Programme handbook

MSc/Diploma/Certificate Clinical Trials Online Programme Handbook 2018/19

MSc/Diploma/Certificate Clinical Trials Online Programme Handbook 2018/19

This handbook was compiled by the programme team in accordance with the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine guidelines.  Please note that every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of printing.

1. Introduction and Welcome
2. Programme Details and Overview
3. Contacts and Student Support
4. Assessment and Feedback
5. Teaching and Learning Approach
6. Useful Information and Services Available to Students 
7. Data Protection
8. Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

If you require this document or any of the internal University of Edinburgh online resources mentioned in this document in an alternative format please contact the Programme Administrator at mscct@ed.ac.uk or on +44 (0)131 650 9242.

Introduction and welcome

Welcome to the University of Edinburgh and the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School. We are delighted to have you join us for the 2018/19 distance learning MSc/Diploma/Certificate programme in Clinical Trials. You are joining us in the 6^th year of this exciting and unique programme.

The programme is run by me, Professor Stuart Ralston, with the assistance of Michelle Evans (Programme Lead), Chris Sheridan (eLearning coordinator) and the MSc CT Teaching Team.

This programme aims to equip students with evidence-based conceptual and practical tools, to take an applied interdisciplinary approach to the conduct of safe and effective clinical trials.

Collectively, you bring a broad range of knowledge, skills and experiences that we hope you will share with your fellow students during your studies.  In doing so, you will contribute to strengthening the links between the many different disciplines working towards improving clinical trials in a global context.

We do hope that you will enjoy your time with us and that you will take full advantage of the many opportunities open to you.

Prof Stuart Ralston

Programme Director

About this handbook

This handbook collects together essential information about the programme structure, assessment, University regulations and other information that you will need during your studies on the MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert Clinical Trials programme. It is intended to be a guide to what is expected of you on this programme and the academic and pastoral support available to you. The material you will find in this document may well prove to be vital information at some point. Please read it carefully. It will help you to make the most of your time on the programme. 

We encourage you to get to know and enjoy working with the other members of the programme, and so build up your own network of academic friends for the future. We would like to emphasise that you are not in competition with one another - there is, for example, no limit on the number of 'distinctions’ available. 

Every student must comply with the detailed requirements of the curriculum for the degree as set out in:

• the appropriate Degree Programme Table (see section Degree Programme Table 2018/19 of this handbook)
• the programme handbook
• the courses of study, the order in which courses are attended
• the items of assessment for the programme, which are published in the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study

The University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study set out University-wide and programmes specific regulations.

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/1819/dpt/drpsindex.htm 

The Taught Assessment Regulations set minimum requirements and standards for students and staff, expressing in practical form the academic goals and policies of the University.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/tar18-19.pdf

Disclaimer

This handbook does not supersede the University Regulations. We consider it each student’s responsibility to make themselves familiar with the contents of this handbook and the Taught Assessment regulations. The information provided in this handbook is intended to help you avoid unnecessary problems.

Programme details and overview

The Masters in Clinical Trials (MScCT) programme aims to equip students with evidence-based conceptual and practical tools, to take a critical interdisciplinary approach to modern clinical trials.

The programme is designed both to provide an entry point to clinical trials practice and research for those new to the subject, but also to provide opportunities for existing clinical trials professionals to develop their career. The programme gives students the opportunity to acquire technical skills in a wide range of clinical trials-related disciplines, and also develop collaborative team-working, communication and research skills. The range of courses reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the subject.

The MScCT programme is one of a suite of postgraduate programmes delivered by the Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics. For further information about our teaching programmes is available on the Usher Institute website: http://www.ed.ac.uk/usher/teaching-learning/study-with-us.

Learning outcomes

Successful candidates will gain a firm understanding and practical knowledge of the key elements and principles of clinical trial design, delivery and analysis. Specifically, the purpose of this programme should allow candidates to:

• Rationalise the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) in ensuring safety of participants and integrity of data in relation to Clinical Trials
• Design clinical trials through the translation of pre-clinical data underpinned by statistics, ethics and research methodologies
• Design, author and evaluate an original clinical trials protocol
• Critically discuss the challenges of clinical trial delivery including study design, trial set up, recruitment, follow up, data collection and reporting
• Conceptualise and recommend principles of data analysis, dissemination of results and implementation of key findings
• Critically reflect on an evaluate new and emerging health treatments
• Apply specialist knowledge in pharmacology, genetics and imaging to clinical trials
• Examine leadership contributions and responsibilities of Chief Investigators, Principal Investigators and research team leaders in the multidisciplinary and multi-site management of clinical trials
• Examine and critically explore the impact of current and emerging debate around clinical trials transparency, registration and disclosure issues.

Programme structure

As an online distance learning programme, this is a part-time, flexible programme designed to allow students to be able to work full-time and study at the same time. For most students the usual route of study is:

• Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) = one year of study
• Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) = two years of study
• MSc CT (180 credits) = three years of study

The programme consists of compulsory core courses for Year 1, followed by 60 credits of elective courses in Year 2, and a dissertation in Year 3. We will ask you to make a decision on your choice of Year 2 electives by the end of Year 1.

We aim to make the programme compatible with students who are working and have other commitments, so the programme is structured so that you only take one course at a time. This means that the teaching is spread over three terms from September to June. Our courses are taught over eleven weeks, with a reading week half-way through the course.

For a breakdown of courses, please refer to the Degree Programme Table 2018-19.

For further information about the academic calendar please refer to Calendar of Academic Year.

Degree programme table 2018-19

The Degree Programme Table specifies the core and optional courses required to complete the Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and Masters (MPH) degree awards.

Year 1 consists of 60 credits of core courses.

Year 2 consists of  60 credits of elective courses. Please note that students must have met the relevant progression requirements in order to enter Year 2 as stipulated in the Taught Assessment Regulations (see section Regulations concerning progression and degree award).

Elective course options

Students may choose 60 credits of courses delivered by the MScCT programme (Group A) or from courses delivered by other programmes or Schools (Group B). The Degree Programme Table specifies that students may take a maximum of 20 credits of courses delivered by other programmes or Schools (Group B) per academic year. Please note that courses delivered by other programmes or Schools may have different approaches to teaching and assessment and the MScCT programme team do not have control over this.

Please also note that elective courses may not run every year, as they will be offered dependent on the number of students who have chosen the course.

In year 3 you will have the opportunity to further develop your scientific skills and utilise scientific theory. The dissertation year consists of three elements, Project proposal (1,500 words), Dissertation (12,500-14,000 words) and a Reflective writing piece (1,500 words).

MSc Clinical Trials Dissertation     MCLM11026   60 credits

If you intend to progress to the dissertation year, you are required to complete a dissertation project approval form. This form provides a preliminary outline of the dissertation project together with the required supporting documentation (e.g. ethical approval form) and is an assessed activity that contributes towards the final dissertation mark. Details of submission procedures and preparation guidelines for the dissertation will be provided prior to commencement of your third year of study.

Students proceeding to the MSc part of the programme start their projects following the Examination Board for the taught element of the programme.

Please note that in order to progress to Year 3 students must have met the progression requirements as stipulated in the Taught Assessment Regulations (see section 4.6 Regulations concerning progression and degree award).

About the dissertation

The dissertation consists of a dissertation project, including a reflective element, worth 60 credits which starts in September and finishes in August.

The dissertation project gives students a chance to undertake an extended piece of scholarship. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to engage critically and analytically with literature in the field, building upon relevant concepts and theory covered in the taught element of the degree.

The subject will be determined on the basis of the student’s own interests, the expertise of staff, its relevance to a clinical trials context and what is feasible in terms of the literature and the time available.

More information on the dissertation will be available in the dissertation workbooks, which students will receive at the end of the second year of study. If students have any questions before then, they are encouraged to bring them up in their discussions with the Programme Directors or their Personal Tutor. 

Calendar of the academic year

The courses are delivered over three terms, from September to June. Each term has two teaching blocks of five weeks each. There is at least a one week revision break between each teaching block.

Key dates

Courses worth 10 credits are taught over one teaching block (5 weeks). Courses worth 20 credits are taught over two teaching ‘blocks’ (10 weeks), with a reading week half-way through the course.

It is the student’s responsibility to check each course planner for the relevant assessment deadlines.

Feedback on formative assignments is provided throughout the course. Feedback on summative assignments and provisional grades are released no later than three weeks after the last submission of a particular assignment. For further information see section Assessment and Feedback.

