Undergraduate Student Handbook
School of Humanities
Undergraduate Student Handbook
Session 2011-12
Contents:
1. Welcome to the School and the MA in Humanities
- 1.1 Welcome from the Dean of Humanities
- 1.2 The School Secretaries
- 1.3 Introduction to the School of Humanities
2. Information about your degree
- 2.1 MA degree overview and aims
- 2.2 MA degree pathways/routes
- 2.3 MA degree module/credit requirements for degree awards
- 2.4 MA degree module/credit structure and progression requirements year-by-year
- 2.5 MA degree Termination of Studies Appeals
- 2.6 MA degree regulations
- 2.7 Adviser of Studies and Personal Tutors
- 2.8 Exchanges
3. Communication
- 3.1 Who to contact
- 3.2 School of Humanities Office and Reception
- 3.3 Discipline and Programme contacts - Office Hours
- 3.4 Key information sources: My Dundee, Websites etc.
- 3.5 Complaints
4. Student Support
- 4.1 Academic support (e.g. writing skills)
- 4.2 IT support
- 4.3 Library and Learning Centre
- 4.4 Support for students with disabilities
- 4.5 Student support services
- 4.6 Harrassment and Bullying policy
5. Student Representation
6. Teaching
- 6.1 Approaches to teaching and learning
- 6.2 Staff and student responsibilities
- 6.3 Module choices
- 6.4 School policy on attendance and absence
- 6.5 School Ethical Approval Policy
- 6.6 Semester dates
7. Assessment
- 7.1 Submission of assessed work and formative assessments
- 7.2 Return of work and opportunities for feedback
- 7.3 University marking scale
- 7.4 Late submission of assessed work (penalties)
- 7.5 Mitigating circumstances
- 7.6 Getting your results
- 7.7 Resit opportunities for failed modules
- 7.8 Appeals
- 7.9 Plagiarism, Referencing and Safe Assignment
- 7.10 Honours Degree Classifications
8. Life After Your Degree
9. Student Societies
10. Health & Safety
- 10.1 Health & Safety
1. Welcome to the School and the MA in Humanities
1.1 - Welcome from the Dean of Humanities
As Dean of School may I extend a very warm welcome to you. We pride ourselves on our openness towards students and both I and my staff look forward to working closely with you. The academic staff who work in the School do so because they value teaching and research above all. They will engage with you throughout your career and will learn as much from your views and opinions as you will from theirs. The School is an academic community which you are now a part of and we hope that you will take part in all of its activities.
Just as you should expect one hundred percent commitment from the School staff, so the School will expect your full commitment to and involvement with your higher education. To ensure openness, fairness and transparency in the academic process, there are a number of rules and modes of practice we expect all members of our student community to abide by. They are itemised in this handbook. I would warmly recommend that you fully acquaint yourself with its contents.
The School expects the best from its staff and we hope that in our shared collaborations and debates you will expect the best from yourself. It will be a privilege to work with you and for you.
Professor Nicholas Davey
Dean of Humanities and Professor of Philosophy
1.2 - The School Secretary
The School Secretaries within Humanities are Gwen Hunter and Laura Murray. They are responsible for all administration in the School and provide close support to the Dean in the strategic and financial management of the School. In addition, they are also here to support you throughout your academic journey and ensure that the Degree Regulations are followed so that you can meet the requirements for your chosen degree pathway. If during your time with us you have any worries or experience any personal or academic difficulties and are unsure where to turn to for advice, please make an appointment to see either of the School Secretaries and they can advise you on what to do next. They can also assist with enquiries about taking a year out or withdrawing on a temporary basis. They can be contacted by email at HumanitiesSchoolSecretary@dundee.ac.uk or by telephone on 01382 388625.
1.3 - Introduction to the School of Humanities
Disciplines within the School:
- English and Film Studies
- European Studies
- History and American Studies
- Languages
- Philosophy and European Philosophy
- Politics and International Relations
You can take a single Honours Humanities subject alongside French, German or Spanish, and if you are doing Joint-Honours with European Studies you can also take a language (French, German or Spanish) in Years 3 and 4. In addition we also offer a joint honours pathway in European Studies and European Languages and Culture.
The School of Humanities houses a fellowship of disciplines in which you may read for a single subject degree or a degree which combines disciplines in different ways. The availability of modules outside your primary discipline does not in any way weaken your specialism, indeed the contrary is the case. If you are studying History, a Philosophy of History module will strengthen your position as a potential Post-Graduate student and it will certainly indicate to an employer a broader and more adventurous frame of mind. If your principal interest is in English Literature, a History module on 19th Century Europe may serve you well too. Philosophical ideas can be explored in film and literature, political events are inseparable from their historical context, language shapes our world and cultures and the ways in which we interact. Whatever your degree or degree combination, we hope you will take full advantage of the range of expertise within the School.
As a Humanities student you also have access to individual modules and joint degrees across the Arts and Social Sciences, involving subject areas such as Psychology, Geography and Economics. For full details of the single and joint degrees available, see Section 2 below: Information About Your Degree.
The School is proud to welcome a diverse body of students bringing a range of different backgrounds and experiences to their studies: you will have the opportunity to learn as much from each other as from your lecturers and tutors. By the end of your degree, we hope you will have a range of creative, critical and reflective capacities which you can carry with you into your future endeavours - whatever you go on to do next.
This Handbook provides you with much of the practical information you need to complete your degree successfully. You will find a list of key contacts in Section 3 below and should never hesitate to ask if you are unsure or would like further advice: as you will quickly discover, one of the keys to successful study in the Humanities is being unafraid to ask questions!
2. Information about your degree
2.1 - Master of Arts (MA) degree overview and aims
As a student on a single or joint degree in Humanities your degree is part of the MA in Humanities Programme. The MA in Humanities is a distinctive cluster within the Master of Arts degree programme which involves the School of Humanities, School of the Environment, School of Business, and the School of Psychology.
As well as being able to choose from Single and Joint degrees in Humanities subject areas, students on the MA in Humanities are also able to take advantage of the flexibility of the structure to take individual modules and joint degree pathways involving other subjects (see lists below). Please note that not all subject areas are available as a Single subject degree pathway. For a full and current list of degree pathways available, please consult the MA Degree Regulations.
Degree Awarded:
MA and MA Honours
Duration:
3 or 4 years full time, 8 to 10 years part time
| Humanities subject areas available: | Other subject areas available: |
|---|---|
American Studies |
Business Economics with Marketing Economics Environmental Sustainability Geography International Business and Finance Psychology Town and Regional Planning Mathematics |
With the agreement of your Adviser of Studies, attendance at up to four modules outside the Humanities and Arts and Social Sciences MA programmes is permissible at levels 1 and 2; the credits obtained will be accepted as equivalent to completion of MA in Humanities Degree Programme modules. You may gain no more than 40 credits at Level 1 and 40 credits at Level 2 in this way.
MA in Humanities: Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes
Each Programme in the School has its own aims as well as a set of intended learning outcomes that describe the skills, knowledge and capacities you should have acquired on completing your degree. You can find the aims and outcomes relevant to your particular degree by looking at the relevant Programme Specifications which are available on the Humanities My Dundee site in the 'Information for Undergraduates' section.
The overall aims that inform degrees housed within the MA in Humanities are as follows:
- To foster the pursuit of life-long learning by providing a supportive, student-centred learning environment; and by promoting deep learning approaches to study.
- To offer a broad and deep education in the traditional Humanities (English, History, Philosophy, Politics) as well as areas of particular contemporary concern (American Studies, European Studies, Film Studies, International Relations, Transatlantic Studies) and degree pathways with a language.
- To provide an opportunity both for in-depth study in individual disciplines and for making links between the Humanities subjects as well as with other subject areas so as to work in cross- and inter-disciplinary ways.
