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Master of Medical
Education
Newcastle
DEGREE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK
2016-2017
Incorporating information about:
Certificate in Medical Education
Diploma in Medical Education
Master of Medical Education
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Master of Medical Education
Degree Programme Handbook
Incorporating information about:
Certificate in Medical Education
Diploma in Medical Education
Master of Medical Education
At the School of Medical Education we are committed to the promotion of
education as a practical skill and as an academic discipline. Our accredited
programmes are designed for health care professionals, and enable participants to:
-
Plan and deliver teaching in a variety of settings.
Understand and use educational theories to improve teaching.
Develop awareness of the broader social and political contexts in which
education takes place.
Evaluate, plan and execute educational research.
Our overarching aim is to contribute to the development of health care educators,
and ultimately through that contribute to patient care.
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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 5-6
The Programme ......................................................................................................7-13
Programme Accreditation…………………………………………………………………….. 14-17
Student Progress, Assessment & Standards of Academic Conduct ........ 18-30
Attendance………………………………………………………………………………………………18-21
Booking Your Teaching Sessions on
MENU………………………………………………………………………………………………………21-22
Submission of Work for Assessment………………………………………………………22-23
Course Deadlines………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
Late Submission of Assessed Work: Extensions, Concessions and the Role
of the PEC Committee……………………………………………………………………………..24-30
Support for Students after a Failed Submission………………………………………….30
Request for Suspension of Registration ('Leave of Absence')…………….…30-31
Standards of Academic Conduct………………………………………………………………….31
Plagiarism………………………………………………………………………………………..……….31-33
University Library, Reading Lists, Resource Materials .................................. 34-42
The University Library………………………………………………………………………………34-35
Computing Facilities………………………………………………………………………………...35-36
E-Portfolio……………………………………………………………………………………………………...36
Writing Development Centre…………………………………………………………………..36-39
In-Sessional English………………………………………………………………………………...........39
English Language Materials Online (ELMO)…………………………………………………40
Maths-Aid………………………………………………………………………..…………………….………40
Reading Lists………………………………………………………………...………………………….40-41
Additional Resources for Clinical Educators (Journals & Societies)……….41-42
Electronic Databases……………………………………………………………………………..………42
Course Governance, Evaluation and Student Feedback ........................... 43-45
General Information ........................................................................................... 46-53
Induction………………………………………………………………………………………………………46
General Notes to Students……………………………………………………………………..46-48
Communication with Tutors by Use of Email…………………………………..…….48-49
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Changing Tutors………………………………………………………………………………………49-50
Students Sickness Procedure…………………………………………………………………..50-51
University Facilities…………………………………………………………………………………..51-52
Funding for Postgraduate Study…………………………………………………………………..52
Student Self Service Portal (S3P)…………………………………………………………….52-53
Appendix A – The Course Team ...................................................................... 54-57
Appendix B – Programme Regulations ................................................................. 58
Appendix C – Assessment, Exit Awards and Guidance on Submitted work
................................................................................................................................. 59-66
This appendix provides information on the assessment and grading system
for module assignments and exit awards. It also gives specific guidance on
the submission and presentation of assignments.
Marking of Assignments…………………………………………………………………………59-60
Feedback on Assessments……………………………………………………………………………60
Exit Awards and their Classification………………………………………………………...60-61
Moderation Boards and Boards of Examiners………………………………………..61-62
Guidance on Submitted Work…………………………………………………………………62-66
Appendix D – Statement on Accreditation of Prior Learning .................. 67-68
Appendix E – Student Standards of Personal Conduct .................................... 69
Appendix F – Partnership Agreement by the MMedEd Programme 2016/17
(accredited by the Higher Education Academy) ......................................... 70-72
Appendix G – Graduate Skills Framework ........................................................... 73
Appendix H – Timetable .......................................................................................... 74
Appendix I – Student Attendance .......................................................................... 75
Appendix J – Moderation and Scaling Policy ................................................ 76-79
Appendix K – Mechanisms for Ensuring the Quality of Your Degree ............ 80
Appendix L – Health and Safety .............................................................................. 81
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Introduction
Welcome to the Medical Education Programme
The purpose of this handbook is to give you information about the University and
the Certificate, Diploma and Master’s degree in Medical Education. Also information
about University rules that apply to your work and the facilities available to you. It
tells you what we expect from you and what you can expect from us.
It is important that you read it carefully and keep it for reference, especially as you
will need to follow guidance in it when you prepare your assignments for submission.
Careful reading now will save you much trouble later. Please pay particular attention
to page 18, ‘Student Assessment, Progress and Standards of Academic Conduct’.
You should be familiar with the regulations for the programme, the link to which is
appended (Appendix B, 58).
In addition to specific information for Certificate, Diploma and Master’s students,
this handbook includes information about the University and the facilities available
to you as a postgraduate student. It also gives brief details about the staff
associated with this programme. If you have any queries about the programme or
the information in this handbook, please get in touch with a Course Secretary
(contact details given below).