Boards of Examiners are held in August/September each year. Boards of Examiners are responsible for moderating and adjudicating final course marks and for making final decisions regarding progression and degree awards. For further information see the section Boards of Examiners and External Examiners.

Graduation ceremonies are held in November each year. For further information see the section Graduations and degree certificates.

Contacts and student support

Programme team

The Programme Directors, Professor Stuart Ralston and Programme Lead, Michelle Evans are responsible for the smooth running of the programme, including responsibility for the admissions to the programme, the coordination of teaching inputs, assessments, programme evaluation and curriculum development. 

The Programme Directors and your Personal Tutor are there to facilitate your orientation and smooth progression through the degree, from initial induction to subsequent course choice, and the transition into the dissertation stage and successful completion of the degree.

Michelle Evans is also available as a first line of pastoral support. An academic member of staff is designated as the Personal Tutor for each student at the start of the programme. In Year 3, a supervisor suitable for your chosen dissertation topic will be allocated.

It is your responsibility to inform a member of the programme team or your Personal Tutor immediately of any problems that are interfering with your coursework or progress through the programme, including any religious, health or personal circumstances that might affect your participation in any aspect of the programme. Please refer to sections Interruptions, Extensions and Special Circumstances and Support Services and Welfare for further details.

Your Programme Director is Professor Stuart Ralston MD, FRCP, FMedSci, FRSE

Arthritis Research UK Professor of Rheumatology
Molecular Medicine Centre
Western General Hospital
Edinburgh, EH4 2XU
UK

Prof Ralston can be reached by contacting mscct@ed.ac.uk

Your Programme Lead is Michelle Evans MSc, BSc (Hons) FHEA

Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
Teviot Medical School
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
UK 

Telephone:  +44 (0) 131 651 5440
Email address: michelle.evans@ed.ac.uk

Contact Michelle if you have queries of a more personal nature, such as medical certificates, interruptions to study, or finance issues, special circumstances or the student-staff liaison committee. Michelle is also available as the first line in pastoral support.

Your Programme Co-ordinator is Elspeth Currie

Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
Teviot Medical School
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
UK

Telephone:  +44 (0) 131 650 9242

Email address: mscct@ed.ac.uk 

Contact Elspeth if you have any difficulties with the registration process, your student card etc. Also, ensure Elspeth and MyEd have your correct and current contact details.

Your eLearning Coordinator is Chris Sheridan BA (Hons), MSc, FHEA

Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
Teviot Medical School
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
UK

Email address: chris.sheridan@ed.ac.uk

Contact Chris if you have problems that you feel cannot be raised in the online communication area in MOODLE, where there is a dedicated Problems forum for all questions relating to the teaching materials, assignments, online tools, submission procedures etc. The online Problems forum is closely monitored by the course teaching team.

Personal Tutors

All taught students at the University of Edinburgh are assigned a Personal Tutor (PT). Your Personal Tutor is a member of academic staff from your matriculated Deanery, who is allocated to you at the beginning of the academic year. Their role is to:

• assist students in regularly reviewing their academic progress and performance
• encourage students to reflect on their learning, both within and beyond the formal curriculum, and how it contributes to their future development and career
• help students to feel part of a community of learners
• provide pastoral support for their tutees consistent with the limits in section 4 of the Academic and Pastoral Support Policy and referring students to other staff in the School and support services as appropriate.

Your Personal Tutor is available if you have any concerns or problems that might affect your studies, for example when there are special circumstances affecting your studies. They can also advise on academic matters such as course choices in your degree programme.

Information on the roles and responsibilities of Personal Tutors and others involved in Personal Tutor System, including your role as a tutee, is available here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/staff/supporting-students/roles

Deanery Personal Tutoring Statement:

https://www.edweb.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/mgphs_personaltutoringstatement_2018-19.pdf

Further information and resources (including FAQs) can be found at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/learning-teaching/staff/academic-pastoral/faqs

If you have a problem which you would like to discuss with someone other than your Personal Tutor or Programme Lead or Director you can contact the Senior Tutor for the Deanery. The Senior Tutor for the Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences is Professor Sarah Wild (contact details below):

Deanery Senior Tutor
Prof Sarah Wild

Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Email: Sarah.Wild@ed.ac.uk

Other contacts

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Graduate School: College Hub
The University of Edinburgh
The Chancellor’s Building
49 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh   EH16 4SB

Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:00
Email: mvmpg@ed.ac.uk
Website: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine

Deanery Director of Postgraduate Taught (PGT)

Prof Sarah Wild
Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Email: Sarah.Wild@ed.ac.uk 

For contacts regarding support services, such as advice on fees, IT, library services, etc. see section Useful information and services available to students.

Assessment and feedback

The course assessments are based on assignments, activities or course participation. Instructions for each assessment and the assessment criteria will be available in the course handbook at the start of each course. If you think you will be unable to meet an assessment deadline it is your responsibility to contact the Course Organiser as soon as possible.

Progress to Year 2 (Diploma level) and to Year 3 (Master’s level), is conditional on a good performance in the course assessments at the first attempt in Years 1 and 2 (see section Regulations concerning progression and degree award). Please note that reassessments are not possible for postgraduate courses. The Taught Assessment Regulations set minimum requirements and standards for students and staff, expressing in practical form the academic goals and policies of the University. 

Common post graduate marking scheme

The University’s common postgraduate marking scheme below is used for degree assessment. Check the links for more information:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/policies-regulations/regulations

http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/exams/regulations/common-marking-scheme

https://www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/exams/regulations/common-marking-scheme

The MScCT programme uses the SOLO* criteria as follows:

*SOLO: Structure Of the Observed Learning Outcome - a taxonomy developed by John Biggs in 1982

http://www.johnbiggs.com.au/academic/solo-taxonomy/

Students must comply with any assessment requirements specific to their degree programme and the University’s taught assessment regulations for the current academic session.

Types of assessment and criteria

Assessment during the first two years will be based on coursework. Each course will have at least one formative assessment, and one or more summative assignments.

• Formative assessments: these include assessed discussion contributions, blogs, journals, group presentations, etc. You will receive formative feedback on these which will help you prepare your summative assessment(s).
• Summative assessments: these include longer assignments, e.g. essays, reports, or groupwork tasks to be submitted at the end of the course.

Each course will have different methods of assessment and assessment criteria, and the weight of each assessment will vary from course to course. Examples of types of assessment include written reviews of literature/critiques of scientific articles, continual assessment, problem solving and statistical analyses in scientific methodology, report writing, designing a poster, submission of a dissertation. Information on the various methods of assessment will be provided in individual course handbooks.

Online activities and etiquette 

Online activities refer to work that is a direct interaction with the course materials, for example through the discussion board or a personal blog. The types of activities assessment will vary between courses. Online activities can sometimes be formative assessments, as the course tutors will provide feedback on your discussion contributions or other activities throughout the course.

Discussion board contributions

We are often asked exactly what is expected from a contribution to the discussion board.

We are looking for contributions which:

• demonstrate critical thinking in answering questions and issues raised by your colleagues and course tutors
• raise new issues and questions to stimulate thinking and generate relevant discussion
• bring new material to the debate (including appropriate referencing)
• demonstrate an ability to engage positively and constructively with your colleagues whilst debating difficult and sometimes controversial issues
• show frequent and regular engagement with the course topics and discussions
• are expressed with tact and respect towards your colleagues and course tutors

Although we accept that not all of you will be familiar with the conventions of online discussion forums, please try to develop existing threads and respond to existing posts by students if you are developing the same topic, and only start a new thread if you are starting a new discussion topic. In this way, our discussions are easier for everyone to follow and generate genuine debate and, hopefully, lively exchanges.

It is important that we all adhere to recognised guidelines for engaging in online debates. We will not tolerate inappropriate language and personal insults, and abusive remarks have absolutely no place in this programme. Although we encourage you to engage in general chat - an opportunity to get to know your colleagues and those working in similar disciplines but in often widely differing circumstance - please remember that not everyone has the same sense of humour and a remark which might be acceptable in your own setting may not necessarily be so elsewhere. On the other hand, we also ask everyone to be tolerant of what others might say - sometimes it is possible to take offence where no offence was intended and we need to use these experiences to enhance our learning across what is a truly global community.

The common room, or general chat, discussion forums are provided as a means for you to relax in the company of your study colleagues - nothing in these forums is graded, so use these areas as you wish!

