MSc Engineering PGT Handbook 2011-12
description
Transcript of MSc Engineering PGT Handbook 2011-12
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Postgraduate Handbook for students studying on taught programmes
School of Engineering University of Aberdeen
Session 2011/2012
Please ensure you read this document carefully as it contains important information about your studies
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UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING POSTGRADUATE HANDBOOK
Session 2010/2011
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Before You Begin
This Student Handbook aims to provide full-time taught
postgraduate students within the School of Engineering with items
of general information relevant to their programme of study.
This document consists of a number of sections and it is important
that you familiarise yourself with the content within each of them
so that you may be sufficiently prepared for carrying out your
studies at the University of Aberdeen. Please retain a copy of this
document in order that you may refer to it as necessary throughout
the year.
While we endeavour to ensure the Student Handbook covers as
wide a breadth of relevant subjects as possible, it is by no means a
comprehensive document and as such, should you have any queries
at any time relating to any aspect of the course or your studies,
please contact the School of Engineering Postgraduate Office
directly.
Academic regulations and policies will change with time, and while
the University of Aberdeen makes every effort to ensure this
Student Handbook reflects these changes there may be instances in
which this document does not reflect the most current University
policy or regulation. In such instances, when the Student Handbook
differs from that which has most recently been approved by the
University Senate or Court, the latter will prevail.
It is recommended that you read the Student
Handbook in conjunction with other
documents circulated by the University, in
particular the Academic Quality Handbook
(www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality). This is
a weighty document and so we would
suggest focussing you main attention on
section 5 (Student Guidance and Learner
Support).
You attention is drawn in particular to
appendix 5.3 - Code of Practice For
Postgraduate Taught Students, Programme
Co-Coordinators, Heads of School, Heads of
Graduate School And College Postgraduate
Officers which this document has been
designed to supplement rather than repeat
(www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendi
x5x3.pdf).
You should also be aware of the general
principles set out in the Student Charter
(www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/charter.shtml).
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Equality and Diversity Policy Statement
The University of Aberdeen is committed to a comprehensive policy on
Equality and Diversity for all its staff and students. This policy aims to
prevent discriminatory practices and seeks to create a culture where
staff and students can reach their full potential.
It is the Universitys policy to select and treat staff and students on the
basis of their merits only and irrespective of colour, race, nationality,
national origins, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, family
circumstances, political beliefs, gender, gender reassignment, trade
union membership, age or any other unfair distinction.
The University is committed to providing a learning, working and social
environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members are
respected, and which is free from discrimination, prejudice,
intimidation and all forms of harassment and bullying.
This Equality and Diversity Policy will be monitored and reviewed by
the University regularly and promoted throughout the University.
Equality and Diversity issues (including
equal opportunity issues) relating to both
staff and students are the responsibility of
the Joint Committee on Equality and
Diversity
(www.abdn.ac.uk/ppg/index.php?id=61&to
p=2).
Please visit the University's Equality and
Diversity web pages
(www.abdn.ac.uk/ppg/diversity) which
contain information on University strategy
and policy; and facts and figures relating to
Equality and Diversity.
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Student Responsibility Statement
Students enrolled at the University of Aberdeen are expected to study this document (and all other documents
linked within the text) carefully to become familiar with all policies, procedures, and regulations.
Knowledge of the information contained in this document is the responsibility of each student.
The provisions of this document are subject to change and should be considered to be for informational purposes
rather than to be an irrevocable contract between the university and the student.
Student Email
Please Note: from the commencement of your studies, all email correspondence for our programmes will be
sent out using your university allocated email address.
If you do not regularly check your university email account you will miss important information regarding the
programme, coursework and examinations. Failure to check email will not be accepted as a reason for missing
deadlines.
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Contents
1 WELCOME & GENERAL INFORMATION 1
1.1 WELCOME FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL 1
1.2 YOUR CONTACT DETAILS 2
1.3 GENERAL ENQUIRIES 2
1.4 ACADEMIC ENQUIRIES 3
1.5 CLASS REPRESENTATIVES 3
1.6 TIMETABLES 4
1.7 INDUSTRY PLACEMENT/STUDENT DISSERTATIONS 4
1.8 THE CO-CURRICULUM 5
1.9 ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 6
1.10 EMAIL 6
1.11 FIREWALL & SPAM FILTERS 7
1.12 COURSE CODES EXPLAINED 8
1.13 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SERVICE 8
1.13.1 LIBRARY STUDENT GUIDES 9
1.13.2 ACCESSING ELECTRONIC RESOURCES 10
2 POLICIES & PROCEDURES 12
2.1 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY 12
2.2 ID CARDS 12
2.3 FEE PAYMENT & REFUNDS 12
2.4 STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND FEEDBACK 13
2.5 ACADEMIC APPEALS & STUDENT COMPLAINTS 13
2.6 CHEATING & PLAGIARISM 15
2.7 HEALTH & SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING PROGRESS 18
2.7.1 MEDICAL 18
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2.7.2 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES 18
2.7.3 DYSLEXIA AND OTHER LONG-TERM PROBLEMS 19
2.7.4 HELP 19
2.8 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 19
2.9 DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACTS 20
2.10 PAID EMPLOYMENT WHILE STUDYING 20
2.11 ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS 21
2.11.1 FULL-TIME STUDENTS 21
2.11.2 TIER 4 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 21
2.11.3 PART-TIME STUDENTS 22
2.12 STUDY ARRANGEMENTS 23
2.13 RESPECT FOR STAFF AND FELLOW STUDENTS 23
3 EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS 26
3.1 ASSESSMENT 26
3.2 COURSEWORK SUBMISSION 26
3.3 AWARD OF CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA 27
3.4 THE COMMON ASSESSMENT SCALE 27
3.5 STUDENT PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS 29
3.5.1 GRADE SPECTRUM 29
3.5.2 CLASS CERTIFICATES 29
3.6 FEEDBACK ON ASSESSMENTS 29
3.7 EXAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS 30
3.7.1 FULL-TIME STUDENTS 30
3.7.2 PART-TIME STUDENTS 30
3.7.3 RE-ASSESSMENT EXAMINATIONS (RESITS) 31
3.7.4 PAST EXAMINATION PAPERS 32
3.8 REFERENCING SOURCES 33
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4 GETTING STARTED 34
4.1 MYABERDEEN ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
4.2 STUDENT PORTAL 34
4.3 UNIVERSITY SERVICEDESK 35
4.4 E-REGISTRATION 36
5 OTHER INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS 37
5.1 GRADUATION 37
5.2 REGISTRY WEBSITE 37
5.3 TURNITINUK 37
5.4 SELECTING AND CITING INTERNET INFORMATION 38
I. AUTHORITY 39
II. ACCURACY 40
III. OBJECTIVITY 40
IV. CURRENCY 40
V. COVERAGE 41
5.5 NETIQUETTE FOR ONLINE SESSIONS 41
5.6 WORKING WITH YOUR TUTOR 43
5.7 TACKLING ASSIGNMENTS 44
5.7.1 INTRODUCTION 44
5.7.2 TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS 44
5.7.3 PRINCIPLES OF ESSAY WRITING 45
6 COURSE DESCRIPTORS 51
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1 Welcome & General Information
1.1 Welcome from Head of School
On behalf of the School of Engineering I would like to welcome you to the University of Aberdeen.
