Flexible Postgraduate Taught Master's Regulations

These regulations shall apply for programmes leading to the award of the following Flexible Master's degrees: MA, MSc, LLM, MBA and MFin.

1.1

Master's degrees and Postgraduate Certificate and Diplomas are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

• A systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice.
• A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship.
• Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline.
• Conceptual understanding that enables the student:
  • To evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline;
  • To evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level.
• Continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level.

And holders will have:

• The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:
  • The exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
  • Decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations;
  • The independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.

And holders will develop graduate attributes throughout the academic journey with clear links to future careers; 

• Professional and discipline competence;
• The ability to address global challenges;
• Effective communication;
• Innovative thinking;
• Collaborative leadership. 

2.1

Flexible Taught Masters’ programmes are structured as follows:

• A full or part time programme of study consisting of modules totalling 180 credits, where directed independent learning (totalling 60 credits) is delivered concurrently with taught modules.
• Students will be eligible to commence their directed independent learning at any point following enrolment.
• Full-time and part-time students who successfully complete the programme will be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree.

2.2

For full-time students, the programme shall normally be completed in one year.

For part-time students, the programme shall normally be completed in two years (two-year programme) and three years (three-year programme).

For online only students, the programme shall normally be completed in two years (part-time).

2.3

The 2-year part-time programme will be delivered in the following format:

• 60 taught credits in each year (120 taught credits).
• A total of 60 independent directed learning credits delivered by the end of the programme, normally through either a single 60-credit module formally assessed in year two, or a 30-credit module in each year.

The 2-year online only part-time programme will be delivered in the following format: 

• 120 taught credits over 15 months.
• A total of 60 independent directed learning credits delivered by the end of the programme, normally through a single 60-credit module over 9 months. 

For online only programmes, for full-time students, the programme shall normally be completed in 15 months. 
For part-time students, the programme shall normally be completed in 24 months. 

2.4

Some programmes have different methods of delivery, including e.g. short block delivery, blended learning, online only learning. The duration, structure and mode of such programmes will be specified in the appropriate programme handbook.

2.5

Learning outcomes shall be specified for each Master's programme and for any programme intended to provide an intermediate or fall-back qualification.

2.6

Certain programmes shall be structured in such a way that students will be required to pursue professional practice and placements. Where students are subject to assessment of professional competence following a period of professional practice or placement, the outcome must be credit-rated.

3.1

Taught modules shall be completed as prescribed by the relevant Faculty/School and assessment completed by the dates set by Faculties/Schools. The full degree programme shall be completed within the following periods from the date of the enrolment: 

Full-time students are expected to attend Swansea during the whole programme (please refer to point 1.3 of the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Masters, Swansea University). 
Full-time and part-time students on online only programmes will have no expectation of attending Swansea in-person. 

*Please read the Guidance on Time Limits for more information.

4.1

Applications for extension to the deadline for submission of the piece of directed independent learning can be considered by the Faculty/School, up to the minimum period of candidature (normally one year for full-time students and two years for part-time students). Extensions to candidature must be completed in accordance with the University regulations and must be routed via the student's supervisor to Education Services, in accordance with the stated deadlines. 

5.1

The teaching pattern for most full-time programmes shall be three semesters and students shall be expected to pursue 60 credits each semester. All students must complete 60 credits of directed independent learning within the normal time-limit of the programme as set out in Clause 2.2.

Students enrolled on the two-year part-time programmes shall be expected to pursue 30 taught credits in Semester One and 30 taught credits in Semester Two for both Year One and Year Two. The directed independent learning shall normally take place in the second year OR split across Year One and Year Two.

Students enrolled on the three-year part-time programmes shall be expected to pursue 30 credits in Semester One and 30 credits in Semester Two for both Year One and Year Two. The directed independent learning shall normally take place in Year 3.

5.2

Students enrolled on programmes with alternative structures, including block, blended and online only delivery, will have their teaching and assessment structure detailed in the programme handbook. 

6.1

Students shall be required to complete the programme of study in accordance with the regulations for awarding credit as published in the document Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Awards.

6.2

The pass mark for a module shall be 50%. 

6.3

Students must complete the whole programme before they may qualify for the award of a degree.

The directed independent learning shall embody the methods and results of a research project. 

7.1

A student who is admitted to a Flexible Master's programme but is subsequently unable, or is not permitted, to progress to completion may, depending upon the number of credits attained at the time of exit, and subject to any Professional or Statutory Body requirements, qualify for one of the following awards of the University**:

*Programmes may adopt stricter compensation regulations due to Professional Body/Sponsorship Body requirements.

**Where recognition of prior learning has been accepted, exit qualifications would not normally be awarded.

7.2

The award of a named Postgraduate Certificate, following the completion of modules offering not less than 60 credits at Level 7, will only be available if the relevant modules constitute an approved programme. Approval of a certificate programme, under this regulation, shall be made by the relevant University Board.

