8. Honours Entry
- Audience: This policy is for the attention of all undergraduate students, Heads of Schools, Directors of Teaching, Student Services and Registry.
- Scope: This policy applies to all students entering their Honours programme from 2013-2014.
- Responsibilities: Policy Author: Professor Malcolm MacLeod (Dean of Science in May 2012). Responsibility for the implementation of the policy lies with Heads of Schools and Deans.
- Contact details: For advice and support on any aspect of this policy please contact the Proctors Office.
- Honours Entry Policy
- Authors: Professor Malcolm MacLeod (Dean of Science in May 2012)
- Approved: TLAC, 2 May 2012
- Implementation date: Students entering their Honours programme in 2013-2014.
- Review date: April 2013
Honours Entry Procedures [students entering Honours from 2013-2014]
Summary
In addition to offering unconditional offers of Honours entry at the end of second year according to established criteria, all Schools may make additional conditional offers where appropriate to those students who narrowly miss the criteria for an unconditional offer.
Unconditional Honours Entry
Students who attain grades of 11.0 or above in all requisite 2000 level modules (in accordance with the programme rules) will be given automatic unconditional offers into standard two-year Honours programmes. In exceptional cases where a student has attained a result marginally below the entry level, an unconditional offer may still be made at the discretion of the Head of School (or delegate). Where such discretion is used, Heads of School will ensure that there is no ‘leapfrogging’ of students.
Students who attain a grade of 15.0 or above in all requisite 2000 level modules (in accordance with the programme rules) will be given an automatic unconditional offer into three-year integrated Masters programmes where appropriate, or where the grade is between 11.0 and 14.9, at the discretion of the Head of School (or delegate).
Conditional Honours Entry
Students who attain grades between 10.5 and 10.9 on all requisite 2000 level modules (in accordance with the programme rules) and who meet the Senate Regulations and Resolutions, including the Faculty requirements, may be given a conditional offer into standard two-year Honours programmes but decisions regarding conditional offers will ultimately remain at the discretion of the Head of School (or delegate). Note that in some programmes, Honours entry is also dependent upon demonstrating proficiency in related disciplines (e.g., proficiency in Maths for Physics honours programmes as determined by the School). In such cases, entry into an Honours programme is at the discretion of Heads of School (or delegate). In exceptional cases where a student has attained a result marginally below the cut-off for a conditional offer, a conditional offer may be made at the discretion of the Head of School (or delegate).
Transition from Conditional to Unconditional Honours Entry
Students who are in receipt of a conditional offer into a standard 2-year Honours programme, may receive an offer of an unconditional Honours place at the end of the first or second semester of the intended Honours programme. Criteria for Honours entry for those who are in receipt of such conditional offers will be based upon performance on requisite 3000 level modules (or 4000 level modules where appropriate). Criteria will be determined by Schools and published in School handbooks in advance of students embarking upon 3000-level modules (or 4000 level modules where appropriate). For conditional Honours entry students who narrowly miss the cut-off for an unconditional offer at the end of either the first or second semester of the intended Honours programme, Heads of Schools (or their delegates) can exercise their discretion regarding Honours entry.
Schools that run integrated Masters programmes will retain the right to offer places on the Masters programmes to students who perform at a satisfactory level in the first or second semester of the intended programme. Criteria for entry at this point on the Masters programme will be determined by Schools and published in School handbooks in advance of students undertaking 3000-level modules (or 4000 level modules). For students who narrowly miss the criteria, Heads of Schools (or their delegates) can exercise discretion regarding entry into integrated Masters programmes where appropriate.
General Points
Honours entry is regarded as an academic matter and therefore decisions regarding Honours entry are made at School level.
Students will retain the right to appeal a decision regarding Honours entry to the Head of School.
Grades from deferred assessments will count towards Honours entry. Grades from reassessments will count towards Honours entry only at the discretion of the Head of School (or delegate).
Students who receive automatic unconditional offers in both subject areas will be offered an automatic unconditional offer into the joint degree programme. Students who receive automatic conditional offers in both subject areas will be offered an automatic conditional offer into the joint degree programme. Students who receive an unconditional or conditional offer in only one programme will normally be permitted to pursue the joint programme only if the other Head of School (or delegate) is prepared to support it.