Postgraduate students make a substantial contribution to the intellectual activity of the School and to its
reputation. We hope that you will find your time studying with us both enjoyable and stimulating, and that it will
enhance your career opportunities. The School of Engineering is committed to excellent postgraduate education
that is both a rewarding and stimulating experience for students and programme staff alike. Equally, we aim to
deliver programmes that will enable students to become leaders in their chosen field anywhere in the world.
This Handbook gives information about our degree programmes and courses, it is intended to facilitate and
enhance your educational experience within the School and the University of Aberdeen. Please take the
opportunity to read through it and to have it with you during your programme of studies.
I hope that you have a successful and enjoyable year working towards your chosen degree.
Best wishes for your future studies,
Professor Tom ODonoghue
Head of School of Engineering
University of Aberdeen
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1.2 Your Contact Details
It is essential that we have up-to-date contact details. If your details change for any reason ensure you have
updated your University record via the Student Portal (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/studentportal). Failure to do so
may result in you not receiving important information about your studies.
1.3 General Enquiries
In most circumstances students with general queries relating to
administrative matters should contact the School of Engineering
Postgraduate Office which is located in Room 188 of the Fraser Noble
Building. The office opening hours are from 10am-12.30pm and
1.30pm-4pm.
MSc Subsea Engineering MSc Safety and Reliability Engineering MSc Oil & Gas Engineering MSc Renewable Energy MSc Project Management MSc Oil & Gas Structural Engineering
Mrs Debbie McKenzie, Secretary
[email protected] Tel: 01224 272975
Ms Yvonne Buckingham, Postgraduate Coordinator
[email protected] Tel: 01224 272513
PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION INCLUDING
YOUR FULL NAME, LEVEL OF COURSE AND
COURSE NAME WHEN CONTACTING A
MEMBER OF STAFF. THIS WILL GREATLY
SPEED THE RESPONSE TIME TO YOUR
QUERY. TO MAKE THIS EASIER YOU MAY
WISH TO SET UP A CUSTOM SIGNATURE ON
YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT FOR USE WHEN
CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY.
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1.4 Academic Enquiries For questions or problems of an academic nature please contact your course tutor in the first instance. If this
fails to satisfactorily resolve the issue/problem please contact the Engineering Postgraduate Office who will make
arrangements for you to speak to the programme secretary. Please note: If you have not contacted your tutor first
the administrative staff have been instructed to pass you back to your tutor.
1.5 Class Representatives
The University values students opinions in regard to enhancing the quality of teaching and its delivery; therefore
in conjunction with the Students Association we support the operation of a Class Representative system.
The students within each course, year, or programme elect representatives by the end of the fourth week of
teaching within each half-session. In this school we operate a system of programme representatives. Any
student registered within a programme that wishes to represent a given group of students can stand for election
as a class representative. You will be informed when the elections for class representative will take place.
What will it involve?
It will involve speaking to your fellow students about the programme you represent. This can include any
comments that they may have. You will attend a Staff-Student Liaison Committee and you should represent the
views and concerns of the students within this meeting. As a representative you will also be able to contribute to
the agenda. You will then feedback to the students after this meeting with any actions that are being taken.
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Training
Training for class representatives will be run by the Students Association. Training will take place in the fourth or
fifth week of teaching each half-session. For more information about the Class representative system visit
www.ausa.org.uk or email the VP Education & Employability [email protected]. Class representatives are also
eligible to undertake the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award, further information about the co-curricular
award is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers.
Please note: for distance learning programmes arrangements are made to facilitate the class representative
system as best the School can manage given the off-campus nature of the programme.
1.6 Timetables
For campus based students a timetable detailing the structure of your learning experience will be issued at the
start of each semester [ie September and January]. It is important that you retain this document for reference
during the year and regularly check your University email account for information concerning any amendments. It
should be noted that the timetable only details general programme dates and that individual tutors will issue
their own dates in addition for the submission of course work.
1.7 Industry Placement/Student Dissertations
For full-time students taking the MSc Programme over 12 months a dissertation is to be prepared on work
undertaken during the final individual project. This project will normally be specified in collaboration with
industrial partners, supervised either in the School of Engineering or in the companys premises, and carried out
from June to September. The School works together with the local companies, the Energy Institute (EI) and
Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) to try and secure a number of placements. Industry placements are not
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compulsory and cannot be guaranteed. The School, the EI and the ITF do their level best to find placements for
students; however students should not assume that a placement will be arranged for them and are therefore free
to approach local companies as individuals. Students should refrain from approaching as a group as this has
shown to be counterproductive and risks the ability of the School to find future placements.
For part-time students who are sponsored by their company or who are working for a company approved by the
University, a dissertation is to be prepared on approved project work carried out within that company during the
second or third year of the Programme. If you are not currently employed, you must inform the School straight
away so a suitable project can be allocated with an academic supervisor.
1.8 The Co-curriculum
The co-curriculum enhances a students employability and provides opportunities to develop and achieve
Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Co-curricular activities complement a students degree programme and include:
work placements, study abroad, enterprise and entrepreneurship activities, the BP Student Tutoring Scheme and
the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award initiative. Below are examples of credit-bearing co-curricular
activities.
ERASMUS is an exchange programme funded by the European Commission which enables students to study or
work in another European country as part of their degree programme. Eligible students will receive a grant to
help with extra costs while abroad and a number of our partner institutions teach through English. For more
information, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/erasmus.
The University also has opportunities for students to study in a non-European country as part of their degree
through the International Exchange Programme. International partners include universities and colleges in North
America, Hong Kong and Japan (www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/international-exchange.php). The University
aims to ensure full academic recognition for study periods abroad, therefore the credits gained from study
abroad will count towards the Aberdeen degree programme for students participating in both ERASMUS and the
International Exchange Programme.
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Work placements can also form an integral part of a degree programme and attract academic credit. Placements
are available locally, nationally and internationally, lasting from a few weeks to a full year and are generally paid.
Visit the Careers Service website for further placement information and to find available work placements.
Further information about the co-curriculum is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers
1.9 Online Learning Environment
When you register at the start of the year through the e-registration portal (www.abdn.ac.uk/ereg) you will
receive a University UserID (e.g. t01abc) which will act as your login for the MyAberdeen online learning
environment. Please ensure you take note of this and your password so you can access online teaching materials.
You can change your password whenever you want to at: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/local/passwd/.
1.10 Email
When you register for the programme you will be asked
to choose an e-mail address. This address will be similar
to [email protected] Note: aberdeen.ac.uk
not abdn.ac.uk.
If you forget your email address log into your Student
Portal (www.abdn.ac.uk/studentportal) and click on the
Personal Details tab. You will see your e-mail address
listed under DIT Computing Centre Details (right).
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Please use this email address for all your University
correspondence. Details on the StudentMail system can be
found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/studentmail.
You must check your University email account on a regular
basis, all communication sent from the University will be
sent to your University Account.
Your University email address remains open even after you
graduate, but you will need to change the password. Once
the password has been changed following your graduation
it is no longer under the ownership of the University. The
email address will remain yours as long as you login on a
regular basis.
1.11 Firewall & Spam Filters
Experience has shown many (but not all) of the problems students have experienced in terms of receiving emails
or accessing the online learning environment tend to originate at their end. Corporate or personal firewalls can
sometimes prevent java from running or block pop-ups on your browser. To ensure you can access the online
learning environment from the very start of the programme please refer to section 4 of this document.
