Erasmus Mundus Funding Category A deadline: 17 December 2010

Erasmus Mundus Funding Category B deadline: 29 April 2011

IMESS Bursary deadline: 29 April 2011

Non-scholarship deadline: 29 April 2011

Visiting Scholars deadline: 31 January 2011

 

 

 

IMESS Student Handbook

Assessment and Examinations

Methods of Assessment

IMESS students are required to complete 60 ECTS in each year of the programme, a total of 120 ECTS. Several methods of assessment are used for UCL-SSEES courses during year one. The methods are as follows:

Taught 16 ECTS courses assessed solely by examination are assessed by one three-hour written examination paper (coursework is non-assessed on these courses).

Taught 16 ECTS courses assessed 50/50 by examination and coursework are assessed by one two-hour written examination paper and assessed coursework totalling 5,000 words (usually two essays of 2,500 words each).

Taught 16 ECTS courses assessed solely by coursework require either one assessed essay of 9,000-10,000 words or a set of shorter assessed essays amounting to 9,000-10,000 words.

Taught 8 ECTS courses assessed solely by coursework require either essays amounting to 5,000 words or, in the case of Advanced Quantitative Methods, an equivalent assignment.

Taught 8 ECTS courses assessed 50/50 by examination and coursework are assessed by one two-hour examination and coursework totalling approximately 2,500 words.

Taught 4 ECTS courses are assessed solely by unseen examination, either a take-home paper or a one-hour examination.

All word-lengths stated include footnotes and appendices but exclude bibliographies.

Language courses: ‘New Language’ courses are assessed by a three-hour examination (75%) and an oral/aural component (25%).

Viva voce examinations may be held at the discretion of the examiners. A viva voce examination will always be held when a candidate has taken taught courses, all of which are examined by coursework only. The language courses are not taken into consideration for these purposes. Students should ensure that they are available for viva voce examination should the need arise.

Each element of assessment at UCL is marked out of 100, with a Pass mark of 50 and a Distinction mark of 70. The percentage mark is also converted into an ECTS grade according to the following algorithm:

UCL %	ECTS grade	ECTS descriptor
70%+	A	Excellent
65-69	B	Very good
60-64	C	Good
55-59	D	Satisfactory
50-54	E	Sufficient
0-49	F	Fail

 

See the Scheme of Award for full overall classification details and regulations.

IMESS Examination arrangements

In both years of the degree, the normal, quality assured examination processes will apply. The examination processes will be those of UCL in the first year and those of the other consortium university attended in the second year. Each university is responsible for recording the results of assessment, for making the marks available to the relevant partner institution at the appropriate time, and for collating marks for both years of study. For all coursework and examinations, other than the dissertation, each partner will be responsible for appointing markers in accordance with normal institutional QA practice. The examination panel for the dissertation will include input from a UCL examiner.

Examination Boards

There will be an IMESS progression board in June of each year. The progression board will be chaired by the IMESS Programme Director and will collate and review provisional UCL marks, make progression decisions and approve the marks to submit provisionally to each consortium partner. These marks will then be formally confirmed by the next occurring UCL SSEES examination board. In September of each year, the final IMESS exam board will review the marks from both years of study. Responsibility for the overall degree classification lies with the IMESS Examination Board, which includes representatives from all the consortium universities and two external examiners.

Examinations

In registering for your degree programme you are required to follow the syllabus for that degree. The courses are agreed with the Programme Director. The registration for the course is also the record of your intention to sit the examination and therefore it is essential that this record is correct or you may not be permitted into the examination room.

If you have dyslexia or a related condition and wish to apply for special arrangements for your examinations, you are advised that a detailed report will be required for the application process in Term 2. You should take advice from the SSEES Examinations Liaison Officer and the Registrar’s Division as soon as possible either to check that the report you have is sufficient for this purpose and/or to make an appointment for assessment by UCL staff.

If you require special facilities to take your examinations (e.g. due to a disability), you should contact the Examinations Liaison Officer as soon as possible for advice on how to apply for this, to ensure that any documentation which may be required can be supplied in time.

Written examinations are held in Term 3 (summer term) and are scheduled by the Examinations Office of UCL Registry. Some oral and aural examinations may take place outside of these times but within term time. A draft timetable is issued to departments early in Term 2; these also should be checked carefully. Coursework submission dates are scheduled throughout the year and must be strictly adhered to (see section 13 on coursework).

In January you will be asked to check your GEEF (Graduate Exam Entry Form). It is important to do so as the Examination timetables are then drawn up by the Examinations Office on the basis of this information.

It is your responsibility to ensure:

- that all forms are completed in time

- that you are correctly entered for all the examinations for your courses

- that your exam is timetabled (beware: there are often changes between the provisional timetable published on notice boards and final timetables which are personalised)

- that you have let all the relevant people know of any extenuating circumstance which may affect your examination performance

- that you attend the examination at the right place at the right time.

Unexplained Absence from Examinations

If you do not attend an examination as expected, you will be marked ABSENT by the invigilators and this will appear on the transcript of your results. If you do not explain your absence to the satisfaction of the College, this will be treated as a failed attempt, and a resit will be permitted at the examination session of the following year.

Withdrawal from Examinations on Academic or Exceptional Grounds

You may withdraw your entry to the entire examination provided that you notify the Examinations Section in writing not less than seven days before the date of your first examination. If you wish to defer part of your examination, you will require College approval by submission of the appropriate application form. If you should absent yourself without prior approval, you will be deemed to have failed an attempt at the examination. For more details see:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Registry/Current/Examinations/

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Registry/Current/Examinations/Deferpg/

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Registry/Current/Examinations/Withdrawal/

Problems Affecting Examination Performance

If you have had any medical or other significant problems which have affected your performance in the examination or in assessed coursework submitted during the year, these extenuating circumstances may be taken into account. These extenuating circumstances are normally understood as medical or as the consequence of family bereavement. If you wish to be considered for extenuating circumstances, you should submit an explanatory letter supported by medical certificate or other evidence to the Programme Director before the examination.

Conduct of Examinations

Regulations concerning the conduct of examinations are found here.

A copy is also issued with your examination timetable in Term 2. It is important that you read these carefully.

If you require special facilities to take your examinations (e.g. due to a disability), you should contact the Examinations Liaison Officer as soon as possible for advice on how to apply for this, to ensure that any documentation which may be required can be supplied in time.

Calculators

In some examinations, you are permitted to use electronic calculators.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is treated extremely seriously, and the penalties can be severe. It constitutes an examination offence under the University Regulations. Please see here.

You should note that UCL has signed up to use a sophisticated detection system (Turn-It-In) to scan work for evidence of plagiarism and SSEES intends to use this for assessed coursework. This system gives access to billions of sources worldwide, including websites and journals, as well as work previously submitted to the Department, UCL and other universities.

Use of reference materials

You may not take into the examination hall or to any practical, oral or similar examination, any books, papers or instruments except those that have been specifically permitted for a particular course. Where such permission has been given by the Registrar to the Board of Examiners, your Course Tutor will inform you of the materials which are permitted.

Dictionaries

You may NOT use a dictionary in an examination where the object is to help you overcome any deficiency in your command of the English language. You will only be permitted to use a dictionary for any other purpose where your examiner has informed the Examinations Section of the Registrar’s Division in writing beforehand.

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