Assignments

The format of assignments will vary by course and full details will be issued in advance in the individual course planners.

Although the assessment criteria will often vary between assignments, there are three core criteria which are important for all your work at postgraduate level:

• Constructing academic discourse: Is the assignment produced with careful attention to the quality of the writing and the skilful expression of ideas?
• Knowledge and understanding of concepts:  Does the assignment show critical thinking and a critical engagement with the concepts and/or theories introduced in the course?
• Knowledge and use of the literature: Have the relevant key references been used? Have other relevant sources been drawn on and coherently integrated into the analysis?

With each assignment you will be provided with instructions detailing what is expected from you and what the assessment criteria are.

Graduate attributes, personal and professional skills

Within the work to be undertaken this programme will provide course participants with the opportunity to develop or further develop key graduate attributes:

• In-depth knowledge of specialist discipline
• Develop new understanding by exercising critical judgement and challenging knowledge
• Be a self-directed and curious learner
• Solve problems effectively taking ethical, professional and environmental issues into account
• Use information responsibly in a range of contexts
• Engage in reflective practice and self-development
• Collaborate with others, capitalising on their different thinking, experience and skills
• Communicate (written, oral, online) effectively, respectful of social and cultural diversity
• Application of numeracy
• Application of IT

Assessment feedback

Each summative assignment will be graded and commented on by the teaching staff. The main component of assessment (i.e. the assignment that carries most weight) for each course is double-marked and marks are moderated by two members of staff. Feedback on formative assignments, such as discussion contributions, is provided throughout the course. 

Feedback and provisional grades are released no later than three weeks after the last submission of a particular assignment (e.g. if one student is granted an extension of one week, this means that provisional marks will be returned to all students within three weeks of this student’s deadline, or within four weeks of the original deadline). Make sure you read the feedback carefully and you use this to reflect on how you can improve your work for future courses.  If after reading the feedback, you have questions, please discuss these with the Course Organiser if they are course-specific questions, or with your Personal Tutor if they are more general questions.

Once the provisional grades are ratified by the Board of Examiners in August/September, the final grades will be available on EUCLID.

Submitting your assignments

All written assignments are submitted anonymously. We use Turnitin to check your work for originality (ie to confirm that the work you submitted is your own and not substantially copied from elsewhere. (For more information about Turnitin, see the section 4.12 Academic misconduct and policy on plagiarism). It is important that your name does not appear anywhere on your written assignment – instead, you should use your exam number, which will be something like B012345, for the title of your assignment submission, and also include it on the first page of your assignment. Your exam number is available on your student record on EUCLID and is also printed on your University of Edinburgh Student Card. If you do not know your exam number, please contact the Programme Administrator at mscct@ed,ac,uk. Note that your exam number is different from your student number which takes the form s123456.

Most written assignments will give you a word limit and you will be asked to write the word limit on your assignment. Written assignments that exceed the word limit by 50 words or more will be penalised, at a rate of 1% point per 50 words, up to a total of 10% points (interpreted as above). For example, a written assignment that is 50 – 99 words over the limit will be penalised by 1%, one that is 100 – 149 words over the limit will be penalised by 2%, etc.

Named essays, essays without exam numbers and essays which do not include a word count will not be marked and will be treated as late (therefore incurring penalties) until this is corrected.

Submission dates and late assignment submissions

Unless there are acceptable special circumstances or you have agreed an extension to the assessment deadline with the Course Organiser, assignments that are submitted late will be subject to a penalty of 5 points a day, up to seven calendar days (i.e. a reduction of the initial mark by 5 points for each day past the deadline). Assignments that are more than seven days late will be marked zero. 

If you are suffering from ill health or there are other circumstances beyond your control which affect your ability to submit your assignment on time, it is extremely important that you contact your Course Organiser to request a deadline extension or to request special circumstances, and that a deadline or alternative arrangement is agreed before the assignment submission deadline. Once you have agreed an extension it is the student’s responsibility to complete the extension webform in order to ensure the Course Organiser and Programme Administrator have a record of the extension request. 

The following regulation applies:

Taught Assessment Regulation 28 Late submission of coursework

Students need to submit assessed coursework (including research projects and dissertations) by the published deadline.  Where the student provides a good reason for late submission, Schools will consider accepting late submission of up to seven calendar days without exacting a penalty.

If work is submitted late we would advise that you follow the application guidance for the relevant academic year under Regulation 28 Taught Assessment Regulations at: https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/tar18-19.pdf

Regulations concerning progression and degree award

Progression refers to the transition from Year 1 to Year 2, or from Year 2 to Year 3 of the programme.

Students gain the given number of credits in each academic year in order to progress to their chosen degree award. Credits required are as set out in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and incorporated into the University’s Curriculum Framework.

Students must have been assessed in and passed courses as prescribed in the Degree Programme Table in order to obtain the credits for each course. Borderline cases for passing a course, and for progression and award decisions, will be considered by the Board of Examiners. The following regulation applies:

Taught Assessment Regulation 44 Borderlines

Boards of Examiners must consider students whose marks are borderline for passing a course, and for progression, award or classification purposes. Undergraduate Progression Boards and postgraduate Board of Examiners making progression decisions must consider students whose marks are borderline for progression purposes. Borderline marks are defined as marks from two percentage points below the class or grade boundary up to the boundary itself, e.g. 58.00% to 59.99% for an undergraduate 2.1 classification or 38.00% to 39.99% for a pass. Boards of Examiners and Progression Boards must use the University borderline definition and must not set and use a different definition.

Progression to year 3

Students must meet the assessment and progression requirements for the first 120 credits of the programme at the first attempt before progression to the dissertation in Year 3. 
In order to progress to the masters in Year 3 students must: 
(a) pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses which make up these credits; and 
(b) attain an average of at least 50% for the 120 credits of study examined at the point of decision for progression; and 
(c) satisfy any other specific requirements for the masters degree programme, that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks. 
When all the marks for the taught components of the programme (120 credits) are available, if the student has achieved PASS marks (at Masters level) in at least 80 credits and has an overall average of 40% or more over the full 120 credits, then they will be awarded credits on aggregate for the failed courses. 
The following regulation applies to those students completing a dissertation:

Taught Assessment Regulation 58 Postgraduate dissertations

Resubmissions of revised dissertations are not permitted for postgraduate masters programmes unless a student’s performance in assessment has been affected by illness, accident or circumstances beyond their control.

Degree award classifications

Students can exit with a certificate/diploma/degree award at various stages of the programme once the final marks and the progression and degree award decisions have been ratified at the Board of Examiners. The degree award regulations are specified in the following regulations:

Taught Assessment Regulation 57 Postgraduate degree, diploma and certificate award

In order to be awarded the certificate students must:

1. pass at least 40 credits with a mark of at least 40%; and
2. attain an average of at least 40% for the 60 credits of study examined for the certificate; and
3. satisfy any other specific requirements for the named certificate that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks.

In order to be awarded the diploma students must:

1. pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 40%; and
2. attain an average of at least 40% for the 120 credits of study examined for the diploma; and
3. satisfy any other specific requirements for the named diploma that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks.

In order to be awarded a masters degree students must:

1. attain an additional 60 credits, by achieving a mark of at least 50% for the dissertation or each of the taught courses making up the masters component; and
2. satisfy any other specific requirements for the masters degree programme, that are clearly stated in respective Programme Handbooks.

When all the marks for the first 120 credits or diploma are available, if the student has achieved PASS marks in at least 80 credits and has an overall average of 40% or more over the full 120.

All the regulations can be found in the Taught Assessment Regulations with guidance on the application of the regulations for the relevant year:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/policies-regulations/regulations/assessment

Please note that the Taught Assessment Regulations, and the DRPS are subject to review and therefore you should ensure that the regulations you are referring to are for the current year.  If you are unsure, please ask a member of your programme team for assistance.

Taught Assessment Regulation 59 Award of postgraduate merit

Taught postgraduate degrees may be awarded with merit. To achieve a merit, a student must be awarded at least 60% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation, if the programme has a dissertation element, and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 60%. Borderlines, for both the dissertation and course average elements, are considered for merits.

Taught Assessment Regulation 60 Award of postgraduate distinction

Taught postgraduate degrees may be awarded with distinction. To achieve a distinction, a student must be awarded at least 70% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation, if the student is completing a dissertation project, and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 70%. Borderlines, for both the dissertation and course average elements, are considered for distinctions. 

