Undergraduate Student Handbook 2015/16 Contents CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 1 A WORD FROM THE FACULTY TUTOR .................................................................................................... 4 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. FACULTY OF LAWS ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 TRANSFORMING BENTHAM HOUSE ...................................................................................................... 5 1.2 BIDBOROUGH HOUSE ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.3 TEACHING AND MEETING ROOMS ......................................................................................................... 6 1.4 IT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ................................................................................................................ 7 1.5 SAFETY AND SECURITY ....................................................................................................................... 7 YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT ...................................................................................... 10 2.1 KEEPING IN CONTACT ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 KEEPING YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS UP TO DATE ..................................................................................... 11 2.3 GENERAL STUDENT CONDUCT............................................................................................................ 11 SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR UCL LAWS STUDENTS ................................................................... 13 3.1 UCL STUDENT CENTRE .................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 WELFARE SERVICES ......................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 UCL UNION (UCLU) ...................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 LIBRARY FACILITIES .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.5 INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION (ISD) ............................................................................................. 17 3.6 ELSA LONDON - ENGLISH LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION........................................................................ 17 3.7 UCL STUDENT LAW SOCIETY ............................................................................................................ 18 UNDERGRADUATE LAW PROGRAMMES ...................................................................................... 19 4.1 KEY PROGRAMME DATES AND DEADLINES ............................................................................................ 19 4.2 KEY PROGRAMME CONTACTS ............................................................................................................ 20 4.2.1 The Undergraduate Office .................................................................................................... 20 4.2.2 Personal Tutor ...................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.4 Director of Undergraduate Programmes .............................................................................. 24 4.2.5 Faculty Tutor and Vice-Dean (Education) ............................................................................. 24 4.3 DEGREE PROGRAMMES OFFERED ....................................................................................................... 25 4.4 CONTENT AND STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................... 26 4.5 OPTIONAL LLB MODULES 2015/16 .................................................................................................. 28 4.6 TAKING AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL OR INTER-COLLEGIATE OPTION MODULE ............................................. 30 4.7 STUDY ABROAD YEAR ...................................................................................................................... 30 4.8 PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: QUALIFYING LAW DEGREE (QLD)............................................................. 31 4.9 TRANSFERRING DEGREE PROGRAMME ................................................................................................ 31 MODULE DELIVERY ...................................................................................................................... 33 5.1 TEACHING ..................................................................................................................................... 33 5.2 MOODLE – UCL’S VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (VLE) ................................................................... 33 5.3 ONLINE TEACHING TIMETABLE ........................................................................................................... 34 1|P a g e 6. ATTENDANCE............................................................................................................................... 35 6.1 ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................... 35 6.2 ACADEMIC INSUFFICIENCY ................................................................................................................ 36 6.3 INTERRUPTION OF STUDY.................................................................................................................. 37 6.4 WITHDRAWAL FROM STUDY.............................................................................................................. 37 7. ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK: ESSAYS......................................................................................... 38 7.1 TERMLY (FORMATIVE) ESSAYS ........................................................................................................... 38 7.1.5 7.2 8. Service standards for feedback on student work ................................................................. 39 ASSESSED (SUMMATIVE) ESSAYS ........................................................................................................ 41 7.2.1 Formatting guidelines .......................................................................................................... 41 7.2.2 Word count .......................................................................................................................... 42 7.2.3 Submission ........................................................................................................................... 43 7.2.4 Penalties for late submission of coursework ........................................................................ 44 7.2.5 Penalties for over-length of coursework ............................................................................... 44 7.2.6 Extenuating circumstances and the late submission of coursework .................................... 45 7.2.7 Essay Extensions ................................................................................................................... 46 ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK: EXAMINATIONS ........................................................................... 48 8.1 LLB EXAMINATION STRUCTURE.......................................................................................................... 48 8.2 SETTING AND MARKING ASSESSMENTS ................................................................................................ 49 8.3 EXAMINATION TIMETABLE ................................................................................................................ 51 8.4 PERMITTED MATERIALS ................................................................................................................... 52 8.5 EXAMINATION FAILS AND RE-SITS ....................................................................................................... 53 8.6 EXAMINATION RESULTS, DEGREE AWARDS AND TRANSCRIPTS................................................................... 57 8.6.1 Notification of provisional examination results .................................................................... 57 8.6.4 Degree certificates and transcripts ....................................................................................... 59 8.7 9. FEEDBACK ON EXAMINATION PERFORMANCE AND REVIEW OF MARKS ........................................................ 60 PLAGIARISM ................................................................................................................................ 61 9.1 WHAT IS PLAGIARISM? .................................................................................................................... 61 9.2 EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM ............................................................................................................... 61 9.3 PENALTIES FOR PLAGIARISM .............................................................................................................. 62 9.4 WHAT YOU CAN DO......................................................................................................................... 62 9.5 USE OF TURNITIN ........................................................................................................................... 63 10. ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS .................................................................................................... 64 10.1 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS................................................................................................ 64 10.2 EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES ........................................................................................................ 64 10.3 UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE FROM EXAMINATIONS ................................................................................... 66 10.4 WITHDRAWAL FROM EXAMINATIONS .................................................................................................. 67 10.5 UCL STUDENT COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE ............................................................................................ 68 10.6 ASSESSMENT MISCONDUCT/EXAMINATION IRREGULARITY ...................................................................... 68 10.7 ASSESSMENT MISCONDUCT/EXAMINATION IRREGULARITY CONSEQUENCES................................................ 68 10.8 UCL SUPPORT TO STUDY POLICY AND FITNESS TO STUDY PROCEDURE ...................................................... 69 2|P a g e 11. STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT .................................................................... 70 11.1 STUDENT FEEDBACK ........................................................................................................................ 70 11.2 QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS ........................................................................................................ 70 11.3 COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION .......................................................................................................... 71 11.4 INFORMAL FEEDBACK MECHANISMS.................................................................................................... 72 12. PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS..................................................................................................... 73 13. GRADUATION .......................................................................................................................... 75 14. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 75 15. CAREERS INFORMATION ......................................................................................................... 76 15.1 PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER ................................................................................................ 76 15.2 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES........................................................................................................... 77 15.3 WRITING SKILLS AT UCL LAWS .......................................................................................................... 78 15.4 UCL LAWS CAREERS PROGRAMME .................................................................................................... 79 APPENDIX I: ASSESSMENT MARKING GUIDELINES ............................................................................... 80 APPENDIX II: LLB PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSMENT .................................................................................... 84 APPENDIX III: ACADEMIC PROGRESSION CHART .................................................................................. 90 Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this handbook is correct at the time of going to print (September 2015). However, the Faculty reserves the right to make amendments to the information contained in this Handbook as a result of unforeseen events or circumstances beyond the Faculty’s control or if deemed reasonably necessary by UCL. In the event that amendments are made, the Faculty shall take reasonable steps to notify students as soon as possible. 3|P a g e A word from the Faculty Tutor We are pleased to welcome both new and returning students to the Faculty and hope you enjoy your studies and your time at UCL Laws. The aim of this handbook is to give you, together with the UCL Student Handbook (www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students) which should also be read, most of the general information you will need to complete your studies with us. Please take the time to read it thoroughly at the beginning of each year and keep it safe so you can refer to it as you go through your studies. An electronic copy of this handbook can also be found on the Laws Student Intranet at: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml For those of you arriving at the Faculty for the first time we hope this book helps to ease you into your new life as a first-year undergraduate student in UCL Laws. Both new and returning students will find in this handbook valuable information relating to a wide range of topics from programme structure, academic regulations and examinations, to termly essays, plagiarism and what to do in the case of illness or financial or other difficulty. If you still have any questions after this reading, please do not hesitate to seek clarification from your Personal Tutor. Throughout your time with us, please remember that the Faculty operates best as a community, in which all members treat one another with respect. For this purpose, guidance is also given here as to general student conduct. I hope you will enjoy your studies and benefit from your time at UCL Laws; I offer you all my best wishes. Olga Thomas Faculty Tutor 4|P a g e 1. Faculty of Laws Since 1826, the Faculty of Laws at UCL has thrived on the great traditions of legal education. It is a world leading law school rated 4th in the 2015 Guardian UK Law School rankings and 11th in the world in the 2015 QS Law School world rankings. UCL Laws was rated the top law school for its research culture by the UK government’s 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and it is also rated in the highest category in the UK for higher education teaching excellence. Our world class research not only enhances the quality of our teaching and research supervision, but contributes to the solution of global challenges by shaping policy and the practice of law. Based in London's Bloomsbury district, the Faculty is next to the main UCL campus and walking distance from the heart of legal London - the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court. 1.1 Transforming Bentham House Located in the heart of Bloomsbury, Bentham House has been UCL Laws’ iconic home since 1965. Built in 1954, Bentham House was originally designed as the headquarters of the General and Municipal Workers Union and was awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2014. We need to expand. In response to an ageing building, modern methods of learning, and a growing student and faculty body, we have a critical need for more and better quality space for teaching, research and professional services, as well as improved common and social areas. In October 2014, UCL received planning approval and Listed Building Consent for an £18.5m redevelopment project from architects Levitt Bernstein to extend and enhance our historic home. Our existing building, Bentham House, will soon be re-planned to create additional space, improving accessibility and integrating all existing parts of the Faculty, while maintaining and protecting our much-loved home for the future. During the works to Bentham House, it will not be possible for the Faculty to occupy the building. From August 2015 until the project’s expected completion date in September 2017, UCL Laws will be based at alternative accommodation on the UCL Bloomsbury Campus, in nearby Bidborough House. You can find out more about this project, our alternative accommodation, and how it may affect you on our website: www.laws.ucl.ac.uk/about/#transforming-bentham-house 5|P a g e 1.2 Bidborough House During the Transforming Bentham House Project, UCL Laws will be based at alternative accommodation on the UCL Bloomsbury Campus, in nearby Bidborough House. Bidborough House is open from Monday to Friday (excluding UCL closure days), between 8.30am and 6.30pm. Your UCL ID card will be required to access Bidborough House and any secured UCL buildings; therefore you must ensure that you carry your UCL ID card with you at all times. UCL security staff are not permitted to allow you access to buildings if you have forgotten your UCL ID card. The Laws Undergraduate Office is located on the ground floor of Bidborough House in an open-plan office environment which houses all Laws professional services staff. A student reception desk is positioned on the ground floor and is open for drop-in enquiries from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00, Monday to Friday. A student social space and computer cluster room is also located on the ground floor, next to the office of the Student Law Society. Academic staff are located on the first floor of Bidborough House which cannot be accessed by students – please alternatively contact your tutor directly to arrange an appointment. 1.3 Teaching and meeting rooms Your teaching will take place in venues across the UCL Bloomsbury Campus and at other academic institutions in the area. To help you find your way around campus, a UCL campus map has been included in your induction pack, and can also be found electronically online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/maps The UCL Route Finder can also be used to determine a route and directions from a start to end point on the UCL campus: crf.casa.ucl.ac.uk The majority of small group tutorial teaching on the LLB will take place in Bidborough House in three tutorial rooms located on the ground floor and one tutorial room located on the first floor. You will need your UCL ID card to access the ground floor tutorial rooms and your tutor will meet you to provide access to the first floor tutorial room – he/she will meet you in the first floor foyer just before the class is due to start to show you into the room. Please note that if you are late, you will not be able to gain access to the first floor tutorial room and will therefore miss your class. Multiple small meeting rooms are also located on the ground floor and will be used for Personal Tutor meetings and other forms of academic and pastoral support. If you would like to meet with your Personal Tutor or a member of academic staff, please contact them directly and a meeting will be scheduled in one of the small meeting 6|P a g e rooms. Further information regarding Personal Tutor meetings and staff-student contact hours is provided in Section 4.2 Key Programme Contacts. Please be aware when accessing any of the teaching or meeting rooms in Bidborough House, or the Student Reception Desk, that you are entering a professional office environment where professional services and academic staff are working. Please enter and leave the rooms quietly with as little disruption as possible to the UCL Laws staff members who are working in the surrounding open-plan office. 1.4 IT and printing facilities There is a student computer cluster room located on the ground floor of Bidborough House. If you experience any problems with the equipment or printing facilities in the cluster room, you will find contact details for assistance on the noticeboards in the room. A map of alternative computer cluster rooms situated across the UCL campus can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/students/workrooms Pay as You Go (PAYG) printing operates in UCL computer cluster rooms. UCL students studying full-time are allocated a printing allowance of £12.00 per academic session for which they are registered. Laws students, studying full-time, have their allowance topped-up to £17.00 per academic session. Students studying on a part-time or flexible/modular basis have their printing allowances allocated at a pro-rated basis. Detailed information about printing charges, how to check and add print credit and who to contact if you experience issues with printing, can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/common/print/print-charges 1.5 Safety and security 1.5.1 First Aid First Aid points are located on the ground floor of Bidborough House as follows: Reception (Ground Floor) Research Office (Ground Floor) Faculty Operations Office (Ground Floor) Graduate Office (Ground Floor) Undergraduate Office (Ground Floor) For further information please contact Ceili Roberts, Departmental Safety Officer, by email at: ceili.roberts@ucl.ac.uk, or by telephone on: +44 (0)20 3108 8301. 7|P a g e 1.5.2 Accidents All slips, trips and falls must be reported to the Departmental Safety Officer, Ceili Roberts, or the Buildings Manager, Keith Shore, whether injury has occurred or not. It is important that we are aware of any potential hazards so appropriate action can be taken. Ceili Roberts Departmental Safety Officer Keith Shore Buildings Manager Ground Floor, Bidborough House ceili.roberts@ucl.ac.uk +44 (0)20 3108 8301 Ground Floor, Bidborough House keith.shore@ucl.ac.uk +44 (0) 20 3108 8482 1.5.3 Security You must carry your UCL ID card with you at all times. This card is needed to gain entry to Bidborough House and other secured buildings across UCL. UCL Security staff are not permitted to allow you access to buildings if you have forgotten your UCL ID card. Take care of your belongings, especially bags, jackets and laptops, around Bidborough House and across campus, as thefts of property have occurred in the past. UCL does not accept liability for any loss of personal property, so you should make your own arrangements to insure your personal property against loss, theft or damage. If you believe something has been stolen or you witness any person(s) acting suspiciously, you should report it to the security officer at the reception of Bidborough House or the building you are in. In cases of absolute necessity, dial 222, the UCL emergency number, on any internal telephone. 1.5.4 Lost property If you do lose anything in Bidborough House, you should go to reception to check whether it has been handed in. Similarly, if you find anything belonging to someone else, we ask you to please hand it in to reception. 