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Postgraduate Program Regulations at Liverpool Hope University 2018

Comprehensive guide to postgraduate regulations, curriculum structure, duration of programs, pass marks, reassessments, and external examiner guidance at Liverpool Hope University.

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Postgraduate Program Regulations at Liverpool Hope University 2018

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  1. Guide 5:Postgraduate regulations at Liverpool Hope Liverpool Hope University External Examiner Guidance: 2018 University Registrar

  2. Contents 1. Curriculum Structure slides 3-4 2. Duration of Programmes slides 5-93. Pass Marks, Reassessments and Retakes slides 10-134. Marking Scales & Assessment Descriptors slides 14-165. Award Classification Rules slides 17-236. Mitigating Circumstances slides 247. Academic Misconduct slide 258. What will Board Transcripts Look Like? slides 26-279. Implications for Externals slides 28-3010. And finally…. slide 31

  3. 1. Curriculum Structure(a) • Masters Degrees: • Modules to the value of 180 credits. • All modules must be at Level M[7]. • Three main types: • single subject Masters • 120 taught credits [normally at least 60 credits “core and exclusive”] • 60 credits Dissertation [may begin before 120 credits taken or passed]; • two-subject Masters • 120 taught credits [60 from subject 1 & 60 from subject 2] • 60 credits Dissertation integrating the 2 subjects; • MEd Professional Practice • 180 credits taught modules.

  4. 1. Curriculum Structure(b) • PGCEs: • Academic module[s] to the value of 60 credits, at Level M[7]. • Professional work and professional practice [not credit-rated]. • Postgraduate Diplomas: • Modules to the value of 120 credits, at Level M[7]. • Postgraduate Certificates: • Modules to the value of 60 credits, at Level M[7].

  5. 2. Duration of Programmes (a) • Masters Degrees [except MA Social Work and MEd Professional Practice]: • have the following normal expectations • students starting from Sept 2015 - 1 year ft or 2 years 1 term p/t; • students starting before Sept 2015 - 1 year ft or 3 years p/t; • “End Dates” can be extended by Boards of Examiners on the basis of retakes, resubmissions , deferrals or interruptions, up to • 3 years ft or 5 years p/t; • the Vice Chancellor needs to approve any further extension, via Registrar; • students starting from September 2015 pay an extension fee for any End Date Extension not due to valid mitigating circumstances.

  6. 2. Duration of Programmes (b) • MEd Professional Practice: • As for standard Masters degrees EXCEPT that the normal duration is 9 academic terms - • the degree is only available part-time • students do 180 credits of taught modules instead of 120 credits plus a 60-credit Dissertation.

  7. 2. Duration of Programmes (c) • MA Social Work: • has the following normal expectations • 2 years full-time; • “End Dates” can be extended by Boards of Examiners on the basis of retakes, resubmissions , deferrals or interruptions, up to • 5 years full-time; • the Vice Chancellor needs to approve any further extension, via Registrar; • students starting from September 2015 pay an extension fee for any End Date Extension not due to valid mitigating circumstances.

  8. 2. Duration of Programmes (d) • PGCEs: • have the following normal expectations • 1 year full-time; • “End Dates” can be extended by Boards of Examiners on the basis of retakes, resubmissions , deferrals or interruptions, up to • 3 years [but more than 2 is exceptional]; • the Vice Chancellor needs to approve any further extension, via Registrar.

  9. 2. Duration of Programmes (e) • Postgraduate Diplomas: • have the following normal expectations • 2 semesters [or equivalent] full-time; • 4 semesters [or equivalent] part-time; • “End Dates” can be extended by Boards of Examiners on the basis of retakes, resubmissions , deferrals or interruptions, up to 4 years; • the Vice Chancellor needs to approve any further extension, via Registrar. • Postgraduate Certificates: • have the following normal expectations • 1 semester [or equivalent] full-time; • 2 semesters [or equivalent] part-time; • “End Dates” can be extended by Boards of Examiners on the basis of retakes, resubmissions , deferrals or interruptions, up to 3 years; • the Vice Chancellor needs to approve any further extension, via Registrar.