Boards of examiners and external examiners

A Board of Examiners is a body with membership approved by the relevant College whose role it is to take an overview of each student’s academic performance on a relevant course or programme based primarily on assessment results, and to make a final academic judgement on the appropriate outcome. 

Every Masters programme has a Board of Examiners to moderate and adjudicate final course marks and make final decisions regarding progression and degree awards. Board of Examiner meetings take place twice a year in August/September. Each Board of Examiners includes at least one External Examiner, who is a member of academic staff from another Higher Education institution.

The Masters in Clinical Trials has one External Examiner:

Dr Isla Mackenzie
Clinical Reader in Clinical Pharmacology and Honorary Consultant Physician
University of Dundee
Ninewells Hospital
Dundee DD1 9SY

Students should not make direct contact with External Examiners. If you have queries about the assessment process you can contact the programme team or the University’s Academic Services team at Academic.Services@ed.ac.uk

External Examiners for Taught Programmes Policy: http://www.edinburgh.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/externalexaminerstaught.pdf

Handbook for External Examiners of Taught Programmes:

http://www.edinburgh.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/externalexaminerhandbook.pdf

Further information on the role of the Board of Examiners is available at: https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/boe_handbook.pdf

Graduations and degree certificates

Although this is an online distance learning programme, all our students graduating with a degree award are invited to attend the graduation ceremony in person.

The graduation ceremonies are in November each year and are held in the McEwan Hall, Edinburgh. Students attending the ceremony in person will need to register. Please also let the programme team know as soon as you know you are planning to attend, so we can let you know of any School graduation events and we can put you in touch with other students attending the graduation. If you need to request a UK visa in order to attend the graduation, please also contact the programme team. 

Attendance at the graduation ceremony is optional. Students not attending the ceremony will graduate in absentia and will be sent their degree certificate in the post after all the ceremonies are completed. This will be sent to your home address as held on the student record system. If your home address needs to be updated you should do this via MyEd:

Change Student Record details

Students who live out with the UK/EU will have their degree certificate sent via DHL. Please ensure that your home address, your telephone details and your personal email address are up-to-date. 

Further information on Graduations can be found at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/graduations

Interruptions, extensions and special circumstances

If you are unable to continue with your studies as planned, please refer to the following options.

Interruptions of study

An Interruption of Study (IoS) can only be authorised by the College Postgraduate Learning and Teaching Committee and only granted for stated reasons for specified (not open-ended) periods.

Periods of interruption do not count towards a student’s total permitted period of study (i.e. they effectively “stop the clock” on the registration period). No fees are payable during any full year in which authorised interruption of study has been continuous. Students in receipt of a studentship or scholarship should note that an interruption of study may have implications in relation to receipt of funding (i.e. payments may be suspended during a period of interruption).

An Interruption of Study is applicable where a student is unable to work on his or her studies for a significant period of time due to circumstances that are largely beyond his or her own control. These circumstances can include:

• medical and health problems
• personal and family problems or bereavement
• problems experienced because of failure of university equipment or lack of access to equipment
• problems experienced because of deficiencies in the provision of supervision or facilities

• undertaking distinct time-limited specialised training or employment that would be beneficial to the student’s project or generic skills training

If there are medical problems, medical certificates will be required.

Interruptions are not appropriate where a student is able to work on his or her studies but is not progressing at the expected rate where the reasons are foreseeable or to allow a student to undertake long-term periods of paid employment.  Interruptions are not available to permit a student to take extended annual leave/holiday leave or to effectively extend the period available to a student to complete his or her studies.

There are circumstances in which it may be more appropriate to consider taking the programme on an intermittent study basis or that you apply for Special Circumstances (see the section 4.9.3 Special Circumstances).

If you are considering requesting an Interruption of Study, please contact the programme team as soon as possible with details about your circumstances and we will advise you on the available options. An application for Interruption of Study should be made in advance where possible or as soon as practicable after the problem has emerged or been discussed. A retrospective Interruption of Study cannot be applied.

The complete Degree Regulations and Programme of Study (DRPS) are available on the University website:

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/18-19/regulations/PGDRPS2018-19.pdf

DRPS Regulation 32: Interruptions of Study

A student may apply for an Interruption of Study, and it may be authorised by the College if there is a good reason for approving the interruption.  Students must provide evidence to support their applications.  Interruptions of study may not be applied retrospectively.  Any one period of authorised interruption of study will not exceed one year unless authorised by the College. The total period of authorised interruption of study is the same for full-time and part-time students and will not exceed 100% of the prescribed period of full-time study.  

Extensions of study

Reasons for an Extension of Study (EoS) might include circumstances where progress has been hampered by unforeseen difficulties with facilities or equipment or in obtaining or analysing data and hence completion of the studies has been delayed. A request for an extension cannot be based solely on the need for more time to complete.

One of the Programme Directors is expected to make the case for an Extension of Studies as soon as the need for an extension becomes apparent, and before expiry of the student’s normal maximum period of registration.

Second or further applications for an Extension of Studies for a student will be subject to greater scrutiny and a higher level of supportive documentation is required.

Masters students are required to pay an annual matriculation fee until the date of submission. For fee information, see: http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/tuition-fees/postgraduate

DRPS Regulation 33: Extensions of Study

In exceptional circumstances, a student may apply through the supervisor and school postgraduate director to the College for an extension and it may be authorised by the Head of College if there is good reason.

The complete Degree Regulations and Programme of Study (DRPS) are available on the University website:

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/18-19/regulations/PGDRPS2018-19.pdf

Special circumstances

It is a student’s responsibility to report any special circumstances to the Programme Directors or their Personal Tutor, including all relevant documentary evidence, and to submit a completed special circumstances form (contact mscct@ed.ac.uk).

Special circumstances can sometimes affect a student's performance in following a course, in producing coursework or in completing examinations. Examples of special circumstances might be:

• physical illness or injury
• depression or similar mental or emotional illness
• specific learning difficulty
• bereavement or serious illness of a person with whom the student has a close relationship
• serious financial or accommodation difficulties

If a student’s ability to perform has been affected by a special circumstance, Boards of Examiners have Special Circumstances Committees to consider individual cases.

You can find information about the Special Circumstances policy and procedure here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/students/assessment/special-circumstances/procedure

Withdrawal and exclusion

Any student may voluntarily withdraw from their programme of study at any point in the year. Students may also withdraw at the end of an academic year with a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma, depending on how many credits the student successfully has completed. If you wish to withdraw from your studies, please inform the programme team as soon as possible.

Students may be excluded from the programme for non-attendance, unsatisfactory academic progress or outstanding payment of fees.

The College follows the procedure for Withdrawal and Exclusion from Studies: http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/withdrawal_exclusion_from_study.pdf

Procedure for appeals

An appeal is a request for a decision to be reviewed in relation to: marks, progression, degree classification, degree award, decisions of Student Discipline Officers or the Student Discipline Committee, decision of Fitness to Practise Panels, and exclusion decisions.  

If you are considering lodging an appeal, it is important that you act promptly.

It is important to note that the appeal process cannot be used to challenge academic judgment, i.e. a judgment made about a matter where only the opinion of an academic expert will suffice.  A student cannot submit an appeal simply because they believe that they deserve a better mark or different outcome. There are specific and fairly narrow grounds under which an appeal may be submitted. These are set out in the relevant university Student Appeal Regulations. Further guidance and information about the appeals procedure can be found at:

http://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/students/appeals

Academic misconduct and policy on plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious disciplinary offence and even unintentional plagiarism is a disciplinary matter. The University takes plagiarism very seriously and is committed to ensuring that so far as possible it is detected and dealt with appropriately. Whilst it is perfectly normal in most academic disciplines to make use of another person’s ideas and to take factual information from books and articles, the overall structure of an argument being presented, the weighting of the significance of the different points being made, and the final conclusions reached in response to the question posed are all expected to be your personal and original work.