For the Certificate and Diploma stages of the programme, you will be assigned a
personal academic tutor. They should usually be your first point of contact for
discussing your progress and any difficulties that you may experience in relation to
your studies. For the Masters, academic support comes from the module leader
and your dissertation supervisor.
The following information may also be helpful: -
Standards of Academic Conduct (Good Academic Conduct) -
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/conduct.htm.
At Newcastle we value high standards of academic conduct from our staff
and students. Conduct is an important part of maintaining and developing
our reputation. Good academic conduct reflects the values which underpin
academic life, such as honesty, integrity, a shared community of ideas and
respect for others’ work. The Right-Cite for Good Academic Conduct,
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/right-cite/, pages give a detailed account of the issues
governing academic conduct and provide access to a range of resources
for staff and students.
The Newcastle University Student Regulations and Policies -
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/2016.html.
The content of this handbook does not cover every eventuality, so please ask a
member of the programme team should you need help or information. Your
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/conduct.htmhttp://www.ncl.ac.uk/right-cite/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/2016.html
6 School of Medical Education
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contacts are your Personal Tutor, the Degree Programme Director for your
particular degree programme, your lecturers or the Course Secretaries. There will
be plenty of help available throughout your studies.
We hope you will enjoy the programme and that it meets your needs and
expectations. On behalf of the course team, I wish you good luck and success with
your studies.
Richard Price
Degree Programme Director
e-mail: [email protected]
The Degree Programme Director is responsible for the structure, content and
standards of your degree programme. Their role may involve module
development, changes to course content and recruitment activites. Your personal
tutor may refer you to the Degree Programme Director to discuss academic issues.
The Course Secretaries are located in:
School of Medical Education
Level Three
Ridley Building One
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Claremont Road
Newcastle University
NE1 7RU
Tel: (0191) 208 4522 (all day) and 208 4819 (am only)
e-mail [email protected]
Learning Support Environment (and public website): http://.menu.ncl.ac.uk/
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://.menu.ncl.ac.uk/
7 School of Medical Education
The Programme
FT (FT) students should complete the programme in one postgraduate academic
year (September – end August). PT (PT) students can take up to five years to build
up the credits for the Masters. See the regulations (Appendix B) for more
information.
Normal notice period for changes to the curriculum or assessment: -
Changes after you register for the academic year are rare and are
generally unavoidable.
Wherever possible at least a month’s notice will be provided.
Course structure
The programme has a modular structure and is based on academic credits. You
accrue academic credits for each module completed successfully, resulting in one
of three qualifications.
Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education 60 credits
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education 120 credits
Master of Medical Education 180 credits
Students bringing level seven credits (previously known as M level), or the
equivalent, from relevant courses of study at this or another institution, may apply
for exemption from modules (see Appendix D, pages 67-68, and the regulations at
Appendix B, page 58). Requests for exemptions should be made to the Degree
Programme Director prior to starting the course.
There are limits in the regulations to how many credits a student may be exempt
from. For students intending on exiting the programme at Certificate or Diploma
level, the maximum that we can exempt you from is the 20-credit Certificate
module Teaching and Learning in the Classroom. For students intending on
studying the full Masters the maximum level of credits that you can be exempted
from is 60 – you would therefore enter the programme at Diploma level and not
have to study the Certificate stage.
Study modules are divided into Certificate, Diploma and Master’s modules,
indicating the qualification to which they can contribute. Modules can be: -
Compulsory – modules that you must take in order to fulfil the
requirements of the programme.
Core – modules that you must PASS to pass the programme overall.
8 School of Medical Education
Optional – modules that you choose to take because they suit your
interests and career aspirations.
The amount of contact hours varies based on your module choices but typically
equates to: -
Certificate and Diploma – both stages contain nine study days each (three
per module), and a group tutorial of two-three hours (bar the Diploma
modules ‘Current Educational Issues’ and ‘Utilising Technology in Clinical
Education’ which have a 45 minute surgery instead). The contact hours will
be less on the Diploma if you choose to study our optional e-learning
module, ‘Utilising Technology in Clinical Education’, as this has no
attendance requirements.
Masters – As the main concentration is on your personal research project
and production of a dissertation, attendance requirements are less. You
have a total of: -
o PT Masters - three full and one half day study days, and one hour-
long surgery.
o FT Masters – two full and three half day study days, and one hour-
long surgery.
o Masters students are also entitled to 12 hours’ worth of supervision
with your appointed dissertation supervisor.
Surgeries are one-to-one meetings (phone or face-to-face, apart from for Utilising
Technology in Medical Education) with a tutor to discuss your assignments. You
are entitled to one for the following modules: -
Current Educational Issues (Diploma) – in semester two.
Utilising Technology in Clinical Education (Diploma) in semester two.
Please see the study guides or ask the Course Secretaries for further information
on each module. You are also welcome to contact the Degree Programme
Director for further advice on module choices for different stages of the
programme.
