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        THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGHDEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2007/2008
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  6. Higher Professional Degrees in Medicine: General Regulations— MD and DDS
    6.1 (a) A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) 
    must:  
 (i) be a graduate in Medicine and Surgery 
  (MB ChB) of the University of Edinburgh, or a graduate of the Polish School 
  of Medicine in Edinburgh, and must have been engaged since graduation for at 
  least one year either in scientific work bearing directly on the candidate’s 
  profession, or in the practice of Medicine or Surgery, or   
 (ii) hold a qualification which is 
  registrable with the General Medical Council and must have been engaged since 
  graduation for at least one year either in scientific work bearing directly 
  on the candidate’s profession, or in the practice of Medicine or Surgery, 
  and will perform their work in the South East of Scotland, either employed as 
  a member of staff of the University of Edinburgh; or as an NHS employee or as 
  a research worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University 
  of Edinburgh or an Associated Institution or an NHS establishment.   
 (b) A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) 
  must:   
 (i) be a graduate in Dental Surgery 
  (BDS) of the University of Edinburgh and must have been engaged since graduation 
  for at least one year either in scientific work bearing directly on the candidate’s 
  profession, or in the practice of Dentistry, or   
 (ii) hold a qualification which 
  is registrable with the General Dental Council and must have been engaged since 
  graduation for at least one year either in scientific work bearing directly 
  on the candidate’s profession, or in the practice of Dentistry, and will 
  perform their work in the South East of Scotland, either employed as a member 
  of staff of the University of Edinburgh; or as an NHS employee or as a research 
  worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University of Edinburgh, 
  or an Associated Institution or an NHS establishment.   
    6.2 (a) A thesis for the degree of MD must deal with one or 
    more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the degrees of MB ChB 
    of the University or with subjects arising directly from contemporary 
    medical practice.  
 (b) A thesis for the degree of DDS must deal with one or more 
  subjects of study in the curriculum for the degree of BDS of the University 
  or with subjects arising directly from contemporary dental practice.  
 6.3. The 
  grounds for the award of the degrees of MD and DDS are:  
 
  (a) the candidate must have demonstrated by the presentation 
    of a thesis and by performance in an oral examination (unless this is exceptionally 
    waived) that the candidate is capable of pursuing original research in the 
    field of study, relating particular researches to the general body of knowledge 
    in the field, and presenting the results of the researches in a critical and 
    scholarly way. 
 (b) the thesis must be an original work making a significant contribution 
  to knowledge in or understanding of the field of study; contain material worthy 
  of publication; show a comprehensive knowledge and a critical appreciation of 
  the field of study and related literature; show that the candidate’s observations 
  have been carefully made; show the exercise of independent critical judgment 
  with regard to both the candidate’s work and that of other scholars in 
  the same general field; contain material which presents a unified body of work; 
  be satisfactory in its literary and general presentation, give full and adequate 
  references and have a coherent structure understandable to a scholar in the 
  same general field with regard to intentions, background, methods and conclusions. 
  A concise and informative summary should be included with the thesis.  
       6.4 (a) An intending candidate shall submit to the College of 
        Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine) a suggested topic and description 
        of the work on which the thesis will be based. Candidates who do not hold 
        the degrees of MB ChB or BDS, as appropriate, from the University of Edinburgh 
        should submit applications through their identified adviser(s), and receive 
        the approval of the head of an appropriate University School. The College 
        Postgraduate Studies Committee must approve the thesis proposal before 
        the application is accepted. Where the research proposal involves work 
        on human subjects or animals, proof must be submitted that study protocols 
        have been approved by the appropriate ethical committee or regulatory 
        body. Additionally, in the case of studies involving laboratory animals, 
        the candidate should confirm that animal care, welfare and procedures 
        will be conducted under an appropriate Home Office Licence. Candidates 
        will become matriculated students. A fee to cover registration and matriculation 
        is payable when the suggested topic and description of the work have been 
        accepted by the College. A registration fee is paid upon initial registration, 
        an annual advisory fee is paid at the beginning of each year of study 
        (Including the first year) and an examination fee is paid at the time 
        of thesis submission. An annual progress report will be submitted jointly 
        by the adviser, the candidate and the Head of School or his/her nominee. 
