This section explains some of the main terms that you are likely to
encounter in this handbook and in
your studies.
Academic credit: An
indicator of the amount and level of learning. Given in multiples of 15.
Academic level: The relative complexity, depth of study, and learner autonomy
required in relation to a module in
the context of its discipline. Each module shall be assigned a level from the following scale:
· Level 3: Foundation or
pre-degree level (previously level 0)
· Level 4: Introductory
(previously level 1)
· Level 5: Intermediate
(previously level 2)
· Level 6: Final (previously
level 3)
· Level 7: Masters (previously
level M)
· Level 8: Research level
Academic year:
A period running
from September to August. The developmental years of most undergraduate programmes follow
academic years, and policies and regulations are normally written by academic year. See also developmental year, and calendar year.
Advanced standing: Prior, certificated study from another institution deemed equivalent to QM
modules from which exemption is sought.
Assessed coursework: Coursework that students are required to complete and submit, and which contributes in whole or in part
to module marks and awards.
Award: Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate certificates, diplomas,
bachelors degrees (with and without honours),
and undergraduate and postgraduate masters
degrees. The awards offered by QM are detailed in the Ordinances and the Academic Regulations.
Calendar year: A twelve month period.
Many masters programmes run for a full calendar
year, which may cross two academic years. See also academic year; developmental year.
Classification Mark: The weighted average of a student’s
performance, calculated in accordance with the
regulations for the award, on which the classification of the award is based.
Component of assessment: See Element of assessment.
Compulsory module: A module that must be taken
to meet requirements for progression or award.
Core module: A module that must be taken and passed to meet requirements for
progression or award. Core modules
cannot be condoned.
Co-requisite
module: A module that must be taken
at the same time as another, specified, module.
Course, course unit: See Module. The terms course and
course unit are no longer used.
Delegated
authority:
Where
the authority invested in an individual or body is delegated
to another individual or body for a specified purpose.
Developmental year: A year of a programme. Normally one academic
year of full time study, during which a student is normally
required to be registered for 120 credits of
modules. Developmental years for part time students normally last two
years. See also academic year and calendar year.
Dissertation, project,
research project: An extended
piece of independent study assessed by an output report or extended essay. The
dissertation or project comprises a significant part of most masters programmes. In these regulations, the term ‘dissertation’ also refers to projects and research projects.
Element of assessment: An individual item of assessment. The assessment for a module
may comprise several elements of assessment.
Enrolment: A process by which individuals with offers of places to study become
students of QM. New students must
pre-enrol before enrolment, and returning students must re-enrol each year.
Extenuating circumstances: Circumstances
that are outside a student’s control which may
have a negative impact
on a student’s ability to undertake or complete any assessment so as to cast
doubt on the likely validity of the assessment as a measure of the student’s achievement.
External examiner: A senior professional academic from outside QM who monitors the assessment process for fairness and
academic standards.
Field of study: The description of the modules
passed by a student. Represented in the title of
the award conferred upon a student.
First sit: The repeat of all or part of a module’s assessment following
a certified absence
at the first attempt due to extenuating circumstances acceptable to the examination board. A first
sit replaces the first attempt and does not count towards
the value of academic credit
for which a student must normally be registered in
an academic or developmental year. First sit module marks are not capped.
First take: The repeat of a module following failure at a previous attempt. This involves attendance and completion of all elements
of the module, and submission of all assignments, whether assessed
or not. First takes count towards the value of academic credit for which
a student must normally be registered in an academic or developmental
year. Module marks for first takes
are not capped. First takes incur pro
rata tuition fees.
Intercollegiate examiner: An external examiner from
within the University of London.
Invigilated examination: A timetabled summative
examination that contributes in whole or in
part to the module mark.
Level: See Academic level.
Module assessment: Assessment of the performance of a student on a module. This may include a variety of elements and forms,
including coursework, dissertations, and practical assignments.
Module: An approved block of teaching and learning leading to the award of
academic credit and forming part of a programme of study. ‘Module’ also refers to course, course unit, subject, or any
equivalent approved unit of assessed teaching.
Module mark:
The overall module
result. This may be an aggregate of marks from several elements of assessment, which may
be weighted. It is held to one decimal place.
