Qualifications and awards

Principles

88. A student following a programme of study which does not lead to a qualification (a credit-only programme) may be provided with an award of completion, in addition to a transcript of credits achieved.

89. A student who has accumulated sufficient credits for the qualification, and meets the regulatory requirements will be awarded the qualification (subject to no outstanding tuition fee debt).

90. Degree programme tables define the curricula and conditions to be met in order to be eligible for an award in named subject(s), subject to satisfying all regulatory requirements.

91. A student must meet all requirements (i.e. passed all modules) at least 30 days before the appropriate graduation ceremony.

Awards

93. Programmes adhere to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework for the purposes of the level of named programmes and credit accumulation. Minimum credits at each level are as follows:

 

Total credits

Credits at each level

Masters

180

Minimum 150 credits at Level 11
Maximum 30 credits at Level 10

Postgraduate Diploma

120

Minimum 90 credits at Level 11
Maximum 30 credits at Level 10

Postgraduate Certificate

60

Minimum 40 credits at Level 11
Maximum 20 credits at Level 10

94. Successful completion of all credits at level 11 (and not as qualified pass credit at level 10) is compulsory for the application of the merit/distinction algorithm.

95. Where a programme includes modules assessed on a pass/fail basis, these will be discounted for the purposes of awarding the degree with merit/distinction.

96. For awards with distinction the criteria are:

 

Level 11 Credits achieved

 

Masters

180

at least 120 credits at 70 or above including the dissertation module

Postgraduate Diploma

120

at least 60 credits at 70 or above in each module

Postgraduate Certificate

60

at least 30 credits at 70 or above in each module

97. For awards with merit the criteria are:

 

Level 11 Credits achieved

 

Masters

180

at least 120 credits at 60 or above including the dissertation module

Postgraduate Diploma

120

at least 60 credits at 60 or above in each module

Postgraduate Certificate

60

at least 30 credits at 60 or above in each module

98. Where a student achieves a dissertation mark of between 65 and 70 and over 70 for all other modules, then the Board of Examiners has discretion to award a Master’s with Distinction.

99. Where a student achieves a dissertation mark of between 55 and 60 and over 60 for all other modules, then the Board of Examiners has discretion to award a Master’s with Merit.

100. A board of examiners may recommend to Academic Council that an aegrotat or posthumous award be conferred in respect to an undergraduate or taught postgraduate programme.

Aegrotat awards may be considered where no degree award may be made within the regulations, and the student is close to completing the award but is prevented from doing so because of illness.

In recommending an aegrotat award, a board of examiners should be satisfied that: the student's prior performance clearly demonstrates that he/she would have satisfied the requirements for the award, but for the illness experienced; and the student is unlikely to be able to return to complete his/her studies at a later date.

A posthumous award can be considered where a student has died and has either; completed the programme of study, including the required assessments, and has satisfied the requirements of the award; or has not completed the programme of study but the board of examiners is satisfied that the student would have been able to complete or satisfy the requirements for the award.

In making a recommendation for a posthumous award in this case, the board of examiners shall consider the evidence of the student’s academic performance overall and in respect to any coursework submitted or assessments completed.

Exceptions to regulations for individual programmes

MSc/PgDip Social Work Studies

101. Progression. A student must be registered as a social work student with the Scottish Social Services Council, including clearance under the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme by the end of March in their first semester in order to progress. Registration must be maintained throughout the entire programme of study.

102. Progression. Any leave of absence of one year or more will require the student to complete a readiness to return to studies assessment prior to recommencing the programme.

103. Assessment. Some modules may contain elements of assessment that are assessed on a pass/fail basis and these assessments require to be passed in order to achieve a pass in the module. Where a module contains such an assessment the module mark will not be calculated on a weighted average basis.

104. Assessment Only. Due to the interactive nature of teaching and practice skill requirements on some modules, students are not permitted to repeat these module on an assessment only basis, they must be repeated on a teaching and assessment basis. Details of which modules this applies to are contained in the module outlines.

105. Study Duration. A student must complete the programme within 4 years of programme commencement (inclusive of periods of leave of absence.

MBA course and MSc Business and Management course – Stirling Management School

106. Assessment. Students must achieve 50% in the sum of the weighted component marks, rounded to the nearest whole number; students must also achieve at least 40% in each component. Where a student fails to meet the 40% minimum requirement in any component a fail (X) will be awarded for the module. Re-assessment of failed modules will follow the agreed Taught Postgraduate Regulations.