THE STANDARD OF THE GRADUATE BASIS FOR REGISTRATION: OPERATING PROTOCOLS

As of September 2006, the Society’s minimum requirement for the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) will be that of a second class honours degree from an accredited programme of study or the recognised equivalent.

Ways of gaining the GBR

1. Honours Degrees

All students whose enrolment on an accredited undergraduate degree begins on or after September 1st 2006 must graduate with the minimum classification of a second class honours degree. For joint or combined accredited programmes, the overall classification must similarly be to the minimum classification of a second class honours degree. The Society’s policy with regard to joint and combined programmes will be regularly reviewed and to this end the Society would encourage institutions to provide academic transcripts to all students.

1.1 Deferred Entry

For students applying in 2004 for deferred entry in 2006, while the Society will do its best to ensure that all documentation related to GBR is updated accordingly, it is the responsibility of the institution to inform deferred entry students of the change to the requirements for GBR.

1.2 Aegrotat Degrees

Students awarded an unclassified aegrotat degree will not automatically attain GBR, but an individual case for GBR may be made to the Society, normally with the support of the student’s institution. In such cases it would be necessary to demonstrate that, at a minimum, the student had passed modules covering the Society’s syllabus requirements at a second class level or above. (See also 5 below.)

2. Conversion Courses

The Society will only accredit Diplomas where the pass is the equivalent to a second class honours degree. It will be the responsibility of the institution to demonstrate they have developed an effective method of achieving this standard and this will be fundamental for courses to gain Society accreditation.

3. Qualifying Examination

Candidates enrolled under the 2007 regulations must pass all components at a 3^rd class honours degree level equivalent, achieving an overall percentage grade equivalent to that of a second class honours degree.

4. Overseas Qualifications

From September 2006, applicants wishing their qualifications to be assessed for GBR by the Society will be assessed against the new requirement.

5. Mitigating/Extenuating Circumstances

While the Society understands that there may be some cases whereby a student has not achieved as well as they might have due to extenuating or mitigating circumstances, the Society must rely on the mechanisms in place in the awarding institutions that exist to deal with these cases. Therefore, the Society would encourage any students who feel they have underachieved due to mitigating or extenuating circumstances to follow the procedures in place at their institution. The Society will only accept the awarded classification of qualification.