- To provide students with an integrated training in a Humanities-based approach to creative and critical thinking
- To encourage students to make links to subject areas and approaches outside the Humanities by maintaining openness in terms of the availability of modules and joint degree pathways, both with other programmes housed within the MA in Arts and Social Sciences, and with other Schools and Colleges
- To provide students with a broad-based education by offering the opportunity to study a range of subjects in their first two years, thereby allowing them to make an informed choice about their final degree pathway based on a greater appreciation of both the nature of individual subjects and the relationships between them.
- To provide students with a choice of structured degree pathways to allow them to follow a coherent programme of studies relevant to their personal requirements for academic and professional development.
- To provide students with flexibility in module choices, consistent with the maintenance of academic rigour and progression principles.
- To promote the employability and professionalism of students by supporting their acquisition of transferable skills and the development of their own personal resources and qualities.
2.2 - MA degree pathways/routes
All of the subject pathways/routes that are available to study within the MA degree structure are listed at the beginning of the MA Degree Regulations. For each subject in Humanities we have a degree pathway document which lists all of the compulsory or core modules that a student is normally required to take and pass if they are on a particular degree pathway. These Degree Pathway documents are available from the Humanities My Dundee site, in the 'Information for Undergraduates' section.
2.3 - Module/Credit Requirements for Degree Awards:
MA (Ordinary) degree
- MA un-named degree - for this award students must attain a total of at least 360 credits including at least 60 credits at level three.
- MA named degree - for this award students must attain a total of at least 360 credits including at least 90 credits at level three in one subject area.
MA Honours degree - for this award students must attain a total of at least 480 credits including at least 80 credits at level two and 240 credits at levels three and four (at least 90 credits must be at level three and 90 must be at level four). In addition, one of the following three types of pathways must be followed:
- Single subject degree - for this award students must attain at least 180 credits at levels three and four (six modules) in their chosen degree subject area over third and fourth year.
- Single subject with a language degree - for this award students must attain at least 180 credits at levels three and four (six modules) in their chosen degree subject area and would normally attain the remaining 60 credits at levels three and four from language modules taken over third and fourth year.
- Joint subject degree - for this award students must attain at least 240 credits over levels three and four in two subject areas, with no fewer than 90 (including 30 at level four) from any one subject area.
2.4 - MA degree module/credit structure and progression requirements year-by-year
Module availability will change from year to year. Details of modules available in the current session (including module specifications giving you information on assessment, aims and learning outcomes) are available from the Humanities My Dundee site.
First Year:
- Full-time students will normally take six modules (120 credits) at level one from three or four subject areas, including any core modules required for their chosen degree pathway, plus a range of modules to permit progression to at least one other degree pathway.
- Part-time students will normally take up to a maximum of 80 credits per academic session and must have attained at least 80 credits by the end of three academic sessions at first year level.
- Progression: you must gain at least 80 credits in order to progress into second year. If you do not meet the progression requirement after one academic session if registered as a full-time student or repeating the year, or after three academic sessions if registered as a part-time student, then your studies will be liable for termination. If permitted to continue your studies following a successful appeal then you will be required to repeat the year.
Second Year:
- Full-time students will normally take six modules (120 credits) at levels one or two from at least three subject areas, including any core modules required for their chosen degree pathway, plus a range of modules to permit progression to at least one other degree pathway. At least four of these modules (80 credits) must be at level two, however the School of Humanities recommends that students should normally take all six modules (120 credits) at level two.
- Part-time students will normally take up to a maximum of 80 credits per academic session and must have attained at least 200 credits (of which 80 must be at level two) by the end of three academic sessions at second year level (in addition to the number of academic sessions taken to complete first year).
- Progression: you must gain at least 200 credits, of which 80 must normally be at level two, in order to progress into third year. Additionally, you must normally have met the pathway requirements for at least one degree programme to remain on track for a named degree. If you do not meet the progression requirement after one academic session if registered as a full-time student or repeating the year, or after three academic sessions if registered as a part-time student, then your studies will be liable for termination if you have previously had to repeat a year or have less than 200 credits. If permitted to continue your studies then you will normally be required to repeat the year but may be allowed to proceed to third year at the discretion of the MA Progression and Termination of Studies Committee.
Third Year:
- Full-time students will normally take four modules (120 credits) to enable them to achieve a total of at least 360 credits by the end of third year. See notes above for number and level of credits required for different degree awards.
- Part-time students will normally take up to a maximum of 80 credits per academic session and must have attained a total of at least 360 credits by the end of two academic sessions at third year level (in addition to the number of academic sessions taken to complete first and second years). See notes above for number and level of credits required for different degree awards.
- Progression: you must have gained at least 360 credits, of which 80 must be at level two and 120 must be at level three (or 90 at level three and 30 at level four), in order to be eligible for progression into Honours (fourth year). Additionally, you must normally have met the pathway requirements for at least one degree programme to remain on the Honours track. If you do not meet the progression requirement after one academic session if registered as a full-time student or repeating the year, or after two academic sessions if registered as a part-time student, then your studies will be liable for termination if you have previously had to repeat a year or have less than 300 credits. If permitted to continue your studies then you will be required to repeat the year and may, if you have previously had to repeat third year, be required to undertake a programme of studies that will allow you to graduate with an MA degree but not to progress to the Honours year.
Fourth Year:
- Full-time students will normally take four modules (120 credits) to enable them to achieve a total of at least 480 credits including 240 at levels three and four (at least 90 must be at level three and 90 must be at level four). You must graduate after one academic session in fourth year. See notes above for number and level of credits required for different degree awards.
- Part-time students will normally take up to a maximum of 80 credits per academic session and must have attained a total of at least 480 credits by the end of two academic sessions at fourth year level (in addition to the number of academic sessions taken to complete first, second, and third years). You must graduate after two academic sessions in fourth year. See notes above for number and level of credits required for different degree awards.
2.5 - MA degree Termination of Studies Appeals
If you find yourself in a situation where your studies are liable for termination due to not meeting the progression requirements (see Section 2.4 above for details of progression requirements) the School Secretary will inform you of this immediately following the Resit examination diet in August and you will then have the right to appeal to the MA Progression and Termination of Studies Committee. This is your chance to tell the committee about any extenuating circumstances that have affected your studies throughout the year which you think are relevant to the possibility of your studies being terminated. Guidance on how to write a letter of appeal can be found on the Academic Affairs web pages in the 'Appeals' section.
The School Secretary can offer advice and assistance if you have any concerns and Student Services have a range of online and face-to-face support facilities that you can access, including Counselling Services.
2.6 - MA degree regulations
The MA Degree Regulations are the set of rules that govern the MA degree and contain important information and rules relating to:
- Credit ratings of the MA degrees and other awards
- Degree pathways (programmes) available within the MA structure
- Programme of study for each year of the degree, i.e. how many modules/credits you should normally take in each year and what the minimum progression requirements are for each year
- Termination of Studies and appeals should you fail to meet the progression requirements
- Taking a year out of your studies
- Assessment, i.e. the marking scale, eligibility to take degree examinations, examination diets, results, resits etc.
The Regulations are available to view from the link above or from the Humanities My Dundee site.
2.7 - Adviser of Studies and Personal Tutors
All students are assigned an academic member of staff to assist them and advise them on anything relating to their studies.
First and second year students are assigned an Adviser of Studies on entering the University at matriculation time. Normally the same Adviser will stay with you throughout the first and second years of your degree programme. As well as meeting with your Adviser at the start of each session to choose your modules, you will also have the option of meeting them again near the middle of the semester to discuss your progress. You can also meet with them at any time during the year for advice or guidance.
Open office (consultation) hours for staff during term time (when you can see them without an appointment), are usually advertised on the relevant staff member's door. If you cannot see them during their normal open office hour you should email or phone them to request an alternative appointment.
2.8 - Exchanges
As a student on the MA Degree Programme you may be eligible to undertake an outgoing exchange in your 2nd or 3rd year of studies (for either one semester or two). The School of Humanities participates in various exchange programmes including the Erasmus programme (European destinations) and the Transatlantic Student Exchange (TSE) programme (primarily USA and Canada), as well as other Study Abroad programmes.