1.5.5 Fire Regulations and Procedure In the event of a fire it is important you know what to do, wherever you are on campus. There will be a fire drill in UCL Laws and you may experience fire drills more than once in different buildings, so do prepare yourself. You can never know for certain if the alarm signals a drill or a real fire, so act as if it a real emergency every time, but without panic. Please read the fire evacuation instructions attached to the walls near fire exits. Take particular note of the following: 8|P a g e your nearest means of escape in an emergency. Do not use lifts. Use the nearest staircase following the green exit signs; the location of call points to set off the alarm. If you see signs of fire activate the alarm and vacate the building calmly and quickly; if the fire escape doors within the building are opened a security alarm will also be activated; if the fire alarm sounds, you should exit the building as quickly as possible and go to the assembly point, which is located opposite Bidborough House on the corner of Bidborough Street and Judd Street. Do not congregate near the building entrance as this is potentially dangerous as it blocks the exit for other people and could prevent the fire brigade access; do not put yourself at risk in any way but take note quickly if anyone may be missing and also if anyone of restricted mobility needs help to be taken out of the building. Report this to someone in authority (a member of staff) when you exit the building. The Fire Evacuation Marshals will be wearing luminous yellow tabards. For fire safety reasons, posters may not be placed in any area of the building except the designated noticeboards. In line with legal requirements, there is a no-smoking policy throughout the Faculty; this includes the front entrance and steps of Bidborough House. If you require further information about any aspect of health and safety within the Faculty of Laws, please contact Ceili Roberts, Departmental Safety Officer, by email at: ceili.roberts@ucl.ac.uk, or by telephone on: +44 (0) 20 3108 8310. 9|P a g e 2. Your responsibilities as a student 2.1 Keeping in contact 2.1.1 Email Your UCL email account is the primary means by which academic and professional services staff will communicate with you. Within the Faculty of Laws, this may include notifications of class cancellations or changes to venue, rescheduling of teaching, communications from your Personal Tutor and guidance from the Undergraduate Office regarding essay submission, examinations and assessment. Central teams within the UCL Student & Registry Services will also be in touch at various points during the year to ask you to undertake processes to confirm your module registration, to notify you of the examinations timetable, tuition fee payment deadlines and other activities relating to your study. It is therefore important that you regularly check your UCL email account in order to ensure you do not miss any important information relevant to your programme of study and to manage the large volume of email traffic you will receive during term time. You will receive a UCL email address and instructions about how to access your account as part of UCL’s enrolment procedures. Further information can also be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/isd 2.1.2 Undergraduate student intranet The Undergraduate Office will use the Laws Student Intranet page to publish key information and guidance materials relating to your LLB programme. This includes information applicable to your study during the current academic session, for instance, optional module selection and allocation, summer reading, provisional exam results, staff-student contact hours and Personal Tutor allocation. Guidance materials are also posted to support you throughout the duration of your studies, including the Undergraduate Student Handbook and regulations relating to examinations and assessment. At various points of the year, the Undergraduate Office will instruct students to access and download forms posted on the Student Intranet in order to submit your preferences relating to module options, special essay topics, Research Essay supervisors and to capture your personal details on formative (termly) and summative (assessed) Essay Cover Sheets. 2.1.3 LLB Careers and opportunities newsletter 10 | P a g e In order to try and reduce the number of emails you receive from the Faculty of Laws, a weekly newsletter containing details of forthcoming careers and Faculty events and of available internships and placements, will be sent to your UCL email account every Friday. The newsletter contains opportunities that may be of interest to you which are extra-curricular and do not form part of the LLB qualification you are studying for. You will automatically be registered for the LLB Careers and Student Opportunities newsletter once you have completed UCL’s enrolment procedures. 2.2 Keeping your personal details up to date 2.2.1 Portico – The UCL Student Information Service UCL has a Student Information System known as Portico. Access to Portico is available via the web portal: www.ucl.ac.uk/portico You will need your UCL user ID and password to access Portico and other UCL restricted web pages, your UCL email account and the Windows Terminal Service (WTS); these log-in details will be issued to you as part of your UCL enrolment. In Portico you can: edit your own personal data e.g. update your home and term addresses, contact numbers and other elements of your personal details; access module information including codes, credit-weighting and assessment criteria for all modules across UCL; access your personalised examination timetable; and, access your module and award results. You are responsible for updating your own personal data and contact details via Portico. 2.3 General student conduct The healthy functioning of any large community requires respect for others. You should make yourself aware of, and abide by, UCL’s Student Code of Conduct: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines/code_of_conduct 2.3.1 Misconduct The UCL Student Disciplinary Code and Procedure sets out the standard of conduct and behaviour reasonably expected of students, plus the right of UCL to suspend or exclude any student on disciplinary grounds: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c1/disciplinary-code/foreword 11 | P a g e Minor disciplinary issues will be dealt with by the Faculty Tutor and will often be resolved at Faculty level. More serious problems will be referred to the UCL’s Director of Student Support and Wellbeing. A full list of what constitutes misconduct can be found in the Disciplinary Code but please bear in mind that it includes the following: violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening or offensive behaviour or language on UCL premises or whilst engaged in a UCL activity; fraud, deceit, deception or dishonesty in relation to UCL or its staff or students; racial, sexual or other kind of harassment of any student, member of staff or other employee of UCL; damage to or defacement, caused intentionally or recklessly, or misappropriation of UCL property; computer misuse; behaviour which brings UCL into disrepute. 2.3.2 Use of Social Networks Please be reminded that it is a breach of computing regulations to use social networking sites such as Facebook to harass others, including staff and students of UCL. UCL will take disciplinary action against students who use social networking sites to harass or abuse staff or other students. Such cases have been disposed of by the Discipline Committee with the imposition of substantial fines and community service orders. In serious cases exclusion from UCL is a possibility. You are therefore urged to pay careful attention to the UCL regulations and to remember that what you may consider amusing may cause serious offence to others. 2.3.3 UCL Student Relationship Document The UCL Student Relationship Statement outlines the contractual arrangements between UCL and its students and the main sets of regulations, policies, guidelines and codes that comprise that contractual relationship. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the statement’s contents, which can be found online: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines/srs/srs 12 | P a g e 3. Services and facilities for UCL Laws students UCL offers a wide range of support services that you may find helpful throughout your time as a student at UCL, supporting both your studies and your personal welfare. 3.1 UCL Student Centre The UCL Student Centre brings together staff from a number of different departments within UCL Student and Registry Services in order to offer a more integrated approach to the delivery of services to students enrolled on programmes of study at UCL. The Student Centre exists to answer your questions and assist you in aspects of your student life not connected with the teaching and assessment of your programme of study, including for example: pre-enrolment and enrolment; payment of tuition; and, graduation ceremonies. They can also provide: statements of student status (which can also be printed directly from your Portico account); bank letters; council tax exemption certificates; replace examination candidate cards; and, authorise student travel cards. The Student Centre is located on the ground floor of the Chadwick Building on the Gower Street Campus. As you enter the main gate from Gower Street, the Chadwick Building is the large building on your right. Just past the Front Lodge Reception on your right you will see a large glass door which leads into the Chadwick Building. The Student Centre is through this door and is the first room on your right. The Student Centre is open between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Saturday and Sunday, public holidays and UCL closure days). Further details about the services offered by the Student Centre and other departments within UCL Student and Registry Services can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students 13 | P a g e 3.2 Welfare services You can find a full and up-to-date list of support services and contact details online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/support Services offered include; health and dental services; disability services; counselling services; careers support and much more. 3.2.1 Student Psychological Services Many students experience problems at university that they feel unable to deal with alone. If you have anything that is causing you to feel worried or distressed which may included, for instance, homesickness, loneliness, problems with studies or exams, relationships, your family, eating disorders, drug and alcohol problems, or sexual issues, talking to a counsellor may enable you to develop a clearer understanding of the problem and its origins, and to explore more effective ways of dealing with it. All sessions are entirely confidential. UCL Student Psychological Services, located in Room 101, 3 Taviton Street, offers individual and limited group counselling sessions to all UCL students: www.ucl.ac.uk/student-psychological-services/index_home 3.2.2 Fees and Financial Support For payment options and other information related to fees, please refer to: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/money Queries related to tuition fees can be directed to the Student Fees & Credit Control Team in person between 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday at the UCL Student Centre, Chadwick Building (Ground Floor), Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, via email: fees@ucl.ac.uk, or by phone: +44 (0)20 3108 7284. Queries relating to student funding can be directed to the Student Funding Office in person between 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday at the UCL Student Centre, Chadwick Building (Ground Floor), Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, via email: studentfunding@ucl.ac.uk, or by phone: 020 7679 0004. If you are in need of advice on financial support there are a number of sources available to you: The Student Finance section of the Directgov website has information on applying for student loans and eligibility: 14 | P a g e www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/St udentFinance/index.htm The UCL Student and Registry Services website on financial support: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/money The UCL Student Union website has advice on sources of funding and tips on budgeting: www.uclu.org/services/advice-welfare 3.2.3 Loans and Bursaries Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) The Financial Assistance Fund provides discretionary financial assistance for students to help them access and remain in higher education, particularly those students who need financial help to meet costs that cannot be met from other sources of funding. The FAF can help alleviate unexpected financial hardship and students who are considering leaving higher education because of financial problems are particularly encouraged to apply. Students should be aware, however, that the FAF is intended to act as a safety net for those in financial difficulty rather than their main source of income. For further details please refer to: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/money/bursaries/financial-assistance-fund The UCL Student Hardship Funds Student Hardship Funds are available to help students who have experienced unforeseen circumstances and are therefore in need of financial assistance towards maintenance costs to enable them to continue their studies at UCL. The maximum awards are £1000. A list of available loans and bursaries from UCL and the application procedure can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/money UCL Laws emergency loans and student hardship funds Limited loans and bursaries are available from UCL Laws. If you wish to apply for an emergency loan, please arrange to meet with the Faculty Tutor via the Undergraduate Office. Mishcon Bursaries A number of Mischon Bursaries will be awarded each academic session. The bursaries are based upon financial need and academic merit, including performance in the MidSessional Examinations, attendance and other contributions to the life of the Faculty during the first term. Individual bursaries will not normally exceed £400/annum. 15 | P a g e New undergraduate students are invited to apply for the Mishcon Bursaries in their first term of study. If successful, the bursary will be awarded for the duration of their LLB degree studies, subject to ongoing satisfactory academic performance. Students who wish to apply for the bursaries should submit applications to the Faculty Tutor via the Undergraduate Office by Friday 15 January 2016 (first Friday of Term 2). Final decisions on the award of the bursaries will be made the by the end February 2016. 3.3 UCL Union (UCLU) As a registered student at UCL you are automatically a member of UCLU. UCLU is a registered charity and aims to enhance your extra-curricular experience and help you get the most from your time at UCL by providing a range of services to support and help you develop skills and interests whilst studying, including: clubs and societies; bars, cafes and shops; sport facilities; opportunities for campaigning or volunteering; help and advice via the Rights and Advice Centre; and a wide variety of events and activities. UCLU is led by seven full-time student sabbatical officers who are elected by the student body each year to run the Union and make decisions about its strategic direction. The principle function of the Union is to represent the needs of all UCL students at university, local and national level. The officers meet with the Provost regularly and sit on UCL committees. Further information about the opportunities available to you as a student and the services offered by the UCLU can be found on their website at: uclu.org 3.4 Library facilities UCL Library The Law collection consists of approximately 50,000 volumes and is housed in the Main Library in the historic Wilkins Building on the main Gower Street campus. It has strong holdings in all main areas of English Law as well a good range of international, foreign and comparative legal materials. It is particularly strong in the areas of Public Law, Jurisprudence, Family Law, Russian and Soviet Law and Roman Law. A full range of the major legal databases are provided including Westlaw and LexisNexisButterworths, along with a large number of electronic and print journals, all of which are available via the internet to registered UCL students 24-hours a day: www.ucl.ac.uk/library 16 | P a g e Your UCL ID card doubles up as your library card, which you will need to obtain access to the library itself and also to take books out on loan. 3.5 Information Services Division (ISD) The Information Services Division (ISD) at UCL is responsible for IT systems and services across the UCL campus. Their website provides a wealth of information, guidance and online training for staff and students relating to: IT user IDs and passwords; wireless networks; UCL email accounts (Live@UCL); computer workrooms; printing, scanning and copying; available software; storing your files. Further information can be found on the ISD website: www.ucl.ac.uk/isd It is important to remember that you are required to change your IT password every four months in order to limit your account’s exposure to misuse. You will be sent an email from ISD reminding you to change your password. You must ensure that you maintain your UCL IT account after the end of term as the Faculty of Laws and central Student & Registry Services teams will continue to send you important communications over the vacation period. You will also be required to access your examination and assessment results online via the Laws Student Intranet and your Portico account. 3.6 ELSA London - English Law Students Association ELSA London was formed in February 2005. It is an intercollegiate, not-for-profit, nonpolitical Association of London Law Students. ELSA London is an inclusive association welcoming undergraduates and postgraduates, UK and international students. In particular, membership is encouraged from those who have an international outlook or those who are interested in improving the world around them by becoming active citizens. As well as gaining a further insight into legal issues within a wider international context, ELSA London organises visits to courts, Parliament and the EU institutions. Its purpose is to add value to the material studied at London law schools by enabling members to participate in and organise extracurricular activities. If you are interested in joining ELSA London, please email info@elsalondon.org; or visit the website at: www.elsalondon.org 17 | P a g e 3.7 UCL Student Law Society If this is your first year of study you will already have received your Freshers’ Booklet produced by the UCL Student Law Society. This should give you a taste for the many social activities the Society arranges throughout the year including the Christmas Ball, the End-of-Year Ball and the annual weekend retreat during the Spring Term where lectures and social activities are developed around a central theme. The Society also organises a programme of talks given throughout the year by outside speakers; Mooting, Client Interviewing and Negotiation competitions on both a Faculty and inter-varsity level; and, most importantly, it voices the students' interests and concerns via student representation on various Faculty committees. You should not hesitate to go to a committee member with any issues of concern, or suggestions of ways to improve life within the Faculty. Committee Officers of the Student Law Society for 2015-16 are as follows: Committee Role Officers in 2015/16 President: Ryan Chu Secretary: Hyerin Park Treasurer: Charlie Carman Social Secretary: Rory Buttle Careers Secretary: Jan-Alexander Greiwe Bar Careers Secretary: Matt Hastings Vocational Officer: Roshni Mehra Pro-Bono Officer: Julia Martens Senior Moots Officer: Andre Low Junior Moots Officer: Orestis Sherman Publications Officer: Firoza Dodhi Speaker Secretary: James Bowler Sports Officer: Charlie Turnbull Webmaster: Cathryn Evans Overseas Officer: Godwin Tan Final Year Student Representative: Zander Goss Second Year Student Representative: Alistair Ho First Year Student Representative: Rory Buttle For further information and contact details, please see the UCL Law Society website at: www.ucllawsociety.co.uk 18 | P a g e 4. Undergraduate Law Programmes 4.1 Key programme dates and deadlines This is a general guide and does not include the many talks, moots and other social functions which are also organised during the year. Please note that students are required under UCL regulations to be in London for the duration of each term. Term 1 (Monday 28 September – Friday 18 December 2015) September/October Registration Welcome party for all affiliates (including Law with French/German/Italian/Hispanic Law outgoing and returning students) Student Law Society Freshers’ social events Legal Method Induction Programme Staff-Student Consultative Committee / Faculty Board / Departmental meetings November 09 – 13 November: Reading Week (no teaching will take place) 16 – 17 November: Laws Careers Fair December Student Law Society Drinks Party and Christmas Ball UCL will be closed for the Christmas holiday from 5.30pm on Wednesday 23 December 2015 and will re-open on Monday 04 January 2016. Term 2 (Monday 11 January – Thursday 24 March 2016) January Intermediate Mid-Sessional exams to be held during the week commencing Monday 11 January Staff-Student Consultative Committee / Faculty Board / Department meetings February 15 – 19 February: Reading Week (no teaching will take place) 23 February: Prizewinners Ceremony March Selection of 2016-17 LLB optional modules Student Law Society end of year Ball 23 March: deadline for publication of the examinations timetable 19 | P a g e UCL will be closed for the Easter holiday from 5.30pm on Thursday 24 March and will re-open on Thursday 31 March 2016. N.B. due to Easter falling early in 2016, classes timetabled to run on Friday 25 March 2016 will be rescheduled to an earlier date prior to UCL closure for the Easter holiday. Term 3 (Monday 25 April – Friday 10 June 2016) April/May Staff-Student Consultative Committee / Faculty Board / Department meetings Wednesday 27 April, 4:00pm - submission deadline for LLB assessed essays (subject to some module variations) 28 April – 27 May: undergraduate examination period 02 & 30 May: UCL closed for public holidays June 15 June: LLB Board of Examiners Meeting (provisional exam results released to students thereafter) July/August Confirmed exam results released on Portico LLB Graduation Ceremony (date to be confirmed by UCL Graduation Ceremonies) UCL Examinations Office sends out transcripts of module marks (to finalists only) August/September 29 August: UCL closed for a public holiday 30 August – 02 September: re-sit examination period 14 September: LLB Re-sit Board of Examiners Meeting (provisional exam results released to students thereafter) 4.2 Key programme contacts 4.2.1 The Undergraduate Office The Laws Undergraduate Office in the Faculty of Laws is responsible for the delivery of a high quality administrative service and student experience from admissions through to award for the LLB. The Laws Undergraduate Office is located on the ground floor of Bidborough House and is open for drop-in enquiries between 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00, Monday to Friday (excluding Saturday and Sunday, public holidays and UCL closure days). 