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Faculty of Music : Guide to courses
Details of the method of assessment appear under individual subject headings, and include such forms as practical examinations, written assignments and examinations, ensemble attendance and tutorial presentations. Where components of assessment which are different from those listed are to be used, the details will be posted on Faculty noticeboard or advised in the course outline to students at the beginning of the semester.
In the BMus, the grade structure set out below is used for all subjects.
80+ H1 First Class Honours
75-79 H2A Second Class Honours Division A
70-74 H2B Second Class Honours Division B
65-69 H3 Third Class Honours
50-64 P Pass Below 50 N Fail
In some cases, where a mark of not less than 40 percent has been achieved by a student making a first attempt at a subject and who has not failed more than 25 percent of subjects in the current year, a Faculty Pass may be awarded. Such a pass does not permit the student to proceed to any subject for which the subject thus passed is a prerequisite.
Students must not seek to obtain an advantage in a Faculty assessment by unfair means. The University has strict rules about this, which may be found in Statute 12.2-3. There is no objection to examination pieces being performed widely by a student, or assignments and examination answers being discussed in a preliminary way with other students. What is not permitted is students performing at Faculty assessments practical work already studied for other examinations or courses, and students exchanging or making available to other students any working notes, drafts or final answers for Faculty assessments, whether prepared this year or previously.
For the purpose of the Statute, the following would be regarded as an advantage obtained by unfair means in the Music Faculty:
The performance in a practical assessment of a work already presented for another assessment in the University or other institution by the same student;
The submission of an answer in an assignment or an examination substantially similar to that submitted by a student in the same or any preceding year, whether at this or another institution
The submission of an answer not based substantially on the student's own work
The submission of an answer containing substantial quotations from another work, whether in the same words or some variation of them, without appropriate acknowledgment of the source.
Submission of assignments in all subjects should be deposited in the appropriate locker in the Faculty basement by 5pm on the due date, unless stated otherwise. Students should keep a duplicate copy of the work in case of any dispute. Assignments submitted by post must have been posted to arrive at the Faculty of Music before the due date. Assignments will not be accepted if faxed.
A scholarly approach is expected in the preparation of papers and essays in all Faculty subjects. Students must therefore purchase a style manual, such as MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses and Dissertations (New York: Modern Languages Association, 1988), and use it as the standard style manual in all Faculty subjects. A guide which summarises many of the fundamental points is available in the Music In Society course notes. Students may use the Faculty computer laboratory to prepare or laser print their work; those who have their own computer must ensure their word processing program has the formatting, footnoting and other facilities (e.g. foreign language diacriticals) required in the MLA style manual. Microsoft Word and Wordperfect, which are consistent with the style manual, are used at the computer laboratory. Students should also ensure that they can produce laser or letter quality print for their submissions; low quality dot-matrix is not acceptable.
Students are notified of assignment details well in advance and extensions therefore will not be granted without very serious cause. Under Statute 12.4, applications for extensions will generally be considered only on medical or other serious grounds. Students seeking an extension must see the Degree Programs Manager at least 3 days prior to the due date for the assignment. Doctor's certificates, etc. should be taken to your appointment. You should not approach lecturers or tutors regarding extensions as they have no authority to grant them.
Where work is submitted without an extension after the due date, lecturers may, at their discretion, choose to:
Impose a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark for each day the work is late (where work is less than a week overdue);
Award a mark of 50% only (where work is more than a week overdue);
Not mark the work (where work is more than a week overdue).
If the Degree Programs Manager has not been contacted by the due date the work may not be marked.
The Student Diary gives information regarding University examinations and the determination of disputes relating to assessment. Details of how examiners are to assess may be found in the directions of the Academic Board pursuant to Statutes 12.3.2, 12.3.9, 12.5.1 and 12.2.11; for further information, see the appendix in the Student Diary.
For the Faculty of Music, these are applied as follows:
Practical study and music performance subjects are assessed by a panel of two examiners, who hear all students in the subject. The student's teacher is an additional marker and provides a specialist report to the examiners. The panel considers the examination performance, the teacher's report, and the report of repertoire studied during the year. The two examiners each give a mark which is averaged and contributes 75% of the final mark. The teacher's recommended mark contributes 25% of the final mark.
All other aural and practical assessments are conducted before not less than two examiners;
Written examinations and assignments weighted more than 60 per cent of the assessment in a subject in which a student is failed by one examiner are re-marked by a second examiner;
Components which cannot reasonably be assessed by two examiners (such as tutorial papers, written projects and short assignments, practical teacher or supervisor reports, ensemble participation, or regular aural tests) should not exceed 60 per cent of the assessment in a subject.
Special examinations may be granted in any Faculty subject under the following circumstances:
Where students are physically unable to sit an examination or a substantial part of that examination;
Where a student is ill during the examination, and reports the fact to the supervisor at the examination centre;
Where a student's studies have been so gravely impaired by illness or other serious cause that they are precluded from doing themselves justice at the normal examination time. Medical evidence and an application for a special examination must be provided to the Degree Programs Manager within 3 days of the examination concluding or before the examinations commence.