Information on all modules for every course in the University can be found at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/. You will need to search by module code,
which is indicated below, or module title. .
Certificate Modules
All modules are worth 20 credits: -
Teaching and Learning in the Classroom MED8071 (core module). The
Board of Examiners is not allowed to use discretion to allow a student with
a fail grade in a core module to pass the course.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/
9 School of Medical Education
Teaching and Learning in the Workplace MED8072 (compulsory module).
Understanding Programmes of Learning MED8073 (compulsory module).
Diploma Modules
All modules are worth 20 credits. You must study three out of the following
modules: -
Scholarship in Medical Education MED8074 (core module). We strongly
advise all PT students to start the Diploma programme with this module.
Advancing Teaching and Learning MED8075 (compulsory for those
students intending to progress on to the Master’s).
Current Educational Issues MED8062 (optional module).
Utilising Technology in Clinical Education MED8067 (optional module).
Master’s Module
The Master’s consists of one 60 credit core module: -
Advanced Study Module MED8076 (PT students)/MED8077 (FT students)
(core module).
Calendar
Semester 1 runs from September to January.
Semester 2 runs from January to June.
Semester 3 runs from June to the end of August (for Master’s students).
2016-17 Semester and Term Dates are: -
Autumn Monday 26th September 2016 Friday 16th December 2016
Spring Monday 9th January 2017 Friday 24th March 2017
Summer Monday 24th April 2017 Friday 16th June 2017
Semester 1 Monday 26th September 2016 Friday 27th January 2017
Semester 2 Monday 30th January 2017 Friday 16th June 2017
Please note that our programme starts before the official start of the University’s
Autumn term, with induction taking place on: -
Certificate - the afternoon of Wednesday 14th September 2016.
Diploma – the afternoon of Thursday 15th September 2016.
FT Masters – Monday 19th September 2016 (full day).
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Submission Deadlines for Summative Assessment
For candidates working towards the Certificate and the Diploma, the submission
deadlines in 2016–17 will vary by module but are usually near the end of January
(semester one modules) and end of May/beginning of June (semester two modules).
The submission dates for each module will be confirmed at the first study day for
the module and will be posted on the course Learning Support Environment (LSE),
MENU.
For candidates submitting work for the Advanced Study Module (Master’s
dissertation), the submission deadline for FT students and PT students taking the
stage over one year is: -
Tuesday 22nd August 2017.
For PT students taking the stage over two years, the deadline is the equivalent date
in 2018.
Please note that further information on deadlines, requests for extensions and
penalties for late or non-submission can be found in the section on ‘Student
Progress, Assessment and Standards of Academic Conduct’ on page 18.
Programme Aims
This programme has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to develop
a scholarly approach to medical education and to acquire the expertise necessary
for effective medical education in the context of your own educational roles,
responsibilities and interests.
The programme aims to: -
Enable students to acquire advanced skills and knowledge so that they can
contribute effectively to educational practice and the development of
medical education as a discipline.
Encourage a scholarly approach to the evaluation of established practice
and educational initiatives, balancing receptiveness to new ideas with critical
analysis.
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Learning Outcomes
On completing the programme we expect you to be able to: -
Use theories and principles underpinning medical education to inform your
own educational practice and the practice of others.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge in specific areas of special interest or
professional relevance (Diploma and Master’s stages).
Justify the decisions made when designing methods for investigating
medical education (Master’s stage).
Relate educational issues in clinical practice to a wider educational context.
Critically appraise theory, ‘evidence’ and empirical data as well as your own
practice.
Take a strategic approach to your own identified educational needs and
plan appropriately to address these needs.
Formulate arguments and engage in academic debate about educational
research and educational practice (Diploma and Masters’ stages).
Contest and contribute to the body of knowledge about medical education
(Masters’ stage).
Design and deliver educational interventions.
Select the most appropriate educational strategies or methods for specified
contexts.
Identify practical and methodologically robust design solutions to selected
research questions (Masters’ stage).
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Use library and other information sources skilfully and appropriately.
Plan, organise and prioritise work activities in order to meet deadlines.
Work independently.
As you progress through the programme, you should be able to make an
increasing contribution to curriculum delivery and design in your own context. You
should also develop the ability to participate in local, national and international
debate regarding best practice in the education of health care professionals.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
The programme is delivered through a combination of: -
Study day workshops, online activities and tutorials.
Resource-based learning with discussion groups, an online module and online
assessment.
Work-based assignments.
Dissertation project (for the Master’s degree).
12 School of Medical Education
The mix of these methods varies with each module.
Students must be prepared to accept responsibility for planning and prioritising
their study workload in order to fit in with their other commitments and the
demands of the course. Students will be guided and supported by their tutors and
module leaders, but must take the initiative for arranging meetings, meeting
deadlines etc.