Email spam filters can also be a problem when receiving class emails. Please ensure the email addresses of your
programme coordinator and the Engineering postgraduate secretaries are included within your safe senders list.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE FOR
THE PROGRAMME WILL BE SENT OUT USING YOUR
UNIVERSITY EMAIL ADDRESS. FAILURE TO
ADEQUATELY CHECK YOUR UNIVERSITY EMAIL WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A REASON FOR MISSING
DEADLINES OR IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
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1.12 Course Codes Explained
All University of Aberdeen courses follow a simple naming convention. The initial letters denote the Department
or School which coordinates the course, while the 4 digit code denotes the level of study (first number 5
denotes level 5 MSc level studies), the time of year it runs (second number 0 denotes the first half session
and 5 the second half session) and the course itself (last 2 numbers unique for each programme).
For example:
Students undertaking a programme with a campus-taught stream will notice there are two different course codes
given to each module. One code is allocated to campus-based students while the other is allocated to distance
learning students. This is for administrative purposes only and does not indicate that students under the different
modes of study are studying different module content.
1.13 University Library Service
The main University Library is the Queen Mother Library at Old Aberdeen, with generous reading space. Access to
the main library requires the use of your student ID card. There are also a number of other libraries within the
University, such as the medical library at Foresterhill and the Taylor Law Library at Old Aberdeen. In addition, the
City of Aberdeen has a technical reference library which has a good collection of material.
The University Library provides instruction in the use of Library facilities, at three different levels (i) for all users at
the beginning of the academic year, (ii) for those needing to search the literature in a particular field, (iii) for
those wishing to make a complete investigation of literature in a research topic.
EG 5 0 41 Coordinated by the
School of Engineering
MSc (level 5)
course
Runs in the 1st-
half session
Course 41 within the
Engineering level 5
programmes
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Details of the Universitys library service can be found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/library.
Please note: students wishing to borrow books from the library must do so in person and take their University ID
Card with them in order to gain access. For those students who are distance learners, the library website hosts a
section which can be found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/library/distance.shtml.
Title and other details of most of the materials held by the library (including electronic journals and electronic
books) are recorded in the library catalogue at http://aulib.abdn.ac.uk/. Electronic journals are also listed at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/ejournals.shtml. Information on databases and other resources are included in MetaLib,
The Library subscribes to over 18,000 electronic journals and just over 2,000 paper journals. Most e-journals are
listed in the library catalogue with links to the full-text. MetaLib, the Library's electronic information portal
(http://metalib.abdn.ac.uk), also lists most of our full-text e-journals with holdings and links. Journal titles can be
listed alphabetically, by keyword or multiple journals can be searched for articles. Staff and students of the
University can access our e-journals from both on and off campus. Instructions for setting up your computer are
available. In addition Metalib provides useful links to databases in your subject area that will enable efficient
searching across published research in topics to support assignments and dissertations.
Copyright regulations apply to electronic material in the same way that they do to printed books and journals. In
addition, with electronic journals and databases, our access is based on license agreements with publishers.
Please read the guidance on downloading from electronic resources.
1.13.1 Library Student Guides
The Library also produces a number of guides for students which can be found at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides. The following guides are of particular interest to distance learners:
Library and Information Resources for Distance Learners
o www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/gen/qggen003.pdf
Accessing Electronic Information
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o www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/dbs/qgdbs005.pdf
Ebrary
o http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/dbs/qgdbs004.pdf
Attention is also drawn to the following guides:
Referencing and Citing
o www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/gen/uggen007.pdf
Photocopying and Copyright - Your Responsibilities
o www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/gen/qggen008.pdf
1.13.2 Accessing Electronic Resources
The University is part of a national, unified user authorisation scheme that enables access to a range of electronic
information resources including Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, Scopus etc.
There are two routes our staff and students use to access electronic information: recognition through IP address
and the password controlled Shibboleth or UK Federation. Each resource uses one or other of these and details
are in our subject gateway MetaLib (http://metalib.abdn.ac.uk):
IP address
On a campus based computer (in a classroom, library or office) or a mobile device via Wireless (which
must have been set up to use the Wireless network - www.abdn.ac.uk/wireless/guides.shtml) you will be
able to access an IP authenticated resources without the need to log in.
Off campus the provider of any database you attempt to access will not recognise you as being part of
the University of Aberdeen. You will need to set the web proxy (www.abdn.ac.uk/proxy/). By following
the proxy instructions you will be prompted for your University computer username and password and
be able to use most IP authenticated resources away from campus.
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Shibboleth or UK Federation
This route prompts you to login using your University computer username and password both on and off
campus. You should look for the word 'Shibboleth' or 'UK Federation', choose 'UK' from the list
displayed, then 'University of Aberdeen' from the next list - you will then log in.
Now you are ready to see what resources are available in your subject area. Follow the links to either:
MetaLib our subject gateway or our Subject A-Z (www.abdn.ac.uk/library/subjectaz). Please note: a few journal
titles have individual usernames and passwords. Login details available only to University of Aberdeen staff and
students can be obtained online (www.abdn.ac.uk/library/passwords/passwords.shtml).
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2 Policies & Procedures
2.1 English Proficiency
Candidates for whom English is not a native language are accepted on condition that their proficiency allows
them to learn from Lectures, take part in Tutorials, and write essays and examinations in the prescribed time.
Candidates may be asked to present proof of the required proficiency.
2.2 ID Cards
In order to receive your ID card, you must have fully registered, reached agreement with the finance department
concerning your payment plan and have sent in a UK passport approved type photograph to the programme
office. Once your photo is received a student ID card can be generated within two working days.
Currently, a new student ID card is issued at the beginning of each academic year on re-registration although the
University is exploring the possibility of issuing a single ID card for the duration of the programme.
2.3 Fee Payment & Refunds
The University will automatically raise an invoice for due fees based on your registration information. It is
therefore of the utmost importance that you take time to ensure your information is correct at registration.
A payment of 50% of the total fee is required at registration followed by 3 further equal instalments in
November, December and January.
You should ensure that prior to the commencement of your studies you have read the Universitys Tuition Fee
Policy for 2011/12 and specifically the section relating to Modular credit-based programmes on the Refunds page.
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This details the costs relating to suspension or withdrawal from modular courses and can be found within the
pages at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/tuitionfees/PgPolicy.shtml
Students can track their financial payments through the student portal (see below). Please direct any queries on
the policy to [email protected]
Please note: Staff within the School of Engineering are unable to help on financial matters as they do not have
authority to access your financial records.
2.4 Student Representation and Feedback
Throughout the Programme student views on all aspects of teaching, assessment and general course operation
will be actively sought by the staff. Students are encouraged to complete a questionnaire (the Student Course
Evaluation Form, SCEF) after each module to assist with course monitoring and evaluation. It is important to
remember that if you experience any difficulties you should contact the programme office as soon as possible.
The School of Engineering has a Staff/Student Liaison Committee on which each MSc/PgDip Programme has one
or two representatives. Procedures for selection of these representatives will be discussed with you at the start of
the academic year. The Committees meet regularly and are convened by the Schools Director for Postgraduate
Teaching. It has an open remit, allowing discussion of all matters of concern to the student body.
2.5 Academic Appeals & Student Complaints
Universitys appeals and complaints procedures provide students with a framework through which to formalise their
concerns about aspects of their academic experience or to complain when they feel that standards of non-academic
service have fallen short of that which they expected.