8.1

Each candidature shall be completed by the presentation of a piece or pieces of directed independent learning and the approval of such work by the examiners.

9.1

For each candidature, the Faculty/School shall approve one supervisor. 

9.2

Students shall be supervised in accordance with the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's Students.

10.1

Proposals to be feasible in terms of the timescale and resources available and to be allocated to supervisors with suitable expertise.  

10.2

Supervisors to be allowed sufficient time to discharge their duties, particularly where the cohort is large.  

10.3

Research Council guidance to be followed, when appropriate, in respect of facilities to be made available for both campus-based and online only students (study space, library, appropriate research environment, etc.).  

10.4

Written guidelines to be issued with regard to attendance/engagement, frameworks for meetings and general expectations, in accordance with the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's Students.  

10.5

The implementation of all such guidelines to be monitored on a regular basis.  

10.6

Where students require additional help with language skills, this advice to be provided as a service separate from the duties of the supervisor.  

10.7

A mechanism to be in place whereby a student is able to request a change of supervisor, and whereby an alternative member of staff is made available should any supervisor be absent for a prolonged period of time.  

10.8

The number of students allocated to a supervisor to be such that they will have the capacity to fulfil the responsibilities noted in Section 11.

11.1

Advice and guidance to be provided to the student with the aim of facilitating the production of a piece of work of the requisite standard for a Taught Master's degree.  

11.2

The proposal to be within the supervisor's field of expertise, the selected topic to be defined in consultation with the student and approved by the Faculty/School.  

11.3

The proposal to be suitable for completion within the allotted time span.  

11.4

A timetable for the submission of work to be agreed in accordance with the Faculty/School.  

11.5

A minimum of three meetings to be held in accordance with the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's Students.  

11.6

Agree with the student, a record of all such formal meetings, including dates, action agreed and deadlines set. The record shall be maintained by the student and submitted to the Faculty/School on submission of the work.  

11.7

Work to be returned according to specified deadlines and accompanied by constructive comments.  

11.8

A Feedback session will be given to any student who fails and is permitted by the University Progression and Awards Board to resubmit their work.

12.1

The work produced to be first and foremost the student's own work, albeit achieved with benefit of advice and guidance from the supervisor.  

12.2

A timetable for the submission of work will be agreed in accordance with the student's home Faculty/School. 

12.3

Full-time students are expected to be in attendance at Swansea during the whole programme (please refer to point 1.3 of the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's, Swansea University). 
Full-time and part-time students on online only programmes will have no expectation of attending Swansea in-person. 

12.4

A minimum of three meetings to be attended in accordance with the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's Students.  

12.5

A careful record to be maintained, agreed between supervisor and student, of all formal meetings, including dates, action agreed and deadlines set. In accordance with the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Taught Master's Students, a copy of this record should be submitted to the Faculty/School when the work is submitted.  

12.6

Supervisors to be contacted should additional meetings be considered necessary.  

12.7

Work to be completed within the agreed framework, with any problems relating to late (or unsatisfactory) submission to be brought to the supervisor's attention in writing as soon as possible.

13.1

For every Postgraduate Taught Masters’ Examining Board there shall be a Chair who shall be responsible for ensuring that the correct administrative procedures for the submission and examination of the work are carried out.  

13.2

All work shall be marked by two internal members of staff, one of whom should normally be the supervisor for that particular student. However, in certain circumstances it may not be appropriate for the Supervisor to act as marker.  

13.3

The role of the External Examiner is specified in Swansea University's Code of Practice for External Examining.  

13.4

However, if it is impossible to allocate two internal markers then the Faculty/School should pay an external marker to act in the capacity as the second marker and the External Examiner should be asked to oversee that moderation has occurred.  

13.5

Although it is customary for the same external examiner to examine a student for the programme, an independent examiner may be appointed to examine the work where specialist knowledge or expertise is required.  

13.6

Faculties/Schools may opt to use sampling regulations if the cohort is greater than 10. The sampling regulations are as follows:

At least 10% of the total number of pieces of work (minimum of 5) including at least one from each class (Pass, Merit, Distinction, where appropriate). In addition all failed pieces of work must be sent to the External Examiner.

13.7

The marks shall be ratified at the Award Boards (Faculty/School and University Progression and Awards Board).  

13.8

For dealing with disputes or disagreements, see the Code of Practice for External Examining.

14.1

Directed independent learning must be submitted in accordance with the University’s requirements. Faculties/Schools may choose one of the following options:

• To accept an electronic copy of the work.
• To accept two soft bound copies and an electronic copy.

Faculties/Schools must inform students of the method of submission in the Faculty/School Handbook.

Each copy shall contain:

• A statement that it is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree.
• A summary of the work not exceeding 300 words in length.
• A statement, signed by the student, showing to what extent the work submitted is the result of the student's own investigation. Acknowledgement of other sources shall be made by footnotes giving explicit references. A full bibliography should be appended to the work.
• A declaration, signed by the student, to certify that the work has not already been accepted in substance for any degree, and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree.
• A signed statement regarding availability of the work.