Erasmus & Transatlantic Student Exchange (TSE) and Study Abroad
The School's Exchanges Officer is Ms Marion Spöring (m.m.g.sporing@dundee.ac.uk).
Erasmus
For a full list of partner institutions and destinations or for further general information on the Erasmus exchange programme see the University's Erasmus webpage: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/erasmus/.
Transatlantic Student Exchange (TSE) and Study Abroad
For a full list of partner institutions and destinations or for further general information on studying outside the European Union see the University's Studying Abroad webpage: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/studyingabroad/.
3. Communication
3.1 - Who to contact
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 'I have a question relating to my module / coursework / assessment...' | If you cannot find the required information in your Module Handbook or on the relevant My Dundee site, contact your Module/Course Organiser or tutor (see the section below on Discipline and Programme contacts - Staff Office Hours for details on how to contact a member of academic staff). Alternatively, ask at the Humanities Reception. |
'I have a question relating to my overall degree programme...'
'I have a problem that is affecting my studies...' |
If you cannot find the required information in this handbook, or in the relevant programme handbook contact your Adviser of Studies or the School Secretary. If you are unsure who your Adviser of Studies is you can check with the Humanities Reception and you can contact them either during their Office Hours or by emailing them. Contact the School Secretary. To make an appointment to see the School Secretary contact the Humanities Reception. |
| 'I wish to take a year out / withdraw temporarily or permanently...' 'I want to change my degree pathway / subject...' |
Contact the School Secretary. To make an appointment to see the School Secretary contact the Humanities Reception. |
| 'I have a general query...' 'I want to change tutorial groups...' 'I need information on timetables / staff contacts / module availability...' 'I need to submit assessment coursework...' 'I need to complete a Self Certification form and/or submit evidence of mitigating circumstances...' |
All such queries and issues can be dealt with by the Humanities Reception. |
| 'I want to register a disability or request assistance with my studies...' 'I am having personal difficulties and want to seek counselling...' 'I need advice / help with fees / funding / financial issues...' |
You can make an appointment to speak with the School Secretary who can help direct you to someone who can assist you or you can contact the service directly. You can register with Disability Services who may arrange for specific adjustments to better meet your individual needs. You can find out about contacting Disability Services directly by visiting their website at www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/disabilityservices/. Student Services can provide a wealth of online and face-to-face help and assistance on many different issues that may affect you during your period of study, including Counselling Services. |
| 'I wish to make a complaint or appeal...' | All complaints or appeals (other than appeals against Termination of Studies) should be initially discussed with the relevant tutor or discipline Programme Convener. If it is not resolved at this level you should make an appointment to see the School Secretary . If the School Secretary is unable to assist you will then be asked to put your case in writing to the Dean of Humanities. Further guidance is available from the University's Academic Affairs webpages http://www.dundee.ac.uk/academic/dca/index.htm. For guidance on making a complaint please see section 3.5 below. |
3.2 - School of Humanities Office and Reception
The School of Humanities Office and Reception are housed in the Baxter Suite area of the Tower Building on Level 1. The Humanities Reception is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm, the telephone number is 01382 388625 / 388927, and emails can be sent to Humanities@dundee.ac.uk
All of the Discipline and Programme Secretaries are based in the School Office.
Contact Name |
Discipline |
Telephone No. |
|
Sarah Burns/ |
American & European Studies |
384536 |
|
Jennifer Byers |
English |
384445 |
|
Lucy Mo |
History |
384512 |
|
Laura Schiavetta |
History Distance Learning |
384763 |
|
Claire Nicoll |
Practical Languages |
385488 |
|
Lisa Wood / |
Philosophy |
384538 |
|
Rhona Crowe |
Politics |
384385 |
|
Daria Wall |
Postgraduate |
384202 |
|
Linda Boyd |
School Module Officer |
384648 |
The School Secretaries are also based in the Baxter Suite area of the Tower Building (Level 1) and you can make an appointment to meet either of them by contacting the Humanities Reception.
- School Secretaries: Gwen Hunter / Laura Murray (HumanitiesSchoolSecretary@dundee.ac.uk).
3.3 - Discipline and Programme contacts - Staff Office Hours
The Discipline and Programme Secretaries are based in the School Office on level 1 of the Tower Building and can be contacted through the Humanities Reception.
Contact details for individual lecturers and tutors can be found on Discipline and Programme websites and relevant My Dundee module sites. If in doubt, contact the Discipline and Programme Secretary or ask at the Humanities Reception
All lecturers and tutors in the School have an open Office or 'consultation' Hour during term time when you can see them without an appointment to discuss your work or the modules you are taking. Office Hours will normally be advertised on your lecturer's or tutor's office door or on your module My Dundee sites. If you cannot find information on office hours email the relevant Discipline or Programme Secretary. If you cannot see your tutor during their normal open Office Hour, you should email or phone them to request an alternative appointment.
3.4 - Key information sources: My Dundee, Websites etc.
Module booklets and My Dundee sites
You can find all the important information relating to your modules/courses in the relevant My Dundee site, including reading lists, timetables, assessment details, lecture notes, and much more. You will only be able to access the module sites if you are properly registered for your modules on the Student Records System. Consult the Humanities Reception desk if you have any problems with this.
You may also find that there is a module booklet available that contains all of this information. Check the module My Dundee site for how to access the booklet or check with the Discipline or Programme Secretary.
Programme handbooks
Some of our disciplines may have programme handbooks available containing important information relevant to all modules in a particular programme or subject area (for example, marking criteria for essays or how to insert references, etc.). Programme handbooks can be found either on the programme websites or via links in module My Dundee sites if they are available.
Humanities My Dundee Site
The School of Humanities has a My Dundee site which you should be able to find in the 'My Groups and Communities' section of your My Dundee homepage. It is very important that you familiarise yourself with all of the information available here such as the school announcements, school policies and procedures, contact information, student representation information, careers and employability information and much more. This is the SCHOOL'S main facility for communicating with you and it is updated throughout the year, so make it a regular point of contact.
Websites
The School and each discipline/programme have websites containing information such as staff contact details and research profiles, news, events, conferences etc.
- School of Humanities: www.dundee.ac.uk/humanities/
- American Studies: www.dundee.ac.uk/american/
- Language: www.dundee.ac.uk/languages/
- English and Film Studies: www.dundee.ac.uk/english/
- European Studies: www.dundee.ac.uk/cestud/
- History: www.dundee.ac.uk/history/
- Philosophy: www.dundee.ac.uk/philosophy/
- Politics and International Relations: www.dundee.ac.uk/politics/
3.5 - Complaints
If you would like to make a complaint for any reason there are 3 main steps to follow:
1 - Seek an informal resolution
- Try to get an explanation right away from the member of staff most closely involved with the source of your complaint and/or contact the School Secretary to discuss your complaint and seek advice.
- If this does not result in an acceptable response to your complaint, contact the Dean of School. The Dean will make enquiries with those concerned, and report back to you, in a reasonable time, on the outcome.
- The School may make arrangements by organising joint or individual meetings as appropriate. The focus at this stage is on arriving promptly at an outcome that is mutually acceptable to all concerned rather than making a judgement about whether the complainant's case is right or wrong.
2 - The formal complaint route
- If you consider the stage 1 approach has either been unsuccessful or is inappropriate, you can submit a formal complaint in writing to the Dean of Humanities. You may use the standard complaint form (available from the web link below) to help you structure your complaint. On receipt of the written complaint, the Dean will contact you and, if possible, meet with you to discuss your complaint, have the matter investigated, and report back to you. We aim to do this as expeditiously as possible and normally within one month of the date of the Dean's receipt of the written complaint.
- Possible outcomes of this stage are either: a mutually acceptable outcome is agreed; or the matter is reported to the College Vice Principal or the University Secretary, who either decides what further action may be taken, or that it has been heard fairly and all appropriate actions have been taken.