        After formal acceptance of the suggested topic and description normally 
        a period of at least 18 months must elapse before a candidate may submit 
        a thesis for the degree concerned. It is expected that the thesis would 
        normally be submitted within a period of five years following registration. 
        Late submissions will require approval from the College Postgraduate Studies 
        Committee.   
 (b) A period of two years must have elapsed since obtaining the 
  primary degrees or registrable qualifications referred to in clause 6.1 above 
  before an intending candidate may submit a suggested topic and description. 
    
    6.5 Registration may be suspended by the 
    Committee for a specified period, if good cause is shown. The total period 
    of suspension of studies for any candidate may not exceed two years. 
     No fees are payable during any full year in which suspension has been 
    continuous.  
    6.6 If the College of Medicine and Veterinary 
    Medicine (Medicine) accepts a prospective candidate, an adviser, who will 
    be a member of the academic staff of the University or an honorary member 
    of staff, will normally be appointed from whom the prospective candidate 
    should seek advice. Students performing work outwith the University would 
    normally have project approval from and an additional adviser in the host 
    institute. These appointments will be subject to ratification by the 
    College Postgraduate Studies Committee.  
    6.7 A candidate must submit a thesis specially 
    written for the degree concerned and must not have submitted it in 
    candidature for any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional 
    qualification. Material to be included in a thesis may be published before 
    the thesis is submitted. The thesis must record the fact of such 
    publication. The thesis must conform to the Regulatory Standards laid down 
    by the Senatus Academicus (See the Postgraduate Research Degree Assessment Regulations).  
    6.8 A candidate must incorporate in the thesis a 
    signed declaration:  
 
  (a) that the thesis has been composed by the candidate, and 
 (b) either that the work is the candidate’s own or, if the 
  candidate has been a member of a research group, that the candidate has made 
  a substantial contribution to the work, such contribution being clearly indicated 
  in the declaration, and   
 (c) that a candidate who does not hold the degrees of MB ChB or 
  BDS, as appropriate, from the University of Edinburgh has undertaken a substantial 
  proportion of the work (greater than 75%) contributing to the thesis while in 
  post in South-East Scotland**, and   
 (d) that the candidate has not submitted the thesis in candidature 
  for any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional qualification  
       6.9 Two copies of the thesis, together 
        with three additional copies of the abstract, must be submitted to the 
        College Postgraduate Studies Committee. Both copies of the thesis shall 
        remain the property of the University.   
 While author’s copyright subsists 
  in the thesis and in the abstract of the thesis, each candidate will be asked 
  to grant the University the right to publish the abstract of the thesis approved 
  and/or to authorise its publication for any scholarly purpose with proper acknowledgement 
  of authorship.   
    6.10 On the recommendation of the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine), the Senatus Academicus shall 
    appoint one internal examiner, who shall not have been the 
    candidate’s adviser, and one external examiner of the thesis. 
    External examiners shall be of recognised eminence in the subject matter of 
    the thesis and their appointment shall be subject to the approval of the 
    University Court. In special circumstances more than one internal or 
    external examiner may be appointed.  
    6.11 The candidate will be required to undertake 
    an oral examination in the subject matter of the thesis unless the 
    examination is exceptionally waived by the College of Medicine and 
    Veterinary Medicine (Medicine). An oral examination will be mandatory for 
    candidates who do not hold the degrees of MB ChB or BDS, as appropriate, of 
    the University of Edinburgh.  
    6.12 The examiners report to the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine). They may judge a thesis 
    satisfactory subject to specified modifications. In such circumstances the 
    candidate will be permitted to graduate only after the College of Medicine 
    and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine) has received a statement, signed by the 
    internal examiner, that the modifications have been made.  
    6.13 If in the opinion of the examiners the 
    thesis is not of sufficient merit to justify the award of the degree, the 
    candidate may be given the opportunity to resubmit the thesis provided that 
    effect is given to any recommendation the examiners and the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine) may make regarding further 
    studies or the format or content of the thesis.  