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The process has been designed to make the appeals and complaints process as accessible and simple as possible and to
provide a robust, fair mechanism through which to ensure that all appeals and complaints are considered in the
appropriate way at the appropriate level.
A major feature of the process is the emphasis it places on early or informal resolution. All students should note that
there is an expectation that they will take responsibility for seeking resolution of their academic or non-academic
concerns by raising and discussing them at the earliest possible stage with the relevant individuals in an academic
School or administrative Service.
A student who considers that she or he may have reason to pursue an appeal or complaint should begin by familiarizing
themselves with the Appeals and Complaints Procedures
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/documents/FullProcedures.pdf
The procedures outlines:
the difference between an appeal (against an academic decision) and a complaint (about an aspect of non-academic service);
the principles upon which the appeals and complaints process is based; the grounds upon which appeals and/or complaints can be pursued; the process to be followed in pursuing an appeal or complaint; who to talk to for additional information; what informal steps you should take before submitting a formal appeal or complaint; how to submit an appeal or complaint and when; the likely timescale involved in conducting an appeal or complaint; the types of behaviour that are considered unacceptable in pursuing an appeal or complaint;
In addition to the detailed Appeals and Complaints Procedures further information for students considering an appeal
or complaint can be found at the following useful links:
The Frequently Asked Questions are available at
http://w3.abdn.ac.uk/studentcentrefaq/FAQViewer/
A Glossary of Terms is included as part of the Appeals and Complaints Procedures
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/documents/GLOSSARYOFTERMS.pdf
An Appeals and Complaints Procedure Graphic provides a simplified version of the procedure
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/documents/AppealsFlowDiagram.pdf .
The Universitys Appeals and Complaints Flyer is available at
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/documents/New_Appeals_Policy_Flyer.pdf
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Students wishing to submit an appeal or complaint should do so using Part A of an Appeal or Complaint Form
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x18c.pdf
Information, Support and Advice for Students
The Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA) provides independent, student-focused advice, information and
assistance at every stage of the appeals and complaints process. Any student who is unsure where to go, who to speak
to or what to do next you can contact the AUSA in person or at the contact details:
Aberdeen University Students Association
Information and Advice Centre
Butchart Centre
University Road
Aberdeen, AB24 3TU
T: 01224 274200
Students can also contact the Universitys Infohub on the Ground Floor of the Hub ([email protected] or telephone
01224 273040) for advice on the appeals and complaints process.
2.6 Cheating & Plagiarism
Good academic work involves making good use of other peoples'
ideas, but also making it absolutely clear which ideas are one's own
and which come from somebody else. It is important to realise that it
is relatively easy to unintentionally commit plagiarism, and that this is
a serious disciplinary offence.
Cheating in any assessment, whether formative or summative, can
result in disciplinary action being taken by the University. For these
purposes Cheating includes:
YOU ARE RECOMMENDED TO REFER TO THE
UNIVERSITYS CODE OF PRACTICE ON
STUDENT DISCIPLINE WHICH CAN BE
DOWNLOADED FROM:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix
5x15.pdf
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(a) Possession in an examination of material which has not been authorised in writing by the
relevant Course Co-ordinator. Students whose first language is not English may, however, refer
to a dictionary where this is approved by the Head of the School responsible for the
examination;
(b) Copying from another student in an examination;
(c) Removing an examination book from an examination room;
(d) Impersonating another candidate in relation to any assessment;
(e) Permitting another person to impersonate oneself in relation to any assessment;
(f) Paying or otherwise rewarding another person for writing or preparing work to be submitted
for assessment;
(g) Colluding with another person in the preparation or submission of work which is to be
assessed. This does not apply to collaborative work authorised by the relevant course
coordinator.
(h) Plagiarism - Plagiarism is the use, without adequate
acknowledgment, of the intellectual work of another
person in work submitted for assessment. A student
cannot be found to have committed plagiarism where it
can be shown that the student has taken all reasonable
care to avoid representing the work of others as his or her
own.
If you wish to quote or paraphrase other authors you must ensure
all usages are clearly identifiable as being such (for example using quotation marks) and the originating author
acknowledged. Certain modules will require you to work in groups; in such cases your tutor will clearly set out
any specific additional guidelines. In general, a written report on work carried out by a team must unambiguously
PLEASE NOTE: UNINTENTIONAL
PLAGIARISM IS STILL CONSIDERED
PLAGIARISM. WE WOULD RECOMMEND
THAT YOU TAKE GREAT CARE IN
PREPARING YOUR WORK TO AVOID SUCH
AN ISSUE ARISING.
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distinguish between work to be accredited to the author alone and work to be accredited to another person or
the team as a whole.
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2.7 Health & Special Circumstances Affecting Progress
If you are ill, or unable to attend lectures or temporarily find your circumstances impede your progress for any
other vital reason, please ring or leave a message with the Engineering Postgraduate Office.
2.7.1 Medical
Candidates who wish to establish that their academic performance has been adversely affected by their health
are required to secure medical certificates relating to the relevant periods of ill health (see General Regulation
17.3). The Universitys policy on requiring certification for absence on medical grounds or other good cause can
be accessed at: www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x5.pdf. You are strongly advised to make yourself
fully aware of your responsibilities if you are absent due to illness or other good cause. In particular, you are
asked to note that self-certification of absence for periods of absence up to and including eleven weekdays is
permissible. However, where absence has prevented attendance at an examination or where it may have
affected your performance in an element of assessment or where you have been unable to attend a specified
teaching session, you are strongly advised to provide medical certification (see section 3 of the Policy on
Certification of Absence for Medical Reasons or Other Good Cause -
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x5.pdf).
2.7.2 Special Circumstances
You should document any other special factors that you think may have affected your performance, e.g. a family
bereavement. It cannot be emphasised too strongly that any such problems must be notified to the Engineering
Postgraduate Office in writing as soon as possible and in any case before any deadline which may apply to the
course work in question or by the end of the examination period concerned. Failure to ensure timely notification
may result in your circumstances being deemed inadmissible.
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2.7.3 Dyslexia and other long-term problems
If you suffer from dyslexia, it is your responsibility, as soon as possible in your University career, to consult a
medical professional to arrange an assessment to be made and for them to notify the University of any special
action that is required.
If you have any other long-term problems or disability that may have special requirements, please arrange for
appropriate medical information to be provided to the Engineering Postgraduate Office and discuss your special
needs with your Programme Co-ordinator.
2.7.4 Help
If you are experiencing difficulties in performing any aspect of the work for your programme due to personal
circumstances or medical reasons you are urged to take the initiative and contact your Programme Co-ordinator
for advice and assistance. The University has a Counselling Service which exists to provide help with problems
that are not specifically-related. (Tel: 272139; web: www.abdn.ac.uk/counselling). Please also see other
information for students at: www.abdn.ac.uk/central/students.shtml.
2.8 Intellectual Property
Intellectual property comprises all products created by individuals through the use of human intelligence, insight,
imagination and knowledge to achieve a specific end. Intellectual Property Rights are those rights resulting from
ownership and informal or formal protection of intellectual property. At Registration, you are asked to confirm
that you agree to abide by the University's rules on Intellectual Property Rights. You are therefore strongly
advised to familiarise yourself with these rules which can be accessed at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/r&i/research/intellectual-property/.
