Degrees of Bachelor of Design in Product Design and Master of European Design in Product Design

RESOLUTION

The Degrees in Product Design at The Glasgow School of Art will be governed by Resolution of the University Court, which at the time of publication was in draft form, with provision that:

1.    The Degree of Bachelor of Design (BDes) in Product Design and Master of European Design (MEDes) in Product Design at The Glasgow School of Art shall be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow.

Hereinafter these Degrees are termed the ‘Degrees’ where reference is made to both, and the Degrees of ‘Bachelor of Design in Product Design’ and ‘Master of European Design in Product Design’ respectively, when referred to separately.

2.    The Degree of Bachelor of Design in Product Design may be awarded as an Ordinary Degree or as a Degree with Honours. The early exit awards of Certificate of Higher Education in Product Design and Diploma of Higher Education in Product Design are also included in the Regulations.

3.    The Senate recognises The Glasgow School of Art, through its Academic Council, as being corporately responsible for the administration and development of the courses leading to the Degrees.

4.    It shall be competent for the University Court, on the recommendation of the Senate, to recognise as teachers of the University for the purpose of the Degrees, such lecturers and other officers of The Glasgow School of Art having responsibility for courses qualifying for the Degrees, as may be proposed for such recognition by the Academic Council.

5.    It shall be the duty of the Academic Council of The Glasgow School of Art to consider annually the curriculum for the Degrees and such other matters, including the admission and progress of students, as may be remitted to it by the Senate and to report to the Senate thereon. It shall be competent for the Academic Council to make recommendations to the Senate, with regard to the appointment of Examiners for the Degrees.

6.    The External Examiner(s) for the Degrees shall be appointed by the Academic Council of The Glasgow School of Art.

REGULATIONS

1.     Introductory and Definitions

The definitions set out in the Glossary of Terms apply to these regulations.

2.     Duration of Study

The minimum and maximum periods of study, expressed as academic sessions, are as below:

Type of award	Full-time		Part-time
	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
Masters Degree	5	8	-	-
Honours Degree	4	6	5	9
Ordinary Degree	3	5	4	9
Diploma of Higher Education	2	3	3	5
Certificate of Higher Education	1	2	2	3

3.     Recognition of prior learning

3.1   Prior certificated learning and prior experiential learning can be counted for credit on this degree.

3.2   A candidate seeking accreditation of prior certificated learning must have completed, in whole or in part, a formally assessed programme of study. In addition to the documentation specified in the Admissions Policy published by The Glasgow School of Art, the candidate must present evidence of achievement in the form of an original certificate, transcript or similar document and, where relevant, must also present details of the syllabus and form of assessment.

3.3   A candidate seeking accreditation of prior experiential learning is required, in addition to the documentation specified in the relevant policy, to provide evidence that will enable admissions tutors to make informed judgements about the level of learning, knowledge and skills that they have acquired through life experience, employment, work experience or study that is not formally recognised.

3.4   The procedure for approval of such accreditation is set out in the relevant policy published by The Glasgow School of Art. The maximum limit for the award of such credit is, other than in exceptional circumstances, 50% of the credits associated with the degree programme.

4.     Composition of Degree Programmes

4.1   The degree programme shall be composed of courses, each of which is characterised by the academic level at which it is set and the number of credits which it conveys. The course level will be expressed as 1, 2, 3, H or M, these corresponding to levels 7 to 11 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

4.2   In each academic session a full-time candidate will normally take courses conveying a total of 120 credits.

5.     Pre-requisites, Co-requisites and Excluded Combinations

5.1   Each course may have pre-requisite and/or co-requisite course(s). To be admitted to a course:

a)   The candidate must normally have attained grade D or better in each pre-requisite course. If the course follows a pre-requisite course in the same academic session, however, it shall be sufficient for the candidate to have attended the pre-requisite course.

b)   The candidate must either have attended, or be concurrently attending, each co-requisite course.

5.2   Where a candidate’s curriculum includes courses which form an excluded combination, credits from only one of these courses may be counted towards the requirements for award of a degree or other qualification.

6.     Approval of Curriculum

The curriculum of each candidate must be approved at the start of each session by the candidate’s Programme Leader. Once approved, the curriculum may not be altered except with the approval of the Programme Leader.

7.     Assessment

7.1   Subject to §7.2 and §7.3 assessment is governed by the Code of Assessment which is published by The Glasgow School of Art.

7.2   The minimum requirement for the award of credit for a course is the submission of at least 75% by weight of the summative assessment (including any examinations). Additional requirements, including attendance requirements, shall be published in the Programme Specification and/or its Course Specifications and/or given to candidates in writing by the relevant Head of Department or programme leader at the commencement of the course.