Examples of plagiarism include:

• buying or being allowed to copy another person’s work
• paraphrasing an argument or section of published work without proper acknowledgement of the source
• passing off as your own an entire piece of work, or significant part of a piece of work, written by another
• presenting as if they were your own sentences, paragraphs or pages from a paper, book or other published (including electronic) source
• using another person’s written work with (or without) permission

• using work previously submitted by yourself (e.g. for another course or at another university) as being an original piece of work (self-plagiarism)

You can avoid plagiarism by ensuring that ALL of the sources that you choose to use when preparing written work are adequately acknowledged and properly referenced, including any work of your own.  Please be sure to provide a full citation for all of the sources that you use when preparing any written work (including any of your own assignments submitted for other courses or any other of your own work).  The innocent misuse or citation of material without proper acknowledgement can constitute plagiarism without the presence of a deliberate intent to cheat. The University provides guidance for students on how to avoid plagiarism, which is available here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/staff/discipline/plagiarism

The following regulation applies:

Taught Assessment Regulation 30 Academic Misconduct

It is an offence for any student to make use of unfair means in any University assessment, to assist a student to make use of such unfair means, to do anything prejudicial to the good conduct of the assessment, or to impersonate another student or allow another person to impersonate them in an assessment. Any student found to have cheated or attempted to cheat in an assessment may be deemed to have failed that assessment and disciplinary action may be taken.

Further guidance can be found in the Taught Assessment Regulations for the relevant year at:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/tar18-19.pdf 

Suspected cases of academic misconduct are reported to the relevant College Academic Misconduct Officer (CAMO).

Any student who is registered with a professional body should be aware that all such organisations regard plagiarism as a serious professional concern. Any such student found to have committed plagiarism in an assessment at the University of Edinburgh may be reported to the relevant professional body.

Turnitin

The University of Edinburgh uses ‘Turnitin’ plagiarism detection software to assist in detecting possible cases of plagiarism. Turnitin UK is an online service which searches the World Wide Web and extensive databases of reference material, as well as content previously submitted by other users. Any final assignments which are in an essay format will be submitted to Turnitin and feedback will be given to students.

Once work has been submitted to the system, it becomes part of the ever-growing database of material against which subsequent submissions are checked. Turnitin makes no decisions about whether a student has plagiarised, it simply highlights sections of text which are duplicated in other sources. In most cases, the text will have been correctly cited. Where highlighted sections are relevant and appropriate cited, the marker will be able to see this.

Teaching and learning approach

As this is an online distance learning programme there is plenty of flexibility in terms of choosing when and where to study, as well as the pace at which you work. As this is a part-time programme we expect that students will not take more than the equivalent of 60 credits per year.

Expectations and study commitment

Postgraduate students are expected to be self directed and motivated. You are responsible for organising your time and making sure you meet assessment deadlines and any other requirements.

What we expect from you

It is your responsibility to access the learning environment, Moodle, a minimum of three times a week during term time; most students log in early in the week, or the previous weekend, to access the week’s core materials and then again later on in the week as time allows. There is often activity on the discussion board over the weekend as many people find this a convenient time to reflect on the task they have been asked to consider and work on during the week.

You should read each course planner at the beginning of term. You are expected to read and reflect on the readings provided and to engage in the course activities and discussions with other students, the teaching staff and experts within the specific field of study on the discussion board. The ethos of this programme is that students should contribute fully and freely during the course; this is a participant-centred, interactive form of education where learners share their knowledge, problems, and experiences with other group members while discussing specific topics. This means we expect everyone to be sensitive to the different ethnic, cultural, religious and language backgrounds of those taking the programme.

Each course is assessed by a minimum of one form of assessment. Assignments must be submitted by the stated deadline and penalties will be applied if assignments are submitted late, in accordance with the University’s regulations. If you are unable to submit the assignment by the stated deadline due to unexpected circumstances (e.g. health or personal issues), you must get in touch with the Course Organiser before the assignment deadline to request an extension or to request special circumstances (see the section Interruptions, Extensions and Special Circumstances). Your request will be considered by the Course Organiser. If it is approved it is your responsibility to complete the extension request form on Learn to ensure no late penalties are applied. Please note that extensions can only be up to one week long – if a longer extension is required students should submit a special circumstances form.

A question that we are often asked is “How much time should I spend studying?” A 20 credit course carries a notional time commitment of 200 hours over ten weeks; for a 10 credit course this is 100 hours over five weeks. This includes the time you would spend reflecting on or applying knowledge to, real life situations, and the time working on your final assignments. We normally expect students to spend between 10 and 15 hours each week participating in each course; this may be in the form of a discussion activity, recommended reading, preparation of assignments, etc. This may also include reviewing resources from the University’s Institute of Academic Development or taking part in sessions to help you develop your academic skills. Some weeks will obviously catch your interest more than others, so the time you spend is very much driven by your level of interest and engagement with the course content. Students normally devote more hours at the end of the course to work on their final assignment.

Reflecting on your feedback and incorporating what you learn from it into future assignments is the most effective way to improve your academic performance. If after reading the feedback, you have questions, please discuss these with the Course Organiser if they are course-specific questions, or with your Personal Tutor if they are more general questions.

If you find at any point that you are struggling with managing your studies, don’t struggle alone – do speak to a member of the programme team or to your Personal Tutor as soon as you can. It is perfectly understandable to have concerns about workload – please do not worry that anyone will think any less of you if you have to raise difficulties like this with the programme team.

What you can expect from us

You can expect that the teaching staff will visit the online learning environment, Moodle, regularly between the working hours of Monday to Friday and they will be on hand to answer your questions. The emphasis in the teaching approach is to promote discussion between participants therefore you can often receive an open-ended answer rather than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response when asking a specific question. Our policy is that the majority of questions will be answered or responded to on the discussion board rather than via email, as it is our experience that other students are likely to have similar questions and everyone will benefit from the response. Obviously this does not include any issues of a more personal nature – if you are having any personal or academic difficulties please contact the Course Organiser or contact your Personal Tutor.

To the best of our abilities we will keep you informed of any disruptions that may affect your studies; such as delays in the release of course materials, staff holidays, Moodle downtime and service interruptions. When you contact us you can expect a response to an email correspondence to the programme email address within 3 working days during term time.

Provisional grades and feedback will be released to you no later than three weeks after the last submission of a particular assignment. Note that any extensions granted will delay the last submission and may result in a delay to returning marks and feedback.

You can expect us to monitor your progress and present your work to the programme Board of Examiners meeting in August/September each year. Following this meeting the final marks and progression decisions will be available on your student record on EUCLID.

The programme team, teaching staff and Personal Tutors are here to support you in your learning and your academic development throughout your time on the programme. If you are facing difficulties that are affecting your studies, whether these are related to academic, health or personal matters, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the programme team for help or advice.

The virtual learning environment (VLE), Moodle

On the MScCT you will be studying in a flexible and supportive VLE hosted by the institutional online platform, Moodle.

In Moodle, courses are normally presented as a set of 4 – 6 themed topics each aligned to specific learning outcomes. After an introduction and overview, each topic is delivered with variable emphasis on: independent, self-paced activities, readings, collaborative assignments and scheduled online study sessions communicated through Moodle’s announcement tool.

Topic related tasks are linked to the use of tools such as e-portfolios, blogs and wikis. The tools used to support communication and collaboration include asynchronous (time-delayed) discussion forums and synchronous (real-time) conferencing systems which feature regularly in order to ensure that students and tutors engage in critical, academic discourse around clinical trials design, practice and management.

In Moodle your learning is supported by a rich range of study materials where a course tutor is never far away. Some of the features in Moodle include:

• Moderated themed asynchronous discussions
• Synchronous online tutorials and expert guest lectures with internationally renowned health practitioners
• Themed video lectures supplemented with text based lessons
• Links to course e-resources and e-books
• Assignment dropbox for electronic submissions
• Problems forum for questions
• Mobile learning capability (app for iPhone, iPad, Android)

Preparation and backups 

We have all had experiences of losing an important file, often something we have been working on for a long time!

It is particularly important when contemplating an online programme such as this to ensure that the computer system you will be using for the programme is reliable and has up-to-date anti-virus and computer security software. You should get into the habit of running regular scans of your system to catch any malicious software as early as possible.

You should also have set in place a number of file back-up options to ensure that, should your computer fail approaching assessment/dissertation submission deadlines, you do not lose your work.

These back-up options can include:

a.)   External hard drive
b.)   Pen drive (also known as a USB or memory stick)
c.)   CD-ROM
d.)   Cloud computing, e.g. Office 365, Google Docs (http://docs.google.com), DropBox (http://www.dropbox.com) or email
e.)   A paper printout of draft copies – if all else fails, you can type it back up from the last draft print.

