DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2008/2009
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These general regulations apply to all undergraduate qualifications within the University. Students must also refer to the specific College degree programme requirements, to the appropriate Degree Programme Table, and to the approved  Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session.

* Throughout these regulations, the Head of College is referred to as having the authority to grant permissions, concessions and exemptions. This authority may in practice often be delegated by the Head of College to appropriate nominees in the College or Schools. It is vital that students consult their Director of Studies as to the appropriate point of contact, and do not approach the Head of College in the first instance.

A concession is required wherever a student’s programme deviates from the prescribed norms.  Minor concessions are indicated in the Regulations and may be approved by the Head of College.*  Where a concession is not allowed by these Regulations it must be approved by the College and Senatus Undergraduate Studies Committee. A concession is the granting of explicit permission by the relevant University authority to permit the deviation of a student’s programme of study from the prescribed norm.’

Every student studying for qualifications in the University must comply with these regulations. In exceptional circumstances a concession to allow relaxation of a specific regulation may be granted by the appropriate Head of College*.

The courses of instruction in each subject of study shall be as approved by Senatus, on the recommendation of the appropriate Head of College*.

Assessment is subject to the provisions of the University’s Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session.

Every student must, unless granted a concession in respect of them, comply with the detailed requirements with regard to the curriculum for the degree as set out in the appropriate Degree Programme Table (where compulsory courses are indicated in bold text), the courses of study, the order in which courses are attended and the assessment for the degree, which have been approved by the Senatus and published in the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study.

Except with the permission of the Head of College* responsible for the course, when selecting courses, students must comply with the pre-requisite, co-requisite and prohibited combination requirements shown in the Schedules of Courses. A ‘pre-requisite’ to Course X is a course, or a category of courses or relevant experience, that must be successfully completed before the student can undertake Course X. A ‘co-requisite’ course must be undertaken in the same Academic Year as Course X. A ‘prohibited combination’ exists where the content of two courses overlaps substantially; students may be given credit for only one or other course from a prohibited combination during their programme of study. Students must also comply with any additional requirements specific to their degree programme as set out in the appropriate School Programme Guide. No student will be admitted to a course that is part of their degree programme more than two weeks after the start of the semester in which the course is taught without the permission of the Head of College*.

Courses and Credits

Each year of study of an undergraduate programme is composed of courses. Each course is a unit of teaching and learning formally offered within the University, and carrying credit expressed as a number of credit points in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework [http://www.scqf.org.uk/] (usually 10, 20 or 40 credit points) that may contribute towards a University award (Certificate, Diploma or Degree), such that a normal load for each year of full-time study is a set of courses that total 120 credit points . Credit points are awarded to students who satisfy the assessment criteria for a course. Credit loadings on certain programmes may be in excess of those stipulated above (e.g. MBChB). The Degree Programme Table for each degree programme sets out the credit points required.

Credit Levels

Each course has a specified credit level. For full-time undergraduate programmes, normally, courses undertaken in years 1 and 2 have a SCQF credit level of 7 or 8; courses undertaken in year 3 have a SCQF credit level of 9 or 10; courses undertaken in year 4 have a SCQF credit level of 9, 10 or 11; and courses undertaken in year 5 have a SCQF credit level of 10 or 11. A minimum number of credit points at each level, within the total required for each year of study, is stipulated for each degree programme. To gain a specific degree award, students must achieve the credit point and levels requirements of the particular programme, as set out in the appropriate Degree Programme Table.

Transitional arrangements

Where changes are being made to particular programmes of study, details of any transitional arrangements that apply can be found in the appropriate College section and School Programme Guide.

Substitution of equivalent courses within one degree programme curriculum

The Degree Programme Tables and School Schedules set out the regulations governing each degree programme and course. In a limited number of cases an alternative approved course equivalent in credit value, level and appropriateness of content may be acceptable within degree programmes or as pre-requisites for other courses. These courses may be substituted only with the permission of the Head of College* owning the degree programme, or his/her nominee.

Permissible credit loads and progression

Students are normally expected to attain passes totalling 120 credit points in each year of study.

