Academic Board
A sub-committee of Senate which
has delegated responsibility for policy and regulation affecting all
the University's programmes of study,
taught and research. It is chaired by the
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Standards) and each
department is represented by its head. The membership also includes
students and representatives from the University's partner colleges.
Academic Section
Part of the University’s professional services which is concerned
with matters relating to the academic provision of the University to
students, including student records, examinations,
registration,
quality assurance, student progress monitoring, approval of new
courses and
modules etc.
Academic Offences
See
Cheating.
Aegrotat Degree
An aegrotat degree may be awarded to a student
(an undergraduate) who is unable to take
the final examinations because of ‘illness or other sufficient
cause…occurring after the sixth week of the spring term' of the
student's final year. An aegrotat
degree is unclassified but students may return to the University in
the following year to sit the final exams (without attendance in the
meantime) to be eligible for the award of an honours degree. (See
Examination Regulations)
Area Studies
See
Multidisciplinary Studies
Award
The successful outcome of a
course for taught students or a
programme of study for research students. Each award has a
name, eg Honours degree, Foundation degree, Diploma, Certificate.
The majority of awards will also have a title, eg BSC Molecular
Biology, PhD Sociology, CertCE Modern Languages, though unnamed awards
also exist.
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B
Board of Examiners
Comprising academic staff, normally chaired by a
Dean, who make
decisions on a student's progress at the end of the year and on final
degree classifications.
Bibliography
A list of publications used in preparation for writing an
assignment/essay/thesis/book.
C
Candidate number
Exam number issued individually to each student each year at the
beginning of the summer term to ensure anonymity of the marking
process.
Capped Mark
Limited to the pass mark of 40%. Where work has been
re-submitted and/or a resit examination has been taken, both the mark
for the re-assessed element(s) and the
module aggregate will be capped
at 40.
Centre
An academic unit, normally headed by a Director, and engaged in
academic activities including teaching and/or research.
Cheating
To use unfair means in relation to academic work. The University
regards cheating as a serious academic offence which is dealt with
under the
Examinations Regulations
See also
plagiarism and
referencing.
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Class of degree
Honours degrees are classified using a system which is in wide use in
the UK. Postgraduate degrees are not classified, but a distinction may
be awarded. The possible degree
classes for undergraduate degrees are as follows:
1 First class
2.1 Second class, upper division
2.2 Second class, lower division
3 Third class
Co-requisite module
A
module which must be taken with another specified
module.
Component
A unit of a degree
course which may be used in determining the class
of the degree.
The number of components at each Stage of
undergraduate study ranges from 4 to 8, and students are awarded
credit when they have achieved the learning outcomes within a
component. Each component may consist of one module of either
15 or 30 credits, or of two 15-credit modules which share
learning outcomes. As learning outcomes are shared, the component as a
whole must be passed (ie both contributory module marks are
taken together to arrive at the component mark).
Condonement
Undergraduate awards
There is no condonement in the first Stage of an
award. Condonement does not entail the award of credit.
Following a re-sit/re-submission, where a student has not redeemed a
fail, they may still proceed to the next Stage. The amount of credit
which may be condoned is specified for each award. The
Rules of Assessment require that a student “attempts” all the
credits for each Stage. This means that a student must have completed
and been assessed for each
module.
Graduate and Postgraduate awards
The
graduate and postgraduate rules of assessment provide for a
limited number of credits to be condoned subject to certain criteria
being satisfied. In some cases courses have variations to the rules,
in particular where professional body requirements apply, and these
should be checked.
Confirmation (of PhD status)
During the second year for
full-time MPhil/PhD students (end of the third year for part-timers)
following a supervisory board, the Research
Students' Progress Committee (RSPC)will make a
decision/recommendation to the Dean to confirm the student's PhD
status, change to MPhil or to discontinue their studies. If the
first supervisory board does not make a decision to confirm PHD
status then the RSPC will report to the Graduate School that the
decision has been deferred to the next board.
Council
The executive governing body of the University.
Course
A taught
programme of study, to which a student can be admitted, and
which leads to an
award on successful completion.