 6.14 If the thesis is deemed to 
  be sufficiently worthy the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine) 
  may recommend to the Senatus Academicus that the Degree of MD or DDS be conferred 
  either with Distinction or with Distinction and the award of a Gold Medal. 
       6.15 Candidates may, at the discretion 
        of the Senatus Academicus, be permitted to graduate in 
        absentia.  
  7. Higher Professional Degree in Veterinary Medicine: General Regulations—DVM&S
    7.1 A candidate for the degree of Doctor of 
    Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVM&S) must normally be:  
 (a) a graduate of the University of Edinburgh of at least two 
  years’ standing, or a graduate of another approved University of at least three years’ 
  standing who has served as a member of staff (ordinary or honorary) of the University 
  of Edinburgh for a continuous period of not less than two years, and 
 (b) registered to practise Veterinary Medicine within the United 
  Kingdom, and  
 (c) have been engaged since graduation for at least one year either 
  in scientific work bearing directly upon the candidate’s profession or 
  in the practice of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.   
    7.2 A thesis for the degree of DVM&S must 
    deal with one or more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the 
    degree of BVM&S of the University or with subjects arising directly 
    from contemporary veterinary practice.  
    7.3 The grounds for the award of the degree of 
    DVM&S are:  
 (a) the candidate must have demonstrated 
  by the presentation of a thesis and by performance in an oral examination (unless 
  this is exceptionally waived) that the candidate is capable of pursuing original 
  research in the field of study relating particular researches to the general 
  body of knowledge in the field, and presenting the results of the researches 
  in a critical and scholarly way.  
 (b) the thesis must be an original work making a significant contribution 
  to knowledge in or understanding of the field of study; contain material worthy 
  of publication; show a comprehensive knowledge and a critical appreciation of 
  the field of study and related literature; show that the candidate’s observations 
  have been carefully made; show the exercise of independent critical judgement 
  with regard to both the candidate’s work and that of other scholars in 
  the same general field; contain material which presents a unified body of work; 
  be satisfactory in its literary and general presentation, give full and adequate 
  references and have a coherent structure understandable to a scholar in the 
  same general field with regard to intentions, background, methods and conclusions. 
    
       7.4 An intending candidate 
        shall submit to the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary 
        Medicine) a suggested topic and description of the work on which the thesis 
        will be based. A registration fee is paid upon initial registration, an 
        annual advisory fee is paid at the beginning of each year of study (Including 
        the first year) and an examination fee is paid at the time of thesis submission. 
        The candidate must also matriculate. After formal acceptance of the suggested 
        topic and description, a period of normally at least 18 months must elapse 
        before the thesis is submitted.   
    7.5 If the College of Medicine and Veterinary 
    Medicine (Veterinary Medicine) accepts a prospective candidate, an adviser, 
    who will be a member of the academic staff or an honorary member of staff, 
    will normally be appointed from whom the prospective candidate should seek 
    advice.  
    7.6 A candidate must submit a thesis specially 
    written for the degree and must not have submitted it in candidature for 
    any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional qualification. 
    Material to be included in a thesis may be published before the thesis is 
    submitted. The thesis must record the fact of such publication or take the 
    form of bound publications with appropriate introduction and discussion. 
    The thesis must conform to the Regulatory Standards laid down by the 
    Senatus Academicus (See the Postgraduate Research Degree Assessment Regulations).  
    7.7 A candidate must incorporate in the thesis a 
    signed declaration:  
 (a) that the thesis has been composed by the candidate and  
 (b) either that the work is the candidate’s own or, if the 
  candidate has been a member of a research group, that the candidate has made 
  a substantial contribution to the work, such contribution being clearly indicated 
  in the declaration, and  
 (c) that the candidate has not submitted the thesis in candidature 
  for any other degree, postgraduate diploma or professional qualification.  
       7.8 Two copies of the thesis, together 
        with three additional copies of the abstract, must be submitted to the 
        College Postgraduate Studies Committee. Both copies of the thesis shall 
        remain the property of the University.   
   While author’s copyright 
  subsists in the thesis and in the abstract of the thesis, each candidate will 
  be asked to grant the University the right to publish the abstract of the thesis 
  approved and/or to authorise its publication for any scholarly purpose with 
  proper acknowledgement of authorship.   
