Section E: MSc by research degrees

Regulations 46 - 54: Examination, submission, markers, oral assessment, requirements for award, examiner recommendation, merit and distinction.

Regulation 46 MSc by Research degrees: examinationn

There are two types of MSc by Research degrees:

MSc by Research degrees which are examined by the relevant College Postgraduate Committee, and are subject to all relevant provisions of the Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees except for those regulations listed below.
MSc by Research degrees for which the responsibilities of the College Postgraduate Committee are carried out by a Board of Examiners within a School. For these programmes, the provisions of the Taught Assessment Regulations relating to the operation of Boards of Examiners apply instead of the following regulations in the Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees: 2 to 7; 35-38; 41 to 43.

Both types of MSc by Research degrees are exempt from the following provisions of the Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees: 13-19; 22-25; 33; 44.

Schools will inform students at the start of an MSc by Research programme which examination arrangements apply to their programme.

Regulation 47 MSc by Research degrees: submission of research project or dissertation

Students on MSc by Research degrees must submit their research project or dissertation on or prior to the completion of the prescribed period of study.

Application of the regulation

47.1 Once a student has submitted a research project or dissertation, they cannot retract it.

47.2 Students on some MSc by Research programmes may be required to complete Notification of Intention to Submit forms prior to submission of their research project or dissertation. The relevant School or College will inform students where they are required to submit the form.

Regulation 48 MSc by Research degrees: markers

For MSc by Research programmes, staff who are or have been a supervisor of the student may not act as a marker or Internal Examiner for the research project or dissertation, where the research project or dissertation is worth more than 60 credits.

Regulation 49 MSc by Research degrees: oral assessment

Oral assessment may be used as part of the examination process for MSc by Research degrees. Schools will inform students at the start of an MSc by Research programme whether oral assessment is to be used as part of the examination process for their degree. Where oral assessment is used on an MSc by Research programme, the relevant College Postgraduate Committee or Board of Examiners will determine whether regulations 20 and 21 of the Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees, or the provisions of the Taught Assessment Regulations relating to Oral assessment will apply. Schools will inform students which regulations apply to their programme.

Regulation 50 MSc by Research degrees: requirements for award

In order to be awarded the degree of MSc by Research, students must pass at least 180 credits’ worth of courses. This may include the award of credits on aggregate for up to 40 credits. Where credit on aggregate is offered, the provisions of the Taught Assessment Regulations (under “Postgraduate assessment progression”) apply.

Where marks are awarded for assessment on MSc by Research degrees, these must be expressed using the postgraduate common marking scheme:

Common marking scheme

Application of the regulation

50.1 In each Common Marking Scheme, Colleges and Schools may amplify, but not alter, the overall description of grades.

50.2 For some MSc by Research programmes the examiners may award a mark or grade, merit or distinction.

50.3 There will be no progression hurdle to proceed to the research project or dissertation.

50.4 Where a mark is awarded for the research project or dissertation, this must be passed at a minimum of 50%. Failure to achieve this standard will automatically result in no award at MSc level being made.

Regulation 51 MSc by Research degrees: examiner recommendation

The examiners may recommend:

(a) Award Pass with Distinction in MSc by Research. See Regulation 52; or

(b) Award Pass with Merit in MSc by Research. See Regulation 53; or

(c) Award MSc by Research. The research project or dissertation satisfies the requirements for the award of the degree as laid down in the University’s DRPS as appropriate and that the degree should be awarded; or

Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study

(d) Offer resubmission for MSc by Research. The dissertation or research project satisfies the requirements for the degree except that minor corrections are required or stated minor weaknesses as identified by the examiners must be remedied. In the opinion of the examiners, the student will be able to remedy these with minimal supervision and without undertaking any further original research; or

(e) Award exit award. The research project or dissertation is substantially inadequate in one or more of the requirements for the MSc by Research. However, the work is of sufficient quality to merit the award of postgraduate diploma or certificate; or

(f) Fail. The research project or dissertation is substantially deficient in respect of all or any of the requirements for the degree and does not meet the requirements for any award.

Application of the regulation

51.1 For those MSc by Research degrees assessed by a Board of Examiners within a School, the Board makes a single recommendation for each student directly to the Senatus.

51.2 Corrections to MSc by Research dissertations or research projects are only permitted where the recommendation is (d) Offer resubmission for MSc by Research. Corrections are not permitted to MSc by Research dissertations or research projects where the recommendation is (a), (b) or (c) above.

