by Edinburgh Business School:
1.1 Master of Business Administration (MBA)
1.2 Master of Business Administration with a specialism in an approved subject area 1.3 Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
1.4 Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration with a specialism in an approved subject area 1.5 Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration
2. Programme Administration
2.1 The programmes of study shall be administered by Edinburgh Business School and the Director of the Business School shall be the Director of Studies for the programmes.
3. Mode of Study
3.1 A candidate may be accepted to a programme of study on campus either on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis.
3.2 A candidate may be accepted to a programme of study off campus by distance learning.
3.3 A candidate may complete a programme of study by mixed-mode study. For the purposes of this regulation mixed-mode study shall be any combination of full-time on campus study, part-time on campus study or distance learning.
4. Registration
4.1 To be eligible for registration a candidate shall hold at least one of the following qualifications: 4.1.1 a degree with first or second class honours of Heriot-Watt University
4.1.2 a degree with first or second class honours of any other University or institution of higher education recognised by Heriot-Watt University
4.1.3 passes in the final examinations in two core courses
4.1.4 passes in the final examinations in one core and two elective courses 4.1.5 any other qualification deemed by the Senate to be acceptable.
4.2 A candidate for registration shall make application on the prescribed form prior to the first examination. 4.3 To be eligible to study on campus a candidate shall satisfy at least one of the qualifications in 4.1 and
shall possess a minimum of two years’ appropriate work experience. In addition, an on campus candidate may be required to:
4.3.1 provide evidence of English language proficiency
4.3.2 complete the Graduate Management Admission Test or any other approved aptitude test as required by the Director of Studies
4.3.3 attend an admissions interview 4.3.4 provide references.
4.4 Registration for the degree shall be confirmed when the candidate has satisfied the requisite conditions.
4.5 A candidate shall be registered as a matriculated part-time student or full-time student of the University and shall receive a matriculation card.
material. On campus candidates will be provided tuition by Edinburgh Business School. 5.3 The courses approved for the programmes of study are listed in the programme structures. 6. Examinations
6.1 Each course shall be examined by a final examination. A mark of at least 50% is required for successful completion of a course.
6.2 Up to 30% of the assessment for on campus courses may be assessed by coursework. In such cases a mark of at least 45% in each assessment component shall be required for successful completion of the course.
6.3 A candidate may be awarded a pass by compensation in a maximum of two courses provided that all of the following conditions have been satisfied:
6.3.1 a mark of at least 50% shall have been attained in a minimum of seven courses 6.3.2 the mark to be compensated shall be not less than 45%
6.3.3 the total shortfall of marks shall not exceed 5% 6.3.4 all other criteria for award have been satisfied.
6.4 Final examinations shall be in English or in such other languages as may be approved from time to time by the Senate on the recommendation of the Director of Studies.
6.5 There shall be four diets of examinations per year. Further diets may be held at other times at the discretion of the Director of Studies.
6.6 Final examinations shall be held in Edinburgh and in such other centres as may be approved by the Senate from time to time.
6.7 A candidate wishing to be examined shall give notice in the prescribed format.
6.7 A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners for any course at the first attempt shall be allowed one further examination opportunity to satisfy the examiners in that course.
6.8 A candidate may, in exceptional circumstances or where there is evidence that he or she has demonstrated the potential to complete the degree successfully, be permitted additional examination attempts.
7. Credit Rating
7.1 Each course shall have a credit rating of 20 SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) credit points based on 200 notional hours of student effort.
7.2 A candidate who has completed a course successfully by satisfying the requirements as specified in the programme structures shall be awarded the requisite credit points. On successful completion of each course a candidate shall receive a certificate to that effect.
7.3 A candidate shall not receive credit more than once for any course or set of courses. Any credit gained as part of the programme of study leading to the award of an MBA may also be used to obtain an intermediate qualification.
7.4 A candidate shall receive only one set of credit points for courses which contain a significant amount of common material.
8. Requirements for Award
8.1 For the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration a candidate shall be required to satisfy the examiners in respect of three approved courses, at least one of which shall be a core course. The award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration is rated at 60 SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) credits.
8.2 For the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration a candidate shall required to satisfy the examiners in respect of six approved courses, at least one of which shall be a core course. The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is rated at 120 SCQFcredits.
8.3 For the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in a named specialism a candidate shall be required to satisfy the examiners in respect of six approved courses, one of which shall be the appropriate core course and at least four of which shall be relevant to the specialism for which the candidate is registered. The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in a named specialism is rated at 120 SCQF credits. 8.4 For the award of the degree of Master of Business Administration a candidate shall be required to
satisfy the examiners in respect of the seven core courses and two of the elective courses approved for the degree except that:
8.4.1 A candidate registered for the degree of MBA by on campus study or by study at an Approved Support Centre may be permitted to complete a project on an approved topic in lieu of one of the elective courses.
8.4.2 In addition to the provisions of paragraph 8.4, a candidate registered for the MBA Consortium Programme shall normally be required to complete a company-based major project on an approved topic.
The award of the degree of Master of Business Administration is rated at 180 SCQF credits.
8.5 For the award of the degree of Master of Business Administration with a specialism in an approved subject a candidate shall be required to satisfy the examiners in respect of the seven core courses and four of the elective courses approved for the degree except that:
8.5.1 A candidate registered for the degree of MBA with a specialism by on campus part-time or full- time study may be permitted to complete a major project on an approved topic in lieu of two of the elective courses.
The award of the degree of Master of Business Administration with a specialism is rated at 220 SCQF credits.
