Oxford
University Gazette, 16 July 2009: Examinations and
Boards
Changes in Regulations
The following changes in regulations made by the Education
Committee, the Personnel Committee, and the Planning and
Resource Allocation Committee of Council, and with the
approval, where appropriate, of the Education Committee, and,
where applicable, of divisional boards, the following changes
in regulations made by the Education Committee, the Personnel
Committee, the Planning and Resource Allocation Committee,
and divisional and faculty boards will
come into effect on 31 July.
1 Education Committee
Regulations for the Conduct of University
Examinations
With effect from 1 October 2009
1 In Examination
Regulations, 2008, p. 39, delete ll. 13–20, and
insert:
'(1) Unless any regulation provides otherwise, the use of
dictionaries of any kind shall not be permitted in any
University Examination.
(2) This regulation shall not apply to candidates whose
course of study commenced prior to Michaelmas Term 2009. Such
a candidate whose native language is not English and who
wishes to take into any examination a bilingual dictionary
(covering English and the candidate's native language) must
at the time of entering for the examination obtain permission
from the Proctors through the Senior Tutor. Permission shall
not be given where regulations or examiners' instructions
have previously forbidden the use of dictionaries.'
2 Ibid., p. 46, after l. 18, insert new
clause (6) and renumber existing clause (6) as (7):
'(6) Where provided for by regulation, submissions must be
accompanied by a declaration of authorship and originality.
The examiners are under no obligation to mark any submission
not so accompanied. This declaration should be in a sealed
envelope (which may be included inside the envelope used to
hand in the written work). In the event that the Declaration
of Authorship is submitted late, the Proctors may recommend
that the examiners apply an academic penalty.'
3 In Examination
Regulations, 2008, p. 20, l. 3, after 'University
Examination' insert 'for the Second Public Examination'.
2 Education Committee, Personnel Committee, and Planning
and Resource Allocation Committee
Regulations on Financial Matters
With effect from 1 October 2009
In Examination Regulations, 2008, p. 1074,
delete ll. 23–41.
Explanatory Note
This change abolishes the provision in the University's
fee regulations whereby university employees are able to
undertake degree courses while paying fees at a reduced rate;
the abolition was proposed because a new policy has been
established enabling employees to receive grants towards the
cost of any fee-bearing course run by the University or by
other bodies. The new policy makes the fee remission
regulation redundant.
Some 117 university employees are enjoying the fee
concession arrangements. The vast majority of those
benefiting from the fee concessionary arrangements are
undertaking D.Phils in the department/discipline in which
they are employed (all but three of the 117
'student-employees' are in this category, and the rest are
undertaking Master's programmes).
The present arrangements distinguish between employees in
'established' posts and others, even though this distinction
is now arguably outdated; and the arrangements are restricted
to those in full- time posts, which may now be unlawful under
sex discrimination law and regulations to prevent
discrimination against part-time workers.
Changes are needed both in order to meet the requirements
of employment legislation affecting part-time staff and staff
on fixed-term contracts, and because of financial
difficulties for some of the departments providing courses
that are popular among university staff.
Following consultation and approval by the Personnel and
Education Committees and the Planning and Resource Allocation
Committee, the proposed change abolishes the fee remission
regulation and replaces it with a broader personnel policy
allowing for staff to receive grants towards the cost of any
fee-bearing course run by the University or by other bodies.
All 117 staff currently enjoying the fee remission provision
will have the equivalent of the remission funded under the
new grant arrangements. The policy may be viewed at www.learning.ox.ac.uk/oli.php?page
=81.
3 Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Board
(a) Preliminary Examination in Earth
Sciences
With effect from 1 October 2009 (for first examination in
2010)
In Examination Regulations, 2008, delete from
p. 119 l. 22–p. 120, l. 23, and substitute:
'A
1. The subject of the Preliminary Examination in Earth
Sciences shall be Earth Sciences, including supporting
practical techniques and physics, chemistry, mathematics and
biology.
2. The number of papers and other general requirements of
the Preliminary Examination in Earth Sciences shall be
prescribed by regulation from time to time by the
Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Board.
