Academic Policy G20 2020/21

G20 The College has the authority to confer and revoke awards under the Charter and Statutes of King’s College . All awards have regard to the provisions of the QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

Conferment and Revocation of Awards

G20.1 Academic Board has the authority to award and revoke any degree, diploma, certificate or other award granted by the College in accordance with the Charter and Statutes of King’s College London.

Conferment

G20.2 Assessment Sub-Boards, the Research Degrees Examination Board and the Academic Standards Sub-Committee are the sole bodies having delegated authority to recommend the conferment of the awards for which they are responsible.

Revocation

G20.3 Award type, award or classification can be revoked and reissued, or an award can be revoked in its entirety under the following conditions:

a) when there is satisfactory proof that there was an administrative error in the award made;

b) when, subsequent to award, an Assessment Sub-Board takes into account information which was unavailable at the time its original decision was made;

c) following a recommendation or ruling by the Misconduct Committee or by an Inquiry Panel established to investigate allegations of research misconduct; or

d) where a student has completed a programme at the College and wishes to join the next level of the programme within two years (see Recognition of previous experience G7).

Awards

G20.4 Awards must have regard to the provisions of the QAA UK Quality code for higher education and meet the following requirements:

Undergraduate Certificates (level 4)

G20.5 An Undergraduate Certificate is the equivalent of one year’s study of an at level 4.

Undergraduate Diplomas and Foundation Degrees (level 5)

G20.6 An academically coherent programme of study, followed over a period of time, equivalent to two years full-time, which is designed to ensure:

a) a critical understanding of the concepts and principles of the area of study and the way in which these have developed;

b) a knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the area of study and an ability to evaluate their application; and

c) an ability to apply underlying concepts and principles within a wider context;

In addition for Foundation Degrees:

d) the acquisition of skills relevant to employment.

G20.7 The achievement of a satisfactory overall standard of assessment which would assess students’:

a) command of an appropriate body of skills and knowledge;

b) ability to use a range of techniques to analyse information and propose solutions to problems, especially within a work context;

c) ability to communicate effectively information, arguments and analysis; and

d) ability to undertake further training to develop existing knowledge and skills.

In addition for Foundation Degrees:

e) ability to progress to the final stage of an appropriate first degree programme awarded with honours either directly or, where the nature of the programme for the and/or the first degree makes it appropriate, after further bridging study.

First degrees (levels 6 and 7)

G20.8 An academically coherent programme of study, followed over a period of time

equivalent to three years full-time (which includes Intercalated Degrees where a one year programme of study builds on a two year programme of basic medical, dental or veterinary sciences in the UK, EU or EFTA), or longer where appropriate to the degree and/or subject concerned, which is designed to ensure:

a) academic progress in terms of depth of study;

b) ability to study at an advanced level, to assimilate, assess, interpret and apply information and to communicate effectively.

G20.9 The achievement of a satisfactory overall standard in a scheme of assessment which tests students’:

a) command of an appropriate body of knowledge and skills;

b) familiarity and ability to deal with the methodologies appropriate to the discipline(s) concerned;

c) capacity for independent and critical thought.

G20.10 Additional criteria are specified for some first degrees as listed below.

Bachelor of Engineering

G20.11 The programme of study shall give emphasis to preparation for professional practice. It shall provide the necessary understanding of the scientific basis of engineering and include a substantial engineering applications component as an integrated part of the programme, together with some appreciation of the industrial and business environment (ie ‘enhanced’ courses in Engineering Council terms).

Bachelor of Dental Surgery; Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; All Nursing, Midwifery and Specialist Community and Public Health programmes with/leading to registration; First Degrees in Health Sciences which are regulated by Act of Parliament.

G20.12 These degrees shall be taught in accordance with curricula that meet the requirements of the relevant Registering Body (General Dental Council, General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Health Professions Council). BDS and MBBS degree programmes shall involve not less than 56 months of full-time study, at least the final 33 months of which shall have been undertaken while registered at a College of the University of London except:

a) in the case of BDS and MBBS degree courses which are integrated into a combined programme with a BSc or BMedSci degree and a PhD degree,the overall length of the combined programme shall not be less than 93 months of which the final 57 months must be spent at a College

of the University of London; and

b) in the case of the accelerated Graduate Entry Programme for the MBBS degrees, when the overall length of the programme shall be not less than 45 months, of which the final 33 months must be spent at a College of the University of London.