  10. 3. Pass Marks, Reassessments and Retakes (a) • Module Pass Marks: • students who started from September 2015 - • Grade C [no compensation of marks below F+]; • students who started before September 2015 - • modules taken before 2015/6 - 40 [unlimited compensation of fail marks], • modules taken from 2015/6 - 40 [no compensation of marks below 35]. • Note students remain on the ‘old’ mark schemes.

  11. 3. Pass Marks, Reassessments and Retakes (b) • Reassessment Entitlements: • normally can only resubmit if module aggregate is 25+; • BUT if module failed due to academic misconduct, normally cannot resubmit irrespective of the module aggregate. • Capping following Reassessment: • assessment mark uncapped, but module aggregate is either capped at 50/40 or frozen at its value from initial assessment [whichever is the higher] - • students resubmitting a dissertation might see 84 for the resubmission but an overall capped 50 for the dissertation module.

  12. 3. Pass Marks, Reassessments and Retakes (c) • Retake Entitlements: • retake normally required if • module aggregate was <25 OR • module was failed due to academic misconduct; • a failed retaken module can ONLY be redeemed by resubmission [but entitlements in previous slide apply]; • What Students Retake: • normally, EITHER the module they failed OR, if the module was optional, an alternative, to the same credit value • a failed alternative is treated in the same way as a failed retake; • retaking a Dissertation means starting a new Dissertation, with supervision.

  13. 3. Pass Marks, Reassessments and Retakes (d) • Capping of Retakes [and Alternative Takes]: • if the original fail was due to nonsubmission or academic misconduct, the aggregate for the retaken/alternative moduleis capped at 40/50; • otherwise no capping. • Retake Fees: • students who started before September 2015 - • no retake fee; • students who started from September 2015 - • retake fee charged per module.

  14. 4. Marking Scales and Assessment Descriptors (a) • Marking Scale for Post- Sept 2015 Starters • Work that has Passed • A++ 92 Pass with Distinction (High) Module aggregate will appear as PD • A+ 84 Pass with Distinction (Middle) Module aggregate will appear as PD • A 76 Pass with Distinction (Low) Module aggregate will appear as PD • B+ 68 Pass with Merit (High) Module aggregate will appear as PM • B 64 Pass with Merit (Low) Module aggregate will appear as PM • C+ 58 Pass (High) Module aggregate will appear as P • C 54 Pass (Low) Module aggregate will appear as P • Work that has NOT Passed • F+ 47 Marginal Fail • F 37 Clear Fail • F- 27 Comprehensive • WF 12 Weak Fail • U 2 Unclassified

  15. 4. Marking Scales and Assessment Descriptors (b) • Marking Scale for Pre- Sept 2015 Starters • Work that has Passed • A+ 86-100 Distinction standard; module grade PD • A 70-85 Distinction standard; module grade PD • B+ 65-69 Merit standard; module grade PM • B 60-64 Merit standard; module grade PM • C+ 55-59 Pass standard; module grade P • C 50-54 Pass standard; module grade P • D 45-49 Pass standard; module grade P • E 40-44 Pass standard; module grade P • Work that has NOT Passed • F+ 35-39 Marginal Fail [condoned if module aggregate is 40+] • F 25-34 Clear Fail [cannot be condoned] • F- 15-24 Comprehensive Fail [no resit if mod. agg. in this band] • U 1-14 Unclassified Fail [no resit if mod. agg. in this band] • 0 NS/FL/PL etc [no resit if mod. agg. in this band] • 0 M [assessment deferred due to mit. circumstances]

  16. 4. Marking Scales and Assessment Descriptors (c) • University-wide descriptors available for each grade: • Faculties/Departments may adapt. • Descriptors ensure that New Pass Mark Rules do NOT disadvantage students, for example: • University-wide descriptors for a Bare Pass of 50for post Sept. 2015 students match those for a Bare Pass of 40for earlier students; • University-wide descriptors for Compensation Threshold of 40for post Sept. 2015 students match those for Compensation Threshold of 35for earlier students.