20 | P a g e Full-time undergraduate students should direct their queries to: Undergraduate Programme Administrators – +44 (0) 20 3108 8300 : ug-law@ucl.ac.uk Zoe Sinclair Contact details +44 (0) 20 3108 8303 : z.sinclair@ucl.ac.uk Sonia Hirji (acting) Contact details +44 (0) 20 3108 8305 : s.hirji@ucl.ac.uk The Undergraduate Programme Administrators provide administrative support to all undergraduate programmes, and advise staff and students regarding issues relating to LLB teaching and learning. This includes: First point of contact for all queries relating to undergraduate teaching and learning; Undergraduate timetabling; Attendance monitoring; Personal Tutoring; Examinations and assessment; Director of Undergraduate Programmes and Faculty Tutor appointments and referrals; Student records, withdrawals and interruptions of study; Optional module selections; Submission of termly and assessed essays; Moodle pages; Prizes & scholarships; Extenuating Circumstances Procedure for assessments; Student feedback. Students enrolled on an undergraduate programme involving study abroad, including affiliate students, should direct their queries to: International Programmes & Pathways to Law Coordinator – Kerry Newlyn Contact details +44 (0) 20 3108 8306 : k.newlyn@ucl.ac.uk 21 | P a g e The International Programmes Coordinator provides administrative and pastoral support to all undergraduate programmes involving study abroad, i.e. outgoing ‘3+1 and 2+2’ LLB students and incoming affiliate students. This includes: first point of contact for all queries relating to international programmes - both LLB students studying on Law with French/German/Hispanic Law, Law with Another Legal System and double-degrees programmes, and affiliate students in relation to the following: teaching & learning; examinations & assessment; welfare support & pastoral care; optional module selection; student feedback; administrating the Faculty’s ‘Preparation for Study Abroad’ programme; liaison with partner institutions abroad; engagement monitoring visits. Undergraduate Team Managers: Undergraduate Programme Officer – Gemma Hollands Contact details +44 (0) 20 3108 8304 : g.hollands@ucl.ac.uk The Undergraduate Programme Officer is responsible for ensuring the efficient organisation and delivery of all undergraduate operations and services. This includes: Coordinating all operations, tasks and activities relating to undergraduate teaching, learning and student support; Managing the Undergraduate Programme Administrators; Overseeing undergraduate timetabling, examinations and attendance; Start of term induction. Teaching, Learning & Quality Manager (Undergraduate) – Jennifer Austin Contact details +44 (0) 20 3108 8302 : j.austin@ucl.ac.uk The Teaching, Learning & Quality Manager is responsible for leading the Undergraduate Team, implementing administrative processes in support of each stage of the student lifecycle, and developing and implementing policies in relation to learning, teaching and quality assurance matters in line with UCL regulations. This includes: Academic and assessment regulations; Curricular development, module and programme management; 22 | P a g e Quality Assurance; Appeals and grievances; LLB Exam Board and degree awards. 4.2.2 Personal Tutor Each student is assigned an academic member of staff to be their Personal Tutor throughout the duration of their degree programme. Your Personal Tutor will be responsible for monitoring your attendance and progress, and supporting you throughout your studies by seeing you on a regular basis. They are also the member of staff you should approach to ask for a reference for a future job or programme of study. The Personal Tutoring system is taken very seriously in UCL Laws. It is your Personal Tutor to whom you should first turn when you have any problem, whether of an academic or private nature. If the tutor cannot help he or she may advise you of the welfare, counselling and financial support services available at UCL. If your case is serious and likely to lead to interruption or withdrawal from your studies, he or she will refer you to the Faculty Tutor who has overall responsibility for the welfare of undergraduate students. 4.2.3 Personal Tutor Meetings The Faculty’s Personal Tutor Protocol highlights specific points in the academic cycle when Personal Tutors should meet with their tutees. These meetings are a chance for an informal catch up with your tutor, plus an opportunity to discuss general progress and CV development. Any issues of non-attendance, non-submission of written work or poor academic performance noted on your module tutors’ end of term reports will also be discussed. Personal Tutors will see each of their tutees individually before the start of examinations to check revision plans and to identify any problems or extenuating circumstances that need to be reported to the Faculty Tutor. Tutors will also be available during the week following the release of examination results to discuss and advise on exam performance. The Undergraduate Office will make students aware of the specified meeting points at the relevant stage of the year by email and your Personal Tutor will be in touch shortly afterwards to arrange an appointment to meet with you. Attendance at these meetings is compulsory and will be monitored via the Faculty’s online Attendance System. If your Personal Tutor has not been in touch within a two week period following the email notification sent by the Undergraduate Office, please get in touch with the Undergraduate Team. If you would like to make an appointment to see your Personal Tutor at any time outside of the specified meeting points, this is possible and can be arranged by contacting your tutor via email in the first instance, or by visiting him/her during their 23 | P a g e scheduled student contact hours which are summarised for each member of staff on the Laws Student Intranet: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml. 4.2.4 Director of Undergraduate Programmes Karen Scott Contact details Ms Karen Scott can be contacted via the Laws Undergraduate Office: +44 (0) 20 3108 8300 : ug-law@ucl.ac.uk The Director of Undergraduate Programmes has overall responsibility for all aspects of academic programme management and the welfare and progression of all undergraduate students. You may be referred to the Director of Undergraduate Programmes if you are experiencing any difficulties (personal, financial, medical or academic) which are affecting your studies, in cases of disciplinary issues, academic insufficiency, or if your attendance has fallen below the minimum requirement of 70% in any of your individual modules. Please note that it is your Personal Tutor, rather than the Director of Undergraduate Programmes, who you should approach for reference requests. The Director of Undergraduate Programmes should not be contacted directly via email or drop-in visits without firstly being referred by your Personal Tutor or the Undergraduate Office. Visits are by appointment only and can be arranged by contacting the Undergraduate Office at: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk; 020 3108 8300. 4.2.5 Faculty Tutor and Vice-Dean (Education) Olga Thomas Contact details Ms Olga Thomas can be contacted via the Laws Undergraduate Office: +44 (0) 20 3108 8300 : ug-law@ucl.ac.uk The Faculty Tutor is responsible for overall strategic management and academic leadership of Laws undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes. The Faculty Tutor has overall responsibility for the academic and pastoral oversight of undergraduate students, plus the Faculty’s Personal Tutoring system. You will be referred to the Faculty Tutor by the Director of Undergraduate Programmes or your Personal Tutor if he/she has identified serious difficulties likely to lead to an interruption or withdrawal from your studies. Faculty Tutor approval must be sought and authorised for requests to change degree programme, requests to take non-law options outside of the Faculty, withdrawal from 24 | P a g e examinations and permission to be absent during term-time. Formal complaints and grievances are also directed to the Faculty Tutor in the first instance. Please note that it is your Personal Tutor, rather than the Faculty Tutor, who you should approach for reference requests. The Faculty Tutor should not be contacted directly via email or drop-in visits without firstly being referred by the Director of Undergraduate Programmes, your Personal Tutor or the Undergraduate Office. Visits are by appointment only and can be arranged by contacting the Undergraduate Office at: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk; 020 3108 8300. 4.2.5 Module Convenors and other teaching staff If you have a question about module content or specific academic matters relating to a particular module, you should approach the appropriate Module Convenor or tutor on the module who will: answer queries relating to their module(s) to assist you with your module selections; supply adequate module information, including a summary of content, a recommended reading list and the module assessment method; appreciate any difficulties you may have with a module or topic and make every attempt to help you overcome the problem(s); offer guidance on plagiarism and respond to queries relating to referencing and citation in your essays; respect the confidentiality of personal information of all students; eliminate avoidable and serious bias of a sexual, ethnic, religious or political kind from their teaching; identify and acknowledge the work of students in presentation and publication; be aware of, and not knowingly exploit, the power difference between staff and student. 4.2.6 Staff-Student Contact Hours Every full-time member of academic staff in the Faculty has weekly student contact hours during which any student can make arrangements to meet with them to discuss academic or teaching related matters. A summary of student contact hours and details of how students can get in touch with individual tutors to arrange an appointment is posted on the Laws Student Intranet: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml This summary is updated in Term 1 and Term 2 of every academic cycle. 4.3 Degree programmes offered The LLB degree programmes offered at UCL Laws are: 25 | P a g e M100 - LLB Law (three years) M101 - LLB Law with Advanced Studies (four years) M102 - LLB Law with Another Legal System (Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore) (four years) M141 - LLB Law with French Law (four years) M142 - LLB Law with German Law (four years) M144 - LLB Law with Hispanic Law (four years) M146 - LLB English & German Law and Baccalaureus Legum double-degree (four years) LLB-JD double-degree (four years) 4.4 Content and structure 4.4.1 Intermediate Year (First Year) Introduction to Law and Legal Method Induction The Introduction to Law and Legal Method Induction programme is convened by Professor Alison Diduck and provides the first taste of undergraduate legal studies which all new students will experience upon enrolling at the Faculty. This induction programme runs parallel to your four Intermediate modules during the first two weeks of term and will equip you with the skills you need to study law at university. A timetable of events for the induction programme will be enclosed in your Welcome Pack and summarised in your personal timetable online. The Legal Method Induction is not examined but attendance and participation is compulsory and recorded on each student’s record. The programme is comprised of the following: i) Four lectures (each 2-hours long): all to take place in the first week of term. ii) One tutorial (2-hours long): led by your Personal Tutor during the first week of term; iii) Library Introduction: ‘Skills in Seconds’ short online videos on how to use the library; optional library tour scheduled for the first week of term led by the Laws Librarian, Janet Horslen. iv) Library Resources Talk accessing electronic library resources: Justis, LexisNexis & Westlaw; scheduled for the first week of term. v) Laws IT Research Seminar electronic research-based exercise. Scheduled for the second week of term. Intermediate Modules All students are required to take the following 4 compulsory modules: Contract (convened by Dr Prince Saprai and Dr Lucinda Miller) 26 | P a g e Criminal Law (convened by Dr Jonathan Rogers) Property I (convened by Dr Ian Williams) Public Law (convened by Professor Rick Rawlings) Each module is assessed by a 3-hour unseen examination. Students registered on the Law with French/German/Hispanic degree programmes, plus the English & German Law double-degree, will also study European Legal Studies I in addition to the above four modules. This module is taught in the relevant language and studies the law, legal institutions and legal terminology of the country in which students will spend their third year. There is no end of year assessment for this module but attendance is compulsory, similar to all other first-year modules. Mid-Sessional Examinations All first-year students are required to take ‘Mid-Sessional’ assessments in each of their first-year modules during the first week of Term 2. The format of these assessments will either be as a mock-examination or take-home assessment. The timetable of exams will be posted on the Laws Student Intranet and communicated to all first year students by the end of Term 1 in December. Mid-Sessional assessment results are returned to students during tutorial classes in each module 2-3 weeks after the assessments have taken place. These results are recorded and referred to in references and the consideration of Mishcon Bursary applications. First-year students will meet with their Personal Tutors at the beginning of February to review their results and receive advice on how to improve their study and examination techniques in advance of the main UCL examination period in April-May. Peer Assisted Learning The Faculty offers a Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme, an innovative learning method, as part of the UCL Transition Programme. First-year students are divided into groups which have weekly hour-long sessions with students from the second year who have recently completed the same study themselves. In this more informal situation, first-year students can discuss the teaching material and learning techniques more freely. Any problems with their understanding can be addressed through teamwork and peer support. PAL encourages first-year students to take greater responsibility for their own learning whilst gaining from the knowledge and experience of second-year volunteer mentors, who in turn benefit from training in the skills of facilitation. 4.4.2 Part I (Second Year) Four modules are taken during Part I year, all of which are compulsory: Tort (convened by Professor Paul Mitchell) Property II (convened by Professor Charles Mitchell) European Union Law (convened by Dr Nicola Countouris) 27 | P a g e Jurisprudence (convened by Professor George Letsas) European Legal Studies II (convened by Dr Myriam Hunter-Henin). European Legal Studies II is taken by students enrolled on the Law with French/German/Hispanic Law degree programmes, plus the English & German Law double-degree, in place of Jurisprudence. Tort, Property II and European Law are assessed by a 3-hour unseen examination. Jurisprudence is assessed by a 2-hour unseen examination worth 50% of the overall assessment weighting for the module, plus a 5,000 word essay worth 50% of the overall assessment weighting. European Legal Studies II – French and German – is assessed by a 2-hour unseen examination worth 50% of the overall assessment weighting for the module, plus two 2,500 word essays each worth 25% of the overall assessment weighting, written in the relevant European language. European Legal Studies II – Spanish - is assessed by a 2-hour unseen examination worth 50% of the overall assessment weighting for the module, plus a 5,000 word essay worth 50% of the overall assessment weighting, written in Spanish. 4.4.3 Part II (Final year) Students select four optional modules from the list below. Please refer 2015-16 Options Booklet posted on the Laws Student Intranet for further information regarding each module: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml PART IIB (Year 4 of the Law with Advanced Studies programme) Students select three optional modules (not previously taken in Part IIA – the third year) from the list below, which are studied in addition to a 10,000 word research essay (a requirement in the fourth year of study of the LLB with Advanced Studies). You will be required to select your Part II (final year) optional modules at the end of Term 2 of your Part I (second year). Students are not permitted to change their final-year module option selections after the first day of term in the Part II year. 4.5 Optional LLB Modules 2015/16 Module Title Access to Justice and Community Engagement Commercial Law Module Convenor(s) Jacqueline Kinghan Magda Raczynska Assessment Method 100% portfolio comprised of: 2x themed journal entries, each 1,600 words (40%) 5,000 word research essay (50%) Placement presentation (10%) 3-hour unseen written examination 28 | P a g e Company Law Anna Donovan 3-hour unseen written examination Conflict of Laws Alex Mills 3-hour unseen written examination Corporate Insolvency Riz Mokal 3-hour unseen written examination Criminology Elaine Genders 3-hour unseen written examination Employment Law Nicola Countouris 3-hour unseen written examination Environmental Law Jane Holder 2-hour unseen written examination (50%) 5,000 word essay (50%) Evidence (Law of) Ian Dennis 3-hour unseen written examination Family Law Alison Diduck 3-hour unseen written examination History of English Law Ian Williams 3-hour unseen written examination Health Care Law Jonathan Montgomery 2-hour unseen written examination (50%) 5,000 word essay (50%) Human Rights in the UK Colm O’Cinneide 3-hour unseen written examination Intellectual Property Law Ilanah Fhima & Daniela Simone 3-hour unseen written examination Law and Ethics Sylvie Delacroix 2-hour unseen written examination (50%) 5,000 word essay (50%) Lawyers: Practice and Ethics Richard Moorhead 4,000 word portfolio (40%) 6,000 word essay (60%) Public International Law Roger O’Keefe 3-hour unseen written examination Research Essay Paul Mitchell 10,000 word essay Roman Law Paul Mitchell 3-hour unseen written examination Taxation (Law of) Monica Bhandari 3-hour unseen written examination Unjust Enrichment Charles Mitchell 3-hour unseen written examination 29 | P a g e 4.6 Taking an Inter-Departmental or Inter-Collegiate Option module With the permission of the Faculty Tutor you may select, in place of one of the optional modules, a complementary module offered by another UCL department or at another institution within the University of London. A module will only be deemed complementary if it is a second or final-year module, and the Faculty Tutor is satisfied that it will form an integral component of your LLB degree. Courses in the UCL Language Centre, or foreign language modules offered by other departments, are not considered to satisfy the criterion. If you would like to apply to take an outside option, you must collect and complete the relevant form (from the Undergraduate Office) on which you should note the course title and the providing department/institution. Please note: it may not prove possible to accommodate such requests for non-UCL options where the providing college propose to charge a fee. In such cases, the permission of the UCL Registrar must be secured. 4.7 Study Abroad Year Students on the English & German Law and LLB-JD double-degree programmes spend their third and fourth years studying at the relevant partner institution abroad (University of Cologne or Columbia Law School respectively). Those on the Law with French/German/Hispanic Law, and Law with Another Legal System (Australia/Hong Kong/Singapore), degree programmes spend their third year at one of our partner universities in France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore. Arrangements for the year abroad are made by the International Programmes Coordinator in the Undergraduate Team, Kerry Newlyn. Students on these four-year programmes are required to pass their study abroad year according to the conditions and requirements that are provided in the UCL Laws Study Abroad handbook (distributed to students by Kerry Newlyn during the second year of study). What happens if I fail my Study Abroad year? You must be assessed and achieve a pass mark in accordance with UCL Laws requirements in every module you take in order to pass the Study Abroad element of your degree programme. If you fail a module, you must make the necessary arrangements via the host university to re-sit the assessment wherever this is possible. As soon as your re-sit results are available, your marks must be forwarded to Kerry Newlyn, and provided you have satisfied all of UCL Laws’ requirements, you will pass the Study Abroad element of your degree programme. If you fail your re-sit examinations, this will mean that you have failed the Study Abroad element of your degree programme and your studies on the relevant degree 30 | P a g e programme - Law with French/German/Hispanic Law, or Law with Another Legal System: Australia/Hong Kong/Singapore – will usually be terminated. Transfer between one of these 4-year degree programmes to the standard 3-year LLB degree will only be considered on the basis of exceptional extenuating circumstances and will require authorisation by the Faculty Tutor. Application to the LLB/JD programme Students will be invited to submit applications to transfer to the LLB/JD programme at the start of their second-year of study. Applications should consist of a covering letter explaining reasons for wanting to transfer and a CV including a full breakdown of first-year marks. Short-listed candidates will be invited to attend an interview with a Faculty panel chaired by the Vice-Dean (International). Candidates will be expected to have achieved at least an upper secondclass performance overall during their first year. Only students currently enrolled on the 3-year LLB degree are permitted to transfer to the LLB-JD degree programme. Applicants will be told as early as possible at the start of the academic session whether they have permission to transfer to LLB/JD double-degree. Successful students will be transferred to the LLB-JD degree programme and will complete their second year of study at UCL before transferring to Columbia Law School for their third and fourth year to complete the JD degree. 4.8 Professional Recognition: Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) Students who successfully pass all modules within their LLB degree programme will be awarded a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) recognised by the professional bodies in the UK (Joint Academic Stage Board) as satisfying the academic stage of training to become a lawyer. The compulsory ‘foundation’ courses required by the professional bodies for the award of a QLD are covered during the first and second year of each LLB degree programme. The Joint Academic Stage Board have introduced a maximum six year period for completion of a QLD for students graduating after September 2011. If, due to an interruption of study or withdrawal from examinations, a student takes longer than six years to complete their LLB degree, a special application to the professional bodies for recognition of their LLB degree as a QLD will become necessary. 4.9 Transferring Degree Programme Students will not normally be permitted to transfer between LLB degree programmes (with the exception of programmes which LLB students are invited to apply to, for instance, the LLB-JD double-degree programme). Exceptional grounds will need to exist in order for a transfer of degree programme to be considered and these 31 | P a g e circumstances will need to be supported by documentary evidence, such as a medical note, and should be discussed with your Personal Tutor in the first instance. If your Personal Tutor feels it is appropriate, he or she will refer you to the Faculty Tutor who will make a final decision regarding whether or not a degree transfer can be authorised. 32 | P a g e 5. Module delivery 5.1 Teaching LLB modules are taught by a variety of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Tutorials are taught in small, participatory groups of eight students. You will have tutorials in most modules, generally held on a fortnightly basis. During tutorials, it is intended that students will come well prepared and that they, rather than the tutor, will take the leading role in the discussion. Seminars are generally held in larger groups but still involve a considerable amount of student participation, with students preparing set topics each week around which the class discussion is based. In some seminars you will be expected to work in teams and make presentations to the rest of the group. Preparatory reading, tasks and exercises for seminars and tutorials will be posted on the module’s Moodle page, alongside teaching and learning materials, and you will be expected to regularly check the page to access and download module information. Further details regarding Moodle are provided in Section 5.2 below. As well as preparation of topics for seminars and tutorials, formative (‘termly’) essays are submitted each term per module (please refer to Section 7.1 for further information regarding formative essays). Each term a written report, containing essay marks and comments on attendance and participation, will be made by each of your tutors via the Faculty’s online Attendance Monitoring System. It will be kept on your student record throughout your time in the Faculty and used as guidance by Personal Tutors when writing references. If a report in any module is unsatisfactory, your Personal Tutor may ask to see you to address the issues raised and help resolve any problems. In serious cases of non-attendance or poor performance you may be asked to see the Undergraduate Programme Director who is responsible for dealing with cases of academic insufficiency under the UCL regulatory framework. 