DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
Student Handbook
MSc in Mathematical Finance
by Online Distance learning
Version 130903
1
Contents
1. Purpose of this Handbook ....................................................................................................... 3
2. General Information for Students............................................................................................ 3
a. Studying at York .............................................................................................................. 3
b. Developing Your Academic/Study Skills .......................................................................... 3
c. The Library ...................................................................................................................... 4
d. Computing and Technology .............................................................................................. 4
e. Support, Welfare and Health ............................................................................................. 4
f. If things go wrong ............................................................................................................ 4
g. Graduation........................................................................................................................ 5
h. University governance ...................................................................................................... 5
i. Other University policies that affect you ........................................................................... 5
3. Contacts: Academic and Administrative Support .................................................................... 5
a. Departmental Contact Details ........................................................................................... 5
b. Academic Staff Involved in the Online MSc in Math Finance ........................................... 5
c. Support Staff in the Mathematics Department ................................................................... 6
d. Support by University ....................................................................................................... 6
4. Being an Online MSc Student................................................................................................. 7
5. Your Responsibilities ............................................................................................................. 8
6. Computing and Internet .......................................................................................................... 9
a. Hardware Requirements ................................................................................................... 9
b. Software Requirements ................................................................................................... 10
c. Services Provided by the University ............................................................................... 11
7. Programme Structure ............................................................................................................ 12
a. Outline ........................................................................................................................... 12
b. Structure of Taught Modules .......................................................................................... 13
c. Structure of Dissertation Module .................................................................................... 13
d. Pathways ........................................................................................................................ 14
e. Teaching and Vacation Periods ....................................................................................... 15
8. Assessment, Reassessment and Progression.......................................................................... 15
a. Assessment of Taught Modules ...................................................................................... 15
b. Mark Scale ..................................................................................................................... 15
c. Assessment of the Dissertation ....................................................................................... 16
d. Feedback on assessed and non-assessed work ................................................................. 17
e. Compensation ................................................................................................................. 17
f. Reassessment.................................................................................................................. 18
g. Missed Deadlines ........................................................................................................... 20
h. Mitigating Circumstances ............................................................................................... 20
i. Progression ..................................................................................................................... 21
j. Exit Awards.................................................................................................................... 21
k. Leave of Absence ........................................................................................................... 22
9. Withdrawing from the Programme ....................................................................................... 23
10. Appeals Procedure................................................................................................................ 23
a. Students Wishing to Appeal Against The Final Result .................................................... 23
b. Students Wishing to Appeal Against the Mark of a Specific Assessment ........................ 24
11. Complaints ........................................................................................................................... 24
12. Academic Misconduct: University Guidelines ...................................................................... 24
13. Online Academic Integrity Tutorial and Test ........................................................................ 26
14. Student Support and Welfare Services .................................................................................. 26
15. Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................ 27
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1.
Purpose of this Handbook
This handbook is designed to give you information about the course and the
assessment procedures for the MSc in Mathematical Finance by Online Distance
Learning (referred to as the Online MSc programme in what follows).
This handbook also contains a variety of other information concerning the University
of York, the Department of Mathematics, the Library and other facilities.
Please note that details contained in this handbook may change from time to time: you
will be kept fully up-to-date.
2.
General Information for Students
General information for all students can be found at the student home page:
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/
a.
Studying at York
Here you will find information about your course and services to assist you
in managing your studies.
You will be able to access your student record. New and returning students
are provided with enrolment details and deadlines and access to the
university’s system that holds your record: e:Vision.
Please read the information about your University card.
You will find advice if you decide to change your plans and change or
withdraw from your programme or take a break from your studies. If you
are a taught postgraduate student and need to apply for an extension, you
will find the criteria and application form here.
Please read the information on assessment and examination regulations
and arrangements for students with a disability or medical condition (if
applicable to you).
You will also find information on the rules for progression and award
https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/registryservices/guide.
This highlights the key rules and requirements concerning progression
through your programme and your award at the end of your programme.
b.
Developing Your Academic/Study Skills
The University provides opportunities for you to develop your skills:
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/develop-your-skills/study-skills/
3
These include academic study skills, such as referencing and citation. All
students are required to complete the academic integrity tutorial in order to
develop this skill: http://www.york.ac.uk/integrity/
The University also provides access to Turnitin, a text matching system to
help with the integration of source material into your assignments.
Other support available can help you develop your Maths and IT skills and
we also have a suite of courses to help you develop transferable skills.
There is a suite of support for international students to help with language
and writing skills.
Further advice and opportunities to develop your employability skills is
provided by the Careers Service: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/workvolunteering-careers . Here there are details on events, guidance and online support such as the employability tutorial.
c.
The Library
Please read the information about the University Library. This includes
how to access the library catalogue and your library account, guidance on
how to use the service, availability of electronic resources, access to the
digital library, and on-line tutorials and workbooks to help you develop
your skills.
You are also provided with access to York Information Connections where
you will be able to access resources for your subject and locate your
academic liaison librarian who can help you use resources effectively.
d.
Computing and Technology
The Computing and Technology page provides details about online
systems and services.
e.
Support, Welfare and Health
This information includes emergency contacts and covers support provided
by Colleges and the Student Groups. It also details support and services
provided by Student Support Services, such as emotional and
psychological support, health care and support for disabled and
international students. Faith contacts are found here too.
Advice on welfare issues is available and covers accommodation, student
finance and child care.
f.
