School of Slavonic and East European Studies
Scheme of Award for SSEES Taught Masters Programmes (excluding MRes and IMESS)
2014-15 Academic Year
MA Central and South-East European Studies;
MA Identity, Culture and Power;
MA Russian and East European Literature and Culture;
MA History;
MA Politics, Security and Integration;
MA Russian Studies.
In order to be considered for an award from UCL, students must satisfy the Board of Examiners that they
have met the academic requirements set out in the UCL Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes:
Postgraduate Students (Masters and MRes Programmes), together with any other requirements associated
with the programme as set out in the programme literature. Academic Regulations are available at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ras/acd_regs and in the event of a discrepancy, remain the official point of reference.
The MA programmes comprise 180 UCL credits which include 120 credits of taught courses and a 60 credit
dissertation. Compulsory courses and programme requirements for each programme are set out on Page 3
of this Scheme, and optional courses will be published annually in the MA Course Options Booklet.
Criteria for the Award and Classification of a Masters Degree
Reference - 2.10.6 – Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes: Postgraduate Students: (Masters and
MRes Programmes
Calculation of the Overall Average Mark
Individual courses are weighted according to their credited value and the overall average mark represents
the mean average of 180 UCL credits. Overall average marks will be rounded to obtain an integer mark as
follows:
0.4 or below will be rounded down to the nearest integer
0.5 or above will be rounded up to the nearest integer
Completion of Assessment
For the award of a Masters degree, students must have completed 180 UCL credits or the equivalent 1800
learning hours. Individual course (credits) are “complete” when a student has been declared complete on all
assessment components for that course, according to the criteria listed in 2.10.2 of the UCL Academic
Regulations for Taught Programmes: Postgraduate Students (Masters and MRes Programmes).
Where 180 UCL credits have been completed, classifications will be awarded as follows:
The award of PASS will be made when all of the following criteria are met:
- the overall average mark, based on 180 credits, is 50% or greater;
- the mark for the dissertation is 50% or greater;
- a mark of 50% or greater has been obtained in all courses.
The SSEES Board of Examiners may decide to condone ONE failed course worth 30 credits or TWO failed
courses of 15 credits in order to allow a student to obtain a PASS classification when a mark of 40-49%
has been achieved in the failed course(s).
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The award of MERIT will be made when all of the following criteria are met:
- the overall average mark, based on 180 credits, is 60% or greater;
- the mark for the dissertation is 60% or greater;
- a mark of 50% or greater has been obtained in all courses at the first attempt.
No failure marks can be condoned.
The award of DISTINCTION will be made when all of the following criteria are met:
- the overall average mark, based on 180 credits, is 70% or greater;
- the mark for the dissertation is 70% or greater;
- a mark of 50% or greater has been obtained in all courses at the first attempt.
No failure marks can be condoned.
Borderline Criteria for Classification
Reference - Appendix 47 Regulations for Board of Examiners for Taught Programmes
If the overall average mark, based on 180 credits, is 59%, an award of merit will be made where all of the
following criteria are met:
- the mark for the dissertation is 65% or greater;
- a mark of 50% or greater has been obtained in all courses at the first attempt;
- the marks for at least half of the taught credits are 60% or greater.
No failure marks can be condoned.
If the overall average mark, based on 180 credits, is 69%, an award of distinction will be made where all of
the following criteria are met:
- the mark for the dissertation is 70% or greater;
- a mark of 50% or greater has been obtained in all courses at the first attempt;
- the marks for at least half of the taught credits are 70% or greater.
No failure marks can be condoned.
Re-sit and Substitute Modules
Reference - 2.10.3 Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes: Postgraduate Students: (Masters and
MRes Programmes
Failure in any course, which is not condoned, will require a successful re-sit at the next available opportunity
before the MA degree can be awarded.
Only ONE re-sit attempt is permitted for each course. In some cases an alternative course may be used in
substitution. If a substitute course is taken, this is still regarded as a second attempt.
Marks for all re-sit attempts and substitutions will be recorded. The highest mark obtained from the first
attempt and the re-sit attempt or substitution will be used in the calculation of the overall mark.
Students who re-sit a failed course, or take an alternative course in substitution for the re-sit, will not be
eligible for the award of Merit or Distinction.
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Exit Awards
Where a student fails to meet the requirements for a Masters award, the Board of Examiners may award an
exit award.
The award of Postgraduate Diploma may be awarded to a student who has failed to complete the
dissertation, but has passed 120 taught credits [see regulation 1.10.5 for full criteria].
The award of Postgraduate Certificate may be awarded to a student who has failed to complete the full
programme, but has passed 60 taught credits [see regulation 2.10.4 for full criteria].
Compulsory courses and Programme Requirements
All MA Programmes in the School require students to take a Dissertation and the Dissertation Preparation
course (SEESGS40), neither of which can be condoned.
MA Central and South-East European Studies
Compulsory courses: At least ONE of:
Literary and Cultural Theory (30 Credits)
Historical Methods and Approaches (30 Credits)
Theories of Social and Political Research (30 Credits)
If more than one compulsory course is chosen, the student may be condoned in one these courses.
MA History
Compulsory courses:
Historical Methods and Approaches (30 Credits)
Additionally, students must register for at least 45 credits of History MA courses, which may be eligible
to be condoned.
MA Identity, Culture and Power
Compulsory courses:
Theories of Social and Political Research (30 Credits)
MA Politics, Security and Integration
Compulsory courses:
Theories of Social and Political Research (30 Credits)
MA Russian and East European Literature and Culture
Compulsory courses:
Literary and Cultural Theory (30 Credits)
MA Russian Studies
Compulsory courses: At least ONE of:
Literary and Cultural Theory (30 Credits)
Historical Methods and Approaches (30 Credits)
Theories of Social and Political Research (30 Credits)
If more than one compulsory course is chosen, the student may be condoned in one these courses.
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