3 - Appeal Process
- If you disagree with the decision that your case has been heard fairly and that all appropriate actions have been taken, you then have access to the third stage of this procedure, the appeal process.
- You may only appeal on grounds of: substantial new information where this was not available at Stage 2 for good reason; evidence of a defect in the way the procedure was followed at Stage 2; or evidence of prejudice or bias.
- Such an appeal must be submitted in writing, within one month of the completion of stage 2 of the procedure, to the Director of Academic Affairs (also the Academic Secretary) who will decide whether grounds exist.
For full guidance on the University's policy and procedures relating to complaints see http://www.dundee.ac.uk/academic/complaints.htm.
4. Student Support
4.1 - Academic support (e.g. writing skills)
As a new undergraduate student, you will need to become familiar with new ways of learning and teaching at university (for example lectures, tutorials, use of e-learning systems). The Academic Acievement Teaching Unit (ATTU) can help you achieve sucess in your University studies - from first year through to final year. In partnership with the University's Schools, they are committeed to helping all students:
- develop the skills and knowledge that underpin our programmes of study and research
- prepare for employment in their chosen career path
They organise various initiatives to assist undergraduate students across the University. You can get more information about the AATU at www.dundee.ac.uk/aatu, or you can email them at aatu@dundee.ac.uk.
4.2 - IT support
Information and Communication Services (ICS) can help you with any IT related queries and they provide in excess of 600 PCs in IT Suites which are distributed across the University's campuses. These suites offer students a wide range of software and non-profit making printing facilities set within a pleasant and healthy atmosphere.
For more information about ICS and the services they provide, see: www.dundee.ac.uk/ics/.
4.3 - Library and Learning Centre
The Library provides online and face-to-face support to help you find the resources that you will need to successfully complete your studies. As well as lending books they provide quiet and group study areas, have electronic resources (databases, e-books and e-journals), and can provide guidance on how to find further resources for your subject area. You can get more information on the Library and their facilities at www.dundee.ac.uk/library/.
The Learning Centre operates to support academic educational activities across the University. The activities of the Learning Centre can be split into two main areas; Academic Skills (see Section 4.1 above for further details on the Academic Achievement Teaching Unit) and e-Learning. They administer, develop and support eLearning activities throughout the University including the My Dundee Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), the University's online assessment systems and a range of additional e-Learning tools and techniques. They provide support and guidance relating to your use of My Dundee at www.dundee.ac.uk/learning/dol/vles.htm
4.4 - Support for Students with Disabilities & Equality & Diversity in the Curriculum
Equality & Diversity in the Curriculum
All staff are committed to providing an inclusive curriculum for all students including access to a full teaching and learning programme for disabled students. The School liaises with the University's Equality and Diversity Officer and the Head of Disability Services to determine the most appropriate way to achieve this and ensure that no group or individual is disadvantaged by the learning environment. The School’s Director of Teaching (Dr Murray Frame, 01382 384520, m.frame@dundee.ac.uk) and the relevant Module Organisers support this process and ensure that specific adjustments are arranged to meet individual disabled students' needs. Further details of the University's provision for disabled students are available at: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/disabilityservices.
Disability Services provide a range of confidential services dedicated to the support and empowerment of disabled students and staff. They also provide information and advice to all University staff, including identifying reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of disabled students and staff. In order to gain support for your course-related needs please disclose your disability to Disability Services as early as possible. To contact them about a disclosure or to find out how they can assist you go to their website at www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/disabilityservices/, call them on 01382 385402, or email them at disability@dundee.ac.uk.
4.5 - Student support services
Student Services are available to support students who have personal, financial, health, disability or work related problems. They also seek to help all students to learn the personal skills they need to build the lives and careers they want for themselves, from problem solving to understanding teams, from mental wellbeing and coping with stress to self presentation at interview. Being at University is about seeking out and responding to opportunities in all spheres of life, not just academic work, and Student Services support that search whether things are going well or not so well. You can find out more about the support they can provide at www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/.
They also provide a Frontline Support Service which has an office on the 4th floor of DUSA. The Frontline Support Workers are available from 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday to help students with any queries and to point them to people who can help them with absolutely anything. They can be contacted on 01382 388590 and emailed at studentservices@dundee.ac.uk.
4.6 - Harrassment and Bullying policy
The University has a policy on Dignity at Work & Study: Addressing Harrassment and Bullying which indicates that the University of Dundee upholds the right of each member of the University community to be treated with dignity and respect. It is committed to fostering an environment in which staff, students, visitors and sub-contractors can work and study free from harassment, bullying, intimidation and victimisation. This policy applies to all members of the University community. Any incident of harassment or bullying will be regarded extremely seriously and can be grounds for disciplinary action including dismissal or expulsion. Further details are available from www.dundee.ac.uk/hr/equality/dignity.htm.
5. Student Representation
5.1 - School President and Vice Presidents
Student Representation within the School is led by your School President and Vice Presidents who are nominated and voted in at the end of each session. For session 2011-12 the School President is Anna Dimitrova (a.dimitrova@dundee.ac.uk) and the Vice Presidents are Danny Williams (d.x.williams@dundee.ac.uk) and Mat Krupczynski (m.krupczynski@dundee.ac.uk).
Message from your School President
I am more than happy to welcome you to theUniversityofDundee, a great combination of vibrant student life, high academic standards and exceptionally good Scottish weather. Reading this means that you have decided to become part of a community well renowned for its exceptional educational quality and student activism, whose fame spreads across the UK and even beyond.
But as you all know that, I should just make sure you are all aware how I can help you get the best out of our University. As a School President I take the responsibility of representing your interests at administrative meetings and informing you of all decisions and actions that will affect you. I will undertake various methods to keep myself aware of what concerns you, but I also rely on you to let me know. I am here for you, therefore should you encounter any kind of problems related to the facilities you use or the way your courses are administered and led, the best way for you to seek its resolution would be to contact me.
University life, however, goes way beyond your academic environment and there might be occasions were you would face problems that I wouldn’t be able to help you resolve. The School however is proud to provide you with yet another instrument of support. The School’s ‘Families’ scheme is now in its second year and has been introduced precisely to make sure that you will be able to draw on the experiences of students who have been at the university for longer than you. Should you like to take part in it, you would be paired with a 2nd and/or 3rd year student, who will help you settle comfortably into the life of a successful student. In other words they can advise on what activities are there for you to get involved in, how to use all the facilities on campus, and much more.
To take part in the ‘Families’ scheme, you should email the Humanities Office humanities@dundee.ac.uk by the 9th of Sept. Please, type ‘Families Scheme’ as subject title and specify your course. I will then get in touch with you.
Besides all that, the School is planning a couple of events that will be of particular interest to you. As we are currently in the process of their preparation, I will keep them a secret, but as soon as we are ready you will be the first to know.
In the mean time, I would be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have about the School, what we do and how we will do it. Just email me at a.dimitrova@dundee.ac.uk
Best wishes,
Anna Dimitrova
5.2 - Representation structure
Effective student representation is important to the School. Undergraduate student representation for Humanities is led by one School President and one School Vice President. Presidents are supported by Discipline and Class Representatives who participate on the programme Staff Student Consultative (SSC) Committees.
Because Humanities is a multi-discipline School we value the views of students in all areas of our curriculum and business and therefore either your President or Vice-President will sit on School Board (this is the main decision making body within the School and it is also used to discuss/raise any School issues). In this forum your president has the opportunity to report on student issues and concerns. School Board reports to College Board and students are represented at College Board by the DUSA Deputy President so that any issues referred from School to College Board are followed through. After College Board the DUSA Deputy President reports back to the School President who in return reports back to Discipline and Class Representatives.