B
1. The Preliminary Examination in Earth Sciences shall
consist of 5 compulsory papers taken at one examination,
subject to the conditions of cl. 5 below:
(a) Paper 1: Planet Earth
(b) Paper 2: Fundamental of Geology (Theory)
(c) Paper 3: Fundamental of Geology
(Practical)
(d) Paper 4: Chemistry, Physics and Biology for
Earth Sciences
(e) Paper 5: an approved paper in Mathematics
The syllabus for these papers shall be published annually
in the course handbook, not later than the beginning of
Michaelmas Full Term for examination three terms thence.
2. In addition to the above five papers a candidate in
Earth Sciences shall be required to submit to the examiners
such evidence as they require of the successful completion of
field work normally pursued during the three terms preceding
the examination. Candidates who fail to satisfy the examiners
in this regard will be required to sit a further paper, which
may only be taken once.
3. Candidates shall be deemed to have passed the
examination if they have:
(a) satisfied the Examiners in the five papers in
clause 1 either at a single examination or at two
examinations in accordance with clause 5, and provided
further that the same number of papers as were failed at the
first sitting have been passed at the same attempt at a
subsequent examination, and
(b) satisfied the additional requirements in
clause 2.
4. The Examiners may award a distinction to candidates of
special merit who have satisfied them in all five papers in
clause 1 in one examination and in the requirements of clause
2.
5. Candidates who fail in one or two papers listed in
clause 1 may offer that number of papers at a subsequent
examination. Candidates who fail more than two papers must
resit all five papers at a subsequent examination.
6. In the case of candidates who offer all five papers of
clause 1, the Examiners shall publish the names only of those
who have satisfied them in three or more papers. Candidates
whose names do not appear on the pass list must offer five
papers at a subsequent examination. In the case of candidates
who, in accordance with clause 5, offer one or two papers,
the Examiners shall publish the names of only those who have
satisfied them in each of the papers offered.
7. The examination conventions of each examination paper
listed in clause 1 will be published annually in the course
handbook.'
(b) Honour School of Geology/Earth Sciences
With effect from 1 October 2010 (for first Part A1
examination in 2011, first Part A2 examination in 2012, and
first Part B examination in 2013)
1 In Examination
Regulations, 2008, p. 261, l. 1, before 'SPECIAL
REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY/EARTH SCIENCES'
insert '[Until 2012:'.
2 Ibid, after l. 2, insert:
'For candidates embarking on the Honour School in or
before October 2009, taking Part A in or before 2011, and
Part B in or before 2012'.
3 Ibid, p. 263, l. 48, after
'discretion.' insert: ']'.
4 Ibid, after p. 263, insert:
'Honour School of Geology/Earth Sciences (new
regulations)
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF
GEOLOGY/EARTH SCIENCES
For candidates embarking on the Honour School in or
after October 2010, taking Part A1 in or after 2011, Part A2
in or after 2012, and first Part B examination in or after
2013
A
1. The subject of the Honour School of Geology/Earth
Sciences shall be the study of the natural science of the
Earth in space and time.
2. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in this
school unless he or she has either passed or been exempted
from the First Public Examination.
3. The examination in this school shall be under the
supervision of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
Board, which shall prescribe the necessary regulations.
Details of the conventions used by the examiners can be found
in the Undergraduate Course Handbook (see B1 below).
4. The examination shall consist of one part of the
three-year course in Geology (Part A) and two parts for the
four-year course in Earth Sciences (A, B). Part A shall be
subdivided into Part A1 (examinations taking place three
terms after the candidate has passed the First Public
Examination) and Part A2 (examinations taking place six terms
after the candidate has passed the First Public
Examination).
5. No candidate may present him or herself for examination
in Part B unless he or she has been adjudged worthy of at
least second class honours by the examiners in Part A.
6. The name of a candidate in either the three-year course
or the four-year course shall not be published in a class
list until he or she has completed all parts of the
respective examination; and in the case of the four-year
course, has been adjudged worthy of honours by the examiners
in Part A and Part B of the examination. The Examiners shall
give due consideration to the performance in all parts of the
respective examinations.