If things go wrong
If, for some reason things go wrong with your academic studies and you
need advice and guidance about leave of absence or mitigating
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circumstances, how to make a complaint or an appeal, or advice on
academic misconduct you will need to read the information provided here
and then talk to your supervisor.
g.
Graduation
Graduation details, including how to register and ceremony dates are
available here.
h.
University governance
How the University is governed is outlined here. It includes the
University’s Ordinances and Regulations which govern programmes of
study. All students should read these to familiarise themselves with
regulations about student discipline, residence and attendance requirement,
suspension, and procedures for programmes, assessment and awards.
i.
Other University policies that affect you
Data protection:
http://www.york.ac.uk/recordsmanagement/dpa/studentdata/
Copyright/Intellectual property rights:
http://www.york.ac.uk/library/servicesandfacilities/copyrightadvisoryservi
ce/
3.
Contacts: Academic and Administrative Support
Our intention is to make the course structure and the assessment process as clear as
possible. If you have any queries about the course please use the appropriate contacts
from the list below.
a.
Departmental Contact Details
Department of Mathematics
University of York
Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-1904-323070
Fax: +44-1904-323071
Web page: http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/Home
Head of Department
Professor Ed Corrigan
Email: edward.corrigan@york.ac.uk
b.
Academic Staff Involved in the Online MSc in Math Finance
Professor Tomasz Zastawniak
Programme Director
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Email: tomasz.zastawniak@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44-1904-324138
Skype username: tz506_mscmf_uoy
Dr Alet Roux
Personal Supervisor
Email: alet.roux@york.ac.uk
Skype username: ar521_mscmf_uoy
Professor Marek Capinski
Lecturer and Tutor
Email: mc544@york.ac.uk
Skype username: mc544_mscmf_uoy
Dr Maciej Capinski
Lecturer and Tutor
Email: mc545@york.ac.uk
Skype username: mc545_mscmf_uoy
c.
Support Staff in the Mathematics Department
Mr Nicholas Page
Graduate Secretary
Email: njp503@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44-1904-323097 or +44-1904-323070
Skype username: grad_secretary_maths_york
Dr Henning Bostelmann
Computer Officer and VLE (Moodle) support
and
Chair of the Mitigating Circumstances Committee
Email: hb540@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44-1904-323088
d.
Support by University
Library
http://www.york.ac.uk/library/
Email: lib-enquiry@york.ac.uk
Online Form: Online Enquiry Service
Tel: +44-1904-323873
Services for Distance Learners
http://www.york.ac.uk/library/informationfor/distancelearners/
IT Services
http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services
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IT Support Office
http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/help/itso/
Tel: +44-1904-323838
Email: itsupport@york.ac.uk
Registry Services
General: http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-andadmin/registry-services/
Email: registry-services@york.ac.uk
Resources and support for students: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/
Fees Office
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/finance/findept/fees.htm
Email: fees-office@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44-1904-322120
Support for international students
http://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/support/
Student Support Services
http://www.york.ac.uk/student-support-services/
Email: student-support@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44-1904-324140
Careers Service
http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/
Email: careers@york.ac.uk
Graduate Students' Association
http://www.yorkgsa.org/
Email: info@yorkgsa.org
Tel: +44-1904-322718
4.
Being an Online MSc Student
You will probably find that your life as a graduate student is rather different from
what you were used to as an undergraduate. Following a course by distance learning
also brings its own challenges. However, the differences and challenges are
unpredictable and will vary with the individual. The following are some of the
possibilities that you should be prepared for.
You may already be expecting a challenging amount of mathematics that you have to
learn. You may be used to acquiring mathematical knowledge only from lectures; if
so, you will have to acquire the habit of reading mathematical books and papers. You
should try to develop the skill of being selective in the way you cover material; it is
often not necessary to know every detail of every proof, and even when you do need
to understand the details, it can be helpful to start with a preliminary reading in which
you concentrate on definitions and the statements of theorems, skipping the proofs.
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You are one of a group of students working in the same area, and you might find that
the Online MSc is a more social activity than you had expected. It can be very helpful
and enjoyable to discuss problems and to share ideas with others. Facilities to do so
are provided within the Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle). This should still be
useful even if you are the sort of person who needs to be on their own to think
effectively. You can still pick up the bones of an idea or a problem from conversation,
without feeling that you really understand it, and then go away and think about it by
yourself until you do understand it. It might be only after doing this that you have
some contribution to make to a discussion. On the other hand, it can be very helpful in
the development of your own ideas to talk about them to other people. Even if they
don't respond, the act of expressing your ideas can help to clarify them to yourself.
Unnoticed mistakes often come to light this way.
As an aspiring professional, you should aim not just to learn and understand
mathematical ideas and their relevance in modern quantitative finance, but most
importantly to communicate them to others, including people who do not have the
same level of technical skill and knowledge as yourself.
If you are to get the maximum benefit from the course, there are two important don'ts
to bear in mind: don’t be afraid to admit your ignorance, and don’t be afraid of asking
a silly question. These are easy to state, and hard to follow. But you should try.
5.
Your Responsibilities
There are a few simple rules we need to ask every student to follow so the Online
MSc programme can run smoothly and efficiently for everyone. Your kind
cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
•
•
•
Keeping contact details up to date. We shall need to contact you many times
during the programme, including the teaching and holiday periods, and also
after you complete the programme, so please keep your postal addresses
(permanent and term-time), telephone numbers (including a mobile number if
you have one) and private email address up to date by reporting any changes
to the Graduate Secretary, Nicholas Page, njp503@york.ac.uk, tel. +44-1904323097.