In addition to representation, students' views can also be expressed through other forums such as the National Students Survey (NSS), end of module questionnaires and programme reviews. Full details of the Student Representation structure within Humanities can be found on the Humanities My Dundee site, and for the School's response to last year's NSS see http://www.dundee.ac.uk/principalsoffice/NSS.htm.
6. Teaching
6.1 - Approaches to teaching and learning
During your time as a student in the School you will encounter a range of different teaching methods and approaches, depending on the topic, level and class size. In all cases, you will find that the key to making the most of the time you have with your lecturer, tutor or supervisor is good preparation beforehand, active participation in the session, and good follow up work (writing up notes, following up questions, undertaking further reading). The more you put in, the more you will get out!
The main teaching methods used in the School are:
- Lectures: used to introduce module topics, outline key material, and raise questions and issues that you should be thinking about in your own work and that can be followed up in tutorials. Lectures are not the last word on a topic, but starting points for further thought. You will get more out of a lecture if you have done the relevant module reading beforehand and take good notes (be selective, listen to the lecturer and don't try to write down everything: focus on key points and issues you want to follow up).
- Tutorials: smaller classes which allow you to develop your understanding of key themes and ideas via discussion with your tutor and your group. You will be expected to participate by asking and answering questions, and putting forward relevant points and arguments: having to articulate your thoughts will help you to clarify and develop them. Sometimes tutorial groups will be broken down into pairs or small groups to aid more detailed discussion and debate. Listening to others and respecting different views is a key skill here: your tutor will play an important role in structuring and guiding discussion, but you will also have much to learn from each other's insights and perspectives.
- Seminars: often the form that classes take at Levels 3 and 4. Seminars are usually larger than tutorial groups and often combine aspects of lectures and tutorials: for example, the course tutor might begin the class with a short talk which opens up space for questions and discussion. Often students will be asked to lead a seminar by giving a presentation on a specific issue. This format allows the whole class to work intensively together on a key text or topic, and is particularly suited to Honours level work.
- One-to-one advice and supervision: this is always available to you by visiting your module lecturers or tutors during their advertised Open Office Hours. Individual supervision becomes especially important at Levels 3 and 4, where you will meet with module lecturers to discuss the development of individual essays and projects; final year students undertaking a dissertation will be allocated a supervisor with whom they will meet on a regular basis to help them develop and complete their dissertation project.
Other teaching methods you may encounter include:
- field trips
- archive or gallery visits
- simulation and role-playing
- team negotiation and debates
- lab work for modules involving IT
- a variety of activities on MyDundee, such as participation in discussion boards, uploading module journals, posting module minutes, completing on-line worksheets.
At different points in your studies, you should expect to be asked not only to participate in discussion, but to give short presentations to a tutorial or seminar group (either individually or in a group).
Make sure you look at the advice given in the individual Programme Handbooks and Module MyDundee sites relevant to you: you will find a wealth of helpful information there, for example, about how to make the most of your lectures; effective note-taking; participation in tutorials and seminars; how to prepare for oral presentations; and more.
You can also enhance your studies by attending the visiting speaker research seminars hosted by the different disciplines in the School or the Arts & Humanities Research Institute (AHRI) speaker series. Students are very welcome to attend these events; see Programme and School websites and notice boards for details.
6.2 - Staff and student responsibilities
The School aims to create the best possible learning environment. We seek to foster a relationship between staff and students based on dialogue, co-operation, and a shared commitment to learning which entails responsibilities on both sides.
As a student, you can expect staff in the School:
- to provide a professional, well taught, and educationally relevant programme of study
- be well prepared for classes and to deliver the highest quality teaching provision that they can
- to communicate clearly the requirements of specific programmes and modules, including any set reading, assessments, and resit opportunities
- to communicate any important changes in the module requirements promptly
- to seek out and strive to follow best practice in all aspects of teaching and assessment
- to assess work fairly and, where appropriate, to return it with feedback in a timely manner
- to have publicly displayed office hours for individual student consultation
- to provide students with constructive advice on how to improve their performance and to engage courteously with students and fellow staff members at all times
- to take appropriate account of any special needs or mitigating circumstances where they are made aware of them
- to take account of student feedback and be open to suggestions for how to improve and enhance our teaching
In return, your lecturers, tutors and fellow students can expect you:
- to attend regularly and to inform your lecturer/ tutor promptly, and wherever possible in advance, of reasons why a class or examination has not been attended
- to devote sufficient time to your studies to fulfil the module requirements
- to prepare well, so that you can participate constructively in class discussion
- to familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the programme of study you are following and the modules you are taking, including any set reading, assessments, and (if necessary) resit opportunities
- to read and where appropriate respond to any communications from staff promptly - this is especially important when it comes to email communication as this is one of the primary ways we correspond with you, provide important information, and make requests of you
- to undertake and submit assessments on time and to engage with assessment exercises appropriately and effectively
- to listen to and respect the views of your fellow students and engage with others courteously at all times
- to make every effort to let your lecturers and tutors know about problems as soon as possible in order that they can provide appropriate support or make appropriate allowance
- to provide appropriate evidence of any specific needs or mitigating circumstances as required (see section 7.5 below)
- to provide constructive feedback on modules and classes where requested
Often you will require a letter of reference from a lecturer or tutor for a job or further course of study: staff members are always willing to receive such requests and will provide a reference where they think they are in a position to do so appropriately. Please note that where students have failed to attend classes regularly without good reason, or have regularly failed to hand in work in good time without any extenuating circumstances, staff may not feel able or willing to provide such a letter of support.
Some individual Programmes have a Learning Contract or Teaching Code which you will be expected to respect as a member of that particular learning community. These provide a further opportunity to make sure that you are aware of what you can reasonably expect of your lecturers and tutors, as well as to think about what you can do to take responsibility for your own learning and make the most of the learning opportunities you are offered.
6.3 - Module Choices
First and second year students choose their modules when they meet with their Adviser of Studies during Welcome week at the start of each year (also known as Freshers Week or Matriculation Week). As from this year first year students will be invited to make their module choices for second year before the end of this academic year.
Students entering third and fourth year are asked to choose their modules near the end of the previous session (i.e. April/May of their second year and third year). Students are only permitted to study for one dissertation module, even if they are on a joint degree pathway. Please note: the School works to minimum and maximum module population limits for level 3 and 4 modules. This means that should a module have less than 10 students registered on it, the module will most likely be withdrawn for that session, and similarly, should a module have more than 24 students applying for it, a cap on numbers may be enforced and the students may be allocated to the module on a first-come-first-served basis, or the module may be split into various lecture or seminar groups to allow for larger groups. All students will be asked to provide 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for their modules and depending on when you submit your module choice form, you may be allocated your 2nd or 3rd choice instead of your 1st choice. This makes early submission of your module choices absolutely crucial.
A level 3 and 4 module booklet will be distributed in April each year to enable informed module choices. Level 1 and 2 students will be given a module booklet by their Adviser of Studies. Details of all the modules that are available in the current session are held on the Humanities My Dundee site.
All students have until the end of the second week of each semester to change their modules if they wish to. In session 2011-12 this means that the deadline for requesting module changes will be Friday, 23 September 2011 for semester 1 and Friday, 27 January 2012 for semester 2. You can pick up a 'Module Change Request' Form from the Humanities Reception desk.
6.4 - School policy on attendance and absence
The School regards attendance at all lectures, seminars, and tutorials as compulsory, and attendance is normally monitored. In some of our modules adequate attendance is a requirement for passing the module (further details available from the Module Specifications which are held on the Humanities My Dundee site, in the Information for Undergraduates section).
What to do if you are going to be Absent for ANY Reason:
YOU SHOULD EMAIL YOUR TUTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND SUBMIT A SELF-CERTIFICATION FORM (FOR ABSENCES OF 5 WORKING DAYS OR LESS), OR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OR RELEVANT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION (FOR ABSENCES OF MORE THAN 5 WORKING DAYS) TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE.