5.2 Moodle – UCL’s virtual learning environment (VLE) It is a UCL requirement that all modules have a site on Moodle, UCL’s Virtual Learning Environment. The Moodle page will contain preparatory work, module materials, lecture hand-outs, reading lists, assessment criteria, links and other information about your module. Your module tutors will also send messages to you via the page News Forum and these will be sent to your personal UCL email account. Messages will include important announcements relating to module assessment (formative and summative), class scheduling and tutorial preparatory work. You can access Moodle using your UCL userid and password at: moodle.ucl.ac.uk 33 | P a g e The modules you are registered on will automatically appear in the ‘My Courses’ section of your home page. If one of your modules is not listed, please notify the Undergraduate Office: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk; 020 3108 8300. Help regarding how to use Moodle and troubleshooting is available online at: wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/ELearningStudentSupport/Moodle+FAQs 5.3 Online teaching timetable Every student and member of staff at UCL can access their personal teaching timetable by logging onto the UCL Online Timetable using their UCL userid and password: www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable Your personal teaching timetable will display all of the classes you are registered to attend including lectures, tutorials and seminars. It is possible to view your timetable by week, term or year. Your personal online timetable is ‘live’ meaning that any cancellations, re-scheduling or re-location of classes will immediately be updated on your timetable. Students must therefore check their personal timetable for potential changes every morning before coming into university. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding accessing your personal online timetable are included in the Welcome Packs distributed to first-year students at the start of term and are also posted on the Laws Student Intranet at: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml 34 | P a g e 6. Attendance 6.1 Attendance requirements Tutorial and seminar attendance is compulsory and is recorded and monitored per module via the Faculty’s online Attendance Monitoring System. Two consecutive tutorial or seminar absences will trigger a referral to the Undergraduate Programme Director. UCL operates a 70% attendance rule. If you are absent for more than 30% of your classes in any module then you may not be permitted to enter the examination in that module, which will result in you failing the year. Students are required under UCL Regulations to be in London for the duration of each term. You must be here to attend all classes, examinations and any other appointments from: Monday 28 September – Friday 18 December 2015 inclusive (Term 1) Monday 11 January – Thursday 24 March 2016 inclusive (Term 2) Monday 25 April - Friday 10 June 2016 (Term 3) In very exceptional cases the Faculty Tutor may give permission for a student to be absent for a short period during term time provided a request for such permission is made prior to the student’s absence and compelling reasons exist. To request permission to be absent during term time, please contact the Undergraduate Office in the first instance at: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk 6.1.1 Authorised absences from tutorials and seminars If you are unable to attend a tutorial or seminar due to illness or other reasons outside of your control, you should email the relevant tutor with a valid reason for your absence and request permission to attend an alternative tutorial. You will not be permitted to attend an alternative class without firstly seeking permission from the relevant tutor. Requests to attend the tutorial of another tutor should only be made, and will only be accepted, in very exceptional circumstances. You must firstly contact your own tutor and explain the reasons as to why you will be unable to attend his/her tutorial. If your reasons are acceptable and accepted, you will be offered the possibility of attending one of that tutor's alternative tutorials. If that is not possible, for instance in the case of clashes with other tutorials or if you are in your tutor’s last tutorial of that cycle, you must contact an alternative tutor, explain the reasons for your inability to attend your own tutorial and request to attend 35 | P a g e one of his/hers. You can use the ‘Custom’ function of the UCL Online Timetable to find all scheduled teaching for individual modules in order to find an alternative tutorial. If that is allowed and you do attend an alternative tutorial, please email your own tutor to confirm that you have done so copying in the tutor whose group you attended and the Undergraduate Office (ug-law@ucl.ac.uk). It is important that you follow the above steps or you will be marked as absent from your tutorial. 6.2 Academic Insufficiency If you fail to meet attendance requirements or to engage satisfactorily in your studies, you will be required to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Programmes. Serious cases of academic insufficiency will be dealt with by the Faculty Tutor in line with UCL policy and procedure relating to: i) Learning Agreements Learning agreements are written agreements with a student. They are intended to support students experiencing significant difficulties by agreeing a way to address problems such as, for example, attendance problems, coursework submission problems, communications problems, welfare concerns and problems with administrative requirements. The learning agreement will set out what UCL will do to support the student as well as the conditions which the student agrees to meet. ii) Barring Students whose attendance falls below the attendance requirements are ineligible for summative assessment. Students will be given a written learning agreement setting out the conditions under which the bar will be lifted. iii) Suspensions of Studies on Grounds of Academic Insufficiency Academic insufficiency occurs when a student’s overall attendance and performance, rather than that in a particular module, is deemed to be unsatisfactory, so that it is not viable for the student to continue with his or her studies for the remainder of the session. iv) Termination of Studies Faculty Tutors can also terminate the studies of students on grounds of academic insufficiency. In such cases the academic insufficiency must be deemed to be irretrievable. 36 | P a g e v) Suspension and Termination of Studies for Non -Attendance at Mandatory Faculty Interview Faculty Tutors can summon students in their faculty to mandatory faculty interviews, requiring the student either to attend the interview at a set date and time, or to make and keep an appointment by a set deadline. Full details regarding the academic insufficiency policy are available on the UCL website at: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c1/agreements/learning-agreements 6.3 Interruption of study For various reasons of a personal nature it is sometimes necessary for students to take a temporary break from their studies. Such interruptions must be approved in advance by the Faculty Tutor and UCL Student and Registry Services. An interruption of study cannot be approved retrospectively. If you are thinking about taking a temporary break from your studies you must contact the Undergraduate Office who will arrange an appointment for you to meet with the Faculty Tutor. If you are a Visa National and hold a Tier 4 (general student) visa you will be required to leave the UK for the duration of your interruption and reapply for a new visa in order to return to UCL and continue your studies. You must comply with this visa requirement to safeguard your immigration status and future entry to the UK. UCL is legally required to notify the UK Visas and Immigration Agency of any changes to a student's status. Further information and an Interruption of Study application form is available online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/services/studyinformation/interruption Please check up-to-date immigration regulations with the UK Visas and Immigration Agency. UCLU’s Rights and Advice Centre will be able to assist with this. 6.4 Withdrawal from study Withdrawal of study is for students who intend to leave UCL permanently. Once you have withdrawn from a programme you cannot return to the programme at a later date without re-applying via UCAS. The effective date of withdrawal will affect the amount of tuition fee liability, as well as eligibility for bursaries, student loans and other benefits. Withdrawals from study must be approved in advance by the Faculty Tutor. If you are contemplating withdrawing from your degree programme for whatever reason, you must contact the Undergraduate Office who will arrange an appointment for you to meet with the Faculty Tutor. Further information and Withdrawal from Study application form is available online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/services/studyinformation/interruption 37 | P a g e 7. Assessment and feedback: essays 7.1 Termly (formative) essays It is Faculty policy that all students are typically set two termly essays in each of their modules over the course of the academic year. Termly essays are ‘formative’ meaning that the marks do not count towards the final overall mark awarded for the module at the end of course. Some modules may include a ‘summative’ or assessed essay component which must be completed at the end of module in addition to the termly essays throughout the year. Marks achieved in ‘summative’ assessed essays do count towards the final module mark in line with the weighting assigned to the essay in the module’s assessment criteria. Further information regarding assessed essays is provided in Section 7.2 of this handbook. 7.1.1 What is the point of writing termly essays? These essays are designed to help you develop the skills and understanding needed for you to get a good degree. This includes the development of your research and writing skills as well as your critical and analytical abilities. They provide an opportunity for you to test your understanding of the issues; to develop your skills of structured argument; and to improve your ability to keep to word limits. The marking of termly essays enables your tutors to identify and assess your strengths and weaknesses, and give you constructive feedback that will assist you in rectifying any problem areas. 7.1.2 How important are the marks in these termly essays? The marks you receive for your essays will be included in the reports that your tutors write on your performance in the first and second terms, and therefore will be recorded on your student file. This information may be used by your personal or other tutors when writing references for you, however, these marks are only one of a number of factors that your referee will be commenting on. Your referee will also refer to your attendance record, your level of preparation for tutorials and seminars, your participation in class discussion and debate, and your involvement in other activities. 7.1.3 How much time should I devote to writing termly essays? It is not possible to specify how many hours you should spend on a single essay. This will vary from one person to another, and from one module to another, depending on how much you have already read on the particular issues in question and how well you understand them. Termly essays do matter, but it is important to keep them in perspective. They are not meant to be ends in themselves, but rather just one of the 38 | P a g e means by which you improve your skills. Your preparation for, and participation in, seminars and tutorials is equally important and constitute other such means. You will therefore need to balance your time between the two and ensure you do not neglect to prepare for classes because you are working on an essay. 7.1.4 Submission of termly essays As with assessed essays, students are expected to hand all essays in by the deadline set. If a student is not able to meet the deadline for a good reason, they must let the tutor know in advance (please note there are formal procedures and penalties relating to the late submission of assessed essays outlined in Section 7.2 of this handbook). Unless arrangements are made to submit termly essays directly to the module tutor, they should be submitted via an undergraduate essay drop-box in the ground floor of Bidborough House (individual instructions will be provided per module). 7.1.5 Service standards for feedback on student work 1. In all modes of assessment during a programme (but not including end of year unseen examinations or end of module summative ‘assessed’ essays) the student should expect feedback to occur within two weeks of the deadline for submission of each piece of work during term time and within one month during vacations (for example, in the case of essays submitted on the last day of Term 1). 2. Feedback to students on the assessed work can take the form of: a. Individual discussions of the strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement; or b. Group discussions whereby thematic areas are developed to illustrate strengths and weaknesses within the group as a whole; or c. A written feedback sheet indicating the areas in point (a), preferably within the context of specific headings such as the ones listed on the Essay and Problem Question Assessment forms; or d. A combination of the above. The type of feedback provided should be indicated on the Essay Submission Cover Sheet. Essay Cover Sheets for formative ‘termly’ essays are available to download from the Laws Student Intranet: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml. Students should download and attach an Essay Cover Sheet to the front of their essay prior to each submission of a termly essay (an alternative Essay Cover 39 | P a g e Sheet should be downloaded and attached for summative ‘assessed’ essays; also available via the Laws Student Intranet). 3. If, for whatever reason, a Module Convenor or tutor cannot ensure that the deadline will be met then he/she must indicate by direct contact with the students on the module via email/Moodle when the feedback will be provided. It would be unusual if the extra time needed would exceed one week. 4. In the context of research essays/dissertations/long essays at undergraduate level and at taught postgraduate level, supervisors will be required to provide feedback to students on the draft report on a minimum of one occasion if it is provided to the supervisor by a specified deadline. 5. In circumstances where feedback is not provided within the above timescale, students should bring the matter to the attention of the Faculty Tutor who will take action as necessary. 7.1.6 Plagiarism in formative ‘termly’ essays Please refer to Section 9 of this handbook for information relating to plagiarism in summative ‘assessed’ essays. With regard to formative ‘termly’ essays, dealing with cases of plagiarism of a minor nature (taking into account the extent of plagiarism in terms of percentage of the submitted work and whether it was done intentionally or inadvertently) is left to the discretion of the individual module tutor or Module Convenor. Plagiarism of a more serious nature will be referred to the Faculty Tutor. Depending on its seriousness, the student may be barred from examinations on the basis that they have not satisfactorily completed all the module’s requirements to be eligible to sit the assessment, or they may be asked to re-submit the essay, or have a note added to their student file that plagiarism has been committed. 40 | P a g e 7.2 Assessed (summative) essays There are a number of LLB modules which are assessed entirely by essay, or by a combination of unseen examination and essay. Students registered on these modules must submit their essay to the Undergraduate Office via a formal procedure outlined below by the deadline specified for the module, otherwise penalties will be incurred. The mark achieved in the essay counts towards the final mark awarded for the module and it will be weighted according to the assessment criteria assigned to the module. Details of LLB modules assessed by essay, and the weighting attached to the essay component if combined with unseen examination, are outlined in Sections 4.4 and 4.5 of this handbook, and can be viewed on Portico via the ‘Module Directory’ link which is visible in the left-hand menu when you log in. Any student who fails to submit an assessed essay will not have completed the assessment requirement of the module and will automatically fail. 7.2.1 Formatting guidelines Assessed essays should be formatted as follows: i) Printed on A4 size white paper, single-sided. ii) Text should be double spaced. iii) Font should be 12-point Arial. iv) Page margins should be set to 2.54cms (1 inch). v) Page numbers should be included in the footer of your essay. vi) Your examination Candidate Number should appear in the header of each page of your essay. Your Candidate Number will follow the format of four letters followed by a number, e.g. ABCD1, and can be found at the top of your personal examination timetable, or when you log into Portico. NB. Your name should not appear anywhere in the essay itself as all summative assessments are marked anonymously. The only place your name should appear is on the Essay Cover Sheet attached to the front of your essay, downloaded from the Laws Student Intranet. vii) The full essay title should appear at the top of the first page of your essay. NB. It is not necessary to repeat the essay title thereafter on every page of your essay – it only needs to appear on the first page. 41 | P a g e viii) Quotations should appear within “double” quotation marks. ix) Footnotes (where used) should be printed at the bottom of the page on which they appear. x) A bibliography of books and articles referred to throughout your work must be included at the end of the essay. xi) State the word count at the end of your essay. NB. Please use the word count function in your preferred word processing application, i.e. Microsoft Word, to determine the word count. A summary of what should and should not be included in the word count is listed below in Section 7.2.2. xii) Staple the work together securely in the top left hand corner; do not bind your essay in any other way, e.g. with a plastic binder. 7.2.2 Word count A word count for every assessed (summative) essay is specified and available for students to view in each of the following places: Sections 4.4 and 4.5 of this handbook. Essay Submission Deadlines document posted on the Laws Student Intranet. LLB Options Booklet posted on the Laws Student Intranet. Module Directory link available in Portico. UCL’s Academic Regulations do not permit you to exceed the published word limit and penalties will be imposed for essays which are submitted over the maximum stated length. Please refer to Section 7.2.5 of this handbook for details regarding the penalties. You are required to state the word count of your essay in two different places: at the end of your essay and on the Essay Cover Sheet, which you will be instructed to attach to the front of your essay. Spot checks will be conducted at random by the Undergraduate Office to check that the word count recorded on an essay is accurate and if the word count is revealed to be over the specified limit, penalties will be imposed in line with the regulations outlined in Section 7.2.5. Please use the word count function in your preferred word processing application, i.e. Microsoft Word, to determine the word count. Do not use the word count function in Turnitin to check the word count, as Turnitin does not have the capacity to exclude 42 | P a g e the sections of your essay that are not included in the final word count, for instance, the bibliography. A summary of what is included and excluded from the word count is as follows: INCLUDED in the word count: the main text of your essay footnotes the essay title which appears on the first page appendices, contents page, abstract, glossary* EXCLUDED from the word count: bibliography page numbers (if recorded in the footer of the essay) your candidate number (if recorded in the header of the essay) * the only exception to this rule is the optional module Crime and Criminal Justice (LAWS3043), for which the appendices is also excluded from the word count, in addition to the other exclusions listed above. Subject to review by individual Module Convenors. 7.2.3 Submission All assessed essays must be submitted in hardcopy to the Undergraduate Office in Bidborough House by 16:00 on the date advertised as the submission deadline for the module. An electronic version of the essay (which mirrors exactly the hardcopy version) must also be submitted to Turnitin (the plagiarism detection software) by the same deadline, and students will be required to sign a declaration to this effect on an Essay Cover Sheet attached to the front of their essay. Failure to submit either or both versions of the essay (hardcopy and electronic) will be treated as non-submission. Essays must be submitted by the candidate in person unless, in exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the Board of Examiners gives permission for submission via an alternative route, in which case an application should be made to the Undergraduate Office in advance of the submission deadline. Essay submission deadlines for all relevant modules will be posted on the Laws Student Intranet in Term 1 of the academic session: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml. Submission instructions, including details regarding how to upload essays to Turnitin, will be circulated to candidates via the relevant module Moodle page prior to the submission deadline. 43 | P a g e The computer cluster room and printers in Bidborough House may be busy in the days leading up to the submission deadline, so it is advisable to print your work early or seek alternative printing facilities around UCL: www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/services/learning-teaching/spaces/locations Please remember to back-up any essays saved on your laptop or computer to avoid losing your work in the event of theft or damage. 7.2.4 Penalties for late submission of coursework (assessed (summative) essays) Where coursework is not submitted by a published deadline, the following penalties will apply: i. A penalty of 5 percentage marks will be applied to coursework submitted the calendar day after the deadline (calendar day 1). ii. A penalty of 15 percentage marks will be applied to coursework submitted on calendar day 2 after the deadline through to calendar day 7. iii. A mark of zero will be recorded for coursework submitted on calendar day 8 after the deadline through to the end of the UCL undergraduate examination period. Nevertheless, the assessment will be considered to be complete provided the coursework contains material than can be assessed. iv. Coursework submitted after the end of the UCL undergraduate examination period will not be marked and the assessment will be incomplete, meaning that the student will automatically be required to re-sit the module. v. Where there are extenuating circumstances that have been recognised by the Board of Examiners or its representative, these penalties will not apply until the agreed extension period has been exceeded. vi. In the case of coursework that is submitted late and is also over length, the greater of the two penalties will apply. 