Towards the end of semester two (other than for the Masters module, where they
take place in mid-semester one), surgeries will take place for modules that have
them. These are non-compulsory, one-to-one sessions with a tutor that last for 45
minutes for the Diploma, and one hour for the Master’s. They will take place by
phone for Utilising Technology in Clinical Education, and either by phone or face-
to-face for all other mdules. You will be asked to book your slot through our
online session booking system on our Learning Support Environment, MENU
(http://menu.ncl.ac.uk).
If you choose to attend a surgery, it is important that you come prepared with
questions or specific queries – the allotted time passes really quickly and you will
gain more from the session if you are focused on what you want to discuss. You
can also email through a draft of your assignment for the tutor to have a quick
look through before the surgery (please send to the Course Secretaries on
[email protected] and it will be forwarded on to the relevant academic). The role
of the tutor is to answer your questions and guide you with these queries. The
tutor will not proof-read your assignment or give you an indication on whether the
assignment is likely to pass or fail. Surgery slots are also available after the marks
have been released (for ‘Scholarship in Medical Education’ and ‘Advancing
Teaching and Learning’ as well), and these are strongly recommended for anyone
who has been advised that they need to resubmit an assignment.
Assessment Strategy
Each module is assessed in a manner appropriate to its content and intended
learning outcomes. Formative assessment takes place in classroom activities,
tutorial discussions and online activities.
Please read Appendix C (pages 59-66) for more detailed information about
assessment; including the classification of exit awards, and marking criteria
(including how the grading system works).
IMPORTANT
Further guidance on summative assessment, assignments and their submission is
given in: -
The section of this Handbook on Student Progress, Assessment and
Standards of Academic Conduct (pages 18-30)
http://menu.ncl.ac.uk/mailto:[email protected]
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Appendix C: Assessment, Exit Awards and Guidance on Submitted Work
(pages 59-66).
Each of the module study guides.
14 School of Medical Education
Programme Accreditation
Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the UKPSF
The Certificate programme has been developed and shaped in order to closely
align with the UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education
(https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_English.p
df). This is a set of descriptors developed across the whole Higher Education
sector. The descriptors seek to capture the essence of education as both a
practical and professional skill and as an academic discipline. They also capture: -
The philosophy of professional development as an educator through
professional practice.
Ongoing activity to improve professional development.
Personal reflection to bring the two together.
These fundamental principles very much align with our course philosophy.
Through their rigorous accreditation process, the HEA have devolved to us the
responsibility for making judgements as to whether individual participants have
achieved the standard of Fellow or Associate Fellow of the HEA. Please see the
UKPSF document on the home page of the course website for details.
There are four different Fellowships you can apply for. These are as follows: -
Descriptor 1 (D1) (Associate Fellow) – the HEA states that this is applicable
to ‘postgraduate teaching assistants, staff new to higher education
teaching with no prior qualification or experience, and staff whose
professional role includes a small range of teaching and learning support
activity’.
Descriptor 2 (D2) (Fellow) – the HEA states that this is applicable to ‘staff
who have a substantive role in learning and teaching to enhance the
student experience’.
Descriptor 3 (D3) (Senior Fellow) – the HEA states that this is applicable to
‘experienced staff who have an established track record in promoting and
mentoring colleagues in learning and teaching to enhance the student
learning experience’.
Descriptor 4 (D4) (Principal Fellow) – the HEA states that this is applicable
to ‘individuals, as highly experienced academics, able to provide evidence
of a sustained and effective record of impact at a strategic level in relation
to teaching and learning, as part of a wider commitment to academic
practice.’
We would presume that most of you would choose to apply for either D1 or D2.
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_English.pdfhttps://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_English.pdf
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Those who wish to gain D1 must show an understanding of specific aspects of
effective teaching, learning support methods and student learning. They must
show: -
Successful engagement with at least two of the five Areas of Activity.
Successful engagement in appropriate teaching and practices related to
these Areas of Activity.
Appropriate Core Knowledge and understanding of at least 1 and 2 in the
‘core knowledge’ section (see
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_E
nglish.pdf).
A commitment to appropriate Professional Values in facilitating others’
learning.
Relevant professional practices, subject and pedagogic research and/or
scholarship within the above activities.
Successful engagement, where appropriate, in professional development
activity related to teaching, learning and assessment responsibilities.
Those who wish to gain D2 must demonstrate a broad understanding of effective
approaches to teaching and learning support as key contributions to high quality
student learning. They must show: -
Successful engagement across all Areas of Activity.
Appropriate knowledge and understanding across all aspects of Core
Knowledge.
A commitment to all the Professional Values.
Successful engagement in appropriate teaching practices related to the
Areas of Activity.
Successful incorporation of subject and pedagogic research and/or
scholarship within the above activities, as part of an integrated approach to
academic practice.
Successful engagement in continuing professional development in relation
to teaching, learning, assessment, and, where appropriate, related
professional roles.
Our view is that most participants who undertake the Certificate will be able to
achieve D2. However, some may feel that D1 is a better representation of their
educational involvement. We have mapped course content and assessment in
detail to the UKPSF descriptors and dimensions; this document is available on
MENU in ‘Module Docs’ in each individual module area.