  17. 5. Award Classification Rules (a) • Overview • students are entitled to an award per se if they have enough credits including Accreditation of Prior Learning/Recognition of Prior Learning • 180 credits including APL/RPL entitles them to a Master degree • 120 credits including APL/RPL entitles them to a PG Diploma • 60 credits including APL/RPL entitles them to a PG Certificate; • all PGT awards can be made with Merit or Distinction; • eligibility for Merit or Distinction is based solely on modules completed at this University.

  18. 5. Award Classification Rules (b) • Masters Degrees [students who began before Sept 2015]: • overall aggregate mark is NOT used; • Distinction is mandatory if student has PD [70+] for 180 credits; • Distinction is discretionary if student has PD for 120-179 credits • convention is only to award if PD for the Dissertation • if P/PM for 60 credits, PD needed for everything else to get a Distinction; • if P/PM for >60 credits, student CANNOT get a Distinction • getting 40 instead of 55 for a module will have no impact; • Merit is mandatory if student has PM [60+] for 180 credits; • Merit is discretionary if student has PM for 120-179 credits • convention is only to award if PM for the Dissertation OR Dissertation is near PM & student has PDs on taught modules.

  19. 5. Award Classification Rules (c) • Masters Degrees, not MEd (students who began from Sept 2015) [i]: • Merits & Distinctions only if 120+credits are from Hope; • Distinction mandatory if PD[70+] for the Dissertation & overall aggregate; • If overall aggregate is 65-69 • Distinction if aggregate is 67.5+ & student gets 70+ for 50% of marks including Dissertation OR aggregate is 65-67.4 & student gets 84+ for 50% of marks including Dissertation • if aggregate from 1st 60 credits is 63, Distinction is still possible • getting 50 instead of 75 for a module makes Distinction less likely; • If overall aggregate is 70+ and Dissertation is below 70 • Distinction if Dissertation is 68.

  20. 5. Award Classification Rules (d) • Masters Degrees (students who began from Sept 2015) [ii]: • Merit is mandatory if PM[60+] for the Dissertation & overall aggregate. • If overall aggregate is 55+ • Merit if aggregate is 57.5+ & student gets 60+ for 50% of marks including Dissertation OR aggregate is 55-57.4 & student gets 65+ for 50% of marks including Dissertation • If overall aggregate is 60+ and Dissertation is below 60 • Merit if Dissertation is 58.

  21. 5. Award Classification Rules (e) • PGCEs [i]: • Academic award based on 60-credit academicmodule; • QTS recommendation based on 0-credit professionalmodule; • postgraduate award [possibly with Merit/Distinction] if academic assessments satisfy level M[7] criteria; graduate awardif academic assessments reach Level H[6]criteria; • possibleoutcomes: • Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction (withQTS recommendation) • Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction (withoutQTS recommendation) • Postgraduate Certificate with Merit (withQTS recommendation) • Postgraduate Certificate with Merit (withoutQTS recommendation) • Postgraduate Certificate (withQTS recommendation) • Postgraduate Certificate (withoutQTS recommendation) • Professional Graduate Certificate (withQTS recommendation).

  22. 5. Award Classification Rules (f) • PGCEs [ii]: • Distinction is mandatory if: • the aggregate academic mark is 70+ [with at least one mark of 70+ and no mark below 60]; • Distinction is discretionary [and normally awarded] if: • the aggregate academic mark is 69 [with at least one mark of 70+ and no mark below 60]; • Merit is mandatory if: • the aggregate academic mark is 60+ [with at least one mark of 60+ and no mark below 50]; • Merit is discretionary [and normally awarded] if: • the aggregate academic mark is 59 [with at least one mark of 60+ and no mark below 50].