7.2.5 Penalties for over-length of coursework (assessed (summative) essays) For submitted coursework, where a maximum length has been specified, the following procedure will apply: i. The length of coursework will be specified in terms of a word count or number of pages. ii. Assessed work should not exceed the prescribed length. 44 | P a g e iii. For work that exceeds the specified maximum length by less than10% the mark will be reduced by ten percentage marks; but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work merited a pass. iv. For work that exceeds the specified maximum length by 10% or more, a mark of zero will be recorded. v. The method of measuring the length of coursework should be specified to students in writing. For example, a word count will depend on the software application and a page count on the margins, font and point size. vi. For discipline specific practices such as bibliographies, tables, pictures and graphs, departments/divisions should specify in writing to students whether these are recorded as part of the maximum length and how this will be determined.* vii. In the case of coursework that is submitted over-length and is also late, the greater of the two penalties will apply. *Guidelines for all students enrolled on LLB modules regarding what should and should not be included in the word count are outlined in Section 7.2.2 of this handbook. 7.2.6 Extenuating circumstances and the late submission of coursework (assessed (summative) essays) The deadline for submission of assessed essays – both in hard copy to the Undergraduate Office and electronically via Turnitin – is 16:00 on the deadline specified for that module. Submission of either the hardcopy and/or electronic copy at 16:01 or later will be treated as submission 1 day late and will not be open to negotiation at the point of submission. If extenuating circumstances resulted in the essay being submitted late, the Board of Examiners should be made aware of these details via the Extenuating Circumstances procedure outlined in Section 10.2 of this handbook, i.e. an ‘Extenuating Circumstances Claim Form’ must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office, accompanied by appropriate documentary evidence, either at the time of, or as soon as possible after, the incidence of the circumstances concerned and no later than seven days after the date of the assessment affected. The Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP) will review each claim and the evidence submitted and will make a recommendation to the LLB Board of Examiners as to whether the late submission penalty should be waived in view of the extenuating circumstances, or whether the penalty should be imposed and the essay/module mark reduced. 45 | P a g e Please note that candidates are expected to factor in time for print queues/problems and public transport delays when submitting their final essays, and disruptions of this nature are therefore not normally considered to be ‘extenuating circumstances’ unless they represent an extreme case, supported by documentary evidence. 7.2.7 Essay Extensions In exceptional circumstances, students may apply to the Chair of the LLB Exam Board to be considered for an extension to the advertised essay deadline. Applications will be considered in accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances procedure which is outlined in full in Section 10.2 of this handbook and summarised below: Students with circumstances that interfere with their ability to submit their assessed essays on time are entitled to apply for an extension for the completion of their work. An ‘Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Claim Form’ must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office and accompanied by appropriate documentary evidence. Forms can be submitted in person, by email to: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk, or by post. Refer to Section 10.2.2 for further details regarding the procedure for submitting EC Claim Forms and examples of acceptable documentary evidence. Students should indicate which module(s) an extension is being requested for, and who their essay advisor(s) are. The request should include a brief statement by the student as to the impact of the circumstances on their ability to complete their work, and how the extension will enable them to complete the work. The length of the extension requested should be made clear, though students should note that the Chair is unlikely to give an extension of more than one week, given the proximity of the essay deadlines to the examination period and the undesirability of interfering with revision and exam preparation. In considering the extension request, the Chair will consider the evidence submitted, the student statement and will also seek a progress report from the student’s advisor(s) and advice from the student’s essay advisor(s) as to whether the extension is likely to be sufficient to enable the student to submit a completed piece of work. UCL regulations forbid the Faculty from offering ‘double compensation’ for circumstances that interfere with a student’s studies. Thus, if a student is granted an extension, they will not be able to rely on the extenuating circumstances procedure in relation to that piece of work. 46 | P a g e Students who are refused an extension, or who opt not to apply for an extension, may submit Extenuating Circumstances. These circumstances will be reviewed by the Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP) and a recommendation made to the LLB Board of Examiners as to whether the late submission penalty should be waived in view of the extenuating circumstances, or whether the penalty should be imposed and the essay/module mark reduced. No extensions will be granted retrospectively after the submission deadline, at which point penalties for late submission will apply, however, students can submit extenuating circumstances up to seven days following the submission deadline and these will be considered by the Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP) and LLB Board of Examiners as outlined above. 47 | P a g e 8. Assessment and feedback: examinations 8.1 LLB examination structure 8.1.1 UCL Examination Guide for Candidates This section of the handbook should be read in conjunction with the UCL Examination Guide for Candidates: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/exams_and_awards/regulations/candidate_guide.pdf The 2015-16 UCL undergraduate examination period will take place between 28 April – 27 May 2016. Individual examination timetables will be released to students via Portico by 23 March 2016 and a notification sent to all students from the UCL Examinations Office once timetables are available. Whilst UCL endeavours to ensure that candidates do not have more than one examination on the same day, candidates should be aware that it is not unusual to have examinations scheduled to take place on consecutive days. 8.1.2 Intermediate (first year) Examination The Intermediate (first year) Examination consists of 3-hour unseen examinations in Criminal Law, Contract Law, Property I, and Public Law. The results of the Intermediate Examination do not count towards your final degree classification (unless you are enrolled on a double-degree programme) but all elements must be successfully completed in order to progress to Part I (the second year). The results will be used by academic staff when writing references and may be requested by prospective employers. 8.1.3 Part I (second year) Examination The Part I (second year) Examination consists of a 3-hour unseen examination in Tort Law, Property II and EU Law. Jurisprudence will be assessed by a 2-hour unseen examination (weighted 50% of the overall module mark) and a 5,000 word assessed essay (weighted 50% of the overall module mark). Students on the Law with French/German/Spanish Law degree programmes, plus the English & German Law double-degree programme, will study European Legal Studies II (ELS) in place of Jurisprudence. ELS French and German will be assessed by a 2hour unseen examination (weighted 50% of the overall module mark) and two 2,500 word assessed essays written in the relevant European language (each weighted 25% of the overall module mark). ELS Spanish will be assessed by a 2-hour unseen 48 | P a g e examination (weighted 50% of the overall module mark) and one 5,000 word assessed essay written in Spanish (weighted 50% of the overall module mark). 8.1.4 Part II (final year) Examination Students select four optional modules for their final year of study and are assessed by a combination of unseen examinations and assessed essays, depending on which modules they have chosen. Please refer to the list of optional modules running in 201516 for specific assessment details in Section 4.5. 8.2 Setting and marking assessments 8.2.1 Who is responsible for setting and marking assessments? Exam papers are set by members of the Faculty in consultation with an External Examiner who will be an experienced law teacher and specialist in their field from another UK university. Every exam script is marked internally by two different examiners. The marking guidelines used by examiners to grade assessed work are attached as an appendix to this handbook (refer to Appendix I: Assessment Marking Guidelines). A selection of scripts and essays are then sent to an External Examiner for review including all fails, borderlines and a random sample across all grade boundaries to check the standard of marking. The External Examiner can confirm the agreed internal marks or make suggestions for change. Such changes mainly concern scripts of candidates who are borderline. Internal examiners often refer such marginal cases to the External Examiner for a final decision if there is any doubt. The participation of the External Examiners in the setting and marking of assessments ensures parity of standards with other universities. 8.2.2 Anonymity in the marking process All final (summative) examinations and essays are marked anonymously by Candidate Number (this is different to your UCL Student ID Number). You will be issued with a unique Candidate Number during each academic year that you are registered at UCL which will consist of four letters plus a number, e.g. ABCD1. Before the assessment period in the third term, you will be issued with a Candidate Number Card which you must retain until the end of your current year of study. You will be expected to display both your Candidate Number Card and your UCL ID Card on your desk at each examination. You must enter your Candidate Number on all examination answer books and assessed essays. Your Candidate Number can also be viewed via your Portico account and will be displayed on your personal examination timetable. 49 | P a g e 8.2.3 Legibility of examination scripts Examiners attach great importance to legibility, accuracy and clearness of expression in the examination scripts. No credit shall be given for illegible material in any document submitted for assessment, including examination scripts. Examiners reserve the right not to mark illegible scripts, or to require any script that is illegible to be typed. In this instance, the candidates concerned will be required to come into the Faculty after the examination has taken place and dictate the contents to a typist. Candidates should hold themselves ready to be summoned for this purpose throughout the course of Term 3. If the handwriting in one script is deemed to be illegible, the candidate in question will be required to come into the Faculty to dictate the answers written in ALL exam scripts produced during that year’s exam period. 8.2.4 Penalties for rubric violation Where a candidate does not comply with the rubric of an examination paper, the following examples shall assist during the marking process: a) Where, for example, a paper requires a candidate to answer three questions, and the candidate provides four answers, the overall mark for the paper shall be determined by calculating the average of the best three answers; b) Where, for example, a paper requires a candidate to answer three questions including at least ONE from Section A and ONE from Section B, and a candidate answers three questions from Section A and none from Section B, Section B will evidently gain a mark of zero. Accordingly, the overall mark for the paper shall be determined by calculating the average of the highest two answers in Section A and the zero for section B. c) Where, for example, a paper requires a candidate to answer EITHER part (a) of a question OR part (b) of the question, and the candidate answers both, the mark for the question shall be the better of the marks. The other answer shall receive a mark of zero. 8.2.5 Past examination papers Past examination papers can be accessed electronically via the UCL Library Services website at: digitool-b.lib.ucl.ac.uk:8881/R&?local_base=EXAMPAPERS 8.2.6 Who assesses a candidate’s performance? The LLB Board of Examiners, consisting of all full-time tutors from the Faculty of Laws and External Examiners, will meet on Wednesday 15 June 2016. The Board will consider each candidate’s profile of marks and decide the appropriate classification or 50 | P a g e progression result, in accordance with the LLB Principles of Assessment – the regulations governing degree award and progression – which are attached as appendix to this handbook (refer to Appendix II: LLB Principles of Assessment). The decision is normally made solely on the basis of an assessment of the candidate’s performance in each assessment. Occasionally, however, a candidate may wish to ask the Board to take into account special circumstances, such as illness or other personal circumstance during the examination period, or some other part of the academic year, which may have adversely affected his or her performance (see Section 10.2 regarding the Extenuating Circumstances Procedure). 8.3 Examination timetable 8.3.1 Examination timetable Examinations take place during the third term of the academic year. They are arranged by the central Examinations Office in the Registry & Academic Services Division, which is responsible for scheduling examinations for all taught modules across UCL. You can view your own personal timetable via the main ‘Examination Timetable’ link in the ‘Examinations’ container on your Portico ‘My Studies’ page. You can login to your Portico account using your UCL userid and password via the following URL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/portico Your personal timetable contains details of your examinations, including the specific location and seat number to which you have been assigned for each examination. Please note that some examinations have been split across several locations so you may be in a different venue to other students registered on the same module. You should print a copy of your individual timetable on plain paper for ease of reference and ensure it remains unmarked for the duration of the examination period. Please note that you will not be permitted to keep your timetable on your desk during examinations. Examinations can be scheduled at any time during the examination period and it is not unusual for students to have one or more examinations very early in the period or even to have examinations on the same or consecutive days. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that you have revised and studied throughout the year so that you are prepared for your examinations, whenever they may be scheduled. Although UCL endeavours to avoid scheduling more than one examination on the same day, this is not always possible. The scheduling of examinations is a long and complex process and UCL will not be able to alter the date of any of your examinations. If any of the details on your timetable are incorrect, such as an incorrect examination or the absence of an examination, please contact the Undergraduate Office immediately. In the ‘Examinations’ container on your Portico ‘My Studies’ page you will find links to the UCL Examination Guide for Candidates and a Guide to Examination Venues. It is 51 | P a g e essential that you read these guides carefully in conjunction with this booklet, as they contain important information relating to general examination regulations, examination venues, items that are and are not permitted in the examination hall e.g. personal items and refreshments, examination irregularities and special examination arrangements, as well as a key to the location codes that appear on your timetable. 8.3.2 Candidate number cards A Candidate Number Card has been posted to the contact address saved in your Portico record. You will be expected to display both your Candidate Number Card and your UCL ID Card on your desk at each examination, therefore please ensure that you retain your card until the end of the current year of study. If you have not received your Candidate Number Card prior to the start of the exam period, please contact the central Examinations Office in the first instance. 8.3.3 Arriving late for an examination If you are less than 30 minutes late you will be allowed into the venue to sit the examination but you will forfeit any time already elapsed. You should report to an invigilator so that the time of your arrival can be recorded and any instructions provided. If you are more than 30 minutes late you will not be allowed into the venue but will be re-directed to the Faculty of Laws. If the Faculty agrees and the normal end time for the examination has not yet passed, it may be possible to sit the examination in the Faculty building but 30 minutes will be deducted from the time allowed. You must complete a declaration form indicating why you arrived late and confirming that you have neither seen the question paper nor been in contact with any candidates who have already seen the paper. If you arrive after the normal end time for the examination you will not be permitted to sit the examination and an ‘unauthorised absence’ will be recorded. 8.4 Permitted Materials Candidates must make themselves aware of the materials, if any, which they are permitted to take into each examination. A full list of permitted materials is posted on the Laws Student Intranet at: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml The following guidelines apply: i. No reference materials may be taken into examination venues, except as stipulated in the Permitted Materials document. ii. Candidates will not be provided with reference materials in examination venues, except where specifically stated in the Permitted Materials document. 52 | P a g e iii. Where specific reference materials are permitted in examination venues, candidates must ensure that they comply with the following rules: a) materials may be marked by underlining and/or highlighting only; b) materials may be marked/flagged with plastic or paper tags, which must be no more than 2cm wide and firmly attached to the relevant pages. Plastic or paper tags must not carry any writing; c) where statutes or international treaties are permitted, original copies, Queen’s Printers’ copies, photocopies or a downloaded copy from the internet of these materials are acceptable; d) any edition of the specified materials may be used unless otherwise stated. NO MARKINGS, OTHER THAN THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE, ARE PERMITTED. In particular, candidates are asked to observe that the following are NOT permitted: a) Folding down of page corners; b) ‘Selective’ underlining and/or highlighting of characters to form a coded message. 8.5 8.5.1 Examination fails and re-sits Progression and re-sit examinations Students must pass all elements of the end of year examination in order to progress to the next year of their degree programme. No student is allowed to carry forward a fail and progress to the next stage of their programme of study. 8.5.2 Examination re-sit regulations applicable to all years: Regulations relating to re-sit requirements for each year group are outlined in full in the LLB Principles of Assessment which govern degree award and progression decisions made by the LLB Board of Examiners in June (refer to Appendix I: LLB Principles of Assessment). The application of these regulations is also summarised as a progression chart attached as an appendix to this handbook (refer to Appendix III: Academic Progression Chart). Some of the key re-sit regulations are as follows: (i) Provision is made for referral (i.e. the opportunity to re-sit) one paper at the Intermediate (first-year) and Part I (second-year) examinations. This means that 53 | P a g e if a candidate fails more than one paper in the Intermediate or Part I Examinations, they will be required to re-sit all four examinations during the August/September re-sit exam period. (ii) A candidate must pass the Intermediate Examination before being permitted to proceed to the Part I year and similarly, must pass the Part I Examination before being permitted to proceed to the Part II (final-year) Examination. (iii) No referral will be permitted at the Part II Examination i.e. if a final-year candidate fails a module and the Exam Board decides not to award a degree, the student will be required to re-sit all four modules the following May. Finalyear students are not permitted to re-sit examinations during the August/September re-sit examination period which exists purely for the purpose of progression to the next year. 8.5.3 Intermediate (first-year) re-sits Scenario 1: A candidate who passes in three of the papers at the Intermediate Examination in May, but fails in one paper, will be referred in that failed paper, i.e. will be permitted to re-sit that paper in August/September, provided the fail was not a bad fail (a bad fail being classified as a mark below 30). If the candidate passes the referred paper at the second attempt during the August/September re-sit period, s/he will progress to Part I (second year). If the candidate fails to pass the referred paper taken in August/September, s/he will normally be required to re-take the whole of the Intermediate Examination (all four subjects) the following May. If the candidate passes all four subjects the following May, s/he will progress to Part I (second year). If the candidate fails any subject the following May, even if the fail is only in one subject and is not a bad fail, the studies of that student will normally be terminated. Scenario 2: A candidate who fails two or more papers, or fails one paper badly, at the Intermediate Examination in May will normally be required to re-take the whole of the Intermediate Examination (all four subjects) during the August/September re-sit examination period. If the candidate passes all four subjects at the second attempt in August/September, s/he will progress to Part I (second year). If the candidate fails any subject in August/September, even if the fail is only in one subject and is not a bad fail, the studies of that student will normally be terminated. 54 | P a g e As outlined in the above scenarios, a candidate who has had to re-sit the whole of the Intermediate Examination (all four subjects) will normally be allowed to re-sit once only. However, upon special application made by the Faculty to the Registry, UCL may give permission, for good cause, for one further and final re-entry. 8.5.4 Part I (second-year) re-sits Scenario 1: A candidate who fails in one paper at the Part I Examination in May will be referred in that failed paper and will be permitted to re-sit in August/September, provided the fail is not a bad fail (a bad fail being classified as a mark below 30). If the candidate passes the referred paper at the second attempt during the August/September re-sit examination period, s/he will progress to Part II (final year). If a candidate fails to pass the referred paper taken in August/September, s/he will be required to re-take the whole of the Part I examination (all four subjects) the following May. If the candidate passes all four subjects the following May, s/he will progress to Part II (final year). If the candidate fails any subject the following May, even if the fail is only in one subject and is not a bad fail, the studies of that student will normally be terminated. Scenario 2: A candidate who fails more than one paper, or fails one paper badly, at the Part I Examination in May will normally be required to re-take the whole of the Part I Examination (all four subjects) during the August/September re-sit examination period. If the candidate passes all four subjects at the second attempt in August/September, s/he will progress to Part II (final year). If the candidate fails any subject in August/September, even if the fail is only in one subject and is not a bad fail, the studies of that student will normally be terminated. As outlined in the above scenarios, a candidate who has had to re-sit the whole of the Part I Examination (all four papers) will normally be allowed to re-sit once only. However, upon special application made by the Faculty to the Registry, UCL may give permission, for good cause, for one further and final re-entry. 