7.3   At levels 1, 2 and 3 there will be examinations in Studio, Theory, Language Studies and Social Sciences in June and August of each year. A candidate who fails to achieve grade D or better in all components in the June examinations will be permitted reassessment in August. The GSA Final Examination Board may permit a candidate who has not achieved grade D or better in all components after the August examinations to resubmit the component(s) graded below D on one final occasion in June of the following year. All reassessment results will be capped at grade D3.

7.4   The examinations at level H will be taken at one and the same diet and reassessment is not permitted. The contribution of the Studio, Theory and Social Science components to the Honours degree award shall be 67%, 25% and 8% respectively

7.5   The examinations at level M will be taken at one and the same diet. The contribution of the Studio, Theory and Social Science components to the Masters degree award shall be 67%, 25% and 8% respectively

8.     Progress

8.1   The progress of candidates shall be reviewed annually.

8.2   A candidate who fails to reach the published required standard of attendance or (following reassessment) attainment will not be permitted to proceed to the next level of study.

8.3   To be eligible for progression to the Master of European Design (Product Design), a candidate will normally be required to obtain grade B or better in all elements of the Level 2 curriculum.

8.4   To be eligible for progression to the degree of Master of European Design (Product Design), an MEDes guest student[1] will be required to obtain grade D or better in all elements of the Level 3 curriculum[2].

8.5   The examinations at Level 3 and 4 for the Master of European Design (Product Design) will be taken at a host partner institution. In order to progress to the degree, a candidate will be required to obtain the equivalent of grade D or better in all components and will be permitted opportunity for reassessment as specified in §7.3.

9.     Courses Available to students

The curriculum shall be specified in terms of core and elective courses, as described in the appropriate Programme Specification. The courses listed shall not necessarily be available in each session; the choice of a curriculum shall be subject to this limitation and to that imposed by timetables. 

10.    Award of a Certificate of Higher Education in Product Design

10.1  A candidate who has completed courses totalling at least 120 credits with grade D or better in each component shall be eligible to receive a Certificate of Higher Education unless the candidate proceeds immediately to a degree programme. This does not preclude the use in subsequent completion of a degree programme of credit counted towards the award of a Certificate of Higher Education.

10.2  The Certificate of Higher Education shall be awarded with Merit where the grade point average[3] is at least 12, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.

10.3  Where the candidate has accumulated more than 120 credits, the credit counted in the calculation of the grade point average shall be reduced to 120 credits by discarding all of the credit for certain of the courses in such a way as to maximise the grade point average while meeting all other requirements of the regulations.

11.    Award of a Diploma of Higher Education in Product Design

11.1  A candidate who has completed courses totalling at least 240 credits, including at least 80 credits at level 2 or above, with grade D or better in each component shall be eligible to receive a Diploma of Higher Education unless the candidate proceeds immediately to a degree programme. This does not preclude the use in subsequent completion of a degree programme of credit counted towards the award of a Diploma of Higher Education.

11.2  The Diploma of Higher Education shall be awarded with Merit where the grade point average[3] is at least 12, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.

11.3  Where the candidate has accumulated more than 240 credits, the credit counted in the calculation of the grade point average shall be reduced to 240 credits by discarding all of the credit for certain of the courses in such a way as to maximise the grade point average while meeting all other requirements of the regulations.

12.    Award of an Ordinary Degree

12.1  To be eligible for the award of an ordinary degree in Product Design, the candidate must have obtained at least 360 credits at grade D or better. These must include at least 120 must at level 2 or higher and at least 60 credits at level 3.

12.2  The ordinary degree shall be awarded with merit where the grade point average[3] is at least 12, and with distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.

12.3  Where the candidate has accumulated more than 360 credits, the credit counted in the calculation of the grade point average shall be reduced to 360 credits by discarding all of the credit for certain of the courses in such a way as to maximise the grade point average while meeting all other requirements of the regulations.

12.4  Any candidate who, on completion of Level 3, has not met the requirements for continued progression to the degree of Bachelor of Design in Product Design with Honours may, at the discretion of the GSA Final Examination Board, be awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Design. Any candidate who, on completion of Level 3, has not met the requirements for continued progression to the degree of Master of European Design in Product Design, may, at the discretion of the GSA Final Examination Board, be recommended for admission to Level H of the programme leading to the degree of Bachelor of Design in Product Design with Honours.

13.    Award of an Honours Degree

To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree in Product Design, the candidate must have obtained at least 480 credits, including at least 120 at level H and grade D or better and achieved grade D3 or better for a piece of independent work worth at least 20 credits.

14.    Award of a Masters Degree

14.1  To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of European Design, the candidate must have obtained at least 600 credits, including at least 120 at level M, achieved grade D3 or better for a piece of independent work worth at least 20 credits and completed two, one-year placements at an overseas partner institution within the MEDes Partner Network.

14.2  To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of European Design with distinction, a candidate must obtain not less than grade B and an average of grade A across all components of the assessment at Masters level.[4]