What Happens if you are Absent:
Students who fail to satisfy the module requirements through persistent non-attendance will normally receive an ST (Stopped – Fail) overall module mark. Persistent non-attendance for a module is defined as having recorded absences for 6 or more weeks (per semester and not necessarily consecutive weeks) in any class where a register is taken.
If you miss two or more consecutive tutorials/seminars for a particular module you will receive a warning email reminding you that attendance is a requirement of your course. Should you miss a further tutorial/seminar, you will receive another warning email and an appointment will be made for you to meet with the School Secretary to explain your absences. This is your opportunity to let us know what the issues are and we can the work together to try and get you back on track.
Permission for Absence
Students who have good academic reasons for missing classes (such as an internship) may be excused from attending where they have received prior permission in writing from the relevant module convener.
In addition to the School Policy the MA Degree Regulations (item 2(3)) states 'you may not take any Degree Examination, and your studies will be stopped, if you have been absent from classes in all modules for which you are registered for a continuous period of six weeks, excluding vacation'.
Please ensure you read the School Attendance Policy which can be found on My Dundee, School of Humanities, Information for Undergraduates, School Policies and Statements.
Should your absence have any effect on your ability to complete assessment work or meet submission deadlines, you must complete a Mitigating Circumstances form. See Section 7.5 for further details on submitting evidence of mitigating circumstances.
6.5 - School Ethical Approval Policy
Research which involves collecting data from and about human participants or their behaviour to further knowledge needs to secure ethical approval. This may include data collected experimentally, by questionnaire, by interview, observationally, by computer, telephone, or over the Internet. If you are unsure as to whether your research needs ethical approval you should consult the School of Humanities Ethics Officer Professor Callum Brown (c.g.brown@dundee.ac.uk). Full details of the School's Ethical Approval Policy are available from the Humanities My Dundee site.
6.6 - Semester dates
Academic Year 2011-2012
| First Semester | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Week | 5 September 2011 | 11 September 2011 |
| Attendance | 12 September 2011 | 16 December 2011 |
| Second Semester | Start Date | End Date |
| Attendance | 16 January 2012 | 25 May 2012 |
| Easter Vacation | 2 April 2012 | 20 April 2012 |
Resits:
- Resit Examination Diet: 6-17 August 2012 (please note some resits by coursework may have a deadline set for earlier in the summer - check with your module My Dundee site for confirmation).
7. Assessment
7.1 - Submission of assessed work and formative assessment
All essays and continuous assessment work that contributes to your module mark must be submitted to the Humanities Reception desk with any required cover sheets fully completed (blank cover sheets are available from the Humanities Reception). Please consult the relevant module or programme handbook for details on how many copies you must submit and whether your name should only be on the cover sheet etc. PLEASE NOTE: the Humanities Reception desk is only open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.30pm and no assessment work will be accepted outside of office hours. It is your responsibility to make sure you leave enough time to finalise and print out your work in plenty of time for the deadline.
In addition to submitting hard copies of your assessment work, you will most likely be required to submit an electronic version through the Safe Assignment software on the relevant module My Dundee site (see Section 7.9 below for further information on Safe Assignment and why we use it). Note that where Safe Assignment submission is required, your work will not be given a grade unless the SA submission is completed. Again it is your responsibility to make sure that you leave yourself enough time to submit your work through Safe Assignment as the My Dundee system can get very busy on submission deadline days.
If you have any problems or mitigating circumstances that have affected your assessment work/exam performance or your ability to submit on time then you must follow the School's policy on Mitigating Circumstances (see Section 7.5 below).
Please see Section 7.4 below for details on late submission of assessed work and associated penalties.
Formative Assessment Work:
As well as assessed work (sometimes referred to as summative assessments) which counts towards your final module mark, you may also be asked to complete some formative assessment work. Formative work usually comes in similar formats to the assessed work: for example, you may be asked to undertake a short piece of writing or complete a worksheet. You may be given a mark for formative work to indicate your level of performance, however, the marks for formative work do not count towards your final module mark. This type of work is undertaken to help you develop and improve your understanding and/or critical abilities, and to provide you with feedback on your level of achievement on the module.
7.2 - Return of work and opportunities for feedback
We normally aim to mark all essays and other pieces of continuously assessed work that contribute to your final module mark within two weeks of submission (this does not include unseen examinations taken in the December or May examination diets). Assessed work will be returned to you as soon as possible after it has been marked, either during class time or in the relevant staff member's advertised office hours.
Please note that all marks returned during the year are provisional until confirmed at the May exam board (see Section 7.7 below).
Where there is an unavoidable delay in marking or returning work, for example, due to staff illness, you will normally be informed by e-mail or via the module MyDundee site. Marked essays and other pieces of continuously assessed work will normally be returned to you in person by your lecturer or tutor to give you the opportunity to discuss it with them. It will also be accompanied by feedback and comments to help you improve your future performance. You may wish to follow up these comments by making an appointment to see your tutor or visiting them during their open Office Hour.
For a full statement of the School's policy on the return of essays, see the Essay_Return_Policy.
Feedback:
Feedback can be provided in various formats including written (comments written on an essay or essay mark sheet, reports, emails etc.) and orally (discussions with your tutor when collecting your marked work, in-class feedback etc.). Feedback on examination performance can be requested by making an appointment to speak to your tutor.
7.3 - University marking scale
The School follows the University's Assessment Policy for Taught Provision and the standard Assessment Marking Scale:
| Reporting Scale | Descriptor | Honours class (where appropriate) | Associated aggregation scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 A2 A3 |
Excellent | 1st | 21 20 19 |
| B1 B2 B3 |
Very good | 2(i) | 18 17 16 |
| C1 C2 C3 |
Good | 2(ii) | 15 14 13 |
| D1 D2 D3 |
Satisfactory | 3rd | 12 11 10 |
| MF CF BF QF* |
Marginal Fail Clear Fail Bad Fail Qualified fail** |
9 6 2 - |
* QF indicates that a student has not met the conditions required to have obtained an overall pass.
** Relevant descriptor selected from: CA (Certified Absence); AB (Unauthorised Absence); MC (Medical Certificate); WD (Withdrawn); DC (Discounted); ST (Stopped).
Each programme will have its own descriptors for each category of marks which should be available from the relevant Programme Handbooks (available from your Module My Dundee site).
In addition to the University Marking Scale the School also has its own Marking Policy (Levels 3 & 4) which governs how marking is undertaken within the School, i.e. anonymous marking, double marking, moderation etc.
7.4 - Late submission of assessed work (penalties)
The School follows the MA policy for awarding penalties for late submission of coursework, which states that:
- One point per day late will be removed from any mark awarded to late assessment work for up to 5 days (including weekends).
This means that if your assessment work was awarded a C3(13) and it was submitted 2 days late, the mark will be reduced to a D2 (11).
- Any work submitted more than 5 days late will not be marked and a mark of zero will be entered onto your student record
- Extenuating/mitigating circumstances can be taken into account
Section 7.5 below explains all about submitting evidence of mitigating circumstances and completing the relevant forms. If the Programme Examination Board is satisfied that sufficient evidence has been produced, they may decide to remove any penalties applied or accept late work.
Please note: individual tutors or the School cannot award extensions to submission deadlines. All late work must be submitted as quickly as possible accompanied by any evidence of mitigating circumstances (see Section 7.5 below).
7.5 - Mitigating circumstances
We will always make appropriate allowance for mitigating circumstances which affect your attendance and performance where we are aware of them. If you run into problems which you think have negatively affected your academic performance, or which prevent you from completing an assessment on time, always contact someone as soon as you can: staff will be sympathetic towards students in difficulties providing they know about them, and will help you take appropriate steps to deal with the way your circumstances might affect your work and assessments.
If you think that your circumstances might interfere with your meeting an assessment deadline or attending an exam, it is important that wherever possible you try and contact either your tutor or the disicpline Secretary before the relevant deadline or date.