8.5.5 Part II (final-year) re-sits Scenario 1: If a candidate fails in one subject in the Part II Examination, a degree may nevertheless be awarded provided: a) the fail is not a bad fail (a bad fail being 55 | P a g e classified as a mark below 30) and b) the candidate shows sufficient compensating strength in the other subjects. Scenario 2: If a candidate has failed in more than one subject in the Part II Examination, or the fail is a bad fail, s/he will be required to re-take the whole of the Part II examination (all four subjects) the following May (at which point the Part I results will be taken into consideration again). If the candidate passes all four subjects in the second attempt the following May, s/he will be awarded an LLB degree. If the candidate fails any subject the following May, even if the fail is only in one subject and is not a bad fail, the studies of that student will normally be terminated. If a candidate has not fulfilled all final year requirements, on an exceptional basis, for causes deemed to be sufficient, the Faculty may apply to UCL to award a degree under the Special and Aegrotat provisions outlined in UCL regulations. 8.5.6 Part IIB re-sits (year 4 of the 4-year Law with Advanced Studies degree) Please refer to the guidance provided in the above section regarding re-entry to the Part II Examination. 8.5.7 Affiliate students (Erasmus and Exchange) re-sits Any affiliate student who fails a module must liaise with their home institution to seek guidance regarding whether or not they are required to re-sit the module. UCL Laws does not require any affiliate who has failed a module to re-sit. Affiliate students taking any of the subjects which comprise the LLB Intermediate Examination (Criminal Law, Contract, Property I and Public Law), or the LLB Part I Examination (Jurisprudence, EU, Property II and Tort) will have the opportunity to re-sit any failed assessments in the August/September exam period of the same year. Please note that there is no provision for re-sits in any optional modules prior to the next available opportunity, that being the following May. 8.5.8 Assessed essay components If a failed subject has an assessed essay component, the candidate may elect to carry forward the mark(s) awarded for the essay or to submit a revised essay(s) on the same question(s). This applies in the case of referral to the August/September exam period, or the following May, and to all year groups, including finalists. 56 | P a g e 8.5.9 Attempt number recorded on UCL transcripts The number of attempts a student has taken in order to pass a subject will be recorded on their final UCL transcript in a column entitled ‘Attempt Number’ next to the result. Therefore, if a student took two attempts to pass a module, the number ‘2’ would be recorded in this column next to the module result, and so on. 8.6 Examination results, degree awards and transcripts 8.6.1 Notification of provisional examination results A breakdown of provisional results by module, provisional degree classifications for finalists and overall year pass or fail for progressing students, will be posted on the Laws Student Intranet the day following the LLB Exam Board Meeting which, this year, will be by 5pm on Thursday 16 June 2016. Provisional results will be anonymised by Candidate Number and grouped into separate tables according to year of study. Results for final-year LLB students will be further categorised by programme of study according to the following: One table: 3-year LLB degree; 4-year Law with French/German/Hispanic Law; 4-year Law with Another Legal System (Australia/Hong Kong/Singapore); One table: 4-year Law with Advanced Studies; One table: 4-year English & German Law and Baccalaureus Legum; One table: 4-year LLB-JD. First-year and second-year results for all degree programmes will be combined in one table per year group, i.e. there will be no further breakdown according to programme of study within the relevant year group. If you would prefer your breakdown of provisional results to be removed from the table applicable to your cohort, please contact the Undergraduate Office as soon as possible to request this and by Friday 10 June 2016 at the latest. This may apply, for instance, to finalists who are enrolled on a degree programme which has only a small number of students registered on the same programme. A breakdown of results will alternatively be emailed to you directly although please note that priority will be given to posting the main breakdown of results online first, after which individual breakdowns will be emailed to candidates. Please do not phone the Undergraduate Office for a breakdown of results following the Exam Board. All results will be posted online and candidates will therefore be directed to Laws Student Intranet, or alternatively asked to wait for email confirmation of their breakdown if they do not wish their results to be posted online. 57 | P a g e If you require a letter detailing your provisional breakdown of results or degree classification, for instance, in relation to an offer being held with a course provider or employer, please contact the Undergraduate Office to request this by emailing: uglaw@ucl.ac.uk, and ensure that your contact address stored on Portico is up to date with your summer address. Letters confirming provisional results will only be provided upon request – they will not be sent by default to all candidates. Please note that all results are provisional until the UCL Exam Board meets in July. After this Board has met, final and confirmed examination results will be released via Portico and degree certificates and final transcripts will be mailed to finalists by the central Examinations Office in September (again, please ensure that your contact address stored in Portico is up to date for this purpose). If you wish to convert your percentage mark in each paper into a corresponding degree class, the following may be used as a guide: Less than 40% - fail 40-49% - third class 50-59% - lower second class 60-69% - upper second class 70% and above - first class 8.6.2 Notification of essay results Marks in assessed essays are taken into account in determining the overall module result in line with the assessment criteria for the course, i.e. the weighting allocated to the separate exam and essay components of the module. The assessment criteria for each module can be viewed on Portico in the ‘Module Directory’ link (searches can be made either by Module Code or Module Name). An anonymised list of essay marks for all LLB modules which have an assessed essay component will be posted on the Laws Student Intranet over the course of the summer. Essay marks will be listed by Candidate Number for each LLB module and students will be notified via email once these tables have been posted. If you would prefer your essay mark(s) NOT to be posted online, please contact the Undergraduate Office as soon as possible to request this and by Friday 10 June 2016 at the latest. 8.6.3 Withholding examination results and degree awards All students who qualify for the award of a degree should note that UCL will withhold the award if the student is in debt to UCL. Students should note that debt to UCL includes any payment due, including tuition and examination fees, fees for UCL residential accommodation and fees to the UCL Library. No report will be made on the student’s results until the debt has been settled in full and attendance at a Graduation Ceremony will not be permitted unless the whole debt has been cleared by the due date. 58 | P a g e All other students who are in debt to UCL will have their official results withheld and will not be permitted to enrol at any future session until the debt has been settled in full. The results of candidates who are currently being investigated on the grounds of an alleged exam irregularity will also have their results and/or award of degree withheld until their case has been resolved. 8.6.4 Degree certificates and transcripts All successful final-year students will receive a degree certificate and academic transcript from the central Examinations Office approximately 6-8 weeks after the awards have been ratified by the UCL authorities (awards are ratified towards the end of July). If you are a final-year student, you must update your contact address details via Portico before leaving UCL to ensure your official documents are sent to the correct address. If you fail to update your address prior to the despatch of your documents you may be charged for the re-delivery cost. Due to the volume of documents that need to be prepared and collated, it is not possible to offer a collection service for these items. Degree certificates are official documents and UCL takes the issue and verification of these documents very seriously. You will only be issued with one degree certificate, therefore, please ensure that it is retained in a safe place. UCL will not provide you with duplicates of your degree certificate and will not automatically issue you with a replacement should you lose the original. 8.6.5 Requesting a Statement of Award If you require official confirmation of your award prior to receipt of your certificate, you can submit a request for a Statement of Award from the central Examinations Office, free of charge, by writing to studentstatus@ucl.ac.uk. If the statement is required for a post study work visa application, this should be indicated in the request. 8.6.6 Requesting additional transcripts You may obtain additional transcripts by submitting a written request with your signature to the central Examinations Office. For further information, visit the UCL website or email transcripts@ucl.ac.uk Please note that there is a charge for this service: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/exams_and_awards/qualifications/transcripts 59 | P a g e 8.7 Feedback on examination performance and review of marks 8.7.1 Receiving feedback on your examination performance from the Module Convenor Students can ask the relevant Module Convenor or tutorial group tutor, to go through their exam scripts to explain (either in person or by email) why they have been given the marks they have, however, there needs to be a genuine and good reason for this: Module Convenors/tutorial group tutors, are required to give feedback if requested when a student has failed an exam. Module Convenors/tutorial group tutors, are expected to give feedback if the student has not performed as well as expected, or has underperformed, and there is no obvious reason for this. Module Convenors/tutorial group tutors, are permitted to give feedback if the student would like some general advice, for example, if the student would like to know what they can do to improve their mark. This is an area of discretion of the individual tutor concerned, however. Students should not expect members of staff to discuss the details of what took place at the Exam Board Meeting, which are confidential. 8.7.2 Review of marks A candidate who feels aggrieved by an examination decision should consult their Personal Tutor in the first instance. It is UCL policy that candidates may not approach the Chair of the Board directly. Experience suggests that usually an informal discussion with the Personal Tutor will alleviate any doubts that candidates may have. If a candidate believes that a mark has been incorrectly recorded he/she may make a request in writing to the Chair of the Examinations Board for a formal review. This request should be made via email to the Undergraduate Office: ug-law@ucl.ac.uk. The review merely involves checking that the marks are correctly recorded on the script and that they have been correctly transcribed on to the marksheet used by the Board in reaching its decisions. There is no re-marking procedure for any paper. Candidates are advised that it is UCL policy to retain scripts for only one year following the sitting of the examination. Therefore requests for review must be received within this period, and ideally before the commencement of the next academic session. 60 | P a g e 9. Plagiarism You must ensure that no aspect of your assessed work has been plagiarised, intentionally or otherwise. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand what plagiarism is and to avoid it. Plagiarism is a serious breach of UCL’s assessment regulations, and will normally be regarded as cheating. A student found guilty of plagiarism may be excluded from all further assessments, and in serious cases, may be excluded from UCL. For more information, please see the UCL guidance on plagiarism at: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines/plagiarism Students are strongly advised to enrol on the Plagiarism and Academic Writing Moodle page where there is further guidance and practical tools to help you understand and avoid plagiarism: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12731 9.1 What is Plagiarism? Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person's thoughts, words, artifacts or software as though they were a student's own. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and students should identify their sources as accurately and fully as possible. A series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source. Equally, if a student summarises another person's ideas, judgments, figures, diagrams or software, a reference to that person in the text must be made and the work referred to must be included in the bibliography. Recourse to the services of "ghost-writing" agencies (for example in the preparation of essays or reports) or of outside word-processing agencies which offer "correction/improvement of English" is strictly forbidden, and students who make use of the services of such agencies render themselves liable for an academic penalty. Use of unacknowledged information downloaded from the internet also constitutes plagiarism. 9.2 Examples of Plagiarism Cut and paste from electronic journals, websites or other sources to create a piece of work; turning in someone else's work as your own; copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit; 61 | P a g e failing to put a quotation in quotation marks; giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation; changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit; Recycle essays or practical work of other people or your own (this is self plagiarism); Employ a professional ghostwriting firm or anyone else to produce work for you; copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not; Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarised. 9.3 Penalties for plagiarism Failure to observe any of the provisions of this policy, or of approved Faculty guidelines, constitutes an examination offence under UCL Regulations. Examination offences will normally be treated as cheating or irregularities under the UCL Regulations for Proceedings in Respect of Examination Irregularities. Under these regulations students found to have committed an offence may be excluded from all further examinations at UCL. 9.4 What you can do You can quote from sources providing you use quotation marks and cite the source (this includes websites). Please refer to the following for guidance regarding how to cite references: www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines/plagiarism_citation You can paraphrase (take information from a piece of work and rewrite it in a new form) but you must still mention the source. In the case of joint practical or project work (or some group projects) individuals may use the same data, but the interpretation and conclusions derived from that data ie. the ‘write-up’ must be their own. To avoid the allegation of plagiarism, be very careful in your note taking. If your notes include quotations or paraphrasing, make sure that this fact is recorded (with page numbers where applicable) so that you do not later confuse the work of another with that of your own, and to allow you to properly footnote the material in your final draft. 62 | P a g e 9.5 Use of TurnItIn UCL uses a sophisticated system called Turnitin to help academics and students determine where plagiarism may have occurred in assessed and dissertations. It is important to note that Turnitin is used in combination with academic judgement to determine where plagiarism may have occurred. A high similarity index does not necessarily indicate plagiarism; by the same token a low similarity index does not necessarily indicate plagiarism has not occurred. Further information about Turnitin can be found on the Plagiarism and Academic Writing Moodle page at: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12731 Detailed information about how to submit your final assessed essay(s) will be circulated via the relevant course Moodle page prior to the advertised submission deadline. Please note that all quotations must be placed within “double” quotation marks, otherwise Turnitin will not recognise the passage as a quotation and may flag the content as potential plagiarism. This includes both shorter quotations within a sentence and longer quotations that are separate, indented paragraphs. It is possible to check your work for plagiarism via a test environment in Turnitin by uploading it to the Plagiarism and Academic Writing Moodle page at: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12731 Tutors cannot see or grade any work that has been uploaded to this page and test submissions will not affect the originality report when your finalised essay is uploaded to Turnitin. 63 | P a g e 10. Assessment regulations UCL publishes over-arching regulations for all students studying on undergraduate programmes at UCL. The academic assessment regulations for the 2015/16 academic session can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/overview For undergraduate Laws students these UCL assessment regulations are supplemented by assessment regulations and policies that apply specifically to students studying on qualifying Law degrees, which are detailed throughout this handbook. Some of the key regulations are reproduced on the following pages. However, it is your responsibly to ensure that you have read and understood all regulation, policies and procedures and ensure that you abide by them throughout your programme of study and know how they affect you. If you are in any doubt about a particular regulation, policy or procedures, please contact the Undergraduate Office to obtain clarification. 10.1 Special assessment arrangements If you have a specific learning difficulty, disability or health issue, you can apply for special assessment arrangements for your examinations. Application for special assessment arrangements on grounds of disability or ill-health should be made by completing an application form for special examination provisions and submitting it, with suitable medical evidence, to the UCL Examinations Office via the UCL Student Disability Services in the Registry & Academic Services Division. An application form can be obtained from the Examinations Office. Students who require special assessment arrangements as a result of dyslexia or another specific learning difficultly must register with the Student Disability Services and are required to arrange an assessment appointment with the UCL Disability Coordinator as soon as possible and no later than the end of the second term. Further information about special examination provision can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/disability/special-examination-arrangements 10.2 Extenuating Circumstances 10.2.1 Extenuating Circumstances policy Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) are defined as circumstances in a student’s life that are unexpected, significantly disruptive and beyond the student’s control and which may affect their performance at assessment. Wherever possible, UCL is responsible for ensuring that students are not unfairly disadvantaged by such circumstances. 64 | P a g e The EC regulations provide short-term solutions for students experiencing sudden, unexpected difficulties. They are not designed to support students with longer-term or chronic conditions or disabilities. UCL seeks to ensure that such students are properly supported throughout their studies and enabled to achieve their full potential at assessment. Chapter 4, Section 4 of UCL’s Academic Manual governs how UCL supports such students: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c4/special It is however recognised that a student with a chronic or long-term condition may nonetheless experience an acute episode or sudden worsening of their condition and that it may not always be possible for UCL to put sufficient arrangements in place to help such students. Such eventualities are covered by the EC provisions. Students are responsible for making known any circumstances which may affect their performance in good time for them to be considered by the appropriate body via the procedure outlined below. Full details of the EC regulations and procedures, and the claim form, can be found in Chapter 4, Section 7 of UCL’s Academic Manual: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c4/extenuating-circumstances/sum 10.2.2 Extenuating Circumstances procedure To submit a claim, students must submit an ‘Extenuating Circumstances Claim Form’, together with appropriate supporting evidence either at the time of, or as soon as possible following, the incidence of the circumstances concerned and no later than seven days after the date of the assessment or examination affected. An Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Claim Form is available to download from the Laws Student Intranet for this purpose: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml Claims must be supported by written evidence from an appropriate, verifiable and independent authority such as a registered medical practitioner, solicitor, undertaker, coroner, registrar of births, marriages and deaths, police officer, fire officer, court or tribunal officer. Candidates must not assume that because they have discussed their difficulties with Olga Thomas in her capacity as Faculty Tutor, or with their Personal Tutor, the content of these discussions will be disclosed to the LLB Exam Board. On the contrary, students should assume that Olga Thomas or their Personal Tutor will not disclose the details of confidential discussions unless the student has: a) completed a Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Claim Form - available to download from the Laws Student Intranet: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/current/undergraduate/index.shtml 65 | P a g e b) submitted the form to the Undergraduate Office, with all necessary supporting evidence, either at the time of, or as soon as possible following, the incidence of the circumstances concerned and no later than seven days after the date of the assessment or examination affected. Forms and evidence can be submitted in person to the Undergraduate Office, by email to ug-law@ucl.ac.uk or by post. Extenuating Circumstances forms will only be accepted where the application is complete, i.e. the form must be accompanied by the necessary supporting evidence at time of submission. If in doubt, please contact the Undergraduate Office to seek advice and clarification. Any information provided in respect of extenuating circumstances is treated in the strictest confidence. 