Until August
2008, this term was more commonly used to refer to a module. These
terms have now been re-defined in line with usage at other
universities.
Course Deadline Policy
The University operates a uniform policy on late
submission of coursework for undergraduate courses: each piece of coursework must be submitted
by the deadline published by the department in order to gain a mark.
Work which is submitted after the deadline will be given a mark of
zero. This is also often referred to as the Zero Tolerance Model.
Students who experience circumstances which lead to the inability to
submit their work by the deadline should consult the
Late Submission
guidelines.
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Credit
Credit is an indicator of equivalence of workload.
Credit value attaches to learning outcomes, and the achievement of
these outcomes (evidenced by gaining at least a pass mark in the
required assessments) allows the award of credit. For this reason, a
credit rating is attached to each
module,
and these accumulate to allow awards (evidence of both volume and
level of study) to be made.
(Note that marks above a pass mark do not affect the award of credit,
but do determine the award classification (eg 2.2, Merit, etc.)
Credits are also transportable and can be transferred between
institutions, according to their
rules of assessment.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer
A nationally recognised system by which
module are allocated an
amount of academic credit which represents the proportion of the
student’s study on the subject in a given year. A specific number of
credits must be accumulated for the award of a degree. In some cases
credits may be transferred from one University to another.
D
Dean
A member of academic staff who heads a Faculty
or other area of academic provision. Normally holds office for three years. Administrative support
to the
Faculty and Dean is provided by the
Faculty Academic Officer.
Deferring
Postponing entry to the University. The term ‘deferring’ is only used
at the pre-admission stage. Students who want to interrupt their
studies once they have registered must apply to the
Dean for
intermission.
Degree Classification
See also
class of degree. Degree classification takes place at a
Board
of Examiners after the student’s final examination in accordance with
specified
rules of assessment.
Department
Academic staff are grouped in one of 18 departments. Departments are
grouped in
Faculties.
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Disciplinary Committee
A student charged with a breach of
Regulations may be referred to this
committee, which hears the case, makes a decision and may impose a
penalty. Please refer to the
Disciplinary Regulations for more information.
Doctoral Programme
PhD programme which normally consists of a year of taught
modules
followed by two years of research.
E
ERASMUS
An initiative funded by the European Union to encourage development of
the European dimension in education. All arrangements are administered
by the
Study Abroad Office (Room 5S.7.27).
Essay Deadlines
The date set by tutors and departments for handing in
essays/assignments. A mark of zero is given for late work, in
accordance with the
Course Deadline Policy. No extensions will be given, though there is a
Late Submission procedure. There
is a University-wide deadline for the submission of work beyond which
no work can be submitted. See also
late submission.
Extenuating Circumstances
Extenuating circumstances are divided into two types:
those which affect a student’s ability to submit coursework by the
deadline (see
Late Submission), and those affecting a student’s
performance in coursework or exams, or circumstances affecting a
student’s ability to submit their coursework at all and/or
circumstances which cause a student to absent themselves from an exam.
Extenuating circumstances are formally defined as "circumstances
beyond the student's control which cause the student to perform less
well in his or her coursework or examinations than he or she might
otherwise have been expected to do (on the basis of other work). In
general, extenuating circumstances will e of a medical or personal
nature affecting the student for any significant period of time and/or
during the examination period.
Extenuating
Circumstances Committee (ECC)
The Extenuating Circumstances Committee will consider
extenuating circumstances relating to coursework performance, the
non-submission of coursework, examination performance, examination
absence, and other extenuating circumstances affecting the academic
year. These Committees will meet shortly before the
Board of Examiners meets, and recommend the action to be taken
by the Board of Examiners in light of students’ extenuating
circumstances.
External Examiner
For every degree
course there is an academic appointed from another
University to be a member of the
Board of Examiners. Their role is
part of the quality assurance system, to ensure that
schemes are
consistently and fairly assessed and that the Board is conducted
properly. They have the right to see and moderate all work submitted
for assessment towards a degree.
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F
Faculty
There are four Faculties each headed by a
Dean and supported by
a
Faculty Academic Officer. Humanities & Comparative Studies; Social
Sciences; Law & Management; Science & Engineering. See also
Faculty Board.