Checking email on a daily basis. We shall be using your University of York
email address rather than you private email address while you remain
registered on the programme. Many important and possibly urgent messages
will be communicated in this way, for example, last minute timetable changes.
It is your responsibility to check and read your University of York email every
day. Any messages posted to your University of York email address will be
deemed to have been read by you after 24 hours.
Maintaining subscription to Moodle forums. Many important messages will
be emailed to you automatically via the Virtual Learning Environment
(Moodle). For this to happen, you will be automatically registered for the
relevant news and discussion forums in Moodle. Though some of the forums
will allow you to unregister, it is important not to do so as you would then be
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•
•
•
6.
at risk of missing some important announcements sent in this way. Likewise,
be weary of setting up a periodic digest of Moodle messages, which may delay
the delivery of some messages. Remember that all messages sent will be
deemed to have been received after 24 hours.
Using University of York email address to send email to all academic and
administrative university staff. We give very high priority to dealing with
email from current students. Some staff members use filters and email sorting
software to automatically recognise email from current students so it can be
dealt with it in an efficient and timely manner. Email sent from accounts other
than the one provided to students by the University may end up delivered in
the wrong folders, where it can remain ignored for long periods of time, and in
some cases blocked, lost or deleted. If you would like your email to be read
and acted upon quickly, please send it from your University of York email
account.
Reporting problems in a timely manner. Unfortunately, some students
might experience problems, such as illness, accident or family bereavement,
which are beyond their control and serious enough to interfere with the course
of studies. Such problems need to be reported to the Personal Supervisor,
Tutor and Graduate Secretary as soon as practicable. This is important in all
cases, but particularly when assessed work, deadlines, scheduled online
meetings or vivas are involved. Allowances can only be made if any such
problems are reported in a timely manner, which in the vast majority of cases
will mean in advance of any deadline, meeting or viva. However, reporting a
problem does not necessarily mean that allowances will automatically be
made: each case will be considered individually, and evidence may be requited
(e.g. a doctor’s letter). The general rule is that such events must be unforeseen,
serious, and entirely beyond the control of the student.
Being aware of university and departmental rules and regulations. It will
be assumed that you have read and understood the university and departmental
rules and regulations relevant to your programme of study. Please familiarise
yourself with these at your earliest opportunity (the web links are provided
earlier in this document). This includes familiarising yourself with this Student
Handbook, though if you are reading this, perhaps we do not need to say so
here after all☺. If in doubt, about any rules and regulations, please consult
your Personal Supervisor, who will be happy to help.
Computing and Internet
a. Hardware Requirements
Computer running under Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
Headset (or built-in microphone and speakers)
Internet video camera
CD/DVD reader
9
(Optional) USB tablet attachment (for handwriting) or a tablet laptop or
tablet monitor or digitising pen
• An A4 size USB (or wireless) tablet attachment is recommended;
smaller sizes are uncomfortable and often have insufficient resolution.
• A digitising pen is also a convenient and affordable option. It works
like a normal pen with which to write on paper, while the motion is
captured and digitised by a small device attached to the sheet of paper.
• A tablet laptop or tablet monitor is usually much more comfortable, but
more expensive than a tablet attachment.
b. Software Requirements
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
LyX mathematical editor
• LyX is a free mathematical editor, which is used extensively during the
MSc programme to write exercise and coursework solutions and the
dissertation. LyX is a user-friendly front end to LaTeX, the
programming environment for professional mathematical typesetting.
• Download LyX from http://www.lyx.org/Download under Windows
binaries (2000/XP/Vista)
• The standard windows installer is recommended. This will
automatically install additional packages which are required, such as
MikTeX (see below).
• A LyX tutorial is provided as part of the Induction Module.
MikTeX mathematical typesetting package
• This is a free Windows implementation of LaTeX, a programming
environment for professional mathematical typesetting.
• If the standard Windows installer is used for LyX (see above), the
MikTeX package will be downloaded and installed automatically.
• If for some reason MikTeX is not installed together with LyX, it can be
downloaded separately from http://miktex.org/ (in which case it needs
to be installed before LyX).
• Basic LaTeX typesetting skills are introduced during the Induction
module, as this is useful for entering mathematics when using the
discussion forums in the Virtual Learning Environment.
• It will be not be necessary to learn more advanced LaTeX features
because LyX provides a user-friendly front end to LaTeX.
Acrobat Reader
• Download from http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
Skype
• Download from http://www.skype.com/
10
(Optional) Microsoft OneNote
• This may be used in one-to-one online tutorials and dissertation
supervisory meetings.
• Download free trial version from http://office.microsoft.com/engb/onenote/default.aspx?ofcresset=1 .
Microsoft Office 2007 or later (including Word and Excel)
Standard web browser (for example, Internet Explorer or Firefox)
In the "Numerical and Computing Techniques in Finance" module the
Code::Blocks C++ IDE will be used.
• This is free to download from http://www.codeblocks.org/
Internet Connection
• Online students must have stable access to a Broadband standard or
faster Internet connection from a location affording suitable conditions
to participate in one-to-one online tutorials with an audio and video
link.
• 2 Mbps nominal download speed is normally sufficient, but this may
depend on the Internet provider's peak time download speed, which
could be much lower than the nominal speed.
c. Services Provided by the University
Username and Password
• The username and password along with further instructions will be
posted to all new students.
Email Account
• The details will be posted to all new students.