In order to fully evidence achievement of the descriptors, participants are required
to submit an additional short piece of work (details are in the module study guides
for the Certificate modules). We will support and develop participants’
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_English.pdfhttps://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/UKPSF_2011_English.pdf
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understanding of this process further by asking them to undertake a formative
exercise. This exercise will ask them to map their current activity to the descriptors
using this portfolio.
Your grids will be reviewed by a member of our academic team and then taken to
a Single Recognition Panel, based at this University. The Single Recognition Panel
decide whether or not to award HEA Accreditation and the decisions of the Panel
are sent straight to the HEA to generate your certificate.
There is a cost involved in applying for HEA accreditation. If you are a Newcastle
University staff member the University will cover this cost for you as part of its HEA
subscription. If you are not, the HEA payment system will prompt you to pay a fee
for your recognition claim.
However, as you completed your recognition claim via Newcastle University’s
accredited provision, and this University is a HEA subscriber, you will be entitled to
a 50% discount on this fee. Current fee levels for individual accreditation at
Associate Fellow (D1), Fellow (D2), Senior Fellow (D3) and Principle Fellow (D4)
levels, can be found on the HEA website at
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/consultancy-services/accreditation/fees-and-faqs.
Please note that the fees stated on the website already have the 50% discount
taken off them, so the figure stated is what you would pay.
To make a payment, please follow the link sent to you via email and follow the on-
screen instructions. Your fee will be automatically discounted. Please be aware
that you will only be sent your electronic Certificate of Recognition, your proof of
HEA fellowship, if the fee has been paid.
The HEA accolade is becoming increasingly valued in the higher education sector
and by Professional Regulatory and Statutory Bodies (PRSBs).
In addition to the accreditation and recognition processes described above, the
HEA provides a range of resources, awards small grants and arranges conferences
through its subject centres.
If you have any further questions about HEA Accreditation, these can be directed
either to the Course Secretaries or to the University’s Staff Development Unit at
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/consultancy-services/accreditation/fees-and-faqsmailto:[email protected]
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Northern Faculty of Medical Education Course Recognition
The Northern Faculty of Medical Education (NFME) is a collaboration between
Durham University, Newcastle University and the Northern Deanery. Its remit is to
help support and develop education and training in health care across the region.
To that end NFME has developed a framework of markers that assess quality in
teaching, assessment and management of the educational process, against which
courses can be recognised.
.
The Certificate in Medical Education has been recognised by this process.
18 School of Medical Education
Student Progress, Assessment and
Standards of Academic Conduct
Please pay particular attention to the following information on: -
Attendance.
The deadlines for submission of assignments.
The rules about deferrals and late submissions.
Attendance
You are expected to attend all study days and tutorials as arranged, as they are an
essential part of the programme. Attendance is monitored, and non-attendance is
followed up. If your attendance becomes a significant issue, you will be asked to
meet the module leader for any modules where you do not attend two study days,
or one study day and one tutorial, in order to determine how you are progressing.
The Degree Programme Director may take further action as laid down in the
University’s Master’s Degree Progress Regulations, paragraphs F.15-19
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/10PGTProgress.pdf.
The University has a legal obligation to monitor the attendance of international
students and to report to the UK Border Agency any student who is not attending.
If you are unable to attend a study day for any reason, you should notify your
personal tutor and the Course Secretaries, then complete a Student Notice of
Absence Form, which can be found at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/assets/documents/AbsenceNotice.pdf.
This form should be returned to the Course Secretaries as soon as you are able to
return to your studies. Where possible, you should rebook for an alternative
instance of that study day (for Certificate study days, study days are offered more
than once. Diploma and Masters study days are set days, but tutorials are offered
more than once).
International students should also seek approval for vacations or plans to leave the
UK in the summer period, as this may have implications for your visa.
A significant number of absences means that you are not making ‘satisfactory
progress’, and action may be taken under the University General Regulations (see
Progress Regulations link above) that could result in termination of your
programme of study. You should also remember that, in borderline cases, Boards
of Examiners (where all end of stage grades are verified) are more likely to favour
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/10PGTProgress.pdfhttp://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/assets/documents/AbsenceNotice.pdf
19 School of Medical Education
candidates who demonstrate commitment by a good record in attendance and
timely assignment submission.
Contact hours vary slightly depending on the specific modules that you choose.
For most Certificate and Diploma modules you will have, for each module,
approximately: -
3 study days.
An optional surgery, or a group tutorial (for ‘Scholarship in Medical
Education’ and ‘Advancing Teaching and Learning’).
Please note: all modules have a significant amount of self-directed learning.
The Diploma module ‘Utilising Technology in Clinical Education’ is an e-learning
module so has no attendance requirements. You are, however, entitled to a
phone surgery (as this is an e-learning module, it is the only Diploma module
where face-to-face surgeries are not available).
