University Regulations

2026-27

Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Design in Silversmithing & Jewellery Design

RESOLUTION

The Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Design in Silversmithing & Jewellery Design at The Glasgow School of Art are governed by Resolution of the University Court, the provisions of which are as follows:

1. The Degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Design (MDes) in Silversmithing & Jewellery Design at The Glasgow School of Art shall be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow.
2. The Degree of Bachelor of Arts may be awarded as an Ordinary Degree or as a Degree with Honours and the Master of Design shall be awarded with Honours. The early exit awards of Diploma of Higher Education and Certificate of Higher Education are also included in the Regulations.
3. The Senate may make regulations governing the award of the Degrees which are subject to the approval of the University Court - these shall be as stated under ‘Regulations’.
4. 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.
5. It shall be the duty of the Academic Council of The Glasgow School of Art to consider annually the curricula 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. 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.
7. The Senate may appoint as an Examiner for the Degrees but not as an External Examiner, any teacher recognised in accordance with §6.
8. The External Examiners 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
Integrated Masters Degree	5	7	-	-
Honours Degree	4	6	5	9
Ordinary Degree	3	6	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 these degrees.

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 their 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 Admissions 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  Degree programmes are made up of individual courses. Each course is defined by its academic level and the number of credits it carries. Course levels are numbered 1 to 5. These correspond to levels 7 to 11 of the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

4.2  In each academic year, a full-time student will normally take courses worth a total of 120 credits.

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

5.1  Courses may have pre-requisite and/or co-requisite courses. To enrol in a course:

a)  The candidate must normally have attained grade D3 or above 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. For example, attendance at a semester 1 pre-requisite course is sufficient for enrolment in the semester 2 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. Additional requirements, including attendance requirements, shall be published in the Programme Specification and/or its Course Specifications and/or given to the candidate 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 all courses will include summative assessment. A candidate who fails to achieve grade D3 or above in any course will be permitted a reassessment opportunity.

7.4  All level 4 courses include summative assessment. Candidates who do not achieve a grade of C3 or above in a course will be permitted a reassessment opportunity for the purpose of progressing to level 5. Reassessment is not permitted for candidates exiting the programme at the end of level 4.

7.5   Reassessment is not permitted for level 5 courses.

8.  Progress

8.1  The progress of candidates shall be reviewed annually.

8.2  At the end of levels 1, 2 or 3 of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programme, a candidate may progress to the next year of the programme if they have achieved a grade of D3 or above for all courses of the curriculum for that year.

8.3  To be eligible for progression to level 5 of the Master of Design, a candidate must normally achieve a grade of C3 or above for all level 4 courses of the curriculum for that year.

8.4  The requirements for a full-time candidate to progress, other than those covered in §8.2 and §8.3, are set out in the degree's programme documentation. Decisions on progress shall be taken by the GSA Examination Board.

8.5  Exceptionally, a candidate who does not meet all of the requirements in §8.2 and §8.3 may be progressed to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Master of Design programme if the candidate demonstrates sufficient potential to complete the programme successfully.

9.  Curriculum

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

10.1  A candidate who has completed courses totalling at least 120 credits with grade D3 or above in each course 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^[1] is at least 12.0, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.0.

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

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 D3 or above in each course 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^[1] is at least 12.0, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.0.

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, the candidate must have obtained at least 360 credits at grade D3 or above. These must include at least 120 credits 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^[1] is at least 12.0, and with Distinction where the grade point average is at least 15.0.

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 Arts with Honours may, at the discretion of the GSA Examination Board, be awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

13.  Award of an Honours Degree

13.1  To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, the candidate must have obtained at least 480 credits, including at least 120 at level 4 at grade D3 or above in each course, of which at least 20 credits are a piece of independent work.

13.2  The classification of the Honours degree shall be determined in accordance with the GSA Code of Assessment and shall be based on the candidate’s performance in all level 4 courses.

14.  Award of a Master of Design Degree

14.1  To be eligible for the award of the Degree of Master of Design, the candidate must have obtained at least 600 credits, including at least 120 credits at level 5 at grade D3 or above in each course, of which at least 20 credits are a piece of independent work.

14.2  The classification of the Master of Design shall be determined in accordance with the GSA Code of Assessment (undergraduate degree classification) and shall be based on the candidate’s performance in level 5 courses.

14.3  Any candidate enrolled in the Master of Design who has completed Level 4 and is not progressing to level 5, or who does not meet the requirements of §14.1, may be considered for the award of a Bachelor of Arts with Honours or a Bachelor of Arts. The GSA Examination Board will determine the appropriate award and make a recommendation to the University's Clerk of Senate. Any such recommendation will be based on the candidate's performance in summative assessments completed at level 4 of the programme.

15.  Degrees to which these regulations apply

The following degrees are governed by the above regulations:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Silversmithing & Jewellery Design

Master of Design (MDes) Silversmithing & Jewellery Design