The last option is not necessarily the most environmentally friendly, but it is particularly wise when preparing your dissertation. Electronic media may fail, but paper can usually be relied on to be accessible!

When using the online discussion forums on Moodle, it is a good precaution to compose your posts offline, e.g. in a Word document. The system may time out while you are working, and your work is then lost when you post.

If you have the original as a file on your computer, it is easy to copy and paste it into Moodle and this easy step removes the frustration of losing your work.

Internet connectivity

Although it is perfectly possible to take part in this programme on a dial-up Internet connection, access to broadband will improve connectivity and make it easier to access video content. In order to overcome problems with slow download times, we aim to provide larger files in a format available for download, and to provide video content as separate links that can be followed when conditions are favourable. We also provide audio transcripts for any core course materials. If your normal Internet connection is a dial-up connection, we recommend that you visit an Internet café or library regularly in order to access and download these files.

You should also be aware that some organisations (e.g. the UK’s National Health Service and certain Local Education Authorities) have rigid security settings which may mean that local firewalls can prevent access to certain external systems. If you are studying from your workplace and come up against this problem, please contact us for help but also bear in mind that the University is often not able to provide a solution in these cases, since it is a local issue. The best advice we can offer is to seek help from your local computing support staff. If necessary, you may need to make arrangements to access the course materials from somewhere else.

Student engagement

Student engagement is crucial to the quality of the University's teaching and learning. By taking opportunities to be involved with quality processes and providing feedback on their experience, students are not only influencing their own period of study but that of future students.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/quality/student-engagement   

Student surveys and feedback
Student experience feedback is essential to quality assurance.  The feedback is used to enhance the quality of current courses and degree programmes as well as the wider educational experience.  By taking the opportunity to provide feedback on your experience, you are not only influencing the period of your own studies, but that of future students and the future development of the University.

The University uses a number of methods to gather feedback from students.  These are:

• Course evaluation questionnaires (CEQs)
• Course and programme monitoring questionnaires and reviews
• Student-staff liaison committees (SSLCs)
• Surveys (e.g. PTES)

Course evaluation questionnaires
All the data we gather is used to shape future decision about the full spectrum of areas that make up the student experience.  We analyse the results from the surveys and make recommendations for change based on the findings. Some of the findings may prompt further research so we can gain more of an understanding of how students feel about particular issues.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/student-voice/student-surveys

Course and programme monitoring
All current undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses obtain annual feedback from students. This information is considered in a number of areas, including the student staff liaison committee and the Deanery Postgraduate Teaching Steering Group. These committees make annual reports to the College committee responsible for quality assurance. The College committees report in turn to Senate Quality Assurance Committee.

Annual course monitoring feedback is also used in reviews by professional, statutory and regulatory body visits or accreditation exercises.

In addition to annual course evaluation and School reviews, the University conducts internal reviews of all degree programmes at least once every six years. Some programmes may also be reviewed or accredited by external bodies. Student feedback is a vital and highly valued aspect of all such reviews. http://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/quality/monitoringandreview

Student-staff liaison committees (SSLCs)
Our students are encouraged to play an active role in ensuring their University experience is an excellent one. Staff at the University work in partnership with

the Students’ Association to ensure that students are central to governance, decision making, quality assurance and enhancement, which provides opportunities for our students to become active participants and gives our students a voice. The University and the Students’ Association support and promote the engagement of students through a variety of activities and processes including SSLCs.

SSLCs provide a formal mechanism for communication and discussion between academic and administrative staff and representatives of the student body, relating to all matters connected with the degree programmes, and the student experience. Meetings can be attended by Student Representatives, Course Organisers, Personal Tutors, Programme Directors, Administrative and Technical Staff and other relevant staff to discuss programme/course issues.

There are normally two SSLC meetings per academic year. The meetings are usually held on Collaborate (virtual classroom software, similar to Skype). All members will be informed of the date and time of the meeting, and invited to add any additional items to the agenda.

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)

The annual Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey runs from February to June and asks students in universities across the United Kingdom about their course and their learning experiences. The survey includes questions about how you chose your course, and your experience of the course and dissertation or project.  It also asks about the whole student learning experience, including:

• Learning and teaching assessment
• Organisation
• Learning resources
• Guidance and support
• Careers and skills
• Feedback and involvement in course decisions

The survey is open from February until June each year, and is completed online.  If you are eligible to complete the survey, you will receive an email with a link to the survey and will be able to complete the survey through MyEd.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/student-voice/student-surveys/postgraduate-taught-experience 

Student representative structure

Student Representation

Student Reps are the foundations of student representation. They represent the views of their fellow students directly to the staff in their Schools and are often the first point of contact between students and staff.

Student Reps ensure that academic and support staff are continually listening to and engaging with students to improve the student experience. Ultimately, class reps will improve courses for those currently involved and those who take them in the future.

By participating in student representation, class reps can help improve the delivery, content, assessment, feedback and materials for your courses, and they help build a stronger academic community within their School to improve School-wide issues. They reflect on and share their work using blog posts in their Student Rep Forum on Learn and can earn Open Badges and work towards the Edinburgh Award, and will also receive recognition for their work through recognition on the HEAR report,

Find out more about the role, available training and how class reps fit into our wider representative structures at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/classreps   

Decisions are taken by the University or government which hugely impact on your student experience and it is important that you are represented so that those decisions benefit you. University of Edinburgh students are automatically members of Edinburgh University Students’ Association and can vote – and stand - in student elections, and get involved in everything we do. Your Students’ Association campaigns to improve the Edinburgh student experience, and represents your views to the University to make sure that the student voice is heard.

Find out more about the different representative roles and how you can make your voice heard at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation

Staff members at the University of Edinburgh work closely with student representatives. Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) coordinates student representation and provides training and support for student representatives across the University. Student representatives (‘Reps’) listen to you to identify areas for improvement, suggest solutions, and ensure that your views inform strategic decisions within the University, building a stronger academic community and improving your student life. All Schools are expected to facilitate communication between student representatives and the students they represent. Schools should either share with student representatives the University student email address of the students they represent (following guidelines in the guidance: http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/guidanceschoolcommsrep.pdf) or facilitate alternative ways for representatives to contact all classmates e.g. via m-list.

Student representation: http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation/

College Postgraduate Learning and Teaching Committee

Student Representatives are invited to sit on the College Postgraduate Learning and Teaching Committee. They are able to raise concerns and issues which they may feel may be relevant to this Committee. The Committee provides liaison between postgraduate students and the structures of the College.

Complaints

The complaint procedure is designed to ensure that complaints are properly investigated and are given careful and fair consideration. If you are considering making a complaint to the University, you should first:

• Try to sort out the problem with those who are directly involved. Generally complaints are resolved more easily and effectively at an early stage and by those who have a direct influence on the situation. We call this "Frontline Resolution".
• Have a look at the information and guidance accessible via the link below which explains the complaint procedure.
• If you are a student, speak to an Adviser at the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place. These Advisers have a great deal of relevant experience and knowledge of the University procedures.

http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/support_and_advice/the_advice_place/

http://www.ed.ac.uk/university-secretary-group/complaint-handling-procedure/procedure

Dignity and respect

The University has a strong and long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promoting a positive culture which celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness. Our staff and students are our greatest assets and all members of the University community should expect to be able to excel, and to be respected and valued for their unique perspectives and contributions.

Integrity, collegiality and inclusivity are central to the University’s values. In accordance with these values the University is committed to providing an environment in which all members of the University community treat each other with dignity and respect, and where bullying, harassment and discrimination are known to be unacceptable. The Dignity and Respect Policy sets out the expectations placed on all members of the University.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/medicine-vet-medicine/staff-and-current-students/equality-diversity/dignity-respect

Code of student conduct

The Code of Student Conduct sets out expectations for student behaviour and the procedures the University uses to resolve matters when students' behaviour is unacceptable. Oversight of the University’s Code of Student Conduct is the responsibility of the Curriculum and Student Progression Committee (CSPC). CSPC makes recommendations to the University Senate, which has primary responsibility for student conduct. http://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/staff/discipline/code-discipline

Peer support

Peer Support in the context of the University means a student with more experience sharing their knowledge, skills, abilities and expertise with a new or less experienced student. Peer Support may focus around advancing your academic work, providing opportunities to socialise with other students within your School or offering additional support to ensure your wellbeing while at University.