7. Part A1 may only be taken once, but no candidate shall
be deemed to have failed. The second year mapping project
should be submitted at the beginning of the fifth term after
the candidate has passed the First Public Examination, and
may not subsequently be modified. A candidate who obtains
only a pass, or fails to satisfy the examiners in Part A, may
enter again for Part A2 of the examination on one, but no
more than one, subsequent occasion. Where a candidate retakes
the whole year, the candidate will submit a new third-year
essay on a subject approved by the Chairman of the Faculty of
Earth Sciences or deputy as set out in section B, Geology
(three year course), (ii), below. Where a candidate resits
only the examinations, the third-year essay may be
resubmitted by the deadline given in the Undergraduate Course
Handbook. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in
Part A who subsequently enters a second time may not proceed
to the fourth year. The fourth-year project should be
submitted in the ninth term after the candidate has passed
the First Public Examination, and may not subsequently be
modified. The rules for handling the fourth-year project are
to be found in the departmental Undergraduate Course
Handbook. A candidate who obtains only a pass, or fails to
satisfy the examiners in Part B, may not enter again for Part
B.
8. A candidate adjudged worthy of Honours in the Second
Public Examination for the four-year course may supplicate
for the Degree of Master of Earth Sciences, provided that the
candidate has fulfilled all the conditions for admission to a
degree of the University.
9. A candidate in the final year of the four-year course,
adjudged worthy of Honours in Part A, but who does not enter
Part B, or who fails to obtain Honours in Part B, is
permitted to supplicate for the Honours degree of Bachelor of
Arts in Geology with the classification obtained in Part A;
provided that no such candidate may later enter or re-enter
the Part B year or supplicate for the degree of Master of
Earth Sciences; and provided in each case that the candidate
has fulfilled all the conditions for admission to a degree of
the University.
10. Candidates will be expected to show skills and
knowledge based upon practical work. The examiners will
assess practical skills and knowledge by means of practical
examinations, and by assessment of practical work done by
candidates during their course of study.
B
1. In the following, 'the Course Handbook' refers to the
Geology/Earth Sciences Undergraduate Course Handbook,
published annually at the start of Michaelmas Term by the
Faculty of Earth Sciences and also posted on the Web site at
www.earth.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate_
course.
2. The examiners will permit the use of any hand-held
calculator, subject to the conditions set out under the
heading 'Use of calculators in examinations' in the
Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations and
further elaborated in the Course Handbook.
GEOLOGY (THREE-YEAR COURSE)
A candidate shall be required to offer:
(i) Five papers (Part A1), including practical elements,
to be taken in week 8 of Trinity Term, in the third term
after the candidate has passed the First Public Examination;
and
(ii) a report on an individual mapping or practical
project, the report to be submitted by Monday of week 1 of
Hilary Term in the fifth term after the candidate has passed
the First Public Examination; and
(iii) an extended essay, the work to be undertaken in
Hilary Term in the fifth term after the candidate has passed
the First Public Examination, and the essay to be submitted
by the Monday of week 1 of Trinity Term in the sixth term
after the candidate has passed the First Public Examination.
The subject of the essay must have been approved by the
Chairman of the Faculty of Earth Sciences or deputy no later
than the end of Michaelmas Full Term in the fourth term after
the candidate has passed the First Public Examination;
and
(iv) seven papers (Part A2), including practical elements,
to be taken in week 5 of Trinity Term in the sixth term after
the candidate has passed the First Public Examination.
The list of subjects and syllabuses available will be
published in the Course Handbook.
The Head of Department of Earth Sciences or deputy shall
provide the examiners with information showing the extent to
which each candidate has satisfactorily completed the
practicals and field courses. In addition, practical
notebooks containing records of both field and laboratory
courses must also be made available to the examiners.
Examiners may take into account these records of practical
and fieldwork, in particular with regard to the attendance
record of the candidates, and to any marks awarded for
assignments, when awarding classes. Material handed in from
practical classes will be taken as evidence of
attendance.
For candidates whose attendance record is deemed
unsatisfactory, the examiners have the discretion to reduce
the final degree class of the candidate. Examiners may also
take into account evidence of excellent performance in field
or practical work when drawing up class boundaries.
Candidates may be examined viva voce at the examiners'
discretion.
EARTH SCIENCES (FOUR-YEAR COURSE)
1. The examination shall be in two parts.
2. Part A of the examination shall be the same as the
requirements for the three-year course in Geology, and the
same conditions, arrangements and examination timings shall
apply.