(Faculty)
Academic Officer
The member of administrative staff who is responsible for providing
administrative support to a
Faculty and its
Dean. This
includes the maintenance of the records of students, processing
intermissions, withdrawals, academic progress and examination results.
Faculty Board
Each Faculty Board
meets termly. Made up of representatives from academic staff and
students from
departments in the Faculty. Responsibilities include quality
assurance matters such as the introduction of new
schemes and
courses, periodic review reports, annual monitoring reports
etc.
Footnotes
A method of citing references whereby a note appears at the bottom of
the page on which a quotation appears. See
referencing.
G
Graduate Director
A member of academic staff responsible for all graduate matters within
a
department or
centre.
Graduate School
School representing all
departments and
centres of the
University which teach postgraduate research students.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
GTAs are postgraduate students who are employed
part-time to provide some teaching in their specialist area of
expertise.
Graduation
The event at which degrees are conferred on graduating students by the
Chancellor or
Vice-Chancellor of the University.
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H
Head of Department
The Head of Department is responsible for managing the academic and
financial affairs of the
department. Normally holds office for three
years.
Honours Degree
A degree which is classified. See
class of degree.
Humanities & Comparative Studies
Faculty representing the
Departments of: Philosophy and Art History,
East 15, History,
International Academy, Literature, Film, & Theatre Studies
and the Centre for the Interdisciplinary Studies of the Humanities
(CISH)
I
In residence
Students who are undertaking study by means of tuition/research at the
University (ie they are not away from the University). The phrase has
nothing to do with accommodation.
Intellectual
Property Rights
Intellectual property rights relate to the legal
ownership of ideas and information. All students own the intellectual
property rights of the work they produce whilst at the University.
There may be exceptions to this rule if a student’s work has been
sponsored by a commercial organisation. Students can contact the
Research and Enterprise Office
for advice about intellectual property rights.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Courses involving study of related academic subjects or
disciplines, in which each subject is interdependent on the study of
the others.
Intermission
A period of time during which students take a break from their
studies, normally for medical, financial or personal reasons. Students
must obtain permission to interrupt
their studies for a given period of time. Intermitting students are
not fully registered and are not permitted to attend tuition.
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J
Joint Degree
Discipline-based degree
courses involving two distinct subjects (eg
Philosophy and Literature).
K
Key Skills
Skills important for success in academic study and the world of work.
L
Late
Submission (extenuating circumstances)
Extenuating circumstances in relation to the late
submission of coursework are formally defined as "the inability to
submit work by the deadline (or to attend the in-class
test/presentation) due to circumstances beyond the student's control,
of a medical, practical or personal nature which affects the student
for the period immediately preceding the time of the deadline. Genuine
emergencies and circumstances which could not reasonably have been
expected will be accepted as extenuating." Students who experience
extenuating circumstances which prevent them from submitting their
coursework on the day of the deadline may submit their work along with
a Late Submission of Coursework Form within seven days of the deadline
for consideration by a
Late Submissions Committee.
Late Submissions Committee
Each department has a Late Submissions Committee which
meets at least twice during the year. It deals with claims of
extenuating circumstances for work which was not submitted by
a deadline for reasons beyond your control. You make such a claim by
submitting a Late Submission of Coursework Form. The Late Submissions
Committee decides whether your work should be marked and whether
that mark will count towards your formal assessment (which means the
mark will be instated).
Law & Management
Faculty representing the
Departments of Essex Business School and the School of Law..
Leave of Absence
See
intermission.
Learning Outcome
A Learning outcome is what a student will know, understand or be able
to do on completion of a
module or
course that leads to an award of the University. Learning outcomes
can be attached to both modules and courses.
Level
This is an expression of the intellectual demands
placed on the learner at different Stages of study, or the difficulty
of the concepts to be engaged with and skills required at each Stage.
If qualifications share the same level this means that they are
broadly similar in terms of the demand they place on the learner.
Information in
Programme Specifications and
modules
will be expressed in terms of levels.