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2.9 Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts
The University requires a certain amount of personal information for the administration of your studies and to
ensure the proper completion of your chosen courses or degree programme. All personal information provided
by you will be treated strictly in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998: your confidentiality will be respected and
all appropriate measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised disclosure. The data you provide will be used for
stated purposes only and you would be advised about any further uses.
The University does all it can to ensure that all data remains up-to-date and accurate, but there are some areas in
which we must emphasise our reliance on students to inform us of changes which occur between updates and it
is important that you keep us informed of any such changes, to avoid situations where (for example) we might
send vital mail to the wrong address.
Students who require to process personal data as part of their studies must also ensure that they abide by the
Data Protection Act. Further information on the Act can be accessed at: www.abdn.ac.uk/dataprotection/.
2.10 Paid Employment While Studying
Your attention is drawn to the following policy statement:
The University acknowledges the financial burden placed upon students and sympathises with those who
encounter financial difficulties. It recognises that many full-time students have to undertake part-time
paid employment to provide financial support for their studies. The Universitys guideline is that full-time
students should spend no more than 20 hours per week undertaking employment during term-time.
Where a potential conflict may arise in regard to fulfilling the attendance and/or performance
requirements of a particular course, students should seek advice from the relevant Course Co-ordinator or
Head of School/Department, as appropriate, at the earliest opportunity. Notwithstanding this, academic
standards cannot be compromised and students first priority must be to fulfil the academic obligations
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of their studies. Consequently, students must ensure that their employment commitments do not conflict
with the requirements of their studies.
2.11 Attendance Requirements
2.11.1 Full-Time Students
Full-time students are normally expected to stay in Aberdeen for the duration of the Programme except for
specified holiday periods. These holidays are at Christmas/New Year, Easter, and before the start of the Individual
Project Placement. It is important that you note the dates of these periods carefully since you must be back at
the specified time at the end of each break.
Term dates are available from www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/calendar/termdates.shtml
If for any reason, you need to be away at other times, you must ask permission from the Programme Co-
ordinator before you leave.
Good attendance at classes for all students is necessary. You should familiarise yourselves with the Code of
Practice for Taught Postgraduate students, Section 9.2, available from
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x3.pdf
2.11.2 Tier 4 International Students
The immigration authorities now require the University to report any student who does not comply with the
terms of their student visa. To avoid us from doing this you must
let the Admissions Office know if you are deferring the start date of your studies,
inform the Admissions Office if you want to transfer your studies to another university,
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keep good attendance,
ensure that you have written permission to take any time off from your studies,
keep your address up-to-date and correct through your Student Portal,
let us know immediately if you shorten the duration of your studies,
not change your status from full-time student to part-time student,
inform Registry if you decide to go home to write-up your dissertation or thesis.
It is important that you make every effort to pass each stage of your studies, and progress well. If you need an
immigration extension because you have spent longer than usual finishing your studies this will be expensive for
you and the UKBA will require an explanation as to why you were unable to complete your studies during the
expected registration period.
If you need to discuss your immigration status please go to our Student Advice and Support Office, based in The
Hub, and make an appointment to speak with an International Student Adviser.
2.11.3 Part-Time Students
Part-time students who study on-campus are expected to attend all teaching sessions unless special
circumstances dictate otherwise. Students who fail to attend at least 75% of the scheduled formal teaching
sessions without due cause and notification to the Engineering Postgraduate Office may be refused the
opportunity to complete the course and sit the end examination.
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2.12 Study Arrangements
A timetable for first half-session courses will be issued at the beginning of your programme. The second half-
session timetable will be issued in January. Any special arrangements will be communicated to you by individual
lecturers, as necessary.
It is expected that students will carry out approximately two hours of additional private study for each hour for
each hour of timetabled effort.
It is particularly important that students hand in coursework by the required dates, and keep up-to-date with any
tutorial exercises. It is our experience that students who do not spend time working on tutorial exercises will not
be successful in the examinations. However, tutorial examples can range from being very simple to quite
complex problems and are not necessarily the same as the questions set in the examinations.
2.13 Respect for Staff and Fellow Students
You should familiarise yourselves with the Code of Practice for Student Discipline, available from
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x15.pdf. This document includes full information on academic and
other misconduct and the penalties which will be imposed.
In particular, for the purpose of this document please note the contents of Section 3:
3. OTHER FORMS OF MISCONDUCT
3.1 A person who, without good cause, does any of the following is guilty of misconduct under this
Code:
3.1.1 Seriously disrupts, or seriously interferes with, the academic, administrative, sporting, social or
other activities of the University, whether on University premises or elsewhere;
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3.1.2 Obstructs, or seriously interferes with, the functions, duties or activities of any student, member
of staff or other employee of the University or any authorised visitor to the University;
3.1.3 (a) Behaves in a violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening or offensive manner whilst on
University premises or engaged in any University activity;
(b) Uses threatening, abusive or offensive language whilst on University premises or engaged in
any University activity;
3.1.4 Engages in deception or other forms of dishonesty in relation to the University or its staff or in
connection with holding any office in the University or in relation to being a student of the
University;
3.1.5 Behaves in a way likely to cause injury to any person or impair safety on University premises or
while engaged in any University activity;
3.1.6 Harasses any student, member of staff or other employee of the University or any authorised
visitor to the University. For these purposes harassment means behaviour or language which
is regarded by the person to whom it is directed as harassment and which would be regarded as
harassment by any reasonable person.
3.1.7 Discriminates against any student, member of staff or other employee of the University or any
authorised visitor to the University on any ground such as colour, race, nationality, national
origins, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, family circumstances, political beliefs,
gender, gender reassignment, trade union membership, age or any other unfair distinction.
3.1.8 Intentionally or recklessly damages University property or the property of other members of the
University community, or of any authorised visitor to the University.
3.1.9 Steals University property, or the property of other members of the University or of any
authorised visitor to the University.
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3.1.10 Misuses or makes unauthorised use of University premises or items of property, including
computer misuse, infringement of copyright when copying or downloading published
information and the misuse of safety equipment.
3.1.11 Deliberately does, or fails to do, anything which thereby causes the University to be in breach of
a statutory obligation.
3.1.12 Fails, upon request, to disclose name, address and programme of study to an officer or
employee of the University in circumstances where it is reasonable to require that such
information be given.
3.1.13 Fails to comply with a previously-imposed penalty under this Code.
Staff at the School of Engineering and our colleagues in other Disciplines and Schools are here to assist you over
the period of your studies and unreasonable behaviour will not be tolerated. You are expected to show respect
and maturity in your dealings with all persons, staff and students alike, while you are studying with the University.
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3 Examinations and Assessments
3.1 Assessment
Most courses are assessed either by coursework and examination or by coursework only. The exact balance of
assessment within each course will vary both between and within programmes. You should consult the relevant
course descriptor for more information.
Marks for assignments or exams will be given in terms of the Common Assessment Scale (CAS) see appendix 1.
3.2 Coursework Submission
The School of Engineerings rules on submission of coursework are:
1. Late submission of coursework is not acceptable except under special circumstances and with the
prior permission of the Course Co-ordinator and Course Tutor. The term special circumstances
covers, for example, the death of an immediate family member or personal hospitalisation.
More than 50% of all coursework must be submitted for a student to be eligible to sit the exam.
Coursework must be submitted and accompanied by a signed Continuous Assessment Cover sheet
in time to meet the stated hand-in deadline.
Distance Learning students need only complete the cover sheet and return with their assignment
using their University email account as verification.