• IMPORTANT: All registered Online MSc Math Finance students are
requested to use exclusively their University email account to
communicate with university academic and support staff. This will
assist is managing communications efficiently. Email about university
matters sent from other accounts may cause delays and in some rare
cases may not be dealt with at all. Thank you for your cooperation.
VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)
• Moodle
http://maths.york.ac.uk/moodle/login/index.php
This is the VLE used by the Mathematics Department, in particular, for
the Online MSc in Mathematical Finance.
• Yorkshare
http://vle.york.ac.uk
This is a VLE provided by the University, but its use by the
Mathematics Department is minimal. For the Online MSc in
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Mathematical Finance Yorkshare is used only for the Academic
Integrity Tutorial.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• The VPN service enables any member of the University remote access
to the Campus network. It provides a way of accessing your University
resources from offsite. This also gives your computer a temporary
University of York IP address so that you can access electronic
resources (such as e-journals) that need a University of York IP
address for authentication.
• For instructions see
http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/connect/vpn/
University web cache (proxy server)
• This allows you to use your own Internet connection to access
electronic resources (such as e-journals) that need a University of York
IP address for authentication. It does this by channelling your web
access via the university web cache so that you appear to be using a
university IP address.
• For instructions see
http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/connect/cache/
Filestore
• http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/it/filestore/
More information:
• http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/
7.
Programme Structure
a. Outline
The Online MSc in Mathematical Finance comprises three stages,
Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation, divided into a number of modules,
and preceded by an Induction Module. Module specifications for all
credit bearing modules are available by following the links below.
•
Induction Period
Induction Module
no credit bearing
Certificate Stage
o
Mathematical Methods of Finance (Online Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/MMF_Online
20 credits
o
Discrete Time Modelling and Derivative Securities (Online
Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/DTMDS_Online
20 credits
o
•
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Portfolio Theory and Risk Management (Online Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/PTRM_Online
20 credits
Diploma Stage
o Stochastic Calculus and Black-Scholes Theory (Online Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/SCBST_Online
20 credits
o Modelling of Bonds, Term Structure and Interest Rate
Derivatives (Online Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/MBTSIRD_Online
20 credits
o Numerical and Computing and Techniques in Finance (Online
Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/NCTF_Online
20 credits
Dissertation Stage
o MSc Dissertation (Online Version)
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/MFD_Online
60 credits
o
•
•
b. Structure of Taught Modules
Each taught module comprises the following elements:
• Interactive presentations recorded on CD/DVD in lieu of lectures,
equivalent to 30 one-hour lectures, also available for downloading
via Moodle.
• Printed lecture notes, also available electronically via Moodle.
• 10 one-hour one-to-one online tutorials shared between the three
modules comprising the current stage of the programme.
• Exercise sheets with worked solutions.
• Demonstrations and sample computer code whenever relevant.
• Support from module lecturer via the Virtual Learning
Environment (Moodle).
• Discussion forum in Moodle, moderated by the module lecturer.
Students are expected to contribute about 200 hours of work for each 20credit taught module, including private study time, online tutorials,
participation in the discussion forum, background reading, exercises, code
development, assessed work and other elements of the course whenever
relevant. The final week (for fast stream students) or two weeks (for
standard stream students) of each taught stage of the programme are
devoted to revision and an online viva, and no new material is covered
during that period.
c. Structure of Dissertation Module
The dissertation module comprises the following elements:
• A list of dissertation topics to choose from, including a brief
description and bibliography. Students are also encouraged to design
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•
•
•
•
their own dissertation topic subject to approval by the potential
dissertation advisor.
6 one-hour one-to-one online supervisory sessions with the
dissertation advisor scheduled at regular intervals.
6 readings of dissertation drafts by the dissertation supervisor or a
consultant, with written comments prior to each supervisory session.
Support from the dissertation advisor or consultant via email.
Support through the VLE platform (Moodle), proving file depository
and other services.
Students are expected devote approximately 600 hours of work to the
dissertation. Progress will be monitored in regular online supervisory
sessions and by requiring students to submit electronic drafts of their work
in advance of the supervisory sessions. Oral presentation during the online
viva will provide students with a further opportunity to present their
dissertation work in addition to the thesis submitted and to address any
questions that may arise in connection with this work.
d. Pathways
The programme is divided into three stages:
•
•
•
Certificate
Diploma
Dissertation
There are two 4-month teaching periods:
•
•
1 October to 31 January
1 March to 31 June
Students can choose how fast they wish to progress by selecting one of
two streams:
•
•
Fast Steam
Standard Stream
This choice can be made before the beginning of each stage (Certificate,
Diploma or Dissertation) of the programme. The stage must then be
completed within
•
•
a single 4-month teaching period when following the fast stream
two consecutive 4-month teaching periods (with a vacation period in
between) when following the standard stream
The Online MSc programme allows the flexibility to change between the
fast and standard streams before the start of each stage, but not during
the stage once it has started.
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For examples of pathways follow this link:
http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/OnlineMScMFTiming
e. Teaching and Vacation Periods
Teaching periods:
15 Sep to 30 Sep
1 Oct to 31 Jan
15 Feb to 28 Feb
1 Mar to 30 Jun
Induction for new students starting in the autumn
Autumn teaching period
Induction for new students starting in the spring
Spring teaching period
Vacation periods:
1 Feb to 28 Feb
1 Jul to 30 Sep
8.
Winter vacation
Summer vacation
Assessment, Reassessment and Progression
a. Assessment of Taught Modules
Each taught module is assessed by means of four equally weighted
coursework assignments comprising in total 100% of the final mark,
followed by a recorded online viva to authenticate the work submitted for
assessment. Coursework assignments may comprise and combine a variety
of work, including essay type work, tests and exercises, including online
tests, computer programming assignments, and the like. The timing of
individual coursework assignments is provided in the schedule available in
Moodle.
