The standards we hold,
and why.
An academic programme is only as serious as its policies. Below are the rules every MSc student is expected to read carefully — on assessment, progression, attendance, and academic offences.
A five-point pass on a ten-point scale.
The pass mark for any module — and the overall pass mark for the MSc — is five out of ten. The full scale appears below.
Where an assessment is structured across multiple elements, the module instructor determines whether students must achieve an overall pass mark of 5 across elements or a minimum mark on individual elements.
Showing up is part of the assessment.
Students are expected to attend timetabled sessions for each module, and active participation during class is essential to achieve the learning outcomes. Attendance is strictly monitored.
Following three unexcused absences in a module, formal action is taken — which may lead to the student being required to repeat the module. Repeat absence for students with a study permit may lead to their visa being revoked.
Modified provisions, strict confidentiality.
If you have a disability or require special arrangements during assessments, you must inform the Secretariat of the Department in writing, attaching documentation translated into English by a certified translator and confirming the condition or diagnosis (signed and stamped by a healthcare professional).
The Secretariat will inform module instructors about your condition and, where necessary, modified assessment provisions will be made. Strict confidentiality is observed with regard to your sensitive data.
A discipline of integrity, not slogans.
The University takes academic offences very seriously. It is the student's responsibility to understand what they entail. Committing an academic offence may jeopardise studies — and a future career — because such offences usually need to be declared upon registration with a professional body, and the University may also be required to share this information.
What constitutes an offence
In the context of academic fairness and plagiarism, academic offences are actions undertaken by a student that could confer an unfair advantage in any type of assessment. Whether a case is considered an academic offence, and the severity of the offence, is judged by the programme committee. An indicative list includes:
- Plagiarism — copying or paraphrasing other people's work or ideas into a submitted assessment without appropriate referencing.
- Misconduct during official examinations — copying, having unauthorised study material near the desk, unauthorised use of laptops or mobile phones, not observing the rules of the examination process, disrespecting examiners.
- False declarations about a disability, condition, or illness in an attempt to obtain modified assessment provisions or extenuating circumstances.
- Manipulating research data or results with the intent to achieve a favourable outcome.
- Substituting candidates — having another person undertake any form of assessment for you, or undertaking assessment for another student.
- Any other activity that could confer an unfair advantage to any candidate(s).
Process & consequences
Academic offences are reported to the programme committee, which decides on disciplinary sanctions. Depending on severity, students may have assessments nullified and be required to repeat a module, may be penalised with a halt of their studies for a semester or more, or may be withdrawn from the course entirely.
Candidates with proven academic offences are not eligible for any refunds of tuition fees if the programme committee decides to disrupt their studies. Confirmed offences will appear on the candidate's student record. If unsure whether something constitutes an offence, consult an academic member of staff or your personal tutor — better to ask before than after.
For everyday study matters.
Read the Student Life page for everyday support — personal tutors, counselling, healthcare, and the offices that exist to make eighteen months of postgraduate study run smoothly.