The Masters module (‘Advanced Study Module’) has a total of three and a half
study days altogether breaking down into: -
PT Masters – full day in early October, full day in late October, full day in
December, half day presentations day (with the FT students) in June
FT Masters – full day in November, full day in December, half day in
January, half day in February, half day presentations day (with the PT
students) in June.
The main focus is on your own personal research project and production of a
dissertation.
In order to identify anyone who may be having problems, and in accordance with
University regulations, we monitor attendance at every teaching session, and
student engagement with the programme in general. If you are studying on the e-
learning Diploma module Utilising Technology in Clinical Education, we will
monitor your participation in the online strands instead (as there is no attendance).
We will contact you directly if there are any issues. Please tell us if you know in
advance that you will not be able to make a study day ([email protected]), and
please also note that progression issues include non-submission of assignments.
We use the following system for contacting students who do not attend sessions,
participate in e-learning module strands, and/or submit assignments.
1. You will be emailed on the day that the teaching sessions open for booking on
MENU and asked to book onto the dates that you want.
mailto:[email protected]
20 School of Medical Education
2. Regular reminders will be sent out to anyone who has not booked in the run up to
the start of the sessions.
3. Immediately after a missed session, you will be invited by email to re-book onto
another alternative date. If there are no other instances for the session available to
book onto (because it is only run once or you have missed the last instance of the
session), you will be contacted by email to check if you are having any issues that
are affecting your ability to attend and remind you that repeated non-attendance
can be seen as a progression issue (please see the University's Postgraduate
Taught Progress Regulations at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/10PGTProgress.pdf).
4. Missing one session for a module is not seen as a major issue, although if it
becomes a pattern across all of your modules it will be viewed as more of an
issue. We do get concerned if you miss two or more sessions on any individual
module. If you miss two study days, for example, out of a module with three study
days, you will be contacted by email to inform you that your progress on the
programme is currently deemed to be unsatisfactory due to attendance
issues. You will be invited in this email to contact the programme administration to
arrange to meet with the Degree Programme Director to discuss your
progress. This can be done over the phone.
5. If you miss three or more sessions for a module, this is serious and you will be sent
a formal letter from the Degree Programme Director. This letter will also cover
whether you have submitted for your assignment deadlines, and whether you have
participated in e-learning module strands (if applicable). If you miss all the
teaching for a module, or participate in none of the strands for the e-learning
module, please note that the programme team may not allow you to submit for
your assignment deadline. If this is the case, it will be stated in the formal letter,
which will also give you a deadline of usually one month from the date of the letter
to contact us and organise a meeting with the Degree Programme Director to
discuss your progress issues (this can also be done over the phone).
6. If you do not respond to the first letter, you will be sent a second letter. If you do
not reply to this letter by the stated deadline, again usually one month from the
date of the letter, then, as stated in the programme, you will be withdrawn.
It is very important that you let us know as early as possible if you are having any
issues that prevent you being able to fully engage with the programme. If you
make sure that we are aware of anything that is going on, we can support you so
that serious progression issues are prevented. The contact details for the full
programme team are in appendix A (pages TO BE CONFIRMED) of this document,
and you have been allocated a personal tutor whose contact details you have been
given. You can also email the programme administration on [email protected].
The University provides a Student Charter (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/pre-
arrival/assets/documents/6437NcleUniStudentCharter2016.pdf) indicating what is
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21 School of Medical Education
expected of all students at this University and what all students have a right to
expect. Please see the requirements on attendance stipulated in this.
Booking your Teaching Sessions on MENU
There will be a number of different teaching sessions taking place throughout the
year. Some sessions have set dates and you will be booked onto these by the
programme administration. However, for many other sessions you will be able to
choose which day you attend from a number of options.
You will be asked to book yourself onto your sessions through our Learning
Support Environment, MENU. You will be given information on how to do this at
induction.
Diploma module ‘Utilising Technology in Clinical Education’ is an e-learning
module so it has no attendance requirements. The information below therefore
does not apply to this module apart from the section on surgeries.
Study days
For the Diploma and Masters modules the study days are set days.
For each of the Certificate modules; ‘Teaching and Learning in the Classroom’,
‘Teaching and Learning in the Workplace’ and ‘Understanding Programmes of
Learning’; you will have a choice of six options for each study day.
You will need to book yourself onto one option for each study day – for example,
just book one of the six options for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom Day
One.
For Certificate students, we ask you to provide us with your study day choices for
semester one prior to induction, and the programme administration will book you
onto these. However, your semester two study days should be booked by yourself
through MENU. The system will open for you to book sessions in late September.
Tutorials
There will be a group tutorial available for the ‘Scholarship in Medical Education’
Diploma module and one for the ‘Advancing Teaching and Learning’ module. You
will need to book yourself on to one instance of each tutorial.
Surgeries
Unlike study days and tutorials, which you are expected to attend all instances of,
surgeries are optional sessions for you to discuss your assignments with an
academic on the programme team. You do not have to book them but we highly
recommend that you do.