3. Part B of the examination shall be taken at a time not
less than three terms after Part A. In Part B a candidate
shall be required to offer:
(i) written papers on four subjects, chosen from a list
published by the Faculty of Earth Sciences as set out in (4)
below, for examination in Trinity Term in the ninth term
after the candidate has passed the First Public Examination,
and (ii) either an extended essay,
or a report on an advanced practical project or
other advanced work, the work to be undertaken in Michaelmas,
Hilary, and Trinity Terms in the seventh, eighth and ninth
terms respectively after the candidate has passed the First
Public Examination, and the essay or report to be submitted
by Friday of week 4 of Trinity Term in the ninth term after
the candidate has passed the First Public Examination. The
proposed nature and duration of the practical or other
advanced work shall be submitted for approval, by no later
than the end of Trinity Full Term in the sixth term after the
candidate has passed the First Public Examination, to the
Chairman of the Faculty of Earth Sciences or deputy with the
agreement of the Head of the Department of Earth Sciences or
deputy.
4. The list of subjects and syllabuses for the written
papers in 3(i) will be published in the Course Handbook for
the academic year in which they are examined. The subjects
and syllabuses shall be approved by the Faculty of Earth
Sciences with the agreement of the Head of the Department of
Earth Sciences or deputy.
5. Candidates may be examined viva voce at the examiners'
discretion.'
(c) M.Sc by Coursework in Biology (Integrative
Bioscience)
With effect from 1 October 2009 (for first examination in
2010)1 In Examination Regulations, 2008, p.
691, l. 25, after 'Molecular Biology' insert 'and
Bioinformatics'.
2 Ibid., p. 692, l. 26, after 'Molecular
Biology' insert 'and Bioinformatics'.
3 Ibid., l. 29, after 'biology' insert
'and bioinformatics'.
4 Ibid., delete from p. 692, l. 45 to p.
693, l. 7, and substitute:
'(i) Presentation skills, verbal and written;
(ii) Career planning, assessing personal skills and
values, curricula vitae and interview
techniques;
(iii) Exploitation of science: getting ideas to the
marketplace, patents, intellectual property rights; the
relationship between academic and industrial research;
government science policy and research funding;
(iv) Ethical and social issues in science.
Creativity and teamwork are integral components of the
learning undertaken during the two research projects. Time
management and learning skills are developed as part of the
structured timetable of coursework submission deadlines
throughout the year.'
4 Social Sciences Board
(a) M.Sc in Drylands, Science and
Management
With immediate effect
In Examination Regulations, 2008, delete from
p. 708, l. 15 to p. 709, l. 20.
(b) M.Sc in Public Policy in Latin America
With effect from 1 October 2008 (for first examination in
2009)
In Examination Regulations, p. 761, ll. 26–27,
delete 'Friday of the seventh week of the following Trinity
Term' and substitute 'the fifth Monday of Trinity Full Term
in the calendar year in which the examination is taken'.
5 Board of the Faculty of History
(a) Preliminary Examination in History
With effect from 1 October 2009
1 In Examination
Regulations, 2008, p. 129, after l. 25 insert '12. The
Romance of the People: The Folk Revival from 1760 to
1914.'
2 Ibid., after l. 26 insert '14. The Rise
and Crises of European Socialisms: 1881–1921.'
3 Ibid., ll. 26–31, renumber
sequence accordingly from 12 to 18.
(b) Final Honour School of History
(i) With effect from 1 October 2009
In Examination Regulations, 2008, p. 273, ll.
31–32, delete 'and by his or her College History
Tutor'.
(ii) With effect from 1 October 2009 (for first
examination in 2011)
In Examination Regulations, 2008, p. 272, l.
3, delete 'Any candidate may be examined viva voce.'
(c) Honour School of History and Politics
With effect from 1 October 2009 (for first examination in
2011)
1 In Examination
Regulations, 2008, p. 285, after l. 28, insert
'Candidates shall offer either one British History paper and
one General History paper as specified under sections 2 and
3, or two British History papers or two General History
papers'.
2 Ibid., l. 29, delete 'Each candidate
shall offer one paper', and insert 'Each candidate may offer
one or two papers'.
3 Ibid., l. 31, delete 'the paper' and
insert 'one paper'.
4 Ibid., p. 286, l. 4, delete 'Each
candidate shall offer one paper' and insert 'Each candidate
may offer one or two papers'.