Master in Science (MSci)

G20.13 The programme of study shall be followed over a period of time equivalent to four years full-time. It shall include a major project and provide a sound basis for a subsequent scientific or technically-based career or research.

Master of Engineering

G20.14 The programme of study shall be followed over a period of time equivalent to four years full-time, of which not less than three academic years and two semesters shall be full-time College based study (which may include a year at another institution of university status), and shall satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

a) provide for study of a particular engineering discipline in greater depth than the Bachelor of Engineering;

b) provide for multi-disciplinary study of a range of engineering disciplines;

c) provide for study of a particular engineering discipline in depth and incorporate a significant proportion of industrial and business studies as an integral part of the curriculum;

together with all of the following criteria:

a) include the teaching of design through the use of project work and case studies, preferably in an industrial context;

b) include a major project;

c) demand a level of study and attainment which is equivalent to that required for a postgraduate taught degree.

Master of

G20.15 The programme of study, taught in accordance with curricula that meet the requirements of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of , shall be followed over a period equivalent to four academic years full-time and shall provide for the study of two or more elective disciplines and shall include a major research project.

Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas (level 6)

G20.16 Both the and the are at level 6. Graduate Certificates are normally the equivalent of four months full-time study and Graduate Diplomas normally the equivalent of eight months full-time study.

Postgraduate Certificates (level 7)

G20.17 Postgraduate Certificates are normally the equivalent of a minimum of one third of a calendar year of full-time study.

Postgraduate Diplomas (level 7)

G20.18 Postgraduate Diplomas are normally the equivalent of a minimum of two thirds of a calendar year of full-time study.

Postgraduate or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education

G20.19 The Professional Graduate Certificate in Education is at level 6 and the in Education is at level 7.

Postgraduate taught degrees (level 7)

G20.20 A prescribed programme of study beyond the standard first degree level which assumes the general level of educational competence implicit in the award of a first degree and which extends over a period equivalent to a minimum of one calendar year full-time. This may include programmes of study which are ‘conversion courses’ where graduates in one discipline acquire knowledge and develop a set of skills in another discipline.

G20.21 The programme of study should include as a core element of the programme a research project in a form appropriate to the discipline concerned. At least some part of the curriculum should be concerned with research methods including awareness of ethical issues and, where relevant, health and safety matters. King’s Online Managed Programmes may choose not to offer a dissertation or research project.

G20.22 A satisfactory overall standard in a scheme of assessment appropriate to the Masters programme concerned.

G20.23 Additional criteria are specified for some postgraduate taught degrees as listed below.

Master of Clinical Dentistry

G20.24 A prescribed programme of study of a minimum of two calendar years full-time or its equivalent in part-time study. The programme of study shall include

academic and clinical elements, the latter element providing a major component towards specialist training in a designated clinical dental discipline.

Master of Public Health

G20.25 During the programme of study a student must work as a public health professional in an international, national or local government agency, in a non- governmental or charitable organisation concerned with public health, or in a community or public health environment, or in a university Department concerned with community or public health.

Master of Research

G20.26 The programme of study shall:

a) be a free-standing and formally examined prescribed programme of full- time study beyond the bachelor degree level of at least one calendar year or its equivalent in part-time study;

b) provide a structured and progressive research training programme which is an adequate foundation for doctoral study or a research career in industry or the public sector;

c) include a grounding in research techniques relevant to the broad disciplinary area. At least one core module should be concerned with research methods including awareness of ethical issues and, where relevant, health and safety matters;

d) include a significant research component, which enables the student to demonstrate initiative and creativity and is assessed by means of a written report. The research component should form a significant proportion (at least 75 credits) of the whole programme and must be greater than the research dissertation for MA/MSc awards in the same discipline;

e) include elements designed to broaden students’ experiences by equipping them with a range of transferable skills.

Research degrees (level 8)

G20.27 See Academic Regulation R3.

Useful links Recognition of previous experience (G7) QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education Student conduct (G27) Academic appeals (T44)

Academic Appeals for research degrees programmes (R15) Mitigating circumstances (T43) Off campus study (R2) Glossary

Exemptions: not anticipated. For advice contact [email protected]

Last reviewed: May 2020 Updates approved: ASSC May 2020, AB June 2020