14.2

Detailed instructions on the presentation of work shall be available to students in the Academic Regulations.  

14.3

Submission of directed independent learning shall be defined as submission of a piece or pieces of work submitted in accordance with the requirements specified under submission of directed independent learning (above) and should also meet the requirements (format, word limits, etc.) specified by the Faculty/School. A Faculty/School shall have the discretion to determine whether a submission fails to meet these requirements. 

14.4

Dates for submission of the piece or pieces of independent directed learning shall normally be*:

*programmes with an atypical structure or mode of delivery will specify the date for submission the piece or pieces of independent directed learning.

14.5

A Faculty/School may set an earlier deadline for submission, which must be printed in the Faculty/School's handbook. 

14.6

Students who entered the University who fail to submit their work by the deadline will be required to withdraw from the University and will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma as an exit award.
A Postgraduate Diploma will not be awarded where a significant proportion of recognition of prior learning has been accepted (see S10).

14.7

Each degree has a maximum period of candidature. The maximum period is designed to enable students whose studies have been interrupted for whatever reason to complete their degree. Students must aim to complete their programme by the deadlines as given in Section 3. A candidature shall lapse (and examination be thereby precluded) if the programme is not completed within the University time limits outlined in Section 3. 

15.1

If the piece/pieces of directed independent learning is not accepted by the examiners by the set deadline, the candidate may be allowed to resubmit it once only within the following time limits:

*where the directed independent learning is divided into modules totalling less than 60 credits, Faculties/Schools may impose shorter resubmission periods. This will be made clear to students in the Faculty/School handbook.

15.2

A fee shall be payable to the University for the re-examination and the mark will be capped. 

15.3

Students resubmitting should be given written feedback on the reasons for failure immediately following confirmation of the result by the University Progression and Awards Board. Faculties/Schools should ensure that feedback reflects all comments from the examiners (internal and external), and that the student is informed of the necessary changes required.  

15.4

Students re-submitting are only permitted to make minor changes to the title of their work with the permission of their Supervisor. Such changes should not require any further original research. 

15.5

Students resubmitting their work will remain subject to the requirements of the Engagement Monitoring Policy for Research Students and will be expected to be fully engaged with their studies during the resubmission period. Students will be monitored on a four-weekly basis (one formal feedback session followed by welfare check ins, students are not entitled to additional supervision) up until the point of resubmission within the time limit set for full and part time students and will still be subject to the escalation process for reasons of non-engagement. The Faculty/School or Student Compliance Services will assume responsibility for recording student engagement during the resubmission period.

16.1

A student shall be at liberty to publish the whole or part of the work produced during their period of registration at the University, prior to its submission as a whole, or as part, provided that in the published work it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree. Such published work may later be incorporated in the piece of directed independent learning submitted for examination. 

17.1

Notwithstanding the provisions in the regulations relating to the availability of directed independent learning, the University may be permitted, on a special recommendation approved by the student's Executive Dean (or nominee), to place a bar on photocopying and/or access to a student's work for a period of up to five years. It shall be the responsibility of the student's supervisor to make an application to the Executive Dean as soon as is reasonably practicable. This bar would also apply to members of the University.  

17.2

The summary and title shall be freely available.  

17.3

Any recommendation for a bar on access must be made to the Executive Dean (or nominee) after consideration by a student's supervisor. It shall be the responsibility of the supervisor to make the application as soon as is reasonably practicable. The recommendation must include a statement of the grounds on which the request is being made. Most requests of this nature are made on the grounds of the commercial sensitivity of the research, which may have been partially sponsored by a commercial or industrial organisation.  

17.4

When a bar on access has been granted, the student's Supervisor will be notified. In the case of work which is deemed to be of relevance to Wales, the Faculty/School shall inform the librarian of the National Library of Wales that the work is to be withheld from access for a specified period.  

17.5

Although the bar shall be regarded as operative as soon as the work is submitted, the period approved shall be calculated from the date on which the student is formally notified by the University that they have qualified for a degree.  

17.6

On submission, a student shall be required to incorporate a signed statement within the work to indicate either:

• That the work, if successful, may be made available for inter-library loan or photocopying (subject to the law of copyright), and that the title and summary may be made available to outside organisations; or
• That the work, if successful, may be made so available after expiry of a bar.

18.1

The following Examining Boards shall meet to assess students: 

• Faculty/School Examination Boards
• University Progression and Awards Board (Part One: end of Semester Two; Part Two: end of Semester Three)

18.2

Further details on the constitution, roles and responsibilities of Examining Boards are contained in the Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Awards.

19.1

One copy should be stored by the Faculty/School for not less than two years. Where a student has submitted two soft bound copies the other copy should be made available for collection by the student, unless the content is deemed to be relevant to Wales, in which case the copy should be deposited in the University Library.