  23. 5. Award Classification Rules (g) • MEd, PGDips and PG Certs: • Merits & Distinctions only if 120[MEd]/90[PGD]/45[PGC] credits are from Hope. • Distinction mandatory if 70+ for the overall aggregate. • If overall aggregate is 65-69 • Distinction if aggregate is 67.5+ & student gets 70+ for 50% of marks OR aggregate is 65-67.4 & student gets 84+ for 50% of marks. • Merit mandatory if 60+ for the overall aggregate. • If overall aggregate is 55-59 • Distinction if aggregate is 57.5+ & student gets 60+ for 50% of marks OR aggregate is 55-57.4 & student gets 65+ for 50% of marks.

  24. 6. Mitigating Circumstances:students who think they are not fit to sit • Outline • They should apply for aconcession: • extension [mark available at the Board]; • deferral of assessment [no mark until the next Board – M grade shown]; • deferred take with attendance [no mark until a later Board – MT grade]; • interruption ofstudy; • special assessment arrangements / alternativeassessments. • Once a concession has been granted, the work is assessed asnormal. • Detailed policies on the University’s website cover valid grounds, type of evidence required, procedures, and responsibility for granting requests. • Cases should have been dealt with before the Board. • Implications forExternals • You are not directly involved, but make sure that the Board seeks an assurance that any M or MT grade has been arrived at via due process.

  25. 7. Academic Misconduct • Outline • Detailed policies on the University’s website cover penalties and procedures. • Cases should have been dealt with before the Board. • Cases identified on Board transcripts by “PL” or “PR”grades. • “PR” means “offer a resubmission despite the normal penalty”. • Mark is 0, unless misconduct was in one part of a multi-part Portfolio. • 48PL means “student passes the Portfolio despite 0 for one part, but further misconduct would be treated as a repeated offence,”. • Boards accept recommendations as long as due process has beenfollowed. • Implications forExternals • Make sure that the Board seeks an assurance that any PL or PR grade has been arrived at via due process. • If you suspectmisconduct, notify the Assessment Co-ordinator asap, • and ask for the matter to be investigated by dueprocess.

  26. 8. What will Board Transcripts look like? • Issued electronically no later than the day before the Board; best displayed via laptop oriPad. • You may get a papercopy on the day. • Example on the next slide.

  27. General information about student Grades and marks for assessments; grades, marks and results for modules. Qualitative assessments carry standard grades and marks. . Progression recommendation Award classification recommendation, with rationale

  28. 9. Some Implications for Externals (a) • General: • make sure that threshold standards have remained the same despite the pass mark changing from 40 on the pre 2015 regulations to Grade C on post 2015 regulations. • Masters Degrees [students who started from September 2015]: • pay particular attention to Dissertations and Research Projects; • for fails, make sure that - • work below F+ is too poor to be compensated, • module aggregates below 25 reflect performance too poor to warrant a resit; • for passes, make sure you are confident that work is suitably placed into the “high” or “low” part of eachband; • remember that the highest category starts at84 • if you think markers use a notional maximum of 76, sayso!

  29. 9. Some Implications for Externals (b) • Masters Degrees [students who started before September 2015]: • pay particular attention to Dissertations and Research Projects; • for fails, make sure that - • work below F+ is too poor to be compensated, • module aggregates below 25 reflect performance too poor to warrant a resit; • for passes, make sure you are confident about the Pass/Merit/Distinction category awarded for each module - • awarding a module 69 instead of 70 might have a significant effect on the student’s eligibility for aDistinction.

  30. 9. Some Implications for Externals (c) • PGCEs [academic credits]: • make sure you are confident about the broad level of a student’sachievement: • pass at level M[7], • pass at level H[6], • below pass standard at Level H[6]; • for fails, make sure that - • work below F+ is too poor to be compensated, • module aggregates below 25 reflect performance too poor to warrant a resit; • for passes, make sure you are confident about the Pass/Merit/Distinction category given to each assessment.

  31. 9. And finally… • We hope you have found this presentation useful. • If you have any queries please email Dr Cathy Walsh [University Registrar] at walshc@hope.ac.uk

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