In the pre-Honours years a student may exceptionally take additional courses to a maximum of 160 credit points in total in a year of study, subject to the approval of the Director of Studies.

In the first Honours year and the final Ordinary/General year a student may, with the permission of the Director of Studies, take courses additional to the normal 120 credit point curriculum at level 7 and/or 8, and/or 9, to a maximum of 160 credit points in total in a year of study.  *

Note: specific College regulations on courses taken in the Honours years apply in the College of Science and Engineering: see College regulations.

In years 4 and 5 of an Honours degree a student may take additional courses provided they are not required for the purpose of graduation, subject to the approval of the Director of Studies.  

* Note: specific College regulations on courses taken in the Honours years apply in the College of Science and Engineering: see College regulations.

The Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session describe the detailed procedures for progression and final classification of degrees.

Note: Regulations 10.6 – 10.9 do not apply to students taking the MBChB or BVM&S, where the relevant College regulations apply.

In order to ensure continuation from one year of study to the next without the need for an extension to the total period of study, a full-time student must achieve a minimum of:

• 80 credit points by the end of Year 1
• 200 credit points by the end of Year 2
• 360 credit points by the end of Year 3
• 480 credit points by the end of Year 4

Part-time students must attain a minimum of 40 credit points in any two year period, or a minimum of a third of the total credit points for courses taken in any two year period, whichever is greater.

Credit points awarded for entry with advanced standing will not contribute to adequate progress status.

The Head of College* shall have power to recognise prior certificated learning and on this basis to admit a student to the second or later years of a programme of study.  Such recognition shall be given only where the College is satisfied that the learning to be recognised provides an adequate basis for the programme or courses within the programme to be undertaken at the University of Edinburgh, as set out in the appropriate Degree Programme Table and Schedule of Courses.

For a student admitted with recognition of prior learning, either (a) credit points will be transferred from prior certificated learning, or (b) 60 points will be credited for each semester of recognition of prior learning awarded, towards the requirement for a University of Edinburgh Degree.

A student admitted with recognition of prior learning will not be allowed to count in a qualifying curriculum any course passed at the University of Edinburgh that has a substantial curriculum overlap with any of the courses passed elsewhere that contributed to the admission with recognition of prior learning.

Normal minimum period of study for students transferring from another institution.

For the award of a University of Edinburgh degree a student must study in Edinburgh for a minimum period of two years or the pro-rata equivalent in the case of part-time study. This regulation does not apply to intercalating medicine and veterinary medicine students.

Transfer to/from another University of Edinburgh programme

A student may be allowed to transfer to a different degree programme from another within the University by permission of the Head of the receiving College*.

Unless granted a concession by the Head of the receiving College* in respect of them, students must comply with the pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements of the new programme shown in the Schedules of Courses. The total credit points required for the award of the degree is that shown in the Degree Programme Table for the new programme.

The Undergraduate Certificate or Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education may be attained by students who leave the University without completing a degree programme, where the student meets the requirements of one of these qualifications as set out below.

Students for the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education must have attained a minimum of 120 credit points gained from passes in courses of this University which count towards graduation.

Students for the Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education must have attained a minimum of 240 credit points. At least 120 credit points must be gained from passes in courses of this University counting towards graduation and at least 80 of the 120 credit points gained from courses passed at this University must be in courses at level 8 or above.

Entry to Honours in any degree programme is by achievement of the requirements stipulated within the Degree Programme Table for that programme.

The award of Honours shall be based on the student’s performance in assessment in the Honours year(s). For information on the award of Honours see the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session..

A student who satisfies the examiners in the Final Honours assessment shall be awarded Honours in one of three grades to be denominated respectively First Class, Second Class and Third Class, of which the Second Class shall be divided into Division I and Division II.  The names of the students shall be arranged for publication in each class or division in alphabetic order.

A student who has been assessed, classed or failed for Honours may not present him/herself for re-assessment in the same programme, or assessment in a closely related programme as determined by the Head of College. Exceptionally, subsequent attempts to satisfy specific professional requirements may be permitted, see the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session..