10.2.3 Consideration of extenuating circumstances submissions A Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP) will be convened prior to the LLB Board of Examiners Meeting to consider all extenuating circumstances submissions. The FECP will review each claim and the evidence presented against the ‘Acceptable Grounds for Extenuating Circumstances’ outlined in Chapter 4, Section 7.3 of the UCL Academic Manual and will make a decision which will be reported to the LLB Exam Board. The LLB Exam Board is responsible for applying the FECP’s decision, confirming the module result and determining whether the student may progress or graduate. The LLB Exam Board will be notified of the student’s Candidate Number and the decision for each affected module, however, the nature and severity of the Extenuating Circumstance will not be discussed during the LLB Exam Board meeting. 10.3 Unauthorised absence from examinations Any candidate likely to be absent from an examination, or unable to attempt a paper, should seek to discuss these matters with the Faculty Tutor, Olga Thomas, as a matter of urgency. You should, in the first instance, contact the Undergraduate Office (uglaw@ucl.ac.uk; 020 3108 8300) who will advise you of your options if you have not made an attempt at the examination and have not entered the examination hall. Students should not absent themselves from an examination without prior permission issued by the Faculty Tutor. If you are absent from an examination without permission, or make an attempt that cannot be academically assessed, it will count as an attempt at the examination and you will be awarded a mark of zero, i.e. a ‘bad’ fail (a mark below 30). A ‘bad’ fail will normally trigger a 4-paper re-sit under the 66 | P a g e LLB Principles of Assessment, to be taken at the next available examination sitting (August-September for progressing students, and the following May for finalists). 10.4 Withdrawal from examinations 10.4.1 Withdrawal from assessment on academic grounds Students may be permitted to withdraw their entry to an examination or other format of assessment on academic grounds with the approval of the Faculty Tutor, provided the application is made before the deadline of the end of the first week of the term in which they will be assessed, or before the assessment when the assessment is held in the first week of term. Students should contact the Undergraduate Office in the first instance who will arrange an appointment with the Faculty Tutor. If approved, the student must complete a ‘Notification of Withdrawal from Examination’ form and submit it, along with documentary evidence such as a letter or certificate from a medical practitioner, which will be authorised by the Faculty Tutor and referred to the central Examinations Office for processing. 10.4.2 Withdrawal from assessment on exceptional grounds Students wishing to withdraw from examinations or any other form of academic assessment after the end of the first week of the term in which they will be assessed through illness or other extenuating circumstances, will be considered under the Extenuating Circumstances policy set out in Section 10.2.1 and must submit an ‘Extenuating Circumstances Claim Form’ via the procedure outlined in Section 10.2.2. Students should contact the Undergraduate Office in the first instance and an appointment with the Faculty Tutor will be arranged to discuss your circumstances and the procedure for applying for exceptional withdrawal. An Extenuating Circumstances Claim Form, together with appropriate supporting evidence such as a letter or certificate from a medical practitioner, must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office and will be considered by the Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP). If approved, re-entry to an examination, part of an examination or other form of academic assessment, will normally be made at the next available examination sitting. Students are advised to seek guidance on any visa implications that may affect eligibility to stay in the UK prior to re-entry to an examination the following academic year. Students absenting themselves from an unseen written examination or other form of assessment without prior approval will be marked as absent and deemed to have made an attempt at the examination. 67 | P a g e 10.5 UCL Student Complaints Procedure In the first instance, you should discuss any grievances you have with any aspect of the examinations with your Personal Tutor. If the matter cannot be resolved informally you may be referred to the Undergraduate Programme Director who will advise you regarding how to submit a formal representation via the UCL Student Complaints Procedure after exhausting every possibility of informal resolution at Faculty level. Further information regarding this procedure can be found on the UCL website at: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c1/complaints/guide The procedure is conducted by the Registry & Academic Services Division. Representations must specify the ground of complaint. Grounds of complaint may include a failure to take into account particular circumstances relating to the candidate. However, circumstances which were not brought to the attention of the Board within the time-frame specified in the Extenuating Circumstances Procedure cannot generally be taken into account later where such circumstances were known to the candidate at the time and there were no reasonable grounds for not disclosing them earlier. 10.6 Assessment misconduct/Examination irregularity UCL takes matters of assessment misconduct very seriously. The following are examples of actions that constitute assessment offences: cheating, attempting to cheat or assisting someone else to cheat; having unauthorised items on or under your desk or about your person; writing before the start or after the end of the examination; writing notes on hands, arms or other parts of the body; leaving the hall unaccompanied or without permission; tampering with answer books, question papers or other examination stationery; committing plagiarism or self-plagiarism; causing a disturbance or disrupting the examination process. Anyone suspected of assessment misconduct will be reported to the UCL authorities and may be called to appear before an Assessment Irregularities Panel. Penalties for assessment offences include, but are not limited to, formal reprimand, disqualification from one or all examinations for the session, and exclusion from UCL on a temporary or permanent basis. 10.7 Assessment misconduct/Examination irregularity consequences It is important for all Law students to note that the commission of an assessment irregularity will have serious consequences for their ability to register with the 68 | P a g e professional bodies and could have a catastrophic effect on their ability to qualify and practice as a solicitor or barrister in the UK. This is because the process of registration with the professional bodies requires declarations of “never having been found guilty of an academic offence by a higher education institution” and disclosure of any assessment irregularities and academic offences. It also prescribes that, unless there are exceptional circumstances, your application will be refused if you have committed and/or have been adjudged by an education establishment to have committed such offences. Declarations of offences will result in a Fitness to Practice review of your case by the SRA or panel hearing by a Conduct Committee to assess whether you will be permitted to register. It is crucially important for students to also note that even exam irregularities perceived to be of a less serious nature, such as continuing to write after the invigilator has called the end of the exam, or writing the numbers of the questions attempted or your candidate number on the front of your answer booklet after the end of the exam, are likely to result in a formal reprimand which will form part of your academic record and as such has to be declared to the professional bodies resulting in the consequences described above. 10.8 UCL Support to Study Policy and Fitness to Study Procedure The UCL Support to Study Policy is intended to be used where students are not able to continue, or able to return to continue, the level and intensity of study required in spite of reasonable adjustments having been put in place and cannot study, work and live co-operatively and in close proximity with others as well as conduct themselves in a manner which does not impact negatively on those around them. It also applies where UCL has been unable to balance the needs and rights of an individual student against the need to protect the wellbeing of fellow students and staff. The Fitness to Study Procedure aims to ensure that decisions about a student’s ability to study are made through a supportive process, after appropriate consultation and in the best interests of the student. Further information regarding support and fitness to study is available on the UCL website at: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/academic-manual/c1/support-fitness/support 69 | P a g e 11. Student representation and engagement 11.1 Student feedback The Faculty is committed to providing excellent teaching and research and ensuring that all students have a positive and rewarding student experience. Students are actively encouraged to comment on the quality of their programme in the following ways: via module and programme feedback questionnaires, UCL and national surveys for students, student representation in Faculty committees and informal feedback mechanisms. 11.2 Questionnaires and surveys 11.2.1 Faculty of Laws questionnaires Upon completion of the teaching of each module, you will be asked to complete (anonymously) a questionnaire evaluating the module, giving you the opportunity to give your opinion on the module’s content and teaching methods. At the conclusion of your studies you will similarly be asked to complete an evaluation of the entire degree programme. These questionnaires are considered by the Undergraduate Programme Director and Vice Dean (Education), and discussed with the relevant Module Convenor and module tutor(s), following which a report is submitted to the Faculty Teaching Committee. The feedback given by you on these questionnaires is taken very seriously and is used to develop and improve teaching and learning in the Faculty. 11.2.2 UCL Student Barometer All UCL students are invited to give their views to a student survey conducted by UCL’s central services. The twice-yearly survey, called the Student Barometer, gives students the opportunity to help shape what UCL does. In particular, the survey looks to discover what students think about the teaching they receive, the feedback provided on assessments and the support offered in relation to careers. It also asks whether students would recommend studying at UCL to other people. The survey results help to identify areas of success and areas that need improvement, and allows UCL to compare its performance with more than 100 British and foreign universities. The Student Barometer should take less than ten minutes to complete and a link to take part will be sent directly to your UCL email account. 70 | P a g e 11.2.3 National Student Survey (NSS) All final-year students are invited to give their views regarding the quality of their degree programme in January to April each year via the National Student Survey (NSS). The NSS is a national survey which has been conducted since 2005 and asks undergraduates to provide honest feedback on what it has been like to study their programme at their institution. The NSS is your opportunity to give your opinions (anonymously) on what you liked about your time at UCL Laws, as well as things that you felt could have been improved. The NSS is widely recognised as a key measure of student satisfaction and aims to help prospective students make study choices. It also highlights what institutions are doing well and not so well, and often drives improvements forward in relation to the quality of teaching and overall student learning experience at universities. The NSS is a UCL institutional priority and the data is analysed and reported annually to the UCL Council and central committees. Within the Faculty of Laws, the data is referred to the Faculty Teaching Committee and is analysed alongside the Student Barometer and questionnaire feedback results to identify trends and inform improvements to the student learning experience. Finalists will be invited to take part in the NSS via an email sent to your UCL account between January and April. The survey and further information can also be accessed directly via the National Student Survey website: www.thestudentsurvey.com 11.3 Committee Representation Staff-Student Consultative Committee The Faculty of Law Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) meets three times per academic year. The committee is comprised of student representatives and academic staff, including the Faculty Tutor (Chair of the committee). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to the organisation or delivery of the programme, which can range from overcrowded classrooms to general problems being experienced within a certain module. Faculty Teaching Committee (FTC) The Faculty of Laws Teaching Committee (FTC) meets three times per academic year. Student representatives sit on the board, which is chaired by the Vice-Dean for Education. The Board oversees the academic content and delivery of programmes in the Faculty, and items on the agenda can include suggestions for improvements to a programme (incorporating analysis from the student questionnaires), discussion of alternative methods of teaching and the development of new modules. 71 | P a g e Faculty Board The Faculty Board meets three times per year. Membership of the Board includes all full-time academic and administrative staff together with undergraduate student representatives from each year group who have the opportunity to participate fully in discussions. The Faculty Board is the governing body of UCL Laws and strategic and policy considerations are discussed at these meetings. Any resolutions or suggestions made at previous SSCC and FTC meetings are also addressed and, if there is general agreement in this wider forum, acted upon. 11.4 Informal feedback mechanisms In addition to the formal feedback mechanisms detailed above, students are welcome to raise any issues which are causing them concern with the Undergraduate Programme Director or Teaching, Learning & Quality Manager (Undergraduate). 72 | P a g e 12. Prizes and scholarships Every year a set of prizes are awarded, based either on the May exam results, or on these results together with other aspects of a student's progress or contribution to the Faculty and UCL. The nomination and allocation of these prizes is decided at the Laws Faculty Board Meeting in October and the annual Laws Prize-Giving Ceremony and Reception takes place the following February. There are also a number of scholarships and bursaries which students can apply for which are awarded on the basis of specific criteria. Further information can be found online at: www.laws.ucl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/funding-scholarships/ The prizes to be awarded for the 2015/16 session are as follows: Agha-Abdur-Rashid Niazi Prize Andrews Medal for most distinguished finalist Bentham Prize for High Achievement Bentham Prize for Jurisprudence Bentham Club Scholarship Blackstone Chambers Commercial Law Prize Blackstone Chambers Public Law Prize Charlotte Ashby Prize Cheng Tien-Hsi Prize - best Part II performance in Public International Law Clifford Chance Pro Bono Prize Dean’s List - recognition of academic achievements of undergraduate students of excellence Dechert Prize in Property Law E Bufton Bursary Faculty Research Prize - for a major research project completed in final year Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Conflict of Laws Prize Freshfields Scholarship Herbert Smith Prize for Exceptional Merit - for an excellent result in a particular Intermediate subject Hurst Prize – greatest proficiency in Part I International Corporate Rescue Prize for LLB Company Law International Corporate Rescue Award for Excellence – for best result in a financial and/or corporate law dissertation (LLB or LLM) John Frederic Whitehouse Essay Award Jolowicz Prize – best result in Roman Law Kingsley Napley Prize – best result in Criminal Law (first year) Kingsley Napley Prize – best result in for Law of Evidence 73 | P a g e Kings Wood & Malleson Prize - for best overall performance in the Intermediate exam Leonard Sainer Scholarship Linklaters Prize for Excellence - for an excellent result in a particular Intermediate subject Mishcon Bursaries Old Square Employment Law Prize Pump Court Tax Chambers Chancery Prize – best results in Property I & II Richard Fitzgerald Prize (awarded in alternate sessions in Laws and Engineering) for academic performance and contribution to social and communal life of College and Faculty Richardson Prizes –awarded to four-year LLB students who have demonstrated the greatest proficiency in their Intermediate and Part I examinations Simon Wallace Memorial Prize for Contract Law Sweet and Maxwell Prize for greatest overall proficiency in Part II Taylor Wessing LLP Intellectual Property Prize for overall best performance in Intellectual Property LLB The Chartered Institute of Tax, London Branch Prize for Taxation Webber Prize – for the greatest proficiency in the Intermediate exam 1 Garden Court Family Law Chambers Family Law Prize 74 | P a g e 13. Graduation Students that have successfully completed their programme of study, and have been awarded a degree, will be invited to UCL’s Graduation Ceremony. The ceremony is held annually at a venue in central London, usually July following the publication of results and awards. All eligible graduates are contacted by the Graduation Ceremonies Office via their correspondence address on Portico and invited to complete the application process to attend a graduation ceremony. Further information regarding graduation can be found online at: www.ucl.ac.uk/graduation 14. References If you require a reference, you should contact your Personal Tutor and if additional references are required, a member of teaching staff who is familiar with you. Contact details for academic staff can be found online at: www.laws.ucl.ac.uk/by-department/academic-staff/ 75 | P a g e 15. Careers information UCL Laws continues to enjoy an excellent reputation amongst law firms, barristers’ chambers and other companies generally. The Faculty and the UCL Careers Service work hard to maintain and build on this reputation through the work of the careers team. The team consists of Stephen Gurman, the Laws Careers Consultant and Employer Relations Manager; the Student Law Society Careers Secretary and the Student Law Society Bar Careers Secretary. Advice regarding your personal careers prospects may be sought from Stephen Gurman, the Laws Careers Consultant, a member of UCL Careers Service who is based in the Faculty and who acts as overall supervisor of the Faculty’s careers activities in terms of the careers programme for Laws and enhancing the Faculty’s excellent academic reputation amongst employers. Stephen is based on the ground floor of Bidborough House and is available for appointments Monday 2-4pm, Wednesday 3-5 pm and Thursday 11.30-12.30. Stephen Gurman works closely together with the Student Law Society Careers and Bar Officers to maximise the coordination between the general UCL careers programme and the specialist laws careers programme held in the faculty. A comprehensive series of careers talks, workshops and visits are organised for Laws students throughout the academic year. A weekly Careers and Student Opportunities Newsletter will be emailed to undergraduate Laws students every Friday during term time outlining details of forthcoming careers and Faculty events, plus internship and placement opportunities. Students can sign up to the UCL Careers Laws twitter feed for the latest news and events - @UCLCareersLaws Additionally, students can visit the central UCL Careers Service office for advice regarding your personal careers prospects, plus general information about careers. Visit the UCL Careers Service Website at www.ucl.ac.uk/careers, the Careers Service Library located on 4th Floor of the ULU Building, Malet Street, or alternatively make an appointment there to see a Careers Consultant (telephone 020 7866 3602). 15.1 Planning for your Future Career A recent research survey by the Centre for Research into Quality (Graduates’ Work: Organisational change and students’ attributes, Harvey, Moon and Geall) has indicated that employers are increasingly tending to seek out the following range of attributes in their recruits: adaptive: those who can rapidly “fit in” to the workplace culture, work in teams, exhibit good interpersonal skills, take on responsibility for an area of work, thus “adding value” to the organisation 76 | P a g e adaptable: those who exhibit an ability to learn and who have the skill to apply their knowledge in the face of change, people with bright ideas who are able to communicate them to others and are able to persuade colleagues to attempt new approaches transformative: people who anticipate and lead change, helping to transform their organisations, using higher-level skills such as analysis, critique, synthesis and multi-layered communication to facilitate innovative teamwork To gain good employment, your first requirement will of course be to achieve an excellent degree. You need to be aware that your degree indicates that you have not only knowledge of the law but also transferable intellectual skills of analysis, application of law to fact, critical ability, synthesis, a refined sense of relevance and oral and written communication skills. But to stand out in an extremely competitive job market, to get past the first hurdle of being called for interview - whatever field you choose - you must be able to illustrate in your application your participation in activities and experiences that will serve to enhance your value as a new recruit, according to the criteria identified above. At interview you are more likely to exhibit confidence if you can call upon relevant experience to demonstrate your potential suitability. 15.2 Extracurricular Activities As an LLB student at UCL, you are ideally placed to acquire and develop the range of qualities highlighted, above and beyond the intellectual and analytical skills gained through your studies. You are strongly advised to take advantage of the following complementary programmes and practical opportunities for skills enhancement: Client Interviewing Competition Participation in the Client Interviewing Competition offers an excellent opportunity to acquire essential skills for legal practice, including working in teams, communication with clients, sorting out relevant from irrelevant material, fact management and applying law to fact. Mooting Participation in the Mooting Competition offers an excellent opportunity to practice your presentational skills, work in a team, and improve your skills of analysis and your sense of relevance. Further details may be obtained from the Student Law Society. Acting as an Officer in the Student Law Society This provides opportunities to work in a team, take initiatives, manage people and take responsibility for organising events. Check early for details of elections. 77 | P a g e Pro Bono Activities At UCL Laws we encourage our students to put their knowledge and skills to practical use in the community and see how the law can be used as an effective instrument for social change. We provide opportunities and support students in a range of activities from shadowing lawyers on active casework in conjunction with leading law firms to educating local school children about their rights and working on human rights campaigns. Look out for emails during the year advertising pro bono projects - our places on projects tend to fill up quickly so be sure to respond before the deadline. Contact the Law Society Pro Bono Officer if you have any questions: Julia Martens: julia.martens.14@ucl.ac.uk Also, check our online blog for more opportunities and write ups on student projects: probonoblog.laws.ucl.ac.uk/ The Faculty member responsible for pro bono is Jacqueline Kinghan, Director of Clinical Legal Education: j.kinghan@ucl.ac.uk Vacation Work Placements Good positions are very hard to come by so apply early and treat the experience as a trial run for your final job-search. Job details are posted on the Careers Notice Board, and via the UCL Careers Office homepage, publications, and other relevant websites. Also refer to the Law Society website at www.ucllawsociety.co.uk/ Even if you cannot secure paid vacation work in the firm of first choice consider applying for a one or two weeks of unpaid work experience, perhaps with a smaller firm. In any case the broader the range of experience sought the better. Obviously if you intend to pursue a legal career legal vacation work is to be preferred. However, any vacation work is useful as it will inevitably involve the acquisition and/or practice of valuable skills. Other Supporting Activities: There are also several supporting activities which are run specifically for the purpose of assisting your job search. 