Useful information available to students

This section contains information on the main institutional facilities, library, computing and student support services within the University. It also includes information for students with disabilities.

New student guides and induction

The Getting Started Guide is aimed at all new online distance learning students (UK, EU and international) and provides guidance on a range of necessary actions such as completing the process of registration, welcome events and technology preparation.

A copy of the Getting Started Guide is available on the University website:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/new-students/getting-started-resources/getting-started-guides/essential-getting-started-guide-2018-2019-for-onli

Information services (IS) and computing

Information Services (IS) provide useful information on all University computing services, including using the Library and accessing student email accounts.

Learning opportunities to develop your information and IT skills are available through the IS website. These materials include online self-teach learning and workbook resources for personal development, and to help you work and study more effectively.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/information-services/students/useful-info

Students can also consult useful info for Online Distance Learning (ODL) students on the IS website: www.ed.ac.uk/is/odl-students

University Information Services (IS) helpline

The IS helpline is your first point of call for enquiries about information technology (IT) such as MOODLE and its tools, email and library e-resource access. They will refer more in-depth or specialist enquiries to other support teams as appropriate.

If you have an IT enquiry, or are unsure who to direct your enquiry to, please contact the IS helpline using your University email account to ensure your enquiry is prioritised.

Tel: +44 (0) 131 651 5151
Email: IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk
Website:  http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/help-consultancy/help-services/contact/contact-helpline

University email account
When you join the University you will get a University of Edinburgh e-mail account and address which will be used for a variety of essential communications. You must access this and manage this account regularly as important information from the University will be sent to this address. It is your responsibility to check this, and failure to do so will not be an acceptable excuse or grounds for appeal.

If you already have a web-based e-mail account and think you are unlikely to check your University e-mail account, it is your responsibility to set up automatic forwarding on your University e-mail.

How do I forward my email to another account?
Login to Office 365 on the web, then select Settings (in the top right corner), and then choose ‘Mail’ under ‘Your app settings’ on the bottom of the right hand side menu.choose ‘forwarding’ from the ‘Accounts’ menu on the left hand side, and then follow the instructions on the page: http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/help-consultancy/it-help/email-and-office365/email-faqs

Full details on University Computing Regulations can be found at, http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services

Change of personal details
From your initial registration as an Edinburgh student to receipt of your final award, you can use the ‘Student Personal Details’ channel to view course and programme information and update your personal details, accessed via their MyEd. It allows you to:

• Check your registration and matriculation status
• Edit personal and contact information, including preferred first name (the name you would like to be known as)
• Emergency contact details
• View course details and results
• View personal tutor contact information
• View your final award and Higher Education Achievement report (HEAR)
• View any applications for further study at Edinburgh

The user guide for student self-service is available at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance/students/student-self-service-channel

Guidance on MyEd, University of Edinburgh's web portal: http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/my-profile

Using the Virtual Private Network (VPN) 
A Virtual Private Network is a method of securing internet communications between your computer and a VPN gateway on the University network, which will provide access to University resources normally inaccessible from outside of the University's network, such as the University’s library collection. You can also access the University resources by logging in to MyEd.

To register for the VPN go to: http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/computing/desktop-personal/vpn/vpn-service-registration

Using the Wireless Network
It might seem irrelevant to register for access to the University wireless network, but by registering for wireless access, you can use Eduroam which allows network logon and Internet access at any Eduroam-enabled site using your own username and password without the need for guest account set up. Using Eduroam may give you improved wireless access if you are near a participating institution. To find locations that have Eduroam go to: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/eduroam   

To register for the wireless network go to: http://www.ed.ac.uk/is/wireless

University library resources

Most of the journals you will use during your studies are available through the University of Edinburgh library as e-journals. As a student of the University of Edinburgh you will have direct access to these resources. A direct link to this resource is provided within each Learn course but you may also wish to bookmark the key library links below:

• University Library: http://www.ed.ac.uk/is/library
• Library catalogue (using DiscoverEd): http://discovered.ed.ac.uk/
• Subject guides to Library resources: http://www.ed.ac.uk/is/subject-guides-a-z
• Library databases: http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery/finding-resources/library-databases
• Student Request a Book (RaB) https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery/finding-resources/library-resources-plus/request-a-book
• Students can also contact the College Academic Support Librarian, Marshall Dozier (marshall.dozier@ed.ac.uk), who can help with accessing and using resources and with reference enquiries. 

When you don't have a specific reference and need to search to find papers on a given topic, then it is quicker to use literature databases. This is usually more efficient than browsing through individual journals. In the induction area, there are some videos and some short activities to help you get started using the library.

You will find, however, that for many of publications you cannot access full text before 2001. This is simply due to the rapid advancement in technology over the last years, which has made the ability to access journals online commonplace, something that would have seemed extraordinary not so long ago. We will provide you with links to all core readings through the University library. Note that as the library is a University service you will need to either be logged in to MyEd or using a virtual private network (VPN) to the University network (to set this up see the section Using the Virtual Private Network (VPN) or wireless network).

If you do experience any problems with accessing articles within a course please inform the Course Organiser. Please include in this correspondence the journal title, with the year and volume number of the issue you are trying to access. Assistance using the e-journals is provided by the University of Edinburgh library via the IS Helpline.

Support services and welfare

Health and Wellbeing
You deserve to feel your best! There are lots of factors that might affect your general wellbeing while at University – from study pressures and relationship issues to how much you exercise. Some of these will be easier to manage than others, but there are opportunities and support available that can help to minimise stress and make sure you’re feeling good emotionally, psychologically and physically.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/health-services

Things not going well?
If you’re experiencing personal difficulties that are affecting your emotional, physical or psychological wellbeing, it’s important to know that you are not alone. There are lots of people here to help you and provide the support you need. You may want to speak to a professional about what is happening or simply find out some information about how to manage certain situations.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing

https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/support-in-a-crisis

The Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy is a safe and welcoming space for people of all faiths and none. Our team covers a wide variety of beliefs, including Humanism, Daoism, Paganism and all major world religions. You don’t have to be religious or spiritual to attend events at the Chaplaincy or use our services. All are welcome. To find out more about the Chaplaincy go to their web site at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy

Information about the Chaplain and the Chaplaincy Team is at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/about/staff-and-team

telephone: +44 (0)131 650 2595
email: chaplaincy@ed.ac.uk

Student Counselling Service
We aim to support you to make the most of your student experience at the University of Edinburgh.  We do this by offering a wide range of supports including instant access self-help resources, drop-in presentation workshops, short term counselling and consultation.

You can find further information on how to access the Service and what counselling can offer at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling

Online distance learners

When you embark on further studies at a distance you are able to contact your tutors regarding all issues relating to your course. However the pressures of study on top of an already busy life can bring unexpected stresses or other personal issues arise which you may not wish to discuss with your tutor. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk in confidence to a counsellor.

Email counselling is available to you wherever you live while undertaking your studies.  Further information on the email counselling service, confidentiality and suitability: https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling/services/email-counselling

Telephone: 44 (0) 131 650 4170
Email: student.counselling@ed.ac.uk 

Student Disability Service
The Student Disability Service is a service which supports disabled students. Our main focus is providing advice and support. We support students with dyslexia, mental health issues and students on the autistic spectrum, as well as those who have physical and sensory impairments. We also work with the rest of the University to improve access in the widest sense.

If you think you are eligible for adaptations, adjustments to teaching, assessment practice, or personal assistance, it is essential that you contact the Student Disability Service as soon as possible if you have not done so already.

The Service is keen to offer support in a flexible way in order to meet the needs of all students, including distance learners. Arrangements here may be different from those you already have, so an early consultation is essential.

Student Disability Service
Telephone: 0131 650 6828
Email: disability.service@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/student-disability-service

Contact Disability Support about additional funding, disability legislation and policy, building access and additional arrangements for exams. http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/disability-support

Health and Safety
The University has a duty, so far as reasonably practicable, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees and students while at work, and the safety of all authorised visitors and members of the public entering the precincts of the University.  The University Health and Safety Policy is issued upon the authority of the University Court and contains the Health and Safety Policy statement and summary of the organisation and arrangements of health and safety within the University.  The successful implementation of the University Policy requires the support and co-operation of all employees and students – no person shall intentionally interfere with, or misuse anything provided by the University in the interest of health, safety or welfare.

