Quality at Queen Margaret University

Quality Enhancement Unit (QEU) News

Welcome to the recently launched News Section of the Quality website. This will be used to provide regular updates on quality assurance and enhancement related activities at QMU. We hope that this will be a useful reference point for all QMU staff, collaborative partners, External Examiners and other users with an interest in regulation changes, policy development and other aspects of quality management.

National Student Survey Results published 17 August 2011 (News item added 2 September 2011)

QMU participated in the National Student Survey for the first time in 2011. 78% of all eligible students took part. The results highlight some areas of excellent practice as well as areas for development and future enhancement. Further information is available here

Assessment Regulations: changes to apply from September 2011 (News item added 2 September 2011)

During 2010-2011, Senate approved two changes to the University's Assessment Regulations as follows:

1)The following regulation was removed, on grounds that it may disadvantage part-time students taking only one module.

16.6 For undergraduate part-time students

Pass 50% or more of the modules taken – continue in registration

2) The following new regulation was introduced, offering greater leeway to Boards of Examiners taking decisions on the award of Distinction for 'borderline' postgraduate students. This was informed by consideration of the regulation governing 'borderline' Honours classification.

The award of taught Masters Degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas may include an award with Distinction. A distinction is granted automatically if the weighted average mark (each module being weighted in relation to its size – the dissertation will be weighted x 4) is 70% or over.

All weighted average marks falling between 0.6 per cent and two percent below the distinction boundary are deemed borderline cases. In these cases the award of distinction is determined by consideration of marks across all credits contributing to the Programme.

For standard 180 credit Masters Programmes, borderline cases where any more than 90 credits (core or elective modules) are marked at 70% or above will be awarded the distinction.

For standard 120 credit Postgraduate Diploma Programmes, borderline cases where any more than 60 credits (core or elective modules) are marked at 70% or above will be awarded the distinction.

For non standard Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Programmes, i.e. Postgraduate Diploma Programmes rated at more than 120 credits, or Masters Programmes rated at more than 180 credits, borderline cases where more than 50% of the total credits are marked at 70% or above will be awarded the distinction. Exceptionally, programme specific regulations may be defined for such Programmes, to be agreed at the point of validation or review.

Additional viva voce examinations involving External Examiner should not be used in the consideration of borderline cases.

^ to top