Programme handbook

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.