SPIR handbook
Dear Student,
Welcome to the School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London.
Whether you are studying a single honours programme of Politics or International Relations, taking the Politics and International Relations joint degree, or taking Politics modules as part of a joint degree with another subject, you are an integral part of our School during your undergraduate studies at Queen Mary.
In terms of the quality of our teaching, we have been officially recognised as delivering 'excellent' teaching in a friendly and supportive environment. Our modules cover a broad range of topics in politics and international relations: political theory, government, public policy, processes of democratisation, global development, globalisation, international security, US foreign policy and conflict management. We hope that you will find them informative, stimulating and enjoyable.
In the School of Politics and International Relations you will be part of a multicultural group of students, working alongside academic staff who are enthusiastic and innovative teachers, as well as active researchers. We will do our best to give you appropriate support and guidance throughout your undergraduate degree; it is also up to you to work hard to secure the maximum benefit from your time in the School.
Please take time to read through this Handbook which provides information relevant to your studies.
We hope that you will enjoy your time studying Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary.
Professor David Williams
Head of School
This handbook should be used together with the Academic Regulations. It provides information specific to the School of Politics and International Relations, while http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/ gives information common to all students at Queen Mary. The Academic Regulations provide detailed information on progression, award and classification requirements.
Nothing in this handbook overrides the Academic Regulations, which always take precedence.
You need to refer to the relevant Academic Regulations which are applicable to the year you started your undergraduate studies at Queen Mary. Additionally, the Assessment Handbook also provides important information on Queen Mary's assessment regulations.
The relevant Academic Regulations and Assessment Handbook can be assessed via the following link:
http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/policy/
The information in this SPIR Student Handbook is correct as of September 2020. In the unlikely event of substantial amendments to the material, the School will inform you of the changes.
QM cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of information given in third party publications or websites referred to in this handbook.
SOME SECTIONS OF THIS HANDBOOK ARE SUBJECT TO FINAL REVISIONS, WHERE THIS IS THE CASE, IT IS INDICATED.
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In-Course AssessmentTo be eligible
for a Queen Mary degree you must
complete an approved programme of
study. Your programme of study is comprised
of a selection of modules, and it is
the final mark achieved in these
modules that is used to calculate your overall classification mark/final classification. Coursework Submission You are expected to submit all elements of assessments for each of your modules, by the advertised deadlines. Failure to do so may result in your failing the module and will affect your final classification. You must submit one electronic copy of all assignments. Your electronic copy must be submitted via Queen Mary’s Virtual Learning Environment (QMPlus). The School has a policy of anonymous marking. Your name must NOT appear anywhere on your work, only your student number. Your electronic copy must be submitted by 11.55 pm on the deadline date, and will be retained and screened by anti-plagiarism software (Turnitin) You must ensure that you include the coursework feedback and cover sheet as the first page of your assignment. Coversheets are available alongside assignment links on QMPlus. REMEMBER:
It is your responsibility to make sure that the assignment has been uploaded successfully. Make sure that you have uploaded the right file. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your essay. The email will be sent to your QMUL account (please check your junk mail folder if the email does not arrive to your inbox). It is important that you give yourself sufficient time to check your submission has been successful; this is another good reason for submitting well ahead of the deadline. If you are having problems uploading your assignment, please contact Helen Murray (spir-assessments@qmul.ac.uk) in the School Office. Participation in Formative Assessments Formative assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. It does not contribute to your final module mark, but it is an integral part of the learning process. You are expected to participate in these assessments which can be subject related quizzes, or exercises linked to module materials on QMPlus. Your seminar
tutor is available to give
assistance and guidance on what is expected
with regards to module assessment and they
are a vital source of feedback. Although they
can recommend specific reading and discuss
essay plans they cannot read and comment
on complete rough drafts of essays. Each piece of work that you submit will be subject to a strict deadline. It is important that you meet all deadlines. Extensions will not be given just because you have to submit multiple assessments on the same day. It is your responsibility to ensure you manage your time efficiently to meet the demands for all of your modules. If
you are unable to meet any of your
deadlines due to unforeseen circumstances,
such as medical problems or a family tragedy,
you must contact the Undergraduate Student
Support and Timetabling Manager immediately
who will advise you to complete an extenuating circumstances form.
You will need to submit this,
complete with supporting
documentation, to the Office.
NOTE: Coursework submitted late, will be penalised at the rate of 5 marks for each 24 hour period, or part thereof, after the set submission date. An assignment handed in 7 days or more late will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero (0FL) to indicate it was received too late. College academic regulations state that students must complete all components of a module i.e. coursework and examination to pass that module. If you do not submit an item of coursework and do not have extenuating circumstances you may fail the module. | ||
Interruption and Withdrawal of StudiesInformation on interruption & withdrawal of studies, including links to the relevant forms, found here: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/study/interrupting/index.html http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/study/withdrawing/index.html Please note that the Registry deadlines are as follows: Interruption/withdrawal before Jan 2022 exams - 5 January 2022 Interruption/withdrawal before May 2021 exams - 4 May 2022 | ||
IT ServicesIT Services Our services to support students range from email and internet access, to state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities and high performance computing in support of research. There are a number of rooms around the campus that contain computers which students can use. You sign in using your Queen Mary username and password. In general, any computer you use will have all the applications that you need for your course available to you. Your IT Account: Details of your Queen Mary username and password will be emailed to your personal address before you enrol. The IT Service Desk is the first point of contact for all IT help, support and advice You can Live Chat with the Service Desk 24/7 http://www.its.qmul.ac.uk/contact/, call on 020 7882 8888 or raise a ticket via the Self Service portal https://servicedesk.qmul.ac.uk/. Visit us in the Queens' Building on the Mile End Campus. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm. Find an available PC on campus: an interactive map showing which rooms have empty seats http://availability.stu.qmul.ac.uk/ Print, Copy, Scan: There are printers in the computer rooms and in the Library. The larger devices in the Library also offer copying and scanning facilities alongside printing. We also offer a wireless printing service. You are charged for printing and copying by clicks (one click = one side of paper). The cost of a single side is 4p but drops to 3.5p when you print double-sided. All students get £10 each year through your iPay account for printing and copying. The CopyShop: A quick, professional and cost-effective photocopying and printing service. We can print a range of items for you, including: Theses/Dissertations, Lecture notes, Posters and much more. Book Scanning Service: The CopyShop offers students a professional scanning service. If you wish to retain a section of a publication for study use, the CopyShop produce a clear image without fingers tips, black areas and poor results for you. We can also scan materials you wish to include in your research materials in the correct format you need, for example Research Posters. Wi-Fi: The wireless network you use to connect your devices is eduroam. Halls of residence are fully networked with Wi-Fi and a wired socket in each study bedroom. Access to e-mail, QMplus the online learning environment and other services relevant to your study at Queen Mary is available from the internet as a whole. Mobile app: Queen Mary’s mobile app is available as a native app for Android (version 2.3.3 or higher) and iOS (version 6.0 and above) devices. The app allows you to do a number of things on the move, including: check your course timetables, log into QMplus and your Queen Mary email, search for and renew library books directly from your phone. Policies: The use of IT facilities is covered by University regulations prohibiting, among other things, software piracy and unauthorised computer use. IT Services policies are published here: http://www.its.qmul.ac.uk/governance/policies/index.html The IT Services website contains information on a number of our services and includes a range of self-help guides http://www.its.qmul.ac.uk/support/index.html Contact the IT Service Desk Telephone: 020 7882 8888 (24/7) Self Service: https://servicedesk.qmul.ac.uk IT Services on the web: www.its.qmul.ac.uk | ||