Marking is based on work submitted electronically for each assignment,
whereas a recorded online viva scheduled at the end of each stage of the
programme (Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation) serves to authenticate the
work submitted for assessment, but does not otherwise affect the marks.
Assessed work is routinely screened using online tools for the detection of
unfair means such as unacknowledged copying of material or collusion.
The final mark for each taught module is calculated as a weighted average
mark from all assessed parts of the module.
b. Mark Scale
The University mark scale for taught postgraduate programmes, which is
applied throughout the Online MSc programme, is 0–100 with the pass mark
set at 50:
Distinguished performance at postgraduate level
15
70–100
Good performance at postgraduate level
Satisfactory performance at postgraduate level
Fail
60–69
50–59
0–49
A mark of 70 or above for distinguished performance at postgraduate level
should be given for performance that is excellent but need not be
exceptional.
For students joining the September 2011 or a later intake, a fail mark of 4049 is potentially compensatable (see below), and marks of 0-39 are outright
fails.
c. Assessment of the Dissertation
The dissertation is assessed independently by two internal examiners, who
produce a joint report to be approved by the External Examiner. A recorded
online viva at the end of the Dissertation Stage serves to authenticate the
work submitted for assessment, but in normal circumstances does not affect
the mark assigned for written work, unless there is evidence emerging
during the viva that the student fails to have thorough understanding of the
work submitted or has used unfair means (such as submitting work that is
not their own).
The examiners are looking for evidence of: (1) use of quantitative skills in a
broad sense (i.e. one or more of mathematics, statistics, and computation)
applied in finance, (2) attainment of research skills, (3) understanding of
subject matter, (4) reading around the subject of the dissertation, and (5) an
ability to communicate ideas clearly. The examiners make allowance for
cases in which positive results proved hard to achieve; you can report, for
instance, ‘negative’ results, discussion of shortcomings, and proposed future
research.
Guidelines for dissertation marks (out of 100):
0 - 20
21-39
40-49
50-55
Chaotic write-up. No useful results obtained. No understanding
demonstrated.
Distinctly inadequate write-up. Results very skimpy. Rationale
of the study unclear. Interpretation of results very weak.
Substantial misunderstanding of the subject matter.
Weak write-up. Results scarce or perhaps with a large quantity of
low-quality results.
Worthwhile results not presented or
interpreted properly. Some misunderstanding of subject matter.
Format neither that of a scientific paper nor an appropriate
alternative. Little or no evidence of the student having understood
the source materials, or evidence to the contrary.
Reasonable, “passing”, though rather run-of-the-mill write-up.
Perhaps showing some misunderstanding or flair - but little of
either. Little evidence of extra reading. Some use of a
combination of maths/statistics/computation skills developed in
the MSc course and/or elsewhere.
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56-65
Good write-up. Work properly introduced and presented. Format
following the correct model. Methods clear and appropriate.
References used properly. Evidence of some extra reading.
Thoughtful but not inspired discussion. Placement integrated
into a wider context. Significant use of a combination of
maths/statistics/computation skills developed in the MSc course
and/or elsewhere.
65-69 Very good write-up. As above but with wide extra reading,
succinct and clear presentation and some insight in the discussion.
Substantial use of a combination of maths/statistics/computation
skills developed in the MSc course and/or elsewhere.
70-100 Excellent write-up, clearly worthy of a mark of distinction. Easy
to read and clearly presented. Problem enunciated fully,
approached with sophistication and interpreted with detailed
knowledge of the literature. Report of a publishable standard
with little modification.
d. Feedback on assessed and non-assessed work
Written feedback on assessed work is in the form of marker’s comments
inserted in the lyx file uploaded by the student (not available when a student
does not follow the prescribed lyx format to submit their work).
Oral feedback on assessed and non-assessed work is provided during one-toone online tutorials. In addition, written model solutions are provided for all
non-assessed work.
Feedback in the dissertation takes the form of written comments in
successive drafts (provided such drafts are submitted by the scheduled
deadlines and uploaded in the prescribed lyx format) and oral feedback
during online supervisory meetings.
In all cases, feedback is provided within two weeks of the work being
submitted by the student (and in fact much sooner in the vast majority of
cases) as long as the submission deadlines are met.
e. Compensation
Compensation applies only for students who joined the September 2011 or
later intakes. Students who joined earlier intakes are not eligible for
compensation.
Compensation is applied at the end of the taught component of the
programme. Independent study modules (Dissertation) cannot be
compensated.
17
Compensation in Masters
If a student fails one or more taught module (i.e. achieves a mark below 50)
s/he may still receive credit for the failed module(s) provided that
(i) s/he has failed no more than 40 credits.
(ii) no marks are lower than 40.
(iii) the rounded credit-weighted mean over all taught modules (including
the failed module(s) is at least 50.
Compensation in Postgraduate Diplomas
If a student fails one or more taught module (i.e. achieves a mark below 50)
s/he may still receive credit for the failed module(s) provided that
(i) s/he has failed no more than 40 credits.
(ii) no marks are lower than 40.
(iii) the rounded credit-weighted mean over all taught modules (including
the failed module(s) is at least 50.
Compensation in Postgraduate Certificates
If a student fails one or more taught module (i.e. achieves a mark below 50)
s/he may still receive credit for the failed module(s) provided that
(i) s/he has failed no more than 20 credits.
