Degree of Master of Arts in Health & Social Policy

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Master of Arts in Health & Social Policy is governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations are set out with those regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 589, which came into effect on 1 September 2008 are as follows:

1.    The Degree of Master of Arts (MA) in Health & Social Policy may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in the College of Social Sciences (the College) as a Degree in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulation.

2.    The award of the Degree shall be governed by Resolution No. 582 – “Generic Regulations for the award of Degrees gained by the successful completion of Undergraduate Programmes”, which came into effect on and from 1 September 2008 together with such supplementary Regulations as are contained in this resolution No 589 – “Degree of Master of Arts Health & Social Policy”. The supplementary Regulations are set out in the Schedule of regulations attached to this resolution.

3.    The early exit awards of Diploma of Higher Education and Certificate of Higher Education are also included in the Regulations. 

REGULATIONS

1.     Recognition of Prior Learning

Generic Undergraduate Regulation §4 applies subject to the proviso that the maximum limit for the award of such credit is 100 credits.

2.     Maximum Period of Study

There is no set maximum period of study. Candidates may continue their studies providing they comply with the progress regulations set out at §3.

3.     Progress

Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10 and §11 apply with the following additional requirements:

3.1    Full-time Candidates

a)   Unless in any one session a full-time candidate obtains grade points from courses totalling at least 40 credits, they will normally be excluded from further attendance.

b)   The minimum requirements for progress to a succeeding year of study are as follows:

After one session:	the candidate must have obtained grade D or better in the four level 1 compulsory courses, and credit in further courses totalling at least  20 credits.
After two sessions:	the candidate must have obtained grade D or better in the two level 2 compulsory courses and be qualified for the Certificate of Higher Education.
After three sessions:	the candidate must have obtained grade D or better in the 2 level 3 compulsory courses and be qualified for the Diploma of Higher Education.

c)   A candidate who has failed to complete the above minimum requirements for any one session, and who has not been excluded, shall normally be suspended from full-time attendance but shall be permitted to enrol as a part-time candidate. Alternatively the College Progress Committee or sub-committee thereof may permit a suspended candidate to be reassessed in a course in a subsequent session without further enrolment or attendance in it. In such circumstances the candidate may carry forward from a previous assessment in the course elements of assessment which together have a weighting of no more than 50%in the overall assessment of the course. A candidate suspended from full-time attendance shall thereafter be permitted to resume full-time attendance provided that they have fulfilled the relevant minimum requirements for progress.

3.2    Part-time Candidates

a)   A candidate who in their first two semesters of attendance has not obtained grade D or better in the course ‘Introduction to Health Studies’ or the course ‘Introduction to Social Studies’ shall normally be suspended from further attendance.

b)   A candidate who, over the next two sessions of their attendance, has not obtained grade D or better in courses totalling at least 40 credits, shall normally be suspended from further attendance.

c)   Where a part-time candidate has been suspended from further attendance, the College Progress Committee or sub-committee thereof may permit such a candidate to be reassessed in a course in a subsequent session. In such circumstances the candidate may carry forward from a previous assessment in the course elements of assessment which together have a weighting of no more than 50%in the overall assessment of the course. The candidate shall thereafter be permitted to resume part-time attendance provided that, as a result of such reassessment, they have fulfilled the minimum progress requirements for part-time candidates.

3.3    Entry to Honours

a)   Admission to Honours will normally take place after the completion of 360 credits and on successful completion of the MA Health & Social Policy programme. It shall normally be a requirement to have achieved 120 credits at level 3 and an Honours Entry Average of 11 or higher. The Honours Entry Average is calculated using the grade points set out in Schedule A of the Code of Assessment and by applying a 50% weighting to credit gained at level 3 and a 50% weighting to credit gained at levels 1 and 2.

b)   A candidate who has gained 240 credits at levels 2 and 3, of which a minimum of 120 are at level 3, and has an Honours Entry Average of less than 11 may only proceed to Honours at the discretion of the Dumfries Honours Board.

4.     Courses Available to Candidates

The list of qualifying and compulsory courses is set out in the programme specification for the degree programme.

5.     Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree

5.1    Honours Degree

a)   Curriculum

i)    The Honours Curriculum shall normally comprise 120 credits gained at level 3 and 120 credits gained at level 4.

ii)   A candidate for the degree of MA Health & Social Policy shall normally present themself for assessment in accordance with the prescribed assessment schedule. However, the Dumfries Honours Board may at its discretion and on grounds of illness or other good cause shown, permit a candidate to delay the prescribed assessment for not more than one year.

b)   Subject of Study for Honours

i)    The subject of study for Honours shall be an agreed group project appropriate to the degree of Health & Social Policy comprising an individual research proposal; four individual short assignments; a learning journal; a dissertation; a viva and a group project proposal and group project presentation.

ii)   In addition a candidate shall attend those classes and workshops identified in the Honours prescription.

iii)  Specific Requirements

A candidate shall obtain 220 credits from compulsory courses including 80 credits at level 2 and 60 credits at level 3. In addition a candidate will obtain credits from either a placement in an organisation appropriate to the degree with an extended report or a dissertation on an agreed topic appropriate to the degree.

5.2    Degree of Master of Arts Health & Social Policy

Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14 applies with the following additional requirements: at least 200 credits must be at level 2 or above, of which 120 shall be at level 3.

5.3    Diploma of Higher Education

The following regulation applies in place of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13:

a)   A candidate who has completed courses totalling at least 240 credits, where a minimum of 80 credits have been gained from a course or courses at level 2 or above, and where the grade point average[1] over the 240 credits is at least 7, shall be eligible to receive the Diploma of Higher Education.

b)   The Diploma of Higher Education shall be awarded with Distinction where the grade point average over the courses being counted for the award of the Diploma is at least 15. The Diploma of Higher Education shall be awarded with Merit where the grade point average over the courses being counted for the award of the Diploma is at least 12.