It is possible for Honours to be awarded at a special examination, but the Record Card will show that a special examination was involved. After a special examination, no further examinations are granted to students who failed to sit or were further affected by illness, although in such cases an application for Special Consideration may be made within 3 days of the examination concluding. The Board of Examiners will then assess the students' performance and may take the new circumstances into account. A new application must be lodged in respect of such examinations; it is not possible to rely on an earlier application.
Supplementary examinations may be awarded for any subject in any year of the Undergraduate course by the Board of Examiners under Statute 12.4.3 if, after reviewing the student's progress in the year as a whole, the Board is satisfied that: (1) After taking the examination as scheduled a student's performance was not too far below the pass mark; and (2) The student had made a serious attempt throughout the year. If a supplementary examination is awarded, the Board will determine the form which the examination will take. The student may be required to submit additional work, to rely on late work already submitted, to revise and re-submit work, or re-take the whole assessment. Assessment will be on a pass/fail basis; Honours will not be awarded at a supplementary examination.
After a supplementary examination, no further examinations are granted to students who failed to sit or were effected by illness, although in such cases an application for special consideration may be made within 3 days of the examination concluding. The Board of Examiners will then assess the student's performance and may take the circumstances into account. A new application must be lodged in respect of such examinations; It is not possible to rely on an earlier application.
Students are urged to discuss any study problems they encounter with their lecturers or tutors. Those experiencing study difficulties as a result of illness, accidents, or personal or financial problems should seek advice from the Degree Programs Manager as soon as possible, in case some action under the Special Consideration provision is necessary. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the problem, the Degree Programs Manager may suggest that students call at the Student Counselling Service or the Financial Aid and Employment Office. Students may approach either of these Offices directly if they so wish. More detailed information about these services can be found in the Student Diary.
Special Consideration is governed by Statute 12.4.4-7. In brief:
Applications for Special Consideration have time constraints. They must be lodged within three days of assessment, or component of assessment: you must not wait until your result is published, for generally there is no power to consider such applications once results are known.
Applications must be made through the Degree Programs Manager, who will ensure the confidentiality of the information provided. You must not approach an individual lecturer or examiner: there are strict rules against communicating with examiners about their duties.
Applications must be on the Special Consideration form and must be supported by medical or other evidence of hardship, placing the student at a disadvantage in preparing for, or taking assessment in, the Faculty.
If Special Consideration is granted, the Board of Examiners will determine what adjustments are appropriate to the results. Honours are possible for students granted Special Consideration, but in the case of the award of exhibitions, prizes, or Honours Class List places, where two students receive equal marks the Board will favour the candidate whose results were not obtained through Special Consideration.
When time permits, all academic staff are happy to explain to students concepts unfamiliar through lack of English. However, the Academic Board of the University has determined that Special Consideration cannot be granted to students on the grounds of disadvantage in their academic studies because of insufficient competence in English arising from their non- English speaking backgrounds. As a result, the Faculty of Music is not able to grant extra reading time in examinations or provide additional tutorial assistance in assignments to such students. Students in this category are urged to seek assessment at the Horwood Language Centre and enrol in any recommended programs following the assessment.
The Faculty Student Progress Committee may meet twice annually in June-July and December-January to consider records of students in the Music Course whose progress is judged unsatisfactory, to investigate the circumstances of such students' performance, to elicit any fact which may weigh in favour of the students, and to consider whether any action should be taken or any opinion given for the purpose of the Statute. 11.5
This Statute and the Student Dairy set out the principles governing student progress in the University. In considering a case, the Committee normally takes into account personal, financial and study problems.
Progress rules for students enrolled in the undergraduate courses of the Faculty of Music are set out below:
The progress of a student will be deemed to be unsatisfactory if the student:
fails, in any one year, four or more subjects (except a semester of ensemble);
fails, in any one year, any three of the following subjects:
Practical Study
Music Performance
Composition
Music History
Music Techniques
fails any subject (semester long or year long, except ensemble) twice;
fails any two subjects (semester long or year long, except ensemble) in each of successive years;
as a part-time student, fails more than 50% of their (music) course load (semester long or year long) entered for in any one year;
having failed to achieve a satisfactory result in any Practical Study or Music Performance subject, is unlikely, in the opinion of the examiners, to reach the level of proficiency required for that subject.
No student shall proceed to the third year of the course before passing all first year subjects - year long or semester long.
No student shall proceed to the fourth year of the course before passing all core music subjects of the second year.
Such a student will be advised in writing of any information before the Committee and given an opportunity to explain their performance in writing and/or in interview. After investigating the circumstances and giving the student concerned an opportunity to be heard, the Committee may: (a) award supplementary examinations; (b) specify the subjects for which the student may enrol in any subsequent year; or (c) report its opinion to the Academic Board that the student be suspended from the course. Students will be notified promptly of the results of the Committee's decision in writing. Students reported to the Academic Board are then advised of their rights to appear before the Board and copies of the relevant regulations are provided. Such students are given an opportunity of making an explanation to the Academic Board, which may then either suspend the student, limit the student's future enrolment, or permit the student to continue without restriction.
Search : Index : Faculty of Music
Prev 13. Diploma in Music (Practical)
Next 15. Graduate and postgraduate courses
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