(ii) no marks are lower than 40.
(iii) the rounded credit-weighted mean over all taught modules (including
the failed module(s) is at least 50.
f. Reassessment
Reassessment is an opportunity for students to redeem failure for the award
of credit to meet award requirements.
A student may only be reassessed in a particular module on one occasion.
If a student receives a final mark of 50 or more in a module, then the student
will have no right to be reassessed in that module, even if some of the marks
for individual assessed elements (such as coursework assignments) of that
module are below 50.
Students who joined before the September 2011 intake
Students whose final mark is below 50 in no more than one module
comprising no more than 20 credits per each stage of the programme
(Certificate, Diploma or Dissertation) have the right to be reassessed in that
module at the end of that stage.
Students whose final mark is below 50 in two or more modules comprising
no more than 20 credits per each stage of the programme (Certificate,
Diploma and Dissertation) have no right to be reassessed.
18
Students who joined the September 2011 or later intake
If it is not possible for a student to achieve the credit required for her/his
intended award by reassessment, s/he is entitled to be reassessed for a lower
credit volume award, as appropriate. The number of credits in which s/he is
entitled to be reassessed will be capped at the number permitted for the
lower credit volume award.
For taught modules, marks obtained following reassessment will not be
capped. The reassessment mark will appear on the transcript but it will
clearly indicate where marks have been achieved at first attempt and at
reassessment.
Masters: taught modules
Where a student has failed modules and the award requirements cannot be
met by application of the compensation criteria, s/he is entitled to
reassessment in a maximum of 40 credits-worth of failed modules provided
they have failed no more than 60 credits, with no more than 40 credits-worth
of outright fail (i.e. module marks less than 40).
Note that modules reassessed during the Certificate stage as well as those
reassessed during the Diploma stage count towards the number of modules
reassessed for the purpose of awarding a Masters degree.
Masters: independent study module (dissertation)
Where a student has failed a Masters’ dissertation with a mark below 40
there will be no opportunity for reassessment. However, where a student has
been awarded a ‘marginal fail’ mark of between 40 and 49 they will have an
opportunity to make amendments which would enable a passing threshold to
be reached. The mark after resubmission will be capped at 50.
Postgraduate Diploma
Where a student has failed modules and the award requirements cannot be
met by application of the compensation criteria, s/he is entitled to
reassessment in a maximum of 40 credits-worth of failed modules provided
they have failed no more than 60 credits, with no more than 40 credits-worth
of outright fail (i.e. module marks less than 40).
Note that modules reassessed during the Certificate stage count towards the
number of modules reassessed for the purpose of awarding a Postgraduate
Diploma.
Postgraduate Certificate
Where a student has failed modules and the award requirements cannot be
met by application of the compensation criteria, s/he is entitled to
reassessment in a maximum of 20 credits-worth of failed modules provided
they have failed no more than 30 credits, with no more than 20 credits-worth
of outright fail (i.e. module marks less than 40).
19
g. Missed Deadlines
When the deadline is 10 days or more the penalty for late submission of
coursework and dissertations, unless stated otherwise in writing, will be as
follows:
• For the first five days, each day or part day will incur a penalty of 10%
of the maximum mark. This includes days at weekends or holidays.
Work submitted after five days will receive a mark of 0.
• When the deadline is less than 10 days any work submitted late will
receive an automatic a mark of 0.
Online tests and online viva appointments will be treated like scheduled
examinations, that is, a mark of 0 will be recorded if an online test is not
taken by the closing time or the viva not attended as scheduled.
Extensions and changes of the deadlines, test closing times or viva
appointments will only be allowed in the presence of exceptional mitigating
circumstances that are documented, unforeseen, beyond the control of the
student and of serious enough nature to satisfy the Mitigating Circumstances
Committee that an extension of the deadline or test closing time is
appropriate. Examples include a serious accident or a life threatening illness
requiring hospitalisation. In all such cases students are requested to contact
the department before the deadline whenever possible.
Students are expected to make allowances for the possibility of minor
illness, work, business and domestic duties, commitments and minor
emergencies, traffic and travel delays, and other similar events that are to be
expected to occur from time to time in modern life. Such circumstances will
not be considered as unforeseen, beyond the control of the student or of
serious enough nature to justify an extension of a deadline or test closing
time or rescheduling an online viva.
h. Mitigating Circumstances
The University defines mitigating circumstances as problems that students
have encountered which go beyond the normal difficulties experienced in
life and that have affected their academic performance adversely during the
assessment period for which they are claiming.
Mitigating circumstances applications must be submitted to the Chair of the
departmental Mitigating Circumstances Committee, Dr Michael Bate,
michael.bate@york.ac.uk with a copy to the Programme Director, Professor
Tomasz Zastawniak, tomasz.zastawniak@york.ac.uk prior to the normal
deadline for completion of the assessment whenever possible, and in any
case no later than a week after the deadline. Evidence in support of the claim
will be expected in normal circumstances.
20
Further information and the Mitigating Circumstances Claim Form can be
found at http://www.york.ac.uk/students/support/academic/
i.
Progression
To progress from the Certificate Stage to the Diploma Stage a student must
satisfy the criteria for the pass award of a Postgraduate Certificate.
To progress from the Diploma Stage to the Dissertation Stage a student must
satisfy the criteria for the pass award of a Postgraduate Diploma.
j. Exit Awards
Students become eligible for the highest award earned to-date on completing
the programme or upon leaving the programme prior to completion, but not
for any intermediate award(s).