8.6 For the award of the degree of Master of Business Administration with distinction and of Business Administration in a specialism with distinction a candidate shall be required to achieve a minimum average mark of 70% across the programme of study as a whole and to have passed all courses at the first attempt.
12. Intermediate Awards
12.1 A candidate who is registered for the postgraduate diploma or the MBA and who has successfully completed three courses in approved subjects shall be eligible to apply to receive a postgraduate certificate as an intermediate award.
12.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 9.1, a candidate who is registered for the MBA and who has successfully completed six courses in approved subjects shall be eligible to apply to receive a postgraduate diploma as an intermediate award.
12.3 A candidate who wishes to receive a postgraduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma as an intermediate award shall make an application on the prescribed form and pay the stipulated fee.
12.4 Intermediate awards of postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas shall be sealed with the Common Seal of the University and shall be signed by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Secretary of the University and the Director of Edinburgh Business School.
12.5 Intermediate awards of postgraduate certificate and postgraduate diploma shall not be conferred at a Congregation of the University.
10.1 The Director of Studies may grant exemptions or credit transfers to candidates on the basis of previous qualifications as follows:
10.1.1 A candidate for the Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration may be awarded an exemption or credit transfer in a maximum of one core course.
10.1.2 A candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration or a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration with a named specialism may be awarded exemptions or credit transfers in a maximum of two core courses.
10.1.3 A candidate for the degree of Master of Business Administration or Master or Business Administration with a named specialism may be awarded exemptions or credit transfers in a maximum of two core courses.
10.2 A candidate for the degree of MBA may be permitted to transfer credits from an MBA programme offered by another university or institution recognised by the University, subject to approval of the Director of Studies. Credit transfer shall be permitted normally up to a maximum of four core courses (80 SCQF credits). The conditions of transfer and the academic requirements for completion of the degree shall be determined by the Senate on the recommendation of the Director of Edinburgh Business School.
10.3 The University reserves the right to require a candidate for the degree to sit an exemption examination if the Director of Studies is not fully satisfied that the qualifications presented by the candidate merit full exemption.
11. Period of Study
11.1 The maximum periods of study for the Masters of Business Administration, the Postgraduate Diploma and the Postgraduate Certificate are as follows:
11.1.1 Two years of full-time study for candidates registered on campus. 11.1.2 Five years of part-time study for candidates registered on campus.
11.1.3 No maximum period of study for candidates registered for study by distance learning 11.2 In exceptional circumstances the Senate may extend the maximum periods for on campus study. 12. Examiners
12.1 The Senate shall appoint one or more external examiners and one or more internal examiners for each programme of study.
12.2 An external examiner shall normally be appointed for a period not exceeding three years and exceptionally may be reappointed for two further years.
12.3 At the end of each year and at the end of his or her period of appointment an external examiner shall submit a written report to the Principal of the University.
12.4 The MBA Board of Examiners shall comprise all internal examiners and external examiners and shall meet at least once per academic year. With the agreement of the external examiners, authority to finalise lists of graduands may be delegated to the Director of Studies and the Academic Registrar or his or her representative(s).
13. Programme Management
13.1 The management of the programmes and their courses shall be the responsibility of the Director of Edinburgh Business School whose responsibilities shall include:
13.1.1 to report and make recommendations as appropriate to the Senate on the following: (a) the academic standards of all programmes and courses
(c) the academic content of all course material
(d) the form, content, academic standards and administration of all examinations and other methods of assessment
(e) the nomination of internal examiners and external examiners for appointment by the Senate.
13.1.2 to invite persons whose knowledge and experience would be of value to attend meetings relevant to the MBA.
13.1.3 to consult with other boards, committees or persons in the University on matters of mutual interest.
14. Publication of Results
14.1 The names of the persons who are authorised to receive the degree of Master or postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate shall be published in alphabetical order within each programme of study. If a student chooses to exercise his or her right, in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, to have his or her name omitted from any published list of awards, he or she shall give authorisation for such by completing the appropriate section on the University registration form at the start of each academic year.
15. Award
15.1 A candidate who has complied with all the conditions for the award of a degree of Master or postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate shall be entitled to receive the award.
15.2 In accordance with Regulation 15 a degree shall be conferred at a Congregation of the University. 15.3 A postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate shall be conferred at a Congregation of the
University only if a candidate has chosen to discontinue his or her studies at the University. 16. Award of MBA with a Specialism after Graduation
16.1 A candidate who has been awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration and who subsequently wishes to register for the degree of Master of Business Administration with a specialism shall be required to satisfy the examiners in respect of a minimum of two additional elective courses in an approved subject area.
16.2 A candidate registered for the degree of Master of Business Administration with a specialism in terms of paragraph 16.1 and who successfully completes the requirements for the degree shall receive a further certificate. This certificate shall state that the candidate, having been awarded the degree of MBA has duly completed a further course of study and has satisfied the examiners and by resolution of the Senate, has been awarded a Specialism in …. (subject) after graduation. In appropriate cases the award may be made with distinction.
16.3 The award of Master of Business Administration with a Specialism after graduation shall not be conferred at a Congregation of the University.
17. Posthumous Awards
17.1 Any award of the University may be conferred posthumously and accepted on the student’s behalf by a parent, spouse or other appropriate individual. The normal conditions of award must be satisfied or, if varied, the variation must be approved by the Senate.
[The University’s policy on posthumous awards is available on the University’s website at http://www.hw.ac.uk/internal/policy/posthumous_awards_policy.pdf; copies are available from the Academic Registry]
Amended version approved 12 March 2003 (SM/03/26.6)