    7.9 On the recommendation of the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine), the Senatus 
    Academicus shall appoint one internal examiner, who shall not have been the 
    candidate’s adviser, and one external examiner of the thesis. 
    External examiners shall be of recognised eminence in the subject matter of 
    the thesis and their appointment shall be subject to the approval of the 
    University Court. In special circumstances more than one internal or 
    external examiner may be appointed.  
    7.10 The candidate will be required to undertake 
    an oral examination in the subject matter of the thesis unless the 
    examination is exceptionally waived by the College of Medicine and 
    Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine).  
    7.11 The examiners report to the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine). They may judge a 
    thesis satisfactory subject to specified modifications. In such 
    circumstances the candidate will be permitted to graduate only after the 
    College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine) has 
    received a statement, signed by the internal examiner, that the 
    modifications have been made.  
    7.12 If in the opinion of the examiners the 
    thesis is not of sufficient merit to justify the award of the degree, the 
    candidate may be given the opportunity to resubmit the thesis provided that 
    effect is given to any recommendation the examiners and the College of 
    Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine) may make regarding 
    further studies or the format or content of the thesis.  
    7.13 Candidates may, at the discretion of the 
    Senatus Academicus, be permitted to graduate in 
    absentia. 
  8. Master of Clinical Dentistry (Oral Medicine/ Orthodontics/ Paediatric Dentistry/Prosthodontics/Surgical Dentistry)*
    8.1 Postgraduate Students may at the discretion of the 
    Committee be registered as candidates for the degree of Master of Clinical 
    Dentistry in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (Medicine). 
    Registration will date from 1 October.  
    8.2 All registered candidates for the degree must 
    satisfy Section B, Regulations 2.1-2.8 and 3-4 and the additional 
    entrance requirements prescribed by the Committee.  
 8.3 The 
  period of study will be 24 months full-time or 36 months part-time. This period 
  may not be reduced, and may be extended only in exceptional circumstances.  
    8.4 Registration for part-time study will be permitted 
    only to suitably qualified candidates who can show to the satisfaction of 
    the Committee that they will be able to attend the prescribed courses and 
    taught clinical practice, and have sufficient time to undertake the 
    necessary studies.  
    8.5 Candidates will pursue their studies in Edinburgh 
    under the direction of a University supervisor nominated by the Director of 
    the Postgraduate Dental Institute and appointed by the Committee. The 
    Committee must approve additional supervisors outwith the University. For 
    the purposes of the taught clinical practice component candidates will be 
    based in the Edinburgh Dental Institute and other NHS facilities approved 
    for the purpose.  
 8.6 Leave 
  of absence is not normally permitted, but may be granted on special application 
  to the Committee by the candidate’s University supervisor.   
    8.7 Candidates will pursue an integrated programme of 
    teaching and taught clinical practice. Work for an independent research 
    dissertation will commence during the first year and will be spread over 
    the duration of the course. The Director of the Postgraduate Institute will 
    approve the research dissertation topic. Details of the individual 
    programme contents and assessment are shown in the relevant Degree 
    Programme Table.  
    8.8 Candidates may, if good cause is shown, suspend 
    their studies after six months for a maximum period of 12 months. No fees 
    are payable during any full year in which suspension has been continuous.  
    8.9 On the recommendation of the Director of the 
    Postgraduate Dental Institute, and after seeking the views of the 
    candidate, the Committee may suspend or discontinue a candidate’s 
    studies.  
    8.10 The examiners in the subjects of the examinations 
    for the degree shall be (a) those professors, readers, lecturers and 
    honorary staff who conduct courses of instruction qualifying for the degree 
    and who are appointed to act as examiners in accordance with such procedure 
    as shall be prescribed by the Senatus Academicus from time to time; and (b) 
    one or more external examiners appointed by the University Court on the 
    recommendation of the Senatus Academicus.  