Coursework is date stamped and collated by the Secretaries and passed to the course co-ordinator
for marking. Work submitted for continuous assessment will not be marked without a completed
Cover Sheet. Such work will be deemed late until a completed cover Sheet is submitted and will
be subject to the published penalty for late submission.
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2. Individual tutors will indicate how and where they expect the coursework to be delivered. You will
receive a mark on the CAS Scale (see Appendix 2).
3. If coursework is submitted late without prior arrangement as in 1 above, CAS marks will be
deducted from the assessed mark as follows:
up to one week late 2 CAS points will be deducted
up to 2 weeks late, 3 CAS points will be deducted
thereafter no mark will be awarded.
In addition to submitting a hard copy of your continuous assessment to the office, you will also be
required to submit your work electronically via the Turnitin-UK website as part of the Universitys
plagiarism avoidance procedures. Refer to Section 7.3 for further information.
3.3 Award of Certificate or Diploma
The Certificate and Diploma will be awarded to those candidates who satisfy the examiners in the relevant
modules but who fail to satisfy the requirements of, or elect not to proceed to, the Diploma or MSc stages,
respectively. It should be noted that it is not possible to receive both the certificate and diploma, and neither
can be awarded in addition to the MSc. The level of award given is the decision of the School examination board
in conjunction with the external examiner.
3.4 The Common Assessment Scale
To enable students and the University to compare more easily the level of performance in different subjects, and
as part of the Universitys mechanisms for monitoring academic standards, the University employs a Common
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Assessment Scale (CAS) for the reporting of marks obtained in coursework and class examinations. The scale can be viewed in more detail below:
CAS CAS Descriptor 20 An excellent understanding of all the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject. Good awareness of wider context.
Excellence in using of the range of skills, practices and/or materials that are associated with the subject/discipline. Practical and project work of highest academic standard. Excellence demonstrated in critical review, consolidation & development of knowledge, skills and practices in subject Exceptional in all areas of working with others, can provide inspirational leadership and is an original, autonomous learner.
19 18
17 A very good understanding of all the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject.
Very good use of the range of skills, practices and/or materials that are associated with the subject/discipline. Practical and project work shows reasonable flair and some originality. Very good ability to critically review consolidate and extend knowledge, skills and practices in subject/discipline Very good organisational and presentational skills as appropriate to discipline. Good ability in evaluating a wide range of data Very good self directed learner. Good in using initiative, and is a good leader in professional and equivalent activities
16 15
14 A solid understanding of all the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject.
Demonstrates confidence in applying a range of skills, practices and/or materials that are associated with the subject. Practical and project work shows some flair Good average ability to critically review consolidate and extend knowledge, skills and practices in subject Good organisational and presentational skills as appropriate to discipline. Above average ability to evaluate a wide range of data Confidence in working independently and some initiative/ leadership in professional and equivalent activities
13 12
11 Demonstrates understanding of most, if not all, the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject.
Able to apply a range of skills, practices and/or materials that are associated with the subject/discipline. Practical work reasonable. Plan and execute a significant project Able to critically review consolidate and extend knowledge, skills and practices in subject/discipline Competent organisational and presentational skills as appropriate to discipline. Able to undertake evaluations of a wide range of data Exercise significant autonomy. Demonstrate initiative/ leadership in professional and equivalent activities.
10 9
8 Some grasp of the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject
A limited ability in applying the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject/discipline. Practical work and project only adequate. Limited ability to critically review consolidate and extend knowledge, skills and practices in subject/discipline Weak in organisational and presentational skills relevant to discipline. Difficulty undertaking evaluations of a wide range of data Problems working independently and lacking initiative/leadership in professional and equivalent activities
7 6
5 Very limited understanding of the general and specialist theories, principles and concepts in subject
Inability to apply the range of skills, practices and/or materials that are associated with the subject/discipline. Weak practical and project work. Unable to critically review consolidate and extend knowledge, skills and practices in subject/discipline Inadequate in organisational and presentational skills relevant to discipline. Unable to undertake evaluations of a wide range of data No evidence of ability to work independently , leadership or use of initiative in professional and equivalent activities
4 3
2 Token or no submission 1 0
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3.5 Student Progression Requirements
3.5.1 Grade Spectrum
Progression and awards in Taught Postgraduate programmes are governed by the Grade Spectrum
(Postgraduate), full details of which can be found at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x7.pdf.
In assessing your performance throughout the year, the rules set out in the Grade Spectrum will be applied,
3.5.2 Class Certificates
Students who attend and complete the work required for a course are considered to have been awarded a Class
Certificate. Being in possession of a valid Class Certificate for a course entitles a student to sit degree
examinations for that course. From 2010/11 class certificates are valid for two years and permit a total of three
attempts at the required assessment within that two year period i.e. the first attempt plus up to two resits
[please note, reference to re-sits applies only to MSc Project Management and MSc Oil & Gas Structural
Engineering programmes].
3.6 Feedback on Assessments
The University recognises that the provision of timely and appropriate feedback on assessment plays a key part
in students learning and teaching. The guiding principles for the provision of feedback within the University are
detailed in the Institutional Framework for the Provision of Feedback on Assessment available at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x8.pdf
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3.7 Examination Arrangements
EXAMINATION TIMETABLES WILL BE AVAILABLE VIA YOUR STUDENT PORTALS APPROXIMATELY TWO
WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR EXAMS TAKING PLACE. PLEASE REFER TO http://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/week-
numbers-2011-2012.php FOR THE DATES OF THE EXAMINATION PERIOD
3.7.1 Full-Time Students
Full-time students must sit their examination at the on-campus time and place indicated by the School of
Engineering.
3.7.2 Part-Time Students
It is the responsibility of part-time students to ensure they have an
examination venue organised in plenty of time before examination time
each semester and to inform the relevant postgraduate secretary of
your choice so arrangements can be made to have the exam packs to
the examination centre in advance of your exam/s. It is expected that
an examination venue will be either an academic institution (preferably
a University or College) or a British Council/High Commission office.
However other options may be considered if no viable alternative exists
(note: alternative locations will only be acceptable if agreed by the
programme coordinator in consultation with the Head of School).
It is the responsibility of individual students to contact examination
venues to make arrangements for sitting examinations. If you are a
campus-taught student or a distance learner local to Aberdeen and intend to sit your examinations at the
University of Aberdeen you should still confirm this. Failure to make suitable arrangements will not be
considered an acceptable reason for not sitting an exam.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU PROVIDE THE SCHOOL
OF ENGINEERING POSTGRADUATE OFFICE
DETAILS OF YOUR EXAMINATION CENTRE AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
STUDENT ID CARDS MUST BE DISPLAYED ON
THE CORNER OF THE EXAMINATION DESKS
DURING ALL EXAMINATIONS. FAILURE TO
PRODUCE YOUR STUDENT ID CARD MAY
RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SIT
THE EXAM.
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It should be noted that students are responsible for covering all costs associated with sitting the examination.
This includes examination venue charges and travel costs.
3.7.3 Re-Assessment Examinations (Resits)
PLEASE NOTE: THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERINGS PROGRAMMES DO NOT PROVIDE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR RE-SITTING EXAMINATIONS. Within the
School of Engineering only students on the following
programmes may apply to resit an assessment:
MSc Project Management
MSc Oil & Gas Structural Engineering
STUDENTS ON NO OTHER ENGINEERING POSTGRADUATE
PROGRAMMES ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR RESIT EXAMINATIONS AS A RESULT OF FAILURE AND SO SHOULD
NOT ASK FOR SUCH AN ALLOWANCE.
