Guidelines for postgraduate students
Submission and formatting of assignments
Assignments
A typical MA assignment is between 5,000-6,000 words in length – note that for the
MA in Translation Studies shorter report-like assignments will also be set. The
dissertation is 20,000 words or equivalent. Practice-led dissertations for the MA in
Translation Studies comprise a 12,000-word translation plus an 8,000-word
critical/theoretical commentary
General guidelines on how to submit your Module Coursework
All coursework must normally be submitted both in hard copy and electronically:
1. One copy of the paper version must be placed in the module organiser’s tray or
submitted to her/him by hand, accompanied by an assignment cover sheet (available
from the Administrator’s office or downloadable from the SML website); and
2. An identical electronic version must also be submitted via Blackboard as a
‘TurnitinUK’ assignment. ‘TurnitinUK’ is the name of the software used by Bangor
University to check for plagiarism, which is a form of cheating (see academic conduct
section). This must be in an acceptable format e.g., a Word document. If you have
submitted your e-version correctly, you will get a receipt which you must keep for
your records.
Both versions must be submitted by the given deadline date and time (but need not be
submitted simultaneously).
Dates and deadlines will be provided by the individual modules tutors and may vary
from module to module. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that you are aware of
the hand-in dates and times for each of your modules.
Other submission methods
Coursework cannot be submitted by Email or Fax unless you have the express
permission of the lecturer concerned. If (exceptionally) you are allowed to submit
work in this way, it is your responsibility to check (a) that it has arrived safely and (b)
that it can be read.
If you are ill and cannot hand in your coursework, you can send it to the
Administrator by RECORDED DELIVERY and it will be accepted provided it is
postmarked on or before the deadline date. However, a mark will not be given until
the electronic version has also been submitted.
Format for submission
All work MUST be submitted in word-processed format, securely fastened and
submitted on time.
Assignments must have:
1. A title
2. Consecutive Page Numbering
3. All assignments must be 1.5 or double line spaced, 12pt font size and with 2.5cm
margins. Don’t be tempted to make it smaller just to save paper. This is not in your
interest, as an appropriate layout allows tutors to make comments with ease, which
will help you learn and improve. You also need to allow generous margins for this
purpose.
4. References/bibliography (including filmography where appropriate)
Reading and Bibliography
Assignments should be the result of considerable time, and considerable reading.
Little credit will be given for work which simply repeats seminar material, general
knowledge websites and basic textbooks. The essays and their bibliographies will be
expected to show evidence of wide reading and the argument of the work is expected
to show independent judgment and engagement with any relevant debates and
theories.
Keeping copies of Coursework
Coursework can, very occasionally, go astray. It is your responsibility to keep a copy
of every piece of work you submit, either on computer or hard copy (or both), until it
has been graded.
Deadlines
Every piece of coursework has to be submitted by the given deadline, which is a fixed
date and is not negotiable (although extensions may be possible in exceptional
circumstances – please see below). All work must be handed in on time. Deadlines for
module assignments will be stated in advance.
Remember that deadlines are the last possible date on which a piece of work must be
handed in, but you can complete essays or assignments before such dates. You should
organise your work in such a way that you do not have to meet several deadlines in
the same week.
Late submission: If no extension has been granted, work submitted within one week
of the stated deadline will be marked but the mark will be capped at 40%. A mark of
0% will be awarded for work submitted more than 1 week after the deadline.
Word limits:

You are expected to submit work which is within 10% of the word limit (e.g.
for an assignment of 2,500 words, between 2,250 and 2,750 is acceptable).

Please state the word limit at the end of your text.

Word limits do not include footnotes and bibliographies (but please do not use
footnotes for additional comments; these should be included within the main
body of the text).

If work does not fall within 10% of the word limit, the mark awarded will
reflect the deficiencies of the work proportionately to the extent to which the
word limit has not been met.
How to present and submit your dissertation/thesis
TWO copies of dissertations/theses shall be presented in permanent and legible form
in typescript or print and the characters employed in the main text shall be not less
than 12pt; characters employed in all other texts, notes, footnotes, etc, shall be not less
than 10pt.
Typing shall be of even quality with clear black characters. Double or one-and-a-half
spacing shall be used in the main text, but single spacing shall be used in the summary
and in any indented quotations and footnotes.
A4 paper shall be used and should be of good quality and sufficient opacity for
normal reading.
If you are submitting a PhD Thesis, this shall be accompanied by the Declaration
and Consent Form – available for download from the Documents for Current
Postgraduates section of the SML website.
Extensions
Requesting an extension
In the case of MA coursework, only the MA Convener – in consultation with the
relevant module organiser – can grant an extension to the deadline for any piece of
coursework, and then only in exceptional circumstances. A request for an extension
must be made by yourself (or if necessary by someone on your behalf), giving full
details of the circumstances which you claim justify the extension.
In the case of PhD theses, extensions need to be granted by the Director of Graduate
Studies in conjunction with your Academic Supervisor. Please note that the School is
only at liberty to grant three-month extensions for the submission of a thesis.
Grounds for an extension
The MA Convener/Director of Graduate Studies must be satisfied that your ability to
do the work has been adversely affected by ill health or by serious personal
problems which are beyond your control, or (in exceptional cases) that
circumstances beyond your control prevent you from handing in your work.
NB: Failure to organize your work properly is not a good reason for an extension, nor
are computer or printer problems. Making sure that your work is word-processed and
printed out in time is a key aspect of time management.