Broadly speaking Level 4 equates to Stage One, Level 5
equates to Stage Two, and Level 6 equates to Stage Three.
LTB
Lecture Theatre Block.
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M
Marks
Penalties
A marks penalty may be imposed where a student is
found guilty of committing an academic offence. see
Cheating
Modular Study
Modular study describes a
mode of study, which is characterised by the study of
individual modules, and in which the credits obtained for
individual
modules may be accumulated towards an
award.
Mode of Study
There are two modes of study: (a) standard, which
means full-time or part-time (half-time); and (b) modular.
Students studying in standard mode normally attend modules
which take place within a specified structure during the standard
academic year. Students studying in modular mode may take
modules which start and end at any time during the calendar year
without following a set structure; credits gained in this way may be
accumulated towards an award, typically over a longer period than full
or part-time study.
Module
A module is a unit of study complete in itself, with a unique set of
learning
outcomes that is assessed by coursework and/or examinations.
Passing the assessment will result in the award of credits. Usually, several
modules/courses are combined to lead to an award. (See also “component”)
Until August 2008, the term course was more commonly used to describe
a module. The term now a different meaning more in line with that used
at other universities.
Module enrolment
This is the procedure by which the Academic Section obtains
information from students about the
modules they are taking in the
current academic year or wish to take in future. Course enrolment
information is used to create the examination timetable and by
departments to make teaching arrangements. Departments will also have
separate procedures for students to sign up for classes/tutorials/labs
etc.
Module Supervisor
A member of academic staff responsible for all aspects of a particular
module.
Multidisciplinary Studies
Course involving study across a range of academic subjects or
disciplines, based on an Area (eg Latin American Studies) or theme.
O
Outside Option
A
module taken as part of a
course which is not run by the
student’s main department or by either of the departments contributing
to a joint honours course. This is normally taken in the first Stage of
study. The module will be among several optional modules which can be
taken as one
component of the award. There are exceptional modules
which can be regarded as outside options regardless of whether or not
they lie within the student’s department(s), namely CS101, MA123 and
LG and LA modules.
Options
Optional
modules which may be chosen by students, normally from a
specified list, ie modules which are not compulsory.
Oral
Research students normally have an oral examination after submission
of the thesis. See also
Viva Voce Examinations.
Out of residence
A student not attending University for a given period of time. In
exceptional circumstances students can be given permission to
resit
examinations one year later without attending tuition in the interim
period. Therefore they would be taking exams out of residence.
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P
Partial Registration
A
registration category used for students who are not fully
registered, e.g. because they are intermitting and as such are not
entitled to the full use of University facilities (see
intermission).
Placement
The University operates a range of work-based
learning/placement arrangements where students will study for a period
of time outside the University in order to achieve
learning
outcomes defined by the Programme which cannot otherwise be
achieved, for example for practice-based Health or Project Management
awards, or study abroad years. Learning opportunities are provided by
an outside placement provider, working in conjunction with the
University.
Plagiarism
Passing off someone else’s work as your own. Derived from the Latin
word for ‘kidnapper’. See
cheating.
Pre-requisite module
A
module which must be passed at a specified level in order to
proceed to the next stage of a specific
course or a specific
module, eg
the first year course PY111 Introduction to Philosophy is a
pre-requisite for the second year of the BA in Philosophy.
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Prescribed Instruction
This term refers to all forms of tuition which make up a particular
module. This may include all or any of the following:
lectures - formal tuition given by a lecturer to a large group of
students;
classes - small group sessions chaired by a class teacher usually to
discuss the content of lectures;
seminars - small group discussion of a specified topic, often
presented by a student;
tutorials - small group or individual session led by a tutor;
laboratories - practical work associated with languages and science
subjects.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
There are four Pro-Vice-Chancellors who assist the
Vice-Chancellor.
They are senior academic staff appointed to the role for a three-year
term of office. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic
Standards) is
responsible for academic affairs and quality assurance matters. The
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Partnerships) supports and encourages new
academic developments throughout the University. The
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) heads the
Research Office. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability
and Resources) deals with
matters relating to IT provision, teaching accommodation and
buildings.