15.3 Writing skills at UCL Laws The Faculty supports a number of measures to help you make the transition to university. In all modules, students are required to write two formative essays (one per term) which will be marked and returned to students with feedback, in advance of any formal assessment in May. First years will also be given an opportunity to practice their written skills in January, via Mid-Sessional ‘mock’ examinations in their first-year modules. 78 | P a g e Throughout the year, Jacqueline Thomas will run Academic Legal Writing Skills course which is designed to support undergraduate law students by providing a detailed overview of English legal writing skills, essay and dissertation writing techniques as well as examination preparation. The course is open to all LLB students and affiliates, but is aimed particularly at those who feel they have had difficulty adapting to the requirements of university writing or who feel they are having difficulty improving their writing. This course will be advertised to students via email. The UCL Graduate School is host to UCL's Royal Literary Fund Fellows, professional authors who offer free one-to-one tutorials during term time in effective academic writing to all students at UCL. Further information regarding this service can be found online: www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/writing-skills/ 15.4 UCL Laws Careers Programme The Faculty in conjunction with the Student Law Society (and in co-operation with UCL Careers Service) also mounts events for all years, including evening functions, in which practising solicitors and barristers speak on specific issues related to the professions, and visits to large firms of solicitors. Talks and presentations put on by the UCL Careers Office These will be advertised in the UCL Careers Service Annual Careers Programme for all students, and through the Graduate School in the case of those relevant to LLM Students. Please consult the UCL Careers Service homepage for details of generic events and talks which may be of interest and useful. Annual UCL Law Fair held in the Jeremy Bentham Room and Old Refectory This is now firmly established as an annual event, organised by the UCL Careers Service, which is attended by all the major firms of solicitors and some barristers’ chambers. Many avail themselves of this two day opportunity to make informal contact leading to interviews for vacation and training posts. In 2015-16, the Law Fair will be held on the evenings of 16 and 17 November 2015, with different employers attending on each evening. Visiting the UCL Careers Office (4th Floor, ULU Building, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY) UCL students can take advantage of one of the largest university careers offices available, which is also part of The Careers Group – University of London, which is based in the middle of the UCL campus. There is an extensive and well stocked library with computers available for your use, along with many excellent specialised free publications such as How to write a Curriculum Vitae. 79 | P a g e Appendix I: Assessment Marking Guidelines Numerical Equivalent (for guidance only – examiners can use the full spectrum of marks between 0 – 100) Description of Attainment for the Award of Grade FIRST CLASS 70+ Exception al first 85 First Class A first class answer has a thoughtful structure, a clear message displaying personal reflection informed by wider reading of articles and/or other commentaries and a good grasp of detail (as evidenced by the choice of relevant examples which are well integrated into the answer’s structure). Good first Solid first Borderline first 78 First class answers are ones that are exceptionally good for an undergraduate and which excel in at least one and probably several of the following criteria: 75 72 Excellence in one or more of these areas should be in addition to the qualities expected of an upper second class answer. Although there is no expectation of originality of exposition or treatment, a first class answer is generally expected to spot points rarely seen. A high first is expected to display originality and excel in most if not all the aforementioned criteria. comprehensiveness and accuracy; clarity of argument and expression; integration of a range of materials; evidence of wider reading; insight in to the theoretical issues. UPPER SECOND 60-69 High 2:1 68 Upper Second Class An upper second class answer generally shows a sound understanding of both the basic principles and relevant details of the law, supported by examples which are demonstrably well understood and which are presented in a coherent and logical fashion. The answer should be well presented, display 80 | P a g e some analytical ability and contain no major errors or omissions. Not necessarily excellent in any area. Upper second class answers cover a wider band of student. Such answers are clearly highly competent and typically possess the following qualities. Solid 2:1 65 generally accurate and well-informed; reasonably comprehensive; well-organised and structured; provide evidence of general reading; demonstrating a sound grasp of basic principles; demonstrating a good understanding of the relevant details; succinctly and cogently presented; displaying some evidence of insight. One essential aspect of an upper second class answer is that it must have competently dealt with the question asked. In problem questions – i) all the major issues and most of the minor issues must have been spotted, ii) the application of the legal rules must be accurate and comprehensive, iii) the application of the legal rules must be insightful (ie, the student must demonstrate that s/he can both distinguish cases on their facts and argue by analogy); iv) there should be a conclusion that summarises the legal position of the relevant parties. Borderline 2:1 62 LOWER SECOND 50-59 High 2:2 58 Lower Second Class A substantially correct answer which shows an understanding of the basic principles. Lower second class answers display an acceptable level of competence, as indicated by the following qualities: Solid 2:2 55 Borderline 2:2 52 generally accurate; providing an adequate answer to the question based largely on textbooks and lecture notes; clearly presented; no real development of arguments; may contain some major error or omission. A lower second class answer may also be a good answer (i.e, an upper second class answer) to a related question but not the one set by the examiner. 81 | P a g e THIRD CLASS 40-49 High 3rd 48 Third Class A basic understanding of the main issues but not coherently or correctly presented. Third class answers demonstrate some knowledge or understanding of the general area but a third class answer tends to be weak in the following ways; Solid 3 rd Borderline 3rd 45 descriptive only; does not answer the question directly; misses key points; contains important inaccuracies covers material sparsely, possibly in note form; assertions not supported by authority or evidence. 42 Answers at the bottom of the Third Class category represent the minimum acceptable standards in order to pass. There is just sufficient information to indicate that the student has a general familiarity with the subject area. Such answers typically: contain very little appropriate or accurate material; only cursorily cover of the basic material; are poorly presented without development of arguments. FAIL 30-39 35 Fail Too little by way of information or analysis to pass. Fail answers show enough familiarity with the subject matter of the question or essay topic to suggest that the student made a genuine, if failing attempt, to learn it. BAD FAIL 0-29 25 Bad fail By contrast with a ‘normal’ fail grade, in bad fail answer there is insufficient material to indicate that the student made a serious attempt to learn the subject matter addressed by the exam question or essay topic. 82 | P a g e 15 Reserved mostly for exams: a grade to be given to an exam answer which, typically for lack of time, consists of a paragraph or two or a very basic answer plan relevant to the question but not more. 0 Grade given for unsubmitted work, unanswered questions, or answers which are wholly irrelevant to the question set. 83 | P a g e Appendix II: LLB Principles of Assessment Revised LLB Principles of Assessment for students who commenced their degree from September 2010 onwards Subject to the UCL Academic Regulations for Students, the Laws Undergraduate Board of Examiners (“the Board”), which is reconstituted each year, may amend these Principles, and may exercise its discretion in their application where appropriate according to the circumstances of each candidate. Minor Definitions ‘Final year’ means the year in which a candidate sits the examination preceding the Board’s consideration of the candidate for award of the degree. ‘Intermediate’ year means the first year of the candidate’s study. ‘Module’ means one 15 credit-point unit. ‘Part I’ means the second year of a candidate’s study. ‘Part II’ means: for a 3-year LLB degree: the candidate’s third, and final, year of study; for a 4-year degree where one of the years is spent studying abroad: the candidate’s fourth, and final, year of study ‘Part II(A)’ is only applicable to the 4-year LLB with Advanced Study, and means the third, i.e. penultimate, year of a candidate’s study. ‘Part II(B)’ is, again, only applicable to the 4-year LLB with Advanced Study, and means the fourth, and final, year of a candidate’s study. Passing a Module 1. The final mark awarded for each module shall be a mark out of a (nominal) 100. 2. A candidate passes a module if awarded a final mark of 40 or above. 3. Subject to principles 12 and 13, below, concerning cases of non- or late submission, where a single module is assessed by both written examination and course essay candidates will be assessed on the basis of the aggregate mark for both. A candidate may therefore pass a module even where they have failed one element of the assessment for that module, provided that the aggregate mark is a pass. 4. A candidate who obtains a final mark of 38 or 39 in one module in any year may have their failure in that module excused if the Board considers the candidate to have demonstrated significant strength elsewhere. Where a failure is excused using this procedure, the candidate shall be awarded a mark of 40 in the module in question. A 84 | P a g e mark raised using this procedure shall be treated for all purposes as a pass mark. However: i. A candidate shall not receive the benefit of this Principle in respect of more than one module that is required for the award of a Qualifying Law Degree. ii. A candidate shall not, subject to a recommendation of the Extenuating Circumstances Committee to the contrary, be deemed to have demonstrated significant strength elsewhere for the purposes of this Principle where they have failed more than one module that year. The Board shall usually take the views of the candidate into account when exercising its power under Principle 4. Progression 5. A candidate passes a year if they pass all modules studied that year. 6. A candidate who passes a year shall be entitled to progress to the next year. Extenuating Circumstances 7. An Extenuating Circumstances Committee shall have authority formally delegated from the Board of Examiners to consider circumstances notified in the proper form (and supported by appropriate evidence) which may have affected a candidate’s: i. performance in one, any, or all examination(s); ii. ability to submit one, any, or all course essay(s) on time, or at all; iii. performance in one, any, or all course essay(s); or iv. performance during the academic year. The committee shall make recommendations to the Board of Examiners via the Chair of the Board on the gravity of the circumstances notified according to a specified tariff, indicating to which part of the assessment its recommendation relates. The Board of Examiners shall formally approve the pre-meeting’s recommendations as it sees fit. Failures: Principles applicable to all years 8. A failure in a module shall be considered a “bad fail” where the final mark awarded in that module is below 30. 9. Where a failed module is assessed by both written examination and course essay, a candidate who has failed the module on aggregate may elect to carry forward the mark(s) awarded for the essay or to submit a revised essay(s) on the same question(s). 10. Where relevant in the following Principles, assessment of whether a candidate has compensating strength elsewhere shall be a matter for the discretion of the Board. 85 | P a g e 11. Where a candidate has failed a module for the first time, their next attempt at the examination and/or course essay in that subject will normally be considered a “second attempt”. Any subsequent attempt will normally be considered a “third attempt”. The number of attempts a candidate has taken in order to pass a module shall be recorded on their final UCL transcript. Non-Submission and Absences 12. In the case of an unauthorised absence from an examination or unauthorised non-submission of a course essay, a mark of zero shall be recorded for the element of the assessment which has not been submitted, or the examination that has not been sat. In addition, and irrespective of whether the candidate passes the module on aggregate, the assessment in that module shall be considered incomplete and the candidate shall be required to resit the module. 13. In cases of unauthorised late-submission of a course essay: i. Where the essay is submitted up to 24 hours late, the full allocated mark shall be reduced by 5 percentage points ii. The mark shall be reduced by a further 10 percentage points if the essay is submitted during the following six calendar days iii. Where a course essay is submitted more than seven calendar days after the submission deadline, but before the end of the undergraduate examination period, a mark of zero shall be recorded for that element of the assessment, but the assessment shall be considered complete. iv. Where a course essay is submitted after the end of the undergraduate examination period, the late submission shall be treated as non-submission and shall fall within Principle 12, above. In all cases of late-submission the Board may, following a recommendation by the Extenuating Circumstances Committee, seek College’s permission to suspend these penalties. The Board has, however, no inherent power to treat the late submission as having been authorised after the event. Failures in the Intermediate Examinations 14. 15. In their Intermediate year, a candidate who fails in one module shall be offered the opportunity to resit the examination / coursework in that module provided: i. the fail is not a bad fail; and ii. the candidate has compensating strength elsewhere. A candidate who fails two or more modules in their Intermediate year, OR who does not satisfy the conditions of Principle 14(i) and (ii), above, shall be required to resit the examinations and/or course essays in all modules taken that year (“resit the year”). Failures in Resit Examinations: Intermediate Year 86 | P a g e 16. Where a candidate who is resitting in a single module fails the resit in that module, they will normally be required to resit the year. 17. Where a candidate who is resitting the year does not pass all modules at that sitting, their studies will normally be terminated. Failures in the Part I or Part II(A) Examinations 18. 19. In their Part I or Part II(A) year, a candidate who fails one module may be offered the opportunity to resit the examination / coursework in that module provided: i. no fail is a bad fail; and ii. the candidate has compensating strength elsewhere. A candidate who fails two or more modules in their Part I or Part II(A) year, OR who does not satisfy the conditions of Principle 18(i) and (ii), above, shall be required to resit the year. Failures in Resit Examinations: Part I and Part II(A) Years 20. Where a candidate who is resitting in a single module fails the resit in that module, they will normally be required to resit the year. 21. Where a candidate who is resitting the year does not pass all modules at that sitting, their studies will normally be terminated. 22. A candidate shall have a maximum of three attempts at any given module. A candidate who fails to pass a module at the third attempt will normally have their studies terminated. Failures in Final Year Examinations 23. Where a candidate fails one module in their final year, the Board shall have discretion to condone that failure and award a degree provided: i. the Board considers the mark to be capable of condonation; and ii. the candidate has compensating strength elsewhere. The Board shall usually take the views of the candidate into account when exercising its power under Principle 23. 24. A condoned failure in a module sat in a candidate’s final year may be considered sufficient to reduce an overall classification by one class. Therefore a 1st class profile could be reduced to a 2(I), a 2(I) profile could be reduced to a 2(II), a 2(II) profile could be reduced to a 3 rd and a 3rd class profile could be reduced to an Ordinary (i.e. non-honours) degree. 25. If the Board exercises its discretion under Principle 23, above, and decides not to condone a failure, the candidate shall be required to resit the year. 26. A candidate who fails more than one subject in their final year, OR who does not satisfy the conditions of Principle 23(i) and (ii), above, shall be 87 | P a g e required to resit the year. Failures in Resit Examinations: Final Year 27. Where a candidate who is resitting the final year does not pass all modules, their studies will normally be terminated. Scheme of Award for Students Commencing an LLB degree from September 2010 28. For the purposes of classifying all degrees except those mentioned in Appendix I to these Principles of Assessment, marks obtained in the Intermediate year shall be discarded. 29. A candidate who obtains the following number of credit-points of pass marks shall be entitled to an Honours Degree: i. In a three-year degree course: 120 credits; or ii. In a four-year degree course in Law with Advanced Studies: 180 credit-points; or iii. In a four-year degree course in Law with a European Legal System or Law with Another Legal System: 120 credits 30. Class marks (out of a nominal 100, with a pass mark of 40) are: III >40; II(2) >50; II(1) > 60; I >70 31. A candidate will usually be awarded the highest class of honours in which they have achieved: i. In a three-year degree course: 60 credit-points of class marks at, or above, that level; or ii. In a four-year degree course in Law with Advanced Studies: 90 credit-points of class marks at, or above, that level; or iii. In a four-year degree course in Law with a European Legal System or Law with Another Legal System: 60 credit-points of class marks at, or above, that level. Provided, in each case, that their performance is sound. 32. The following list of average marks shall assist the Board in assessing whether a candidate’s performance is sound: Class I II(1) II(2) III 33. Average 67 60 50 40 If a candidate does not satisfy the requirements of Principle 32: where a candidate’s performance in their final year examinations shows an improvement over their performance in the previous year’s exams this will be considered in the candidate’s favour but a decline in standard in the final year examinations will not be counted to the candidate’s 88 | P a g e detriment. So-called “exit velocity” shall apply across all class boundaries. 34. Exit velocity occurs only when a candidate attains at least 45 credits at, or above, the relevant class in their FINAL year of study. Appendix 1 – Exceptions The LLB Principles of Assessment apply to all undergraduate LLB degrees awarded by UCL, subject only to the exceptions set out in this Appendix. Students taking the LL.B English and German Law or the LL.B/JD. Candidates in each of these programmes are required to have passed the examinations in the Intermediate and Part I stage of the LL.B and those examinations of the partner university that are required for the award of the partner university degree. LL.B English and German Law If candidates for the LL.B English and German Law opt to write a long essay under the supervision of a member of the Faculty of Laws at UCL in their final year, the mark awarded for the essay will be recorded as a mark in Part I for the purposes of classification of the LL.B degree. The results of examinations taken at University College London and any long essay submitted to UCL are used to calculate the overall classification of the LL.B element of the LL.B English and German Law. A candidate will usually be awarded the highest class of honours in which they have achieved 45 credits of marks at, or above, that level, provided that at least one of the highest marks was awarded in respect of a Part I examination or a long essay submitted to UCL, and provided that their performance is sound . Sound performance is to be interpreted in accordance with Principle 32. The average used for the purposes of assessing sound performance is to be calculated based on the marks obtained by a candidate in all Intermediate and Part I modules, and the long essay if completed under the supervision of a member of the Faculty of Laws at UCL. LL.B/JD The results of examinations taken at University College London are used to calculate the overall classification of the LL.B element of the LL.B/JD. A candidate will usually be awarded the highest class of honours in which they have achieved 45 credits of marks at, or above, that level, provided that at least one of the highest marks was awarded in respect of a Part I examination, and provided that their performance is sound. Sound performance is to be interpreted in accordance with Principle 32. The average used for the purposes of assessing sound performance is to be calculated based on the marks obtained by a candidate in all Intermediate and Part I modules. 89 | P a g e Appendix III: Academic Progression Chart Intermediate Exams Passed all subjects Proceeds to Part I Failed one subject (not a bad fail) Referred in that subject only in September Failed more than one subject, or 1x bad fail Part I Exams Passed ALL subjects Proceeds to Part II Failed one subject (not a bad fail) Referred in that subject only in September Failed more than one subject, or 1x bad fail Part II Exams Re-enter ALL Intermediate exams in September Passed subject in September Proceeds to Part I Failed subject in September Re-enter ALL Intermediate exams next May Passed ALL subjects Proceeds to Part I Failed one or more subjects (even if not bad fail) FAIL - Studies terminated Passed subject in September Proceeds to Part II Failed subject in September Re-enter ALL Part I exams next May Re-enter ALL Part I exams in September Passed ALL subjects Proceeds to Part II Failed one or more subjects (even if not a bad fail) FAIL - Studies terminated Passed ALL subjects Award degree Failed one subject (not a bad fail) Award degree (discretion) Failed more than one subject, or 1x bad fail Re-enter ALL Part II exams next May Passed Proceeds to Part I Failed one or more subjects (even if not bad fail) FAIL - Studies terminated Passed Proceeds to Part II Failed one or more subjects (even if not bad fail) FAIL - Studies terminated Passed Award degree Failed one or more subjects (even if not bad fail) FAIL - Studies terminated 90 | P a g e