The University Health and Safety Policy

The University Health and Safety Policy is supported by a Framework documents published in two parts on the Organisation and Arrangements of health and safety within the University. Individuals are required to comply with any procedure or arrangements formulated under the authority of this Policy. Any questions or problems about matters of health and safety can be taken up initially with the School Safety Advisor. Further guidance on health and safety matters, including contact details for all professional staff within the corporate Health and Safety department, can be found on the Health and Safety website at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/health-safety/

Sport and Exercise
The University of Edinburgh’s superb sport and exercise facilities are ranked among the very best in the UK. Sport & Exercise caters to a diverse range of users from occasional exercisers to international athletes and is split into four distinct units; the Pleasance sports centre, FASIC physiotherapy, Peffermill playing fields and Firbush outdoor centre.

The Pleasance complex houses two multi-purpose sports halls, catering for a diverse range of indoor sports - everything from badminton to ultimate frisbee.

More information can be found at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/sport-exercise

Study skills and personal development

The University has a number of services which offer study skills and personal development opportunities.

Institute for Academic Development (IAD)              
IAD provides a number of workshops and resources for University of Edinburgh postgraduate taught students (online distance learners and on-campus students), to help you gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for studying at postgraduate level.

On-Campus and Online Workshops
The IAD offers a range of on-campus and online workshops/events and one-to-one study skills sessions.

Examples of on-campus and online workshops are highlighted below and a comprehensive list and booking details can be found on the IAD website, MyEd or on the blog.

• Critical: reading, essay planning and writing
• Getting started with your scientific writing: who’s afraid of the big blank page
• Time management
• Project planning
• Dissertation planning and writing
• Introduction to the online library for online distance learners
• Getting started with Endnote (bibliographic tool)
• Preparing for exams
• Managing your digital footprint (online presence)

Resources
There are various resources available on the IAD website, including:

• Preparing for your studies
• Studying at postgraduate level
• Developing your English
• Literature searching
• Managing research workloads
• Writing at postgraduate level
• Assignments: planning and drafting
• Critical thinking
• Digital media
• Guides and codes

Website: www.ed.ac.uk/iad/postgraduates
Blog: http://iad4masters.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iad4masters
Email:  iad.masters@ed.ac.uk

Digital Footprint: www.ed.ac.uk/iad/digitalfootprint

Study support
Workshops, fact sheets, resources and advice for undergraduates and postgraduates to help you develop your academic and study skills, and skills development support and workshops for postgraduate students: http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/study-support/postgraduates

eProfessionalism
An eProfessionalism guide and case study are available on the digital footprint website: http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/about-us/projects/digital-footprint/resources

Other Services

Edinburgh University Students’ Association

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) is run by students, for students.  It represents students’ interests at all levels, from the university to the parliament, it supports over 200 societies, runs four fantastic unions and offers you advice on everything from accommodation to your course. More information can be found at: http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/

The Advice Place

The Advice Place is home to Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s  professional advice team offering students free, impartial and confidential information on everything and anything that our members need to know. Ask us a question on the online form (via the links below) and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

More information about the services provided to ODL students can be found on The Advice Place website: http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/adviceplace/info/distancelearners/

Contact The Advice Place:

telephone: 0131 650 9225/ 0800 206 2341 or text on 07537 402004

email: advice@eusa.ed.ac.uk ; academic.advice@eusa.ed.ac.uk

web: www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/advice

@theadviceplace on twitter and facebook

Careers and opportunities

The Careers Service provides Information and advice for taught and research postgraduate students on career options, job search and application strategies and other support from the Careers Service. http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/careers

The best starting point for this is the section of their website specifically for online students: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/careers/odl

Contact the Careers Service:
telephone: +44 (0)131 650 4670
email: careers@ed.ac.uk

http://twitter.com/uofedcareers

http://www.facebook.com/EdinburghCareersService

English language support

English Language Education (ELE)

Online distance learning (ODL) students can access a range of ELE self-study materials, fully accessible online through the University website:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/english-language-teaching/ele-courses/english-language-support-for-odl-students

On this page you can find resources to help you prepare for study and a list of useful websites.

Two key resources are:

-       a self-study, pre-sessional academic language course designed to help international ODL Masters students prepare for studying online

-       a range of ELE self-study resources to help you during your studies. These language materials include: 'Effective English Learning', ‘Grammar for Academic Writing', and 'Academic Essay Writing for Postgraduates’.

Anton Elloway is the ODL ELE contact person for students and staff.

Further information about ELE services can be found on the main ELE website:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/english-language-teaching

Email: eleinfo@ed.ac.uk

Tandem

Launched in Edinburgh in 2007, Tandem is a popular language exchange programme run by the Global team in the Students’ Association. All students are welcome! Tandem is designed to help you meet people and learn languages in a fun, relaxed, social environment without tutors, exams or lectures. Tandem can be accessed remotely online through Skype, and also includes many face-to-face events, from a weekly Language Café, to monthly speed language matching.

For more details about Tandem and other Global Students initiatives, check out www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/global

Peer Proofreading

Powered by student volunteers, the Students’ Association Peer Proofreading scheme provides free writing support for non-native English speaking students. Find out more at: www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/proofreading

Money, fees and finance

Paying Fees 2018/19

Online distance learning students have the same rights and responsibilities for payment of fees to the University as on-campus students. The payment options are:

• self-funded students can pay in full or by instalment
• external funded students – the sponsor will pay in full
• a combination of the above

NB: For intermittent study option fee payment is by course.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/finance/students/fees/online-learning

You should consider the options and methods for payment as outlined and once you have decided how to pay your fees, use the online Distance Learning Programme (DLP) mandate form to arrange payment for Distance Learning Programme fees.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/finance/students/fees/dl-mandate

Students paying by instalment must follow the same rules and timetable as for direct debit instalments: http://www.ed.ac.uk/finance/students/fees/self-funded/instalments

For UK-based students instalment payment is by direct debit only from a UK bank. Non-UK based students can also pay by instalment; online, bank-to-bank transfer or by telephone.

Note that for Data Protection reasons, staff on the programme team do not have access to your fees information. For help with fees use the Income Section contact details below.

Contact Income Section

web: http://www.ed.ac.uk/finance/students/fees/comments

telephone: 44 (0) 131 650 9214
email: feepayment@ed.ac.uk

Further guidance is provided on the University finance website at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/finance

Scholarships and student funding

Student funding information can be found here, including information for current students who have already commenced their programme of study.  http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/

Development and Alumni

The role of the Development and Alumni team is to work with the academic community to engage alumni, friends, companies and trusts in the life of the University.

We are responsible for sustaining a lifelong relationship with our worldwide alumni community of over 250,000 graduates and raising funds to support students and the University’s research and teaching activities.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/development-alumni

Edinburgh Global

The Edinburgh Global website provides a student advisory service to international students, as well as initiatives such as Go Abroad and Summer School, and Edinburgh Global.

http://global.ed.ac.uk/   

International Students

What is it like for an international student to live in Edinburgh? Immerse in the culture, join Edinburgh Buddies, visit the International Student centre.   

http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/living-in-edinburgh/international

Student administration

Student Administration are responsible for providing services to all students throughout their time at the University of Edinburgh and for supporting Colleges and Schools and other student services in delivering a high quality student experience. 

http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration

University support services A – Z

An A – Z of Student Support Services can be found here, including some of the support services already included above.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/students/student-services

Data Protection Law

Under Data Protection Law, personal data includes all recorded information about a living, identifiable individual. Students using personal data as part of their studies must comply with the responsibilities as outlined in the linked guidance. Before using personal data as part of their studies students must become familiar with the linked guidance, discuss implications with their supervisor and seek appropriate ethics approval. They must also obtain consent from the data subjects to take part in their studies.  Failure to comply with the responsibilities is an offence against University discipline, and could lead to a breach of Data Protection Law. A data protection breach can cause distress to the people the information is about, and can harm relationships with research partners, stakeholders, and funding organisations. In severe circumstances the University could be sued, fined up to £20,000,000, and experience reputational damage.

Important information and guidance:

http://www.ed.ac.uk/records-management/data-protection/data-protection-policy

https://www.ed.ac.uk/records-management/data-protection/guidance-policies/student-responsibilities

Accessible and inclusive learning policy

Under the University Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy, ‘key technical words and/or formulae shall be provided to students at least 24 hours in advance of the class’. Where there are words and terms not listed here, the Programme Team will provide these at least 24 hours prior to each tutorial taking place.