Phase I: General PGT regulations for all WMG programmes and award levels (20/21 to 23/24)

Below are the general awarding regulations, which cover all WMG courses at Postgraduate Taught level. These must be read in conjunction with the individual course level regulations, which set out more specifically the modules to be taken, including which are core to each course. These are available on the right hand side (web) or foot (mobile) of this page.

Awards

• Candidates for the MSc are required to take 180 credits of study, including a dissertation project. 160 credits of these 180 credits must be passed, including the project and all core modules. Up to 20 credits of other modules can be failed provided the final mark is between 40 and 49.
• Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma are required to take 120 credits of study, which may or may not include a project, and which can include up to 30 credits of failed modules provided the final mark is between 40 and 49.
• Candidates for the Postgraduate Certificate are required to take and pass 60 credits of study.
• Candidates for the Postgraduate Award are required to take and pass 30 credits of study.
• Candidates who receive a lower award than that for which they were registered (or no award at all) may not be re-admitted to return with credit, unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed by the Board of Examiners.

Candidates may be awarded with Merit or Distinction at the four award levels as follows:

• MSc: if the weighted average of all 180 credits and the project are both 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction) and if all 180 credits are passed
• PgDip: if the weighted average of all 120 credits is 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction) and if all 120 credits are passed
• PgCert: if the weighted average of all 60 credits is 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction)
• PGA if the weighted average of all 30 credits is 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction)

Admissions, changes to registration, and recognition of prior learning

• Candidates who do not quite meet the entry requirements for MSc may be offered initial registration for Postgraduate Diploma. Such candidates will follow the requirements for MSc.
• Candidates for MSc can request to amend their qualification aim to any lower award within the course portfolio, within their period of registration, subject to approval from the Director of Studies.
• Candidates registered on lower awards can request to amend their qualification aim to any higher award within the course portfolio, within their period of registration, subject to satisfactory performance, and subject to approval from the Director of Studies.
• Candidates for the MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate can apply to use module credits from lower qualifications awarded by a previous Exam Board within the course portfolio as ‘recognised prior learning’ to contribute to achieving higher awards, within limited timeframes. Modules for which credits are to be transferred should have been undertaken within five years to be authorised as ‘recognised prior learning’.
• Candidates who have previously withdrawn from the programme may apply to use module credits relevant to the course as ‘recognised prior learning’.

PGT Safety Net (Covid-19)

For candidates with any of their registration period falling in the 19/20 academic year (1 August 2019 – 31 July 2020 inclusive), the following PGT safety net award rules apply, overruling the above general rules:

• Candidates for the MSc on non-accredited courses only are required to take 180 credits of study, including a dissertation project. 160 credits of these 180 credits must be passed, including the project and all core modules. Up to 20 credits of other modules can be failed regardless of the mark achieved.
• Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma on non-accredited courses only courses are required to take 120 credits of study, which may or may not include a project, and which can include up to 30 credits of failed modules regardless of the mark achieved.
• Accredited courses are not affected by the above points.
• The rules for award of MSc or PgDip with Merit or Distinction are as follows (with the rules for PgCert and PGA unaffected)
  • MSc: if the weighted average of the highest marked 120 credits or more is 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction)
  • PgDip: if the weighted average of the highest marked 90 credits or more is 60.0% or above (Merit) or 70.0% or above (Distinction)