The exit awards are listed below in the order from the lowest to the highest
award.
Students who joined before the September 2011 intake
Postgraduate Certificate: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate a
student has to achieve a weighted average mark of at least 50% from the
modules comprising the Certificate Stage.
Postgraduate Diploma: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma a
student has to achieve a weighted average mark of at least 50% from the
modules comprising the Certificate and Diploma Stages.
Masters Degree: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a pass Masters Degree a
student has to achieve a weighted average mark of at least 50% from the
modules comprising the Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation Stages.
Masters Degree: Distinction
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Masters Degree with
Distinction a student has to:
(i) achieve a final weighted average mark of at least 70% from all
modules comprising the Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation Stages;
(ii) achieve a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation.
Students who joined the September 2011 or later intake
Postgraduate Certificate: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate a
student has to pass or pass by compensation the modules comprising the
Certificate Stage to the total value of 60 credits.
21
Postgraduate Diploma: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a pass Postgraduate Diploma
a student has to pass or pass by compensation the modules comprising the
Certificate and Diploma Stages to the total value of 120 credits.
Postgraduate Diploma: Merit
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma with
Merit a student must achieve the following at the first attempt:
(i) a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 60% over all modules
comprising the Certificate and Diploma Stages to the total value of 120
credits;
(ii) have no failed modules.
Postgraduate Diploma: Distinction
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma with
Distinction a student must achieve the following at the first attempt:
(i) a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 70% over all modules
comprising the Certificate and Diploma Stages to the total value of 120
credits;
(ii) have no failed modules.
Masters Degree: Pass
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a pass Masters Degree a
student has to pass or pass by compensation the modules comprising the
Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation Stages to the total value of 180 credits.
Masters Degree: Merit
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Masters Degree with Merit
a student must achieve the following at the first attempt:
(i) a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 60% over all modules
comprising the Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation Stages to the total
value of 180 credits;
(ii) a mark of at least 60 for the dissertation;
(iii) have no failed modules.
Masters Degree: Distinction
To be recommended to Senate for the award of a Masters Degree with
Distinction a student must achieve the following at the first attempt:
(i) a rounded credit-weighted mean of at least 70% over all modules
comprising the Certificate, Diploma and Dissertation Stages to the total
value of 180 credits;
(ii) a mark of at least 70 for the dissertation;
(iii) have no failed modules.
k. Leave of Absence
Grounds for Leave of Absence include: medical, compassionate, financial,
motivational, maternity reasons, work experience.
22
Leave of Absence will normally be granted for a maximum of one year at a
time.
Leave of absence is decided by the Special Cases Committee at the
recommendation of the Board of Studies.
Students should seek advice from their Personal Supervisor or Programme
Director prior to applying for Leave of Absence.
9.
Withdrawing from the Programme
Withdrawal requests need to be made in writing. The effective date of
withdrawal will be the date when a signed letter requesting withdrawal is
received by the Department of Mathematics.
If a student withdraws from the programme, then the tuition fee due for any
stage (Certificate, Diploma or Dissertation) that the student has registered for
will be charged as follows:
(i) if the effective date of withdrawal is before the first half of the stage, 50%
of the fee for that stage,
(ii) if the effective date of withdrawal is after the first half of the stage, 100%
of the fee for that stage.
Readmission following withdrawal
If a former student wishes to resume the programme after withdrawing, it will
be necessary to reapply. Admission cannot be guaranteed, but in normal
circumstances every effort will be made to prioritise applications from students
returning after withdrawal from the programme, and to accept such students
whenever possible. Circumstances when re-admission may not be granted
include students whose performance prior to withdrawal had been consistently
below the pass level.
10.
Appeals Procedure
This is only an outline of the procedure and is condensed from University
Ordinances
and
Regulations.
For
details,
see
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/help/appeals/.
a. Students Wishing to Appeal Against The Final Result
The university regulations are quite clear that there is no appeal available
against the judgement of the examiners (Regulation 2.9c, 6.4ci). There is
only appeal against the decision to allow reassessment or if there is prima
facie evidence that one or more of the following has occurred: seriously
inadequate supervision; examinations conducted unfairly or improperly or
examiners showed prejudice against the student.
23
If an appeal is desired then it must be made in writing to the Registrar within
four weeks of being notified of the decision.
b. Students Wishing to Appeal Against the Mark of a Specific Assessment
Again the university regulations state that there is no appeal against the
judgement of the examiners (Regulation 2.9c). However, if a student wishes
to draw the attention of the external examiner to a particular mark, which
they believe to be in error, then they should write to the examinations officer
stating their case.
All special cases, including late submissions, will be marked with no
allowance made but will be brought to the attention of the external examiner.
Any particular circumstance that might affect performance in an
examination should be made clear, in writing, to the examinations officer.
This should be done as near to the time of the assessment as possible. In the
case of illness a doctor's note is required (Regulation 5.3.1d). These
circumstances will be brought to the attention of the external examiner and,
if necessary, considered by the Board of Examiners before it considers
examination results.
There should be no correspondence and no contact between the student and
the external examiner. All material will be passed on by the examinations
officer before the final examiner's meeting.
All appeals will be treated in strictest confidence.
11.
Complaints
You may complain about your experience of any academic or non academic
service you have received as a student.
If you are not happy with the outcome of an initial investigation of your
complaint you can pursue your complaint further under the formal Complaints
Procedure,
which
can
be
found
at
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/help/appeals/.
12.