       8.11 Candidates will be formally 
        examined on the theoretical and practical components of the programmes 
        of study, as specified in the relevant Degree Programme Table. The theoretical 
        aspects will be examined through written and oral examinations. Clinical 
        dentistry will be examined by formal written case presentations, oral 
        examinations and examination of treated patients where appropriate. Examinations 
        will be held towards the end of the first year and in the middle and end 
        of the final year. Candidates will have an opportunity to resit clinical 
        examinations once only. For all other examinations and assessments candidates 
        are expected to pass the examinations at the first attempt. Candidates 
        who fail the first year examinations (with an aggregate mark of less than 
        40%) will be asked to discontinue their studies. The independent research 
        component will be assessed by examination of the written dissertation 
        and subsequent oral examination. The research dissertation must be submitted 
        by a date in early September of the final year which will be specified 
        by the Director of the Postgraduate Dental Institute. (Two typewritten 
        copies of each dissertation must be submitted. See the Postgraduate Research 
        Degree Assessment Regulations) Extensions will be granted by the Committee 
        in exceptional circumstances only.   
    8.12 The degree may be awarded with distinction.  
    8.13 A candidate for the degree who fails to complete 
    a final, written, coursework examination, and who can produce satisfactory 
    evidence that the failure was due to reasons beyond the candidate’s 
    control, may be deemed by the Committee to have satisfied the requirements 
    for that written examination, or be permitted to resit the examination. If 
    these circumstances are medical and are such that the Board of Examiners 
    does not believe that the candidate will be able to complete the work, even 
    after suspension of studies for a period, the Board may propose to the 
    College Postgraduate Studies Committee the award of a degree aegrotat. The report to the 
    College Postgraduate Studies Committee should contain such evidence from 
    medical and welfare agencies as is necessary to support the case and also, 
    so far as is practicable and appropriate, the views of the candidate, the 
    postgraduate supervisor, and the Chairman of the Board of Examiners. If the 
    case is supported by the College Postgraduate Studies Committee, the 
    recommendation shall be referred to the Senatus Postgraduate Studies 
    Committee.  
    8.14 If a dissertation is judged to be marginally 
    unsatisfactory, the Board of Examiners may, at its discretion, agree that 
    the candidate satisfies the requirements for the award of degree provided 
    that the candidate either (i) makes editorial corrections to the dissertation or (ii) corrects stated 
    deficiencies in the dissertation within a period of the equivalent of two 
    weeks full-time. Any such corrections must be certified by the internal 
    examiner(s) and, if required, by the external examiner.  
    8.15 To be awarded the Masters degree, candidates must 
    achieve a pass mark (50% or greater) in the examinations in the second year 
    and a pass mark (50% or greater) in the research dissertation.  
  9. MSc/Dip in Anaesthesia Practice9.1 Each student for the
    degree must comply with the detailed requirements of the curriculum and must
    pass all the requisite assessments. In addition the College’s Fitness
    to Practise Committee, acting on behalf of the College of Medicine and Veterinary
    Medicine, must be satisfied at all times throughout the programme that in
    respect of health, conduct and any other matters which the Committee may
    reasonably deem relevant, whether such matters relate to the student’s
    University programme or are unrelated to it, the student would not constitute
    a risk to patients and is a suitable person to become a registered Physician’s
    Assistant-Anaesthesia. Students are subject to Fitness to Practise regulations
    both while matriculated and while temporarily withdrawn. 
 9.2 Any student who, at
     any stage of the programme, fails to satisfy the College’s Fitness
     to Practise Committee, as set out in requirement 9.1 (above), irrespective
     of his/her performance in the relevant assessments, may be reported to the
     Head of College who has power to recommend to the Senatus exclusion from
     further studies and assessments for the MSc/Dip in Anaesthesia Practice
     or to recommend the award be withheld. 
An appeal against such exclusion,
    or the withholding of the degree of MSc/Dip in Anaesthesia Practice on the
    grounds of not being fit to practise may be submitted to the Secretary to
    the University for referral to the University’s Fitness to Practise
    Appeal Committee within three weeks of notification of the decision to exclude
    or to withhold the degree of MSc/Dip in Anaesthesia Practice. 
In the event of a student
    being excluded or having the degree of MSc/Dip in Anaesthesia Practice withheld,
    that student may, at the discretion of the University, be given the opportunity
    to transfer to an alternative programme of studies. 
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