The Universitys General Regulation 8 for Taught Postgraduate Awards states that:
unless exemption is approved by the ASC(Pg) [Academic Standards Committee (Postgraduate)], on
application, candidates who do not complete satisfactorily a prescribed element of assessment for any
course at level 5 may be reassessed in that element only in exceptional circumstances, and on the
unanimous recommendation of the Examiners. In no circumstances shall any candidate be permitted to
submit themselves for assessment in any element more than twice.
The above programmes have been granted exemption from Regulation 8 due to their nature. This permission
excludes the project/dissertation as it is a compulsory element of assessment.
PLEASE NOTE: THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
APPLYING FOR A RESIT LIES WITH THE
STUDENT STUDENTS ARE NOT
AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED FOR RE-
ASSESSMENTS/RE-SUBMISSIONS.
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Students on the above programmes who seek re-assessment due
to failing to attend the exam without an accepted good cause or
medical reason will be liable to pay a fee to cover re-assessment
costs. Students who seek re-assessment for exams missed due to
good cause or medical reasons which have been accepted by the
School of Engineering do not have to pay the re-assessment fee -
please note however any late fee will be applicable.
Students should note, if you are re-sitting following a failure at a
previous sitting, you are permitted to resit no more than 60
credit points over the duration of the Postgraduate Diploma or
Masters programme, with no more than 30 credit points being
re-taken in the first half-session or over the duration of the
Postgraduate Certificate. This permission excludes the
project/dissertation where the project/dissertation is a
compulsory element of assessment. The maximum resit mark
which can be recorded is CAS 9; the result of any resit will count
in determining progression and award. In no circumstances is any
candidate permitted to submit themselves for assessment in any element more than twice. More details
concerning re-assessments can be found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/examinations.shtml and
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x3.pdf
3.7.4 Past Examination Papers
Students wishing to incorporate past paper work as part of their examination revision can access previously set
examination papers through the University Librarys Past Exam Paper Database. This database is only open to
staff and students of the University so you will be asked to enter your normal user ID and password as
verification. The database can be accessed at: www.abdn.ac.uk/library/examdb/
Please note: for courses that rely primarily
on group-working, students are not
permitted to resubmit. Students who fail
these courses will be required to resit them
in their entirety.
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3.8 Referencing Sources
The School of Engineering has adopted the Harvard style of referencing as the format to be followed when citing
sources in submitted work.
The Harvard referencing system makes use of the author and the date of the work in the main body of the text,
and then has a reference list at the end of the submitted work which contains the references cited in
alphabetical order by author. The reference list contains the full details of the book or journal cited. Because you
only refer to a shortened form of works in the submitted work (author, date) your work doesn't get filled with
too much reference material. The use of the author/date shorthand make it easy to locate works in the reference
list.
As a part of an academic community, it is important that you show the reader where you have used someone
elses ideas or words. Failure to properly reference a source is regarded as plagiarism (see section 2 of this
document).
When you make use of a source within a piece of submitted work (remembering it is not just direct quotes but
ideas as well rewording material also needs to be referenced or will be regarded as plagiarism) you should
insert the authors name and year of publication at the point of reference or.
Detail on how to employ the Harvard style of referencing can be found at:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/guides/gen/uggen007.pdf
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4 Getting Started
4.1 MyAberdeen
The University of Aberdeen supports both its full-time and flexible
learning students teaching through the Universitys online Virtual
Learning Environment (MyAberdeen). MyAberdeen is the primary
teaching medium for distance learning students.
Your normal University username and password will allow you
access to the system. Once logged in, you can view any content the
course tutor has decided to make available online, anything from
grades to online discussion boards. As you progress through each
course, the tools provided by MyAberdeen will become more
familiar and more comfortable to use.
To log in to MyAberdeen go to:
https://abdn.blackboard.com/webapps/login/
4.2 Student Portal
Your computer userid and password enables you to access the University of Aberdeen Student Portal, through
which you can view and, where appropriate, update the information in your student record. Data in the Student
Portal is updated nightly from the live student record, so you see your data as it was at the close of the previous
day.
To access the student portal go to: www.abdn.ac.uk/studentportal
You will be taken to the Student Portal Entry Screen from where you can login:
It is strongly recommended that you work
through the Graduate School Induction &
Resources Module when you first register to
familiarise yourself with the MyAberdeen
system.
Please note final exam results are not
published via MyAberdeen but through your
student portals.
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Your student portal should always be the first point of reference
for administrative information about yourself. It is your
responsibility to make use of the student portal to maintain
your contact details and to ensure your financial commitments
to your programmes of study have been met.
4.3 University ServiceDesk
If you are having technical problems you should always take these to the University ServiceDesk. No matter how
small you may regard your technical problem, the ServiceDesk staff are more than happy to provide assistance
and try to help you resolve it. Please note: Our administrative staff are not trained in technical support and so
are unable to provide the problem solving service available via the ServiceDesk.
To access the ServiceDesk website, and details on how to contact ServiceDesk staff, go to:
www.abdn.ac.uk/servicedesk
Please Note
Results from your Examinations will only be
available via the Exams Results login of
the Student Portals and not via
MyAberdeen.
Results are released on the portal the day
after they have been submitted to Registry
Services by Schools.
STUDENTS SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT
RESULTS CANNOT, AND WILL NOT, BE GIVEN
OVER THE TELEPHONE.
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4.4 E-Registration
Each year students are required to register for the courses they wish to take over the coming year (please note: if
you are starting your studies in January you will register only for the courses that run until the following
September thereafter you will need to re-register). You will be informed when it is time to access the e-
registration portal (http://eregport.abdn.ac.uk/).
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5 Other Information for Students
5.1 Graduation
Having completed your postgraduate degree programme, the final step is to graduate either in person or in
absentia. Graduation ceremonies are held in July and November (for those completing the full MSc). Information
is circulated before the ceremonies and forms are available from the University Registry. There is a Graduation
Fee for those graduating in person. Graduands are not permitted to graduate if they owe any money to the
University.
The dates of the ceremonies in a given year are included on the Term Dates for each Academic Year available at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/central/termdates.shtml
Further information on the procedures for applying for Graduation can be obtained at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/graduation
5.2 Registry Website
The Registrys Website contains much general information which students will find of use, including the names
and contact details for the Sections offices and administrative staff. Details can be accessed via the Registrys
index at: www.abdn.ac.uk/registry
5.3 TurnitinUK
The University subscribes to the online service TurnitinUK which helps academic staff address a number of
common but difficult to identify issues related to citation and collaboration in coursework assessments. It enables
tutors to identify the original source of material included within student work by searching a database of several
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billion pages of reference material gathered from professional publications, student essay websites and other
student works. It is used by academics as a tool to help them provide better information and feedback to
students about the work they have submitted. The tool does not make decisions about the intention of
unoriginal work, nor does it determine if unoriginal content is incorrectly cited or indeed plagiarised. It simply
highlights sections of text that have been found in other sources to help academic staff members make these
decisions. In many cases this will lead the academic member of staff to provide feedback to students on how to
improve their coursework submissions and citations. All assessment decisions will continue to be made by the
course tutor who will review the entire work.