Your immediate point of contact will be your Module Convenor and the Discipline Secretary; in more serious cases, you may wish to speak to the Discipline Year Organiser, your Advisor of Studies or the School Secretary, who will be able to relay information in confidence to your different modules and disciplines.
Written Evidence of Mitigating Circumstances
In order that we treat all students fairly and equally, if there are circumstances that you would like us to take into account in assessing your work, you need to inform us in writing and provide supporting evidence wherever possible. This is especially important where late submission of assessments or non-attendance at examinations is involved.
How to let us know about Mitigating Circumstances
You will need to fill in the Mitigating_Circumstances_Form and hand it in, together with the work in question, to the School of Humanities Reception (in the case of an exam hand the form into Reception as soon as you can, preferably prior to the scheduled time of the exam). It is important that you attach any supporting documentation. Supporting evidence of mitigating circumstances might include:
- a doctor's note or medical certificate for the appropriate period
- a note from a counsellor
- a self-certification form (these can be used for minor illnesses up to 7 days)
If required, a form to assist you with requesting a Doctor's note is available from Humanities Reception. Once you have completed the form it can be signed by the School Secretary and you can then take it to your Doctor.
In the case of bereavements of a close family member or other family emergencies, we understand that it is not always possible or easy to be in touch at the time; the School will always be sympathetic to such circumstances and will make every effort to make appropriate allowances. Please try to let someone know as soon as you can: if you are able to provide a letter from someone else (such as a doctor, family member or friend) explaining the circumstances with which you are dealing, that will be helpful to the relevant disicipline Examination Board so that they can make proper allowances for you.
The Mitigating_Circumstances_Form can also be found on the Humanities MyDundee site.
Late Submission of Coursework
Please note: The School of Humanities does not give extensions for assessed coursework. If your work is late due to mitigating circumstances, please fill in the Mitigating_Circumstances_Form with any supporting evidence attached and submit it to the School of Humanities Reception together with the work in question. The information you provide will be taken into account by the relevant Exam Board when considering any penalties for lateness.
Except in very exceptional circumstances, the last date on which Mitigating Circumstances Forms will normally be accepted in session 2011-12 are:
- Semester 1 – Friday, 9th December 2011
- Semester 2 – Friday, 18th May 2012.
For further details, please see the School Mitigating_Circumstances_Process.
7.6 - Getting your results
All marks that are awarded are provisional and can be changed up until they are confirmed by the relevant Programme Examination Board in May of each year. You can access your marks through E-vision after each Examination Diet (January for Semester 1 marks and June for Semester 2 marks).
7.7 - Resit opportunities for failed modules
If you fail a module at the first sitting in first, second, or third year, you will normally have the opportunity to resit the module. You must have attended the first degree examination diet and failed, or have been absent from the first diet. You may not resit a module to improve a pass mark . There are no resits for modules taken in your final Honours year (fourth year).
At Levels 1 and 2, your resit will be marked on the full marking scale. It will be recorded as your second attempt, unless the relevant Programme Examination Board has decided that it should be counted as your first attempt due to evidence of mitigating circumstances.At Level 3, all resits are capped at D3/10 (i.e. the minimum pass mark) unless the relevant Programme Examination Board has decided that it should be marked on the full scale and classed as your first attempt due to evidence of mitigating circumstances.
For information about how to provide evidence of mitigating circumstances, see Section 7.5 above.
In keeping with the School of Humanities Attendance Policy students who have failed to submit suitable evidence for absence will normally receive an ST (Stopped – Fail) overall module mark. In such cases students will not normally be granted the right to resit the module in the same session and will normally be required to retake the module (or an appropriate replacement module) in another academic session (students at levels 1 to 3 only). Where level 3 modules are repeated/replaced due to failure in a previous academic session they will be capped at a maximum of D3. This will be communciated to students by the relevant Examinations Board.
The School of Humanities uses a range of different types of assessment. For some modules, the resit will take the form of an unseen examination in the August resit examination diet. For other modules, the resit may involve writing a new essay or undertaking a project equivalent to the original module assessment. Some resits may involve more than one element, to match the original assessment for the module.
If you fail a module and have to resit:
- You should find out about the resit arrangements as soon as possible after the results of the main exam diet are released.
- Always check the relevant Programme Handbook and the relevant module information on MyDundee to find out about what form the resit takes, as well as any relevant examination dates, submission deadlines or other criteria.
- If you are unsure about the resit arrangements, contact the relevant module or Honours convenor or the School Office.
Please note: it is the responsibility of Programmes to ensure that resit information is available on the relevant MyDundee module sites at the relevant time. However, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are aware of the arrangements for any module you have to resit. DO NOT LEAVE THIS TO THE LAST MINUTE!
Resit Fees:
Attendance at semester examination diets is included in the consolidated tuition fee that will have been paid at matriculation. However, this does not cover any subsequent re-examination and fees will be charged, as follows: £50 for one module, plus a further £25 for each additional module taken. These fees are charged by and payable to the Registry, not directly to the School. Where an Examination Board has permitted the resit assessment to count as your first attempt (due to mitigating circumstances), no resit fees will be charged.
Resits as First Attempts:
If you are given permission by an Examinations Board to take a resit as your first attempt due to mitigating circumstances your final module mark will show as a first attempt in the student record system. This means that if you are a level 3 student taking a level 3 or 4 module your final module mark will not be capped. However, the form of the resit will be the same as for all other students taking the resit for that module (whether this takes the form of an examination or a replacement essay). The relevant discipline Examination Board will decide whether or not previous coursework marks will be taken into consideration. Please note that no resits of any format are available to students at level 4.
7.8 - Appeals
If you are appealing against the termination of your studies you should follow the advice and guidance provided in Section 2.5 above.
For all other types of appeals (for example if you want to appeal against your honours degree classification, or against a decision made by a Programme Examination Board) you should initially discuss your situation with your tutor or the discipline Examinations Officer. If the outcome of this discussion is not satisfactory you should then make an appointment to discuss your case with the School Secretary. If the School Secretary cannot resolve the matter you will be asked to write a letter of appeal addressed to the Dean of Humanities. Try to provide as much evidence as possible to support any claims of mitigating circumstances, such as a doctor's letter, or evidence of prejudice or bias.
You can also consult with the Student Assessor (presently Stuart Cross, School of Law) if you need further advice.
Such appeals can only be considered on the following grounds and shall not be considered unless they are based upon allegations of:
- (a) extenuating circumstances affecting the candidate's performance and of which the examiners were unaware when their decision was taken, or
- (b) procedural irregularities (including administrative error) in the conduct of a written or oral examination of such a nature as to give rise to reasonable doubt whether the examiners would have reached the same conclusion had they not occurred, or
- (c) prejudice or bias on the part of one or more of the examiners.
Further information on the University's Undergraduate Appeal Regulations can be found at http://www.dundee.ac.uk/academic/dca/appeals/.
7.9 - Plagiarism, Referencing and Safe Assignment
Plagiarism
Plagiarism involves presenting another person's work as if it were your own. It is a form of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated by the School or the University: it is a serious offence with serious consequences.
Plagiarism occurs when you use someone else's work without properly acknowledging it. This includes articles on the Internet, lecture handouts or another student's work, as well as material from printed sources (books, journals, newspapers).
Plagiarism can also occur when you re-use or copy your own work from a previous assessment without referencing it and without clearly showing the development of your thought or argument beyond the original piece of work.