Regulation 52 MSc by Research degrees: distinction

MSc by Research degrees may be awarded with distinction. Different criteria for the award of distinction may be used depending on the volume of credit allocated to the research project or dissertation.

Where the research project or dissertation is worth 120 credits or more:

Where a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation, a student may be awarded a distinction if they have attained a mark of at least 70% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation; or
Where a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation and other courses taken as part of the degree, a student may be awarded a distinction if they have attained a mark of at least 70% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation, and an average of at least 70% for all other components for which a mark has been awarded; or
Where a mark has not been awarded for the research project or dissertation, the Examiners may recommend that the student be awarded the MSc by Research with Distinction.

Where the research project or dissertation is worth less than 120 credits:

Where a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation and other courses taken as part of the degree, a student may be awarded a distinction if they have attained a mark of at least 70% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation, and an average of at least 70% for all other components for which a mark has been awarded.

Where an MSc by Research may be awarded with distinction, Schools must inform students in advance which criteria apply to their programme.

Application of the regulation

52.1 Where a student has been permitted to resubmit their dissertation or research project following a marginal fail at the first attempt in line with Regulation 54, they are not eligible for the award of distinction.

52.2 The postgraduate common marking scheme can be found at:

Common marking scheme

Regulation 53 MSc by Research degrees: merit

MSc by Research degrees may be awarded with merit. Different criteria for the award of merit may be used depending on the volume of credit allocated to the research project or dissertation.

Where the research project or dissertation is worth 120 credits or more:

Where a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation, a student may be awarded the degree with merit if they have attained a mark of at least 60% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation; or
Where a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation and other courses taken as part of the degree, a student may be awarded the degree with merit if they have attained a mark of at least 60% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation, and an average of at least 60% for all other components for which a mark has been awarded; or
Where a mark has not been awarded for the research project or dissertation, the Examiners may recommend that the student be awarded the MSc by Research with Merit.

Where the research project or dissertation is worth less than 120 credits:

here a mark has been awarded for the research project or dissertation and other courses taken as part of the degree, a student may be awarded the degree with merit if they have attained a mark of at least 60% on the postgraduate assessment common marking scheme for the research project or dissertation, and an average of at least 60% for all other components for which a mark has been awarded.

Where an MSc by Research may be awarded with merit, Schools must inform students in advance which criteria apply to their programme.

Application of the regulation

53.1 Where a student has been permitted to resubmit their dissertation or research project following a marginal fail at the first attempt in line with Regulation 54, they are not eligible for the award of merit.

Regulation 54 MSc by Research degrees: resubmission of the research project or dissertation

Where the Board of Examiners has offered resubmission in line with Regulation 51 (d), students are entitled to one resubmission of the research project or dissertation. Students may also be offered the opportunity to resubmit the research project or dissertation where a special case regarding an individual student’s circumstances has been approved by the College.

Application of the regulation

54.1 The relevant Board of Examiners will provide a student permitted to submit a revised dissertation or research project with a statement, which outlines the deficiencies in their original submission. The student is also entitled to receive further written advice from their dissertation or research project supervisor on one occasion before resubmission.

54.2 The Board of Examiners will advise the student of the deadline for submission of their revised dissertation or research project, which will be three months from the date of the student receiving notification of their original result.

54.3 Where a student declines the opportunity to resubmit the dissertation or research project, or fails to submit by the stated deadline, the Board of Examiners will treat the mark the student received for their first attempt as final and the Board of Examiners will consider the student for a relevant exit award.

54.4 If the Board of Examiners agrees that the revised dissertation or research project meets the requirements for a pass at MSc by Research level, the student will be awarded the MSc by Research degree. Where a mark is recorded for the dissertation or research project, the recorded mark for the revised dissertation or research project will be capped at 50%. Where no mark is recorded for the dissertation or research project, the revised dissertation may be awarded a pass or fail only, and will not be eligible for merit or distinction.

54.5 Where students on MSc by Research programmes are required to deposit their research project or dissertation in the University library, they may be permitted to submit a revised version within one month of recommendation of award, but the revised version will not be subject to reassessment. A student cannot graduate until they have submitted the final version of their research project or dissertation to the College Postgraduate Office.

This article was published on 2024-07-29