5 Ibid., l. 6, delete 'the paper' and
insert 'one paper'.
6 Board of the Faculty of Theology
(a) Certificate and Diploma in Theological and
Pastoral Studies
With effect from 1 October 2009
In Examination Regulations, 2008, after p.
991 insert:
'CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA IN THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL
STUDIES
General Regulations
1. The Board of the Faculty of Theology shall have the
power to grant the following awards to candidates who have
satisfied the conditions prescribed in this section and any
further conditions which the board may prescribe by
regulation:
Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies
Diploma in Theological and Pastoral Studies
2. The examinations for these qualifications shall be
under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of
Theology.
3. Candidates who have been admitted under such conditions
as the Board of the Faculty of Theology shall prescribe, to
courses at Blackfriars, Campion Hall, Harris Manchester
College, Mansfield College, Regent's Park College, Ripon
College, Cuddesdon, St Benet's Hall, St Stephen's House, and
Wycliffe Hall may be admitted by the board to the
examinations for the above mentioned qualifications, provided
that they have paid to the Curators of the University Chest,
through their colleges or other institutions, the fees
prescribed in the appropriate regulation (see Appendix
1).
4. The supervision of the arrangements for the above
mentioned qualifications shall be the responsibility of the
Supervisory Committee for the Degree of Bachelor of Theology.
The committee shall have such powers and duties in respect of
the above mentioned qualifications as may from time to time
be prescribed by the Board of the Faculty of Theology.
5. Part-time students for the above mentioned
qualifications shall in each case be required to pursue their
course of study for twice the number of terms required of an
equivalent full-time student.
6. On successful completion of the Certificate in
Theological and Pastoral Studies, candidates may offer the
remaining papers necessary to complete the Diploma in
Theological and Pastoral Studies.
Special Regulations
Admission Requirements
Candidates will normally be expected to have five GCSE
passes at grades A–C, one of which must be in English
Language, and two passes at Advanced Level (A2); they will
normally be expected to meet University residence
requirements. Exemptions from these requirements for mature
student candidates or those otherwise qualified may be made
at the discretion of the B.Th Supervisory Committee.
Candidates must demonstrate aptitude and vocation for
ministry or other church work. Course
Requirements
Candidates for the Certificate in Theological and Pastoral
Studies will take at least four papers at Level
4* from the syllabus as outlined for the Bachelor of
Theology, including A1 or A2.
Candidates who have satisfied the examiners in four papers
including A1 or A2 may supplicate for the Certificate or may
take at least four further papers at Level 5*
from the syllabus as outlined for the Bachelor of Theology,
including C1 or C4.
Candidates for the Certificate or Diploma in Theological
and Pastoral Studies may not transfer to the C.Th or B.Th
courses, or to any other University of Oxford degree
programme. Examinations
Examination will take place by continuous assessment
within colleges, supervised and moderated by the B.Th
Supervisory Committee and a Faculty Board moderator on behalf
of the Faculty Board. Two summative pieces of work will be
assessed for each paper. These will take the form of two
essays or, alternatively, one essay plus one project. Essays
at Level 4 should not exceed 2,500 words, and essays at Level
5 should not exceed 3,000 words. Guidelines for the project
will be published in the course handbook issued by the
Faculty of Theology. In addition to submitting these two
moderated pieces of work for each paper, candidates must
complete a form, countersigned by a college officer, stating
that they have attended the relevant course of instruction
and passed the required formative, internally assessed work
for that paper.
* As defined in the Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications (2008).'
(b) Regulations on Financial Matters
With effect from 1 October 2009
In Examinations Regulations, 2008, p. 1069, after l. 21
insert:
`Certificate and Diploma in Theological
and Pastoral Studies £50'.
(c) Corrigenda: Special Regulations for the M.St
in Theology, Special Regulations for the M.St in
Philosophical Theology, and Special Regulations for the M.St
in the Study of Religions
Changes in regulations for (a) the M.St in
Theology, (b) the M.St in Philosophical Theology,
and (c) the M.St in the Study of Religions were
published in the Gazette of 26 June, pp.
1307–8.
In each case the regulations were stated to be 'With
effect from 1 October 2009 (for first examination in 2010)'.
It has now however been decided that the regulations will
come into effect on 1 October 2010, for first examination in
2011.
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