Proctor
Appointed by the
Senate to investigate alleged breaches of
Regulations. S/he also has the power to hear uncontested minor cases
and impose penalties.
Programme/Programme of Study
A generic term covering any type of study that
involves a registration at the University. This includes
courses,
research degrees and also programmes that do not lead to an
award but only to the attainment of academic credit and a
transcript, eg Study Abroad.
Programme Specification
Every taught
course leading to a University of Essex Award
has a Programme Specification, which describes the
course aims, the
learning outcomes, the teaching, learning and assessment methods, the
course structure and the
rules of assessment. The Programme
Specification lists the learning outcomes in terms of skills,
knowledge, understanding and other attributes that students will
acquire on successful completion of the programme. It will explain the
learning and teaching methods that enable the outcomes to be achieved
in terms of the format of prescribed tuition and the contribution of
independent study. It will explain the assessment methods that enable
students to demonstrate their achievement. The Programme Specification
includes information about the
course structure, in terms of the
compulsory and optional
modules being studied by students in the
current academic year, and the
rules of assessment that determine
progress and final
degree class.
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Progress Committee
Students' academic progress and attendance are monitored regularly. In
cases where it appears that a student will be unable successfully to
complete their year of study or their degree, they may be referred to
a Progress Committee to have their situation reviewed. Progress
Committee comprises the relevant
Dean and designated
academic staff from
departments within the
Faculty. It has the power to
require students to withdraw from the University.
Progress Procedures
These are the University-wide procedures (published in the University
Regulations, Policy and Procedures booklet) governing the monitoring
of student progress, and the powers of
Progress Committees in dealing
with cases.
PSB/PSRB – Professional, Statutory and
Regulatory Bodies
Discipline-based professional bodies and associations
which regulate and accredit qualifications which relate to their own
standards and/or Continuing Professional Development professional
requirements.
Some
courses subject to accreditation by PSRBs,
for example:
Law - Law Society/Bar Council;
CES - Institution of Engineering and Technology, and British Computer
Society
East 15 - National Council for Drama Training
The schemes involved have had variations to the
standard Rules of Assessment approved to take account of these PSRB
requirements.
Preliminary Stage
Students enrolled on a preliminary year are
undertaking a preparatory year, enabling them to become familiar with
a discipline which they may not have previously studied, before
joining a three-year
course.
R
Referencing
Citing the sources and references used in the preparation for writing
of an assignment.
Departments produce information showing how to set
out references. Failure to reference assignments properly can lead to
a charge of
cheating,
and as such negligence is covered by the
cheating
regulations (Regulations 6.12-6.13).
Registrar and Secretary
Reporting to the
Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and Secretary heads
the University’s Administration, and acts as Secretary to the
Senate
and
Council.
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Registration
The process, normally at the start of each academic year, by which you
are formally recorded as a student of the University. The registration
process also involves payment of tuition fees.
Registry
Registry (room 6.116). Responsible for
Registration,
module enrolment, student progress, exam results and
other matters for all students.
Regulations
Rules governing various aspects of the University’s activities which
are approved by the Senate. See the
University Regulations, Policy and
Procedures booklet for the main Regulations affecting students.
Repeat Stage
The term “repeat Stage” (or “repeat year”) refers to the repeat of
an Undergraduate Stage of study whether full-time, or part-time before progression to
the next Stage is allowed. Students repeating study part-time will
carry forward marks from passed
modules and repeat failed modules only, which are
capped.
Researcher Experience Committee
The Researcher Experience committee is a
sub-committee of the Academic Board and will consider aspects of the
Graduate Strategy. The Committee fulfils the functions of the former
Graduate School Liaison Committee and the Roberts Skills Training
Steering Group. The committee considers issues to enhance the
experience of postgraduate research students and early career
researchers, including oversight of the framework for research
skills and employability, research students' progress and the
student experience. The committee includes student representation
for the four faculties.
Research Students’ Progress Committee (RSPC)
The RSPC formally monitors the progress of all research students in
the department. It receives a report from each student’s
Supervisory Board and makes recommendations to the Dean of the
Graduate School that either: the student be allowed to proceed; the
student’s studies be discontinued; or the student’s status be altered
(eg from a PhD to an MPhil).