During a single period of continuous enrolment, a student may be awarded only the qualification with the highest status for which he/she has qualified.

Honours Degree after Graduation with Ordinary/General Degree

This Regulation applies only to degrees of types E (Non-honours) and F (General and Ordinary).

In each case the Head of College* shall decide what further courses, if any, the student shall be required to complete before entering Honours and shall determine the period within which the student must complete his/her curriculum and present him/herself for the final Honours assessment. A student is permitted to retain only the award with the highest status for which he/she has qualified.

Honours in a further subject/discipline

A student who already holds a University of Edinburgh degree with Honours in one subject may be permitted by the appropriate Head of College* to present him/herself for a degree with Honours in a different subject. Such a student may be considered for accredited prior certificated learning (APCL) up to a maximum of 240 credit points at levels 7 and/or 8 in subjects which he/she has passed as part of his/her first Honours curriculum, provided that not more than 2 years have elapsed between his/her first graduation and his/her acceptance as a student for the degree in a second subject.  Acceptance with APCL after a longer period will be at the discretion of the Head of College*.

Such a student will be required to take the full Honours programme in the second subject/s as stipulated in the appropriate Degree Programme Table, involving a normal minimum of a further 240 credit points.  Any Honours courses which he/she may have taken in his/her previous studies must be replaced by suitable courses of equivalent weight but significantly different content.

Suspension from an Honours Course

For information on suspension from an Honours course see the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session. 

Normal length of study period

A full-time student must normally complete the requirements of the degree programme within the time period laid out in the Degree Programme Table.

Normal length of study period (longer study period)

With the permission of the Head of College*, a student may be permitted to undertake an Honours degree programme over a longer period, provided that a minimum of 40 credit points are undertaken in each year of study. The maximum period for completion of an Ordinary or General degree programme is 8 years.  The maximum period for completion of an Honours degree programme is 10 years.  Certain elements of a degree programme may require full-time attendance, and a student given permission to undertake study over an extended period must comply with any such requirements where specified for a particular degree programme. See also Regulation 30, Authorised Interruption of Study.

Authorised Interruption of Study

A student may be allowed a period of Authorised Interruption of Study by the Head of College* for  good reason  and may be re-admitted thereafter to complete the requirements for a degree.  A period of Authorised Interruption of Study will not normally exceed one academic year, and the total period of Authorised Interruption of Study, which may be granted throughout the programme of study, will not normally exceed three academic years.  A period of Authorised Interruption of Study does not automatically extend the maximum permitted duration of study as stipulated in Regulation 29.1. During Authorised Interruption of Study no fees are due to the University.  Credit from any study undertaken at another institution during the period of Authorised Interruption of Study will not be credited to a student’s programme of study at the University of Edinburgh.  See also Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session.

Contact with the University during absence

During any period of absence from the University, it is a student’s responsibility to provide a current postal contact address and to ensure that any legal requirements imposed by his/her funding or grant authority are met. Current students must check their University email account regularly for communications from the University.

Vacation study

Students on certain degree programmes may be required to undertake special reading or other work during the vacations. Students are referred to the appropriate College regulations /Degree Programme Table and School Programme Guide(s) for more information.

Authorised Leave of Absence for Study Elsewhere

Students attending another institution for not more than one academic year on a recognised exchange scheme or other approved programme of study require the approval of the relevant Head of College*. Students must obtain the approval of their School/s to ensure that they will satisfy any requirements relating to prerequisite courses for entry to the following year of study. Students seeking entry to a profession such as Law must satisfy the requirements of the appropriate professional body.

Assessment Regulations

The University’s Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session provide the regulatory context for assessment of undergraduate students.

Common Marking Scheme

For information on the University’s Common Marking Scheme see the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session..

Failure to complete degree assessment

For information on failure to complete degree assessment see the Undergraduate Assessment Regulations for the current academic session., 

Withdrawal and exclusion from study

The procedures covering all forms of withdrawal and exclusion from the University for academic reasons, together with procedures for appeal and for re-admission where this is allowed, should be consulted. These can be found on the University's website and should be read in conjunction with the University's Assessment Regulations for the current academic session.