The University wishes to encourage students to behave with honesty and integrity at all times. The correct
citation of work and the authenticity of submitted work is a
cornerstone, not just of our education system, but of the trust
and value held in each of our education institutions by
employers and the public at large. The use of this service along
with other methods of maintaining the integrity of the academic
process helps the University maintain academic standards and
assessment fairness.
Further information on TurnitinUK and instructions on how to submit an assignment to TurnitinUK can be
obtained from the following area of the Student Learning Service website:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/plagiarism/. These pages provide information and advice on avoiding plagiarism
including the Universitys Definition of Plagiarism, a Checklist for Students, Referencing and Citing as well as
information on TurnitinUK.
5.4 Selecting and Citing Internet Information
The world-wide web is a particularly powerful source of information for your assignments and course work.
Google (www.google.co.uk) will provide a means of locating a whole range of different resources and sources as
you complete your studies. However, along with all of the valuable resources available there is also a lot of
STUDENTS ON ALL PROGRAMMES SHOULD
ASSUME THEIR SUBMITTED WORK WILL BE
ASSESSED USING TURNITINUK.
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rubbish. It is important that you are able to differentiate between good and poor sources of information. For
those who have access to the Universitys Library, we strongly recommended that you make it your first source of
research. By collecting articles and books on your topic from the library you can begin to get a feel for the
arguments and styles of good research. Resources found on the Internet can still be used; however, you must
conscientiously evaluate the source and content of the Web page.
When an academic presents a piece of work to a journal for publishing, the paper goes through a peer-review
process to ensure it is accurate and not plagiarised. You can therefore be reasonably sure that any paper
published in a reputable journal is accurate and will provide a credible source for referencing. This does not apply
for much of the information you will find online (unless it is an online version of a published journal). For most
web pages there is no review process and as such there is no guarantee that the information you find is credible.
The temporary nature of much of the world-wide web also means the source may not be around should your
tutor wish to look it up themselves. Nevertheless, the Internet can be a useful source of information, when used
with forethought.
At this point we should emphasise that should you include inaccurate or plagiarised information in any of your
assignments or your dissertation, you are responsible regardless of the fact that you sourced from a website. It is
your responsibility alone to ensure that any sources you make use of and cite in your work are accurate.
In evaluating web-sourced material you can make use of the following 5-point evaluation process:
I. Authority
Is there an author? Is the page signed?
Is the author qualified? An expert?
Who is the sponsor? (i.e. is a company using the source to further its agenda or support its product)
Is the sponsor of the page reputable? How reputable?
Is there a link to information about the author or the sponsor?
If the page includes neither a signature nor indicates a sponsor, is there any other way to determine its origin?
Look for a header or footer showing affiliation.
Look at the URL. http://www.abdn.ac.uk
Look at the domain. .edu, .com, .ac.uk, .org, .net
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Rationale
1. Anyone can publish anything on the web.
2. It is often hard to determine a web page's authorship.
3. Even if a page is signed, qualifications are not usually provided.
4. Sponsorship is not always indicated.
II. Accuracy
Is the information reliable and error-free?
Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?
Rationale
1. Anyone can publish anything on the web.
2. Unlike traditional print resources, web resources rarely have editors or fact-checkers.
3. Currently, no web standards exist to ensure accuracy.
III. Objectivity
Does the information show a minimum of bias?
Is the page designed to sway opinion?
Is there any advertising on the page?
Rationale
1. Frequently the goals of the sponsors/authors are not clearly stated.
2. Often the Web serves as a virtual "Hyde Park Corner", a soapbox.
IV. Currency
Is the page dated?
If so, when was the last update?
How current are the links? Have some expired or moved?
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Rationale
1. Publication or revision dates are not always provided.
2. If a date is provided, it may have various meanings. For example,
It may indicate when the material was first written
It may indicate when the material was first placed on the Web
It may indicate when the material was last revised
V. Coverage
What topics are covered?
What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere?
What is its intrinsic value?
How in-depth is the material?
Rationale
1. Web coverage often differs from print coverage.
2. Frequently, it's difficult to determine the extent of coverage of a topic from a web page. The page may or may not include links to other web pages or print references.
3. Sometimes web information is "just for fun", a hoax, someone's personal expression that may be of interest to no one, or even outright silliness.
5.5 Netiquette for Online Sessions
Adapted from: www.distancelearning.org/howtosucceed.html
Online learning and interactions are primarily through writing in the discussion boards, communicating via email
and occasional chat-room sessions. In this environment it can be difficult to adhere to the same classroom
conduct that you would in a face-to-face course. Over the years a system for expressing ourselves and exhibiting
acceptable manners as we would in a normal (offline) interaction has developed for the online community.
Known as netiquette, the simple practices involved can help to avoid unintentional conflict or upset.
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Examples of netiquette are:
Dont shout as a general rule, anything written in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is generally understood to be
shouting.
Be very careful what you write, even if it is an email to one other person. Assume that anyone could read
it. Emails sent to a single person are easily forwarded to other people (even hundreds of others) and will
usually be read out of context.
Grammar and spelling are important - Online courses demand the same standard of academic
communication and use of grammar as face-to-face courses.
Never use profanity in any area of an online course. The transcripts of online course bulletin boards, e-
mail, and chat sessions are saveable and may be come back to haunt you!
When responding to messages, only use "Reply to All" when you really intend to reply to all.
Avoid unkindly public criticism of others. Publicly criticizing others in an inappropriate way is known as
"flaming".
Use sarcasm cautiously. In the absence of nonverbal clues such as facial expressions and voice
inflections, the context for your sarcasm may be lost, and your message may thus be misinterpreted.
In a face-to-face setting, our tone of voice and facial expressions may convey as much of our meaning as
the words we use. In a written message, the subtext of your meaning may be confused or
misinterpreted. "Emoticons" are sometimes used in conjunction with text to overlay emotion in a
written message, to clarify the meaning. It is a good idea to check with your tutor as to when (or if) it is
appropriate in any areas of the online classroom to use emoticons or commonly used Internet slang
abbreviations (e.g., "lol," "brb," etc.). Here are just a few examples of some popular smileys (it helps if
you read them sideways):
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:-) smile |-( late night B-| sunglasses ;-) wink
:-( sad [:-) listening to IPOD :-& tongue-tied :
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5.7 Tackling Assignments
Adapted from: Rawnsley, de Looy, Sanderson Study Skills, National Coaching Foundation and Leeds Metropolitan
University, 1992
5.7.1 Introduction
Your progress through the course is assessed continually by submission of set assignments, and in most cases by
examination. It is obvious that you are going to have to write essays of different types and lengths throughout
your studies and so it is important to remember that the assignment is not just a chore to get through so that
your tutor can assess your performance. Writing an essay is a crucial part of the learning process because it
provides you with the opportunity of expressing your thoughts in your own words which reinforces the learning.
It helps you to assess your own understanding of a topic and gives you the chance to explore other sources of
information.
5.7.2 Types of Assignments
An assignment can be:
A series of questions demanding short, to-the-point answers. These will require you to develop your
ability to express yourself concisely as well as accurately.
A short essay of between 1000 1500 words, about 3 pages of A4 paper.
A report on an article or a study you have been asked to read
A longer essay of between 2000- 5000 words, asking you to do something a little more demanding;
for example, to assess the relevance of a particular idea
A project requiring you to design, carry out and write up a study on a particular self-selected topic
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5.7.3 Principles of Essay Writing
Whate