed one further attempt to complete the assessment.
5. Placement.  A student who fails the placement component of the Capstone Project may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, be offered a second opportunity to undertake the placement. A repeat placement must be completed within a further 12 months.

The degree specific regulations are:

1. Grounds for Award.  Students must pass all of the core courses and three elective courses to be awarded the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.  Attaining a mark of 50% or more in the assignments, participation and attendance gives exemption from sitting the examination in Company and Commercial, Financial Services and Related Skills and Professional Responsibility.
2. Assessment Type.  Students will be assessed in writing in each course of the curriculum. Students may only present themselves for examination in a course if they have been certified as having given regular attendance and having successfully completed the requisite work of the class in that course. Students may be permitted a single re-sit examination for each course of the curriculum in which they have failed.

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

An applicant for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) must:

1. an applicant for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) must hold a qualification which is registrable with the General Medical Council and must have been engaged since graduation for at least one year either in scientific work bearing directly on the applicant’s profession, or in the practice of Medicine or Surgery, and will be performing their work in the South East of Scotland*, either employed as a member of staff of the University of Edinburgh; or as an NHS employee or as a research worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University of Edinburgh or an Associated Institution or an NHS establishment
2. all applicants are required to meet the University of Edinburgh standard postgraduate research admissions requirements.

The grounds for the award of the degree of MD are:

1. a student must have demonstrated by the presentation of a thesis, a significant amount of material worthy of publication or public presentation, and by performance in an oral examination (unless this is exceptionally waived by the College) that the student is capable of pursuing original research in the field of study, relating particular researches to the general body of knowledge in the field, and presenting the results of the researches in a critical and scholarly way.
2. the thesis must deal with one or more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the degrees of MB ChB of the University or with subjects arising directly from contemporary medical practice. It must be an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in or understanding of the field of study; contain material worthy of publication; show a comprehensive knowledge and a critical appreciation of the field of study and related literature; show that the student’s observations have been carefully made; show the exercise of independent critical judgment with regard to both the student’s work and that of other scholars in the same general field; contain material which presents a unified body of work; be satisfactory in its literary and general presentation, give full and adequate references and have a coherent structure understandable to a scholar in the same general field with regard to intentions, background, methods and conclusions. A concise and informative summary should be included with the thesis.

Supervisors must accommodate the student and the project within their research facilities, and obtain permission from line managers as required. Supervisors will be located in the University of Edinburgh or in NHS facilities within the supervision of the NHS Education for Scotland South East Scotland* postgraduate deanery.

Registration may be full-time or part-time.

1. Full-time registration will apply to students who will spend >80% full-time equivalent devoted to research related to the MD project. They may be either not in employment for >20% full-time equivalent, or employed in a post in which at least 80% full time equivalent time is available for research related to their MD project rather than for clinical training or practice or other duties. Full time students have a prescribed period of two years in which they will conduct the research with up to two years to write up the thesis thereafter. Thesis submission is permitted at two years at the earliest and within four years.
2. Part-time registration will apply to students who are in employment unrelated to their MD project for >20% full-time equivalent, or who elect not to devote as much as 80% of their time to the MD research project. Students may opt to study either at 40% full-time equivalent, for which they will have a prescribed period of research of four years, or at 60% equivalent, for which the prescribed period is 3 years. Students will have two years to write up the thesis at the end of the prescribed period. Thesis submission is permitted at the end of the prescribed period of study at the earliest.

MD Timetable for submission

Student progress will be monitored. It is recommended that a progress report will be prepared annually and submitted through the relevant local route to the College Postgraduate Research Board of Examiners. Where significant difficulties are identified, the committee may consider alterations to the student’s registration.

A student must submit a thesis specially written for the degree concerned and must not have submitted it in candidature for any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional qualification. The thesis length should be no more than 60,000 words.  Material to be included in a thesis may be published before the thesis is submitted. The thesis must record the fact of such publication. The thesis must conform to the Postgraduate Research Degree Assessment Regulations.

