Introduction

Purpose

The assessment regulations set minimum requirements and standards for students and staff, articulating the academic goals and policies of the University.

Overview

These regulations:

(i)   replace the previous Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees;

(ii)   set out the rules which must be followed in research assessment for Research Degrees; and

(iii)  provide links to other sources of guidance or related regulations.

Scope

These regulations are University-wide and apply to all postgraduate research degrees at Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework levels 11 and 12. The regulations apply to work submitted for assessment during the current academic year. They relate to all research degrees listed in the University’s Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study.

Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study

Additional guidance

For research degree programmes that contain a significant proportion of taught courses, taught elements are governed by the University’s Taught Assessment Regulations:

Taught Assessment Regulations

The regulations must be applied, unless a concession has been awarded by the Academic Policy and Regulations Committee (APRC) on the basis of a case proposed by a College. The “Application of the regulation” must also be applied, unless the College has approved an exemption on the basis of a case proposed by a School. Concessions and exemptions are recorded by APRC and Colleges as appropriate. The regulations operate in accordance with legislation and University policies on Equality and Diversity:

Equality and Diversity

Members of staff who need additional guidance may consult their Head of College or their nominee, their College Postgraduate Office, Academic Services, Student Administration or Student Systems.

Where reference is made to “the relevant Dean” this should be taken as being the Dean with responsibility for postgraduate research matters and “the Committee” is the relevant College Postgraduate Committee, or the Committee of each College which is formally identified as exercising the functions of a College Postgraduate Committee for the purposes of postgraduate research academic decisions. Where reference is made to “the Head of College” or “Head of School” this may also in some cases be a designated representative of that individual. The term MSc by Research includes Masters by Research, MTh by Research and LLM by Research.

For Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) students on courses that use the assessment grade scheme, the term “mark” in the regulations also includes “grade”.

Definitions of some of the key terms in the regulations can be found in the Glossary of Terms:

Glossary of Terms (pdf)  

These research assessment regulations, and related University practices, are consistent with the Quality Assurance Agency’s UK Quality Code for Higher Education;

UK Quality Code

This document should be read in conjunction with University’s Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study; the Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students; the External Examiners for Taught Programmes Policy; and Handbook for External Examining of Research Degrees. These are available via:

Policies and regulations A - Z