Notional study hours: The number of hours required
to complete an academic credit, module, or
programme.
Pathway: A specific
combination of modules within a programme leading to a named award.
Prerequisite module:
A specified module that must be taken before a second specified
module can be taken.
Programme regulations: The regulations for an individual programme of study, approved
by Senate, or its delegated authority.
Programme of study (programme): A package of modules approved
by Senate, or its delegated
authority, and leading to an award of QM or the University of London.
Progression: The process of moving from one developmental year to the next, or
from the taught element to the project element of a programme.
Project: See Dissertation
QMACF: Queen Mary Academic Credit Framework. The structure of academic
credits and levels applied to all modules
and programmes leading
to awards of QM or the University of London (introduced
in 2008).
Qualifying mark: A specified minimum
mark that must be obtained
in one or more elements
of assessment in order to pass a module. This is in addition to, and
distinct from, the requirement to
achieve a pass in the
module mark to pass the
module. For example:
‘Students must obtain a minimum aggregated and weighted coursework average of 30.0, and a
minimum module mark of 40.0, in order to pass the module.’
Registration: A process by
which a student signs up for modules of a programme of study.
Required assessment: Assessment that students are required to complete to a prescribed standard and to submit, but
which does not contribute to the module mark.
Research students: Students registered for a programme
of study specifically designated as a research programme. Research programmes
have separate Academic Regulations.
Resit: The repeat of all or part of a
module’s assessments, following failure at a previous attempt. Resits do not involve
the repeat of attendance for the module.
They do not count towards
the value of academic credit for which students must normally be
registered in an academic or
developmental year.
Retake: The repeat of a module following failure at a previous attempt.
Retakes involve attendance and
completion of all elements of the module, and the submission of all assessments (summative and formative). They count towards
the value of academic credit for which students
must normally be registered in an academic or developmental year. Retakes incur
pro rata
tuition fees.
Special regulations: Programme regulations that
diverge from the general Academic Regulations for good reason, and which
are approved by Senate or its delegated authority. The special regulations are detailed in Sections 6 and 7 of the Academic Regulations.
Students: Students of QM. Ordinance C1
describes ‘those persons who are students of QM and associate students of QM’. The Academic Regulations apply to all students undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate study at QM, and to any persons
whom Senate declares
to be students of QM.
Subject: The term by which modules (see Module) are known for the LLB and other
programmes that operate
under the LLB regulations. Where the term ‘module’ is used in these regulations it also refers to subjects, unless
otherwise stated.
Taught component: The parts of a programme delivered as taught modules,
as opposed to
dissertations or projects. The term is generally used in relation to
postgraduate programmes.
Total credit value: The total amount of academic
credit required for an award.
Threshold requirement: A
progression requirement for MSci and MEng programmes. Students must
achieve a year - or aggregate - average (threshold) to progress to the
next developmental
year. This is in addition to the credit requirements for progression.
Assessment
types definitions
Invigilated examination (short code EXM): A formal, timed and invigilated assessment that takes place under the regulations for invigilated
examinations. To include but not limited to:
seen and unseen examinations (including on-line examinations) that take
place in QML’s formal examination periods.
Coursework (short code CWK):
An assessment that takes place during the module. To include but not limited to: essays,
reports, presentations, poster presentations, seminar/tutorial work, in-
class or
in-semester tests, mid-sessional examinations, project proposals, gobbet
exercises and homework sheets.
Practical (short code PRA): An assessment that requires the application or demonstration of knowledge and/or skills/competencies
in a practical context. To include: laboratory work, computer work, performances, fieldwork, Organised Structured
Clinical Examinations and oral assessments
in languages.
Dissertation/project (short code DIS): An extended piece of independent study that is assessed by the output report or long
essay. To include but not limited to: dissertations, research projects and project reports.
Professional capability (short code CAP): An assessment of a student’s
professional attitude and conduct to meet the requirements of a Professional and Statutory
Regulatory Body. To include but not
limited to: assessment of behaviour and conduct (primarily for primary qualifying medical and dental
qualifications but may be appropriate in other
programmes).