The University defines plagiarism as:
- (i) inclusion of more than a single phrase from another's work without the use of quotation marks and acknowledgement of source
- (ii) summarising another's work by changing a few words or altering the order of presentation without acknowledgement
- (iii) copying another's work
- (iv) use of another's ideas without acknowledgement or the presentation of work as if it were one's own which is substantially the ideas of another
(University Code of Practice on Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty, 1.2)
Other forms of academic dishonesty include:
- submitting an assignment done by someone else as if was your own work
- including material in coursework that is identical or substantially similar to material already submitted for another assessment within the University
You should make sure that you are clear on what constitutes plagiarism and should be familiar with the University's Code of Practice on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/academic/plagiarism.htm
Penalties for Plagiarism
Work that is plagiarised will always be penalised and will normally be failed (given a zero mark), irrespective of the consequences for the overall module or degree result of the student. The relevant Degree Examination Board will determine the extent of the appropriate penalties, in accordance with the University's Code of Practice and the Regulations governing plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
School of Humanities Plagiarism Register
The School of Humanities keeps a Plagiarism Register. All substantial cases of plagiarism that are proved beyond reasonable doubt will be logged on the Register which is held and maintained by the School Secretary.
The register can be used to determine whether a student has engaged in plagiarism on a previous occasion. Persistent cases of plagiarism constitute a serious and substantial case of academic dishonesty and can be referred by the relevant Degree Examination Board to the University's Committee on Academic Dishonesty, in accordance with the University's Code of Practice and the Regulations governing plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
For further details see the School Plagiarism_Register_Policy.
Safeguards against Plagiarism
How you can guard against Plagiarism: Good Referencing
- Plagiarism sometimes happens inadvertently because of careless or inadequate referencing. The best way to guard against inadvertent plagiarism is to ensure you always acknowledge and properly reference your sources (usually this means including a specific page reference).
- This applies when you are summarising someone else's views in your own words (you should still give a reference to the source of the ideas) as well as when you are quoting someone else's words directly (in which case, the cited passage must be in quotation marks as well as properly referenced). Please note: changing a few words here and there does not count as putting it in your own words: you need to find ways of reformulating a point in your own way.
- Check the relevant Programme Handbooks and module information on MyDundee for detailed advice on how to reference your sources appropriately. Different disciplines use different referencing systems. However, what is most important is that you always reference your sources and do so in a consistent way.
How we safeguard against Plagiarism: Safe Assignment
- The University uses plagiarism detection software called 'Safe Assignment'. You will normally be required to submit any assessed essay or substantial piece of coursework electronically through Safe Assignment, as well as in hard copy to the School of Humanities Office.
- Note that where Safe Assignment submission is required, your work will not be given a grade unless the SA submission is completed.
Referencing systems:
Different referencing systems are used by the different disciplines across the School. This variation reflects different scholarly practices in different academic disciplines. Being able to use different referencing systems in a flexible and appropriate way is a useful transferable skill: it will aid your research, better prepare you for postgraduate study, and increase your employability by showing you are able to present your work in appropriate and professional ways.
Details of which referencing system is used in each discipline should be available from the Programme or Module Handbooks or from the relevant module My Dundee site. If you are in any doubt, please ask your module tutor.
7.10 - Honours Degree Classification
The Honours degree classification spectrum (see table below) represents the criteria used by our Programme Examination Boards to determine your final degree classification. However our Examination Boards have the responsibility to exercise proper judgement and discretion on academic grounds, including the ability to exercise compensation or condonement based on discretion informed by professional judgment and specific information relating to each individual case (mititgating circumstances for example).
| Honours class | Minimum criteria for award |
|---|---|
| 1st | grades at A3 or above in at least 50% of total assessment grades at B3 or above in at least 75% of total assessment grades at C3 or above in 100% of total assessment |
| 2(i) | grades at B3 or above in at least 50% of total assessment grades at C3 or above in at least 75% of total assessment grades at D3 or above in 100% of total assessment |
| 2(ii) | grades at C3 or above in at least 50% of total assessment grades at D3 or above in at least 75% of total assessment |
| 3rd | grades at D3 or above in at least 75% of total assessment |
In addition to the minimum criteria for award indicated above, the overall average grade of all your level 3 and 4 module marks (calculated via the aggregation scale) must be equal to or higher than one grade below the class boundary: that is B1 for a first, C1 for an upper second, D1 for a lower second and MF for a third.
Your Honours classification will be based on all modules that comprise the 240 credits at level 3 and 4. Any resits at level 3 will be capped at D3/10 for the purpose of working out your classification unless the relevant Programme Examination Board has decided that it should be marked on the full scale and classed as your first attempt due to evidence of mitigating circumstances.
8. Life After Your Degree
8.1 - Employability and transferable skills (My PDP)
The School aims to equip its graduates with the skills and confidence to make a positive contribution to the communities of which they are a part. Such contributions can take many forms, including work in the voluntary sector; participation in social, political and cultural life; further study and training; and a wide range of different careers and forms of employment.
To support you in attaining your future goals, your Humanities degree will not only provide you with discipline-specific skills and competencies but with a wide range of transferable skills which will increase your employability and enhance your capacity for life-long learning. Some examples of transferable skills include:
- the ability to undertake research and generate new knowledge
- the ability to analyse and assess complex information in a balanced manner
- the ability to communicate your findings clearly in written and oral forms
- interpersonal skills such as the ability to lead and work with others
- IT competencies such as word-processing, using electronic sources and databases
- The ability to manage your time and work to deadlines
These transferable skills are embedded across our modules and programmes, so you will acquire and consolidate them in a gradual and progressive way throughout your degree.
At specific points you will be encouraged to reflect on these skills more actively so that you are in a better position to communicate your strengths to future employers.
For example, at Level 2, we will ask you to undertake a Skills Audit with your advisor of studies, and you will be able to upload the results to your MyPDP Portfolio. MyPDP is a structured process to help you reflect upon your own learning, performance and achievements. For further information visit the MyPDP section on My Dundee.
By the end of your degree, you should aim to acquire the Dundee Graduate Skill set, a comprehensive set of skills which are recognised in the Dundee Graduate Skills Award. For further information visit MyPDP via My Dundee.
For further information on the Level 2 School of Humanities Skills Audit and other ways in which you can increase your Employability during your studies, see the Careers and Employability section on the Humanities My Dundee site.
8.2 - Careers
The School of Humanities has a designated Careers Officer (Dr Billy Kenefick, History) who works closely with the Humanities Careers Advisor (Sophie Calvin).
Together they co-ordinate a set of careers-related events and activities for students at all levels in the School. You will be informed by email or your advisor of studies about these events as they come up. They include:
- an evaluation exercise on MyPDP about managing the transition to University Life for Level 1 students
- a Skills Audit at Level 2 to help you articulate the transferable skills you have acquired and communicate them to future employers
- practice at interviews and job assessment at Level 3
- a careers seminar and recruitment fair for students at Level 4
As a Dundee student, you can also draw on the resources offered by:
- The University Careers Service
- The JobShop (an electronic vacancies database)
- The Placement Base(ment)
- The Enterprise Gym
Drawing on these resources may help you to secure internships or other work experience in the paid or voluntary sector. This can often be a valuable step towards your future career.
You are also welcome to contact Sophie Calvin at any time during your studies to seek her advice on careers and employability-related issues. To make an appointment to see Sophie, please contact her by email at: careers@dundee.ac.uk.
For further information on Careers and Employability, as well as the resources that are available to you, see the Careers and Employability section on the Humanities My Dundee site.
9. Student Societies
9.1 - Student societies within Humanities
There are various different Student Societies within Humanities and you can find out more about them from your discipline websites and staff.
Here are some of the societies available:
- Humanities Society: find them on Facebook or email dundee.humanities.social@googlemail.com
- English Literature and Film Studies Society: http://www.dusa.dundee.ac.uk/els/
- The Joot Theatre Company: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/joot/
- Student History Society: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/history/societies/index.htm
- Politics Society: http://www.dusa.co.uk/politics
- Philosophy Society
10. Health & Safety
10.1 - Health & Safety Policy
The School details all procedures undertaken within the School in relation to Health & Safety matters. This policy is available from the Humanities My Dundee site and the website. The School Officer for Health & Safety in 2011/12 is Dr Anja Johansen (01382 385465, a.m.johansen@dundee.ac.uk), and all Health & Safety issues or concerns should be reported to her in the first instance.
Version: updated 31 August 2011
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