Academic Misconduct: University Guidelines
You are responsible for ensuring that your work does not contravene the
University’s rules on academic misconduct, which are set out in regulation 5.4.
The University takes a very serious view of such misconduct and penalties will
be applied to students who are found to have attempted to mislead examiners.
Forms of academic misconduct include:
24
cheating
deliberate failure to comply with the rules governing
examinations, e.g. by making arrangements to have
unauthorised access to information;
collusion
assisting another individual to gain advantage by unfair means,
or receiving such assistance yourself;
fabrication
misleading the examiners by presenting work for assessment in
a way which intentionally or recklessly suggests that you have
collected factual information which has not in fact been
collected, or falsifies factual information;
impersonation producing work to be submitted as that not of yourself but of
another, or assuming the identity of another individual in order
to deceive the examiners, or soliciting another individual to act
or appear as yourself, or to produce work on your behalf;
plagiarism
incorporating within your work without appropriate
acknowledgment material derived from the work (published or
unpublished) of another.
If you have any queries about what constitutes academic misconduct, and in
particular about the proper attribution of material derived from another’s work,
you should seek advice from your supervisors or tutors before submitting your
work for assessment.
The important University regulations on plagiarism and collusion are
reproduced below:
1) Candidates must not by implication or otherwise represent the work of
others as their own. All sources, whether published books and articles or
unpublished material of any kind must be explicitly acknowledged, and
quotations and close paraphrases clearly attributed.
2) Candidates must not by implication or otherwise represent work done in
collaboration with others as their own unaided work, nor may any member
of the University, whether or not he or she is a candidate in the
examination, knowingly allow his or her work to be used without
acknowledgement by examination candidates.
3) The examiners will take full account of any breach of the requirements in
1) and 2) above in determining a mark for the work affected. In serious
cases this may result in a mark of zero for the paper or papers concerned
with consequent effects on the assessment of the candidates overall
performance, even failure in the examination as a whole.
The penalties for academic misconduct will depend on the seriousness of the
offence. If, in the opinion of the examiners, the case is of particular gravity, they
may recommend disciplinary action.
The penalties available in such cases are:
1) Suspension or exclusion from the University.
25
2)
3)
4)
5)
13.
A lowering of the class of degree to be awarded.
Withholding the award of a degree.
Withdrawal of any entitlement to repeat the examination concerned.
Asking the student to leave the University
Online Academic Integrity Tutorial and Test
All new students at the University of York are required to complete the online
Academic Integrity Tutorial and pass an online test. This is a condition for
progression.
The
tutorial
and
test
can
be
found
at
http://vle.york.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp by logging in with your
University username and password. The tutorial should take about 45 minutes to
complete, but you can take as long as you wish.
The test can be attempted as many times as you like. When completed
successfully, you will be able to print off a certificate. Please upload the
certificate in Moodle (a facility to do so is provided within the Induction
Module) by the end of the Induction Module, so it can recorded that you have
undertaken and passed the test, and therefore can progress with the course of
study.
14.
Student Support and Welfare Services
The University's Student Support Network is designed to provide students with
quick and easy access to a variety of sources of help and advice on all aspects of
life as a student. Personal supervisors in academic departments are responsible
for overseeing both academic progress and general welfare. In addition each
college has a welfare team which includes the Provost and a College Dean, who
has special responsibility for student welfare. Every full-time student is a
member of a college and part-time students can request membership of a
college. Students may approach their college welfare team for help and advice
whether or not they are resident in the college at the time.
Central support services available to all students include
• the Accommodation Office http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/accom/,
• the Open Door Team http://www.york.ac.uk/opendoor/,
• Counselling Service for Students http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/scs/,
• Disability Services http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/disability/,
• the Student Support Office http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/,
• the Equal Opportunities Office http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eo/,
• the International Office http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/intnat/,
• the
Student
Financial
Support
Unit
http://www.york.ac.uk/studentmoney/
26
•
and the Harassment Advisers (who offer support in cases of harassment)
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eo/Harassment/code.htm#app1.
In addition administrative offices such as the Registry Services (formerly
Graduate Schools Office) http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/gso/ and the
Examinations Office http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eto/welcome.htm, provide
information and advice.
Welfare support is also available through the student-run organisations,
particularly the Students' Union http://www.yusu.org/ and the Graduate Students
Association http://www.yorkgsa.org/.
Information about the student support network and its co-ordination is widely
disseminated, so that students seeking assistance in any quarter can, if
necessary, be referred quickly to those with the specialist knowledge and skills
to help them. The Student Support Services Handbook, issued to incoming
students and available at http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/handbook/, describes
the main contributors to the Student Support Network, and includes information
about the Campus Nursery, the Health Centre, and the Chaplaincy. Contacts for
religions and faiths can be found from the Chaplaincy web-site
http://www.york.ac.uk/univ/chap/ or the Student Support Office web-site.
Further information about support services can be found on the Student Support
Office web-site:
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sso/
15.
Disclaimer
Whilst the University tries to ensure that information contained in this document
is accurate when published, the University does not accept liability for any
inaccuracies contained within it. Where circumstances occur or change outside
the reasonable control of the University, the University reserves the right to
change or cancel parts of, or entire, programmes of study or services at any time
without liability, before or after students have registered at the University.
Circumstances outside the University’s reasonable control include: industrial
action, over or under- demand from students, staff illness, lack of funding,
severe weather, fire, civil disorder, political unrest, government restrictions and
concern regarding risk of transmission of serious illness. The University’s
contract with its students does not confer third party benefits under the Contract
(Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
27