An applicant for the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) must:

1. hold a qualification which is registrable with either the General Dental Council or the General Medical Council or both and must have been engaged since graduation for at least  two years either in scientific work bearing directly on the  applicant’s  profession, or in the practice of Dentistry or other related disciplines, and will perform their research work in the South-East of Scotland*, either employed as a member of staff of the University of Edinburgh; or as an NHS employee or as a research worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University of Edinburgh, or an Associated Institution or an NHS establishment.
2. all applicants are required to meet the University of Edinburgh standard postgraduate research admissions requirements.

The grounds for the award of the DDS are that:

1. the student must have demonstrated by the presentation of a thesis and by performance in an oral examination (unless this is exceptionally waived by the College) that the student is capable of pursuing original research in the field of study, relating particular researches to the general body of knowledge in the field, and presenting the results of the researches in a critical and scholarly way.
2. the thesis must deal with one or more of the subjects arising directly from contemporary dental or surgical practice relevant to oral health. It must be an original work that:
• makes a significant contribution to knowledge in or understanding of the field of study;
• contains a significant amount of material worthy of publication or presentation;
• shows a comprehensive knowledge and a critical appreciation of the field of study and related literature;
• shows that the student’s observations have been carefully made;
• shows the exercise of independent critical judgment with regard to both the student’s work and that of other scholars in the same general field;
• contains material which presents a unified body of work;
•  is satisfactory in its literary and general presentation, gives full and adequate references and  has a coherent structure;
• is understandable to a scholar in the same general field with regard to intentions, background, methods and conclusions.
3.  A concise and informative summary should be included with the thesis.

tudent progress will be monitored. It is recommended that a progress report will be prepared annually and submitted through the relevant local route to the College Postgraduate Research Board of Examiners. Where significant difficulties are identified, the committee may consider alterations to the student’s registration.

A student must submit a thesis specially written for the degree concerned and must not have submitted it in candidature for any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional qualification. The thesis length should be no more than 60,000 words. Material to be included in a thesis may be published before the thesis is submitted. The thesis must record the fact of such publication. The thesis must conform to the Postgraduate Research Degree Assessment Regulations.

A thesis for the degree of DVM&S must deal with one or more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the degree of BVM&S of the University or with subjects arising directly from contemporary veterinary practice.

The grounds for the award of the degree of DVM&S are:

1. the student must have demonstrated by the presentation of a thesis and by performance in an oral examination (unless this is exceptionally waived by College) that the student is capable of pursuing original research in the field of study relating particular researches to the general body of knowledge in the field, and presenting the results of the researches in a critical and scholarly way.
2. the thesis must be an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in or understanding of the field of study; contain material worthy of publication; show a comprehensive knowledge and a critical appreciation of the field of study and related literature; show that the student’s observations have been carefully made; show the exercise of independent critical judgement with regard to both the student’s work and that of other scholars in the same general field; contain material which presents a unified body of work; be satisfactory in its literary and general presentation, give full and adequate references and have a coherent structure understandable to a scholar in the same general field with regard to intentions, background, methods and conclusions.

Registration is five years part-time. An intending student shall submit to the College a suggested topic and description of the work on which the thesis will be based. A registration fee is paid upon initial registration, an annual advisory fee is paid at the beginning of each year of study (Including the first year) and an examination fee is paid at the time of thesis submission. After formal acceptance of the suggested topic and description, a period of normally at least 18 months must elapse before the thesis is submitted.

College of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Degree Regulations: Degree Specific Regulations

The EngD is a four-year doctoral level research and training programme worth 720 credits which leads to the award of an EngD degree. The EngD degree is equivalent in academic standing to a conventional PhD but is achieved through research which is much more industrially focused and which is designed to produce graduates who have a sound understanding of the business implications of industrial research activity.

The Doctor of Engineering (EngD) in System Level Integration is offered jointly by the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt University and the University of Strathclyde, and the awards are made jointly in the names of all four universities. The University of Glasgow is currently the Administering University and programme regulations will be found under the regulations of that University: http://www.gla.ac.uk/