22 School of Medical Education
Diploma surgeries last 45 minutes and can either be phone or face-to-face (apart
from for ‘Utilising Technology in Clinical Education’, where all surgeries are phone
surgeries). Masters surgeries last an hour and can be either phone or face-to-face.
You are entitled to one surgery per module, providing that that module has
surgeries.
Submission of Coursework for Assessment
You are expected to submit work by the due submission date and should plan
your work to be able to achieve this. Deadlines are imposed in order to encourage
good time management and ensure fair and consistent treatment of all students.
All submitted work should be anonymised, so always put your student number on
scripts and not your name.
Students who fail to submit an assignment by the appropriate deadline will be
deemed to have failed that assignment through non-submission, but will be
entitled to a resit providing that the criteria stated in the Support for students after
a failed submission section (page 30) are met.
All resit attempts will lead to a maximum grade of ‘Satisfactory’ for the module (i.e.
it is not possible to gain a ‘Merit’).
Unless there are exceptional circumstances we will not make changes to the
assessment or curricular arrangements once an academic year has commenced.
To submit an assignment, access MENU using the URL http://menu.ncl.ac.uk. On
the homepage, click on ‘Modules’ under your course title in the left-hand menu,
then click on the relevant module title.
This will take you into the specific module area for this module. You will see a
number of tabs along the top of the screen. Click on the ‘Assessment’ tab. When
you are in the ‘Assessment’ area, you will see links for any assignments that you are
due to submit. Click on the ‘View’ button beside the specific assignment to access
the upload area.
In the upload area: -
Click the ‘Choose File’ button and browse to find your file.
Read the ‘Declaration’ and enter your email address to confirm that you
accept it. You will not be able to submit without doing this.
If you do not want your assignment to be used as a past example on
MENU, please un-tick the ‘Past Example’ box. This box is ticked by default.
Click the ‘Save and Complete Form button to submit your assignment. The
alternative ‘Save’ button just saves what you have written on the form.
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23 School of Medical Education
Your assignment will not be submitted if you click this button instead of
clicking ‘Save and Complete Form’.
Please note that: -
All assignments should have your student number marked clearly on the
front of the assignment.
All assignments, unless specifically stated, should be saved as one single
document and should be saved in a format compatible with Word, version
2003-2013.
It is recommended that the file size should not exceed 10Mb.
If images are included only Jpeg (JPG) or GIF images should be used.
The checklist below is designed to help you before submission of your assignment.
It is not a requirement that you hand it in with your assignment.
Checklist Done
The work has been drafted, and checked against the module criteria
and/or descriptors.
All parts of the assignment are included in one document in Word
format. (Please do not submit documents in pdf format, as we annotate
assignments).
Harvard style referencing has been used throughout.
I have worked through the online tutorial on plagiarism and referencing
(on MENU).
The work has been checked against the University’s plagiarism guidance
(see http://www.ncl.ac.uk/right-cite/)
A cover sheet is included, outlining the module title, module code, and
student number.
The work is divided into appropriate sections, and a contents page is
included.
Page numbers are included.
Clear and appropriate language/grammar/spelling conventions have
been used.
The work is within the required word count parameters, and word count
number is included. (Failure to observe the word count will be penalised,
in that examiners are instructed to ignore any material in excess of the
given word count for any relevant section or assignment).
Work is anonymised (i.e. student number, names on observation
feedback).
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24 School of Medical Education
Coursework Assignment Deadlines
Students will be reminded of the deadlines for submission of coursework
assignments at the beginning of each module, as well as being given guidance on
other important milestones via MENU. All first submission deadlines are stated in
the module study guides. Resit deadlines for Certificate and Diploma have been
set at: -
3.30 pm, Wednesday 6th April 2016, for resubmissions of semester one
assignments.
3.30 pm, Tuesday 23rd August 2016, for resubmissions of semester two
assignments.
Resit deadlines for the Masters module are set by the Degree Programme Director
in communication with the individual student.
All modules are assessed by just coursework bar the following: -
Scholarship in Medical Education which is assessed by means of an
examination and written coursework. This examination will take place in
late January 2017. The date is stated in your timetable. Any students who
have to resit the exam will do so in April 2017.
Advancing Teaching and Learning and Current Educational Issues, which
are assessed partly through submission of a piece of written coursework,
and partly through a presentation in June 2017.
Only the Degree Programme Director has the authority to approve changes in
coursework submission deadlines or examination dates once they are published. If
a deadline does change, you will be given at least a month’s notice and a reason for
the change.
Students are expected to attend all relevant study days and group tutorials in order
to be eligible to submit a coursework assignment, or attend an examination, at the
appropriate time.
Only under exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Degree
Programme Director, will a student not fulfilling these obligations be allowed to
submit an assignment for examination.
Late submission of Assessed Work: Extensions, Concessions and
the role of the PEC Committee
Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control – illness, personal problems
etc. If things start to affect your work on the programme, you need to let someone
know. There are people and processes to help you.