Resits
There are resit examinations for all first-year
and second-year students in the first week of September. The
examination
timetable for the main exam period is published in the last week of
the spring term and is posted in the
Lecture Theatre Block and
on the
Examinations Office website. Further details can be found
on the
Registry web pages.
Resit Without Attendance
An Exam Board may offer resits without attendance as an alternative to
a repeat year. The same restrictions apply to resits without residence
as to a repeat year (students are not entitled to further reassessment
within that Stage or entitled to a further resit year or repeat year).
Rules of Assessment
A published set of rules by which the results for a
module, a year of
study or final degree class will be determined. Rules of assessment
are determined in the year preceding that in which they will come into
effect.
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S
Sabbatical
Students who are elected to the main
Students’ Union posts, including
President and Vice-Presidents, are sabbatical officers. This means
that they are on leave of absence from their studies so that they can
focus on their Students’ Union duties during their term of office.
Academic staff are granted regular periods of study leave, when they
concentrate on research and are not available for teaching. These
periods may also be called sabbaticals.
SAM(T)
Student Assessment of
Modules (and Teaching) (SAM(T)) is the annual process by which
students can provide feedback on the quality of their
modules.
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Science and Engineering
Faculty representing the
Departments/Schools of: Biological Sciences,
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Health & Human
Sciences, Mathematical
Sciences, Psychology.
Seminar
See
prescribed instruction.
Senate
The supreme academic authority of the University which is responsible
for the academic work of the University and the regulation and
superintendence of the education and discipline of the students.
Single Honours
A degree
course offered in one main discipline, eg BSc Biological
Sciences.
Social Sciences
Faculty representing the
Departments of: Economics, Government, Language and
Linguistics and Sociology and the Centre for Psychoanalytical Studies
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Staff/Student Liaison
Every
department and
centre is required to have one or more
Staff/Student Liaison Committees to deal with any academic issues of
concern to students in that department. (The
Code of
Practice For Student Representation within Departments is published in the
University
Regulations, Policy and Procedures booklet)
Stage
A Stage of study is a unit of learning following which assessment will
be scrutinised by an examination board, and marks confirmed or an
award made. The most usual “Stage” of study for undergraduates at
Essex is one year of full-time study.
Student Support
Student Support is headed by the Director of Student Support.
The office is concerned with all non-academic matters relating to student well-being
(Room 4S.6.2).
Study Abroad
Virtually all undergraduates and some postgraduates
are eligible to participate in study abroad. The University has
exchange partners all over the world, meaning that students can study
for a term or a year in places such as the USA, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, the middle East, Latin America or Europe. These arrangements are
organised by the Study Abroad Office (Room 5S.7.27).
Supervisor
A member of academic staff responsible for the supervision of a
student’s research.
Supervisory
Boards
A Supervisory Board provides advice to the student on
the development of their research and
reports to the Research Students’ Progress Committee on the
progress of individual research students. The Board consists of the
student’s
supervisor, plus one or two other members of academic staff.
The student also attends the Board and participates in the review of
their work.
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T
Temporary Withdrawal
See
intermission.
Transcript
A formal document issued by the University, which confirms the
modules
taken by a student and his/her results as well as the overall degree
result, if available. All graduates receive a transcript automatically
with their Degree Certificate.
Transferring
Transferring refers to the act of changing
course either within
the University or by going to a new institution. Transfers within the
University need the approval of the
departments involved and the relevant
Dean and are dealt with by the
Registry
Tutorial
See
prescribed instruction.
U
Undergraduate Director
A member of academic staff responsible for all undergraduate matters
within a
department.
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V
Vice-Chancellor
The principal academic and administrative officer of the University.
Viva Voce examinations
Oral examinations also known as viva
which each postgraduate research candidate must undertaken as part
of the examination process. These are often used in science
subjects to examine a project or other practical work. On very rare
occasions vivas may also
be given by
Boards of Examiners after final year examinations to help determine the final
degree classifications.
