Guide for Students on
Joint, With and Combined Programmes
Are you studying on a programme involving two (or even three) subjects? Are those
subjects delivered by different departments in the University? If so, this leaflet is for
you. It is designed to clarify your rights in situations where, because of the two or
three subjects, arrangements relating to your programme of study are necessarily
different compared with a single subject programme.
The University is committed to providing all students with an outstanding experience
and to ensuring that students studying two or three subject combinations have an
experience comparable to those on single subject degree programmes.
First, some terminology
You will come across the terms: Joint, With and Combined which mean the
following:
- Joint: a programme involving two subjects weighted roughly 50-50 – ‘X
and Y’
- With: a programme involving two subjects weighted roughly 75-25 – ‘X
with Y’
- Combined: a programme involving three subjects
Note that the above does not apply to programmes within the same subject which use
terms such as ‘and’ or ‘with’ in the title. Equally taking a Free Elective module in
another department does not make your programme a Joint or With. Also, it is
possible in some instances, e.g. French and Spanish, that you study both subjects
within the same department (Modern Languages in this example).
The two or three subjects you study may be within two or three departments. This
will usually be the case for most Joint, With and Combined Studies programmes.
Your rights and Expectations
This section summarises your rights and expectations as a Joint, With or Combined
student:
Who’s First?
One of the departments responsible for your programme will have been allocated as
the ‘lead’. The lead department may be either (or any one) of your departments but
you should be informed which is the ‘lead’ department. The ‘lead’ department is also
known as the ‘home’ department and the buck stops there.
Guide for Students on Joint, With and Combined Programmes
University Quality Office
Version 1 01 – Aug 10
QH:K7
Annexe 6:1
A Programme Leader and the Joint Contact(s)
Your lead department will have named a Programme Leader while your other
department(s) will have named a Joint Contact. Your Programme Leader has overall
responsibility and will liaise with the Joint Contact(s) over matters in your other
department(s) to oversee the service you receive and see nothing is missed.
The Joint Contact is your Programme Leader equivalent in your other department(s).
The Joint Contact(s) work with your Programme Leader.
Personal supervision
You are entitled to one clear lead personal supervisor from your lead department and
a supervisor based in (each of) your other departments.
I shall say this Only Once
When your friends studying a single subject only have to report information about
themselves once, the same goes for you. Your supervisors will pass relevant
information between each other. It’s not for you to double up your workload having
to repeat yourself because you study more than one subject.
Equal Representation
Every department must allow for student representation on a Staff-Student
Committee. Students on Joint, With and Combined programmes are entitled to one
representative, per level, on the Staff-Student Committee, just the same as students
on single subject programmes.
PDP
Personal Development Planning (PDP) is an entitlement of all students at the
University. You can choose which one of your departments you would prefer to
maintain your PDP file.
Arrangements for submission and referencing of work
Please be aware that the arrangements for submission and referencing of
work may differ between departments. Late submission can seriously affect
your mark. You can expect departments to have made clear their respective
requirements in their student handbook(s). Guidance on referencing and
avoiding plagiarism will be published in handbook(s) and is also available from your
supervisor(s) should you be in any doubt. Incorrect referencing is the primary
test of plagiarism. All students are advised to reference correctly to avoid
plagiarism and its consequences.
Assignments which are over-length may also be penalised in different ways across
departments. Again, student handbooks and your supervisors can guide you through
this.
Guide for Students on Joint, With and Combined Programmes
University Quality Office
Version 1 01 – Aug 10
QH:K7
Annexe 6:2
Workload Monitoring
Your lead department has a responsibility to monitor workload in terms of
submission deadlines and to keep this aspect of your learning comparable with
students studying in one department.
Induction
Your departments are obliged to offer a repeat of their Induction events to guard
against you missing out on one of them in the event of a ‘clash’. While clashes are
rare, you are not expected to miss out, so make sure you ask about repeat or
substitute Inductions.
And Finally
Graduation will be the same for you as Joint, With and Combined students as it is for
single subject students. The only difference will be the name of the award on your
Degree Certificate.
Useful Links
www.hull.ac.uk
www.hull.ac.uk/quality
www.hullstudent.com
Useful Contacts
Matthew Barrow
Vice President, Education
Students’ Union
University of Hull
T 01482 466278
E m.barrow@hull.ac.uk
Stuart Gilkes
University Quality Office
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
HULL, HU6 7RX
T 01482 466715
E s.gilkes@hull.ac.uk
Guide for Students on Joint, With and Combined Programmes
University Quality Office
Version 1 01 – Aug 10
QH:K7
Annexe 6:3