Where medical, personal or other circumstances affect work on assignments,
25 School of Medical Education
students should carefully consider the following options. Options generally take the
form of extensions or submissions to the PEC committee (committee that considers
and approves concession request, including requests for extensions longer than
the maximum that the Degree Programme Director can approve - four weeks for
PT students and two for FT).
Students who develop difficulties during the course, because of illness or other
issues which affect preparation for assessments, should discuss their difficulties with
their tutor, module leader or the Degree Programme Director as soon as possible.
This will be taken into account when decisions on requests for extensions, leave of
absences or concessions are made.
They will be able to advise you about the various University procedures and
signpost you to other sources of support. It can be confusing, as there are a few
different procedures, but they depend on your particular circumstances. Some
things can be dealt with by your Degree Programme Director or School. Others will
be referred to a central point within the University.
Current University guidance can be found at
www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/help/. More information
about University policies on coursework submission and the return of feedback is
available at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/quilt/assets/documents/qsh-assmt-assessedwork-
policy.pdf.
Extensions
Extensions will normally be granted only in the following situations: -
Debilitating personal illness supported by a medical certificate.
Serious illness or death of a close relative.
In the case of PT or work-based students, unplanned and unavoidable
work commitments (evidence should include supporting letter from
employer or representative e.g. clinical director).
If a student has a legitimate reason (e.g. debilitating personal illness) that makes
him/her unable to submit a piece of summative assessed work (including a
dissertation) by the published deadline, a ‘Personal Extenuating Circumstances
(PEC) Form’ (together with supporting evidence) should be submitted to the
Degree Programme Director, via [email protected], before the submission
deadline (always 3.30 pm on the relevant date). We prefer to receive these forms
at least a week before the deadline. PEC forms will not be accepted after the
original assessment deadline.
The form can be downloaded from the Student Progress website at
www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/help/. You can also download
a copy of the PEC procedure, and guidance notes on completing a PEC form, from
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26 School of Medical Education
this website – we recommend that you do so and read them through thoroughly
before completing your form.
The maximum allowable extension will be two weeks for FT students and four
weeks for PT students, after which a concession must be sought. If extension
requests are granted, the normal extension for most modules will be for a
maximum of four weeks. The length of extension granted will vary according to
individual circumstances and may be much less than the possible maximum.
Extension requests for more than the maximum stated above cannot be approved
by the Degree Programme Director, but are at the discretion of the School-based
PEC Committee.
Where an extension request is based upon an illness for which the student must
self-certificate, the maximum extension granted will be seven calendar days, which
is the current limit of self-certification allowed by the NHS. A revised submission
date will not exclude vacations.
In some circumstances, an additional fee may be payable for students on
extensions.
Late submission without good cause or without the granting of an extension will
lead to a penalty for the assessment in question (i.e. students would not be able to
gain a ‘Merit ‘grade). Non-submission of work will result in an ‘Unsatisfactory’
grade. This applies to all assessed work, whether it constitutes all or part of the final
mark.
A piece of work is regarded as late if it is not submitted by the published deadline
(3.30 pm on the specified deadline day, unless otherwise stated) for the
assessment in question. The period of late submission thereafter will be for a
maximum of seven days if no extension is granted, after which the grade awarded
for the piece of work will be ‘Unsatisfactory’. Work submitted after the late
submission period of seven days will be deemed a non-submission. The seven day
late submission period only applies for first submissions – University policy
prohibits us from being able to accept late submissions for resubmissions.
There may be pieces of coursework for which no late work is allowed. You will
receive prior notification in these instances.
If you have a valid reason for submitting your work late (e.g. illness), you should
submit a PEC form, prior to the deadline, to request an extension. Computer
failures and transportation problems are not considered a legitimate excuse for
late submission (unless IT Services have confirmed a University-wide computer
failure).
PEC Submissions to PEC Committee
On rare occasions, students may ask for discretion to be exercised by the Board of
Examiners in respect of work already submitted for assessment, on the grounds of
27 School of Medical Education
medical or other mitigating circumstances. Evidence provided in connection with
such requests is considered in confidence by a School-based PEC Committee,
which indicates to the Board of Examiners the degree to which the committee
supports such requests.
Students who believe that they may fall into one of these categories should contact
their tutor or the Degree Programme Director as soon as possible to discuss their
situation and obtain guidance on how to proceed. A PEC form cannot change a
mark, but it may be used as justification for allowing a student to pass a module
with a lower mark than normal or it might mean that a student is considered for a
different degree classification.
Concessions
The PEC Committee also considers whether a PEC form is a concession request. A
concession is a request for permission to act outside the University Regulations, the
Degree Programme Regulations and/or the Examination Conventions. It is based
on personal circumstances with supporting evidence. Each case is considered on
an individual basis. The Degree Programme Director will advise you if an
application for a concession would be appropriate.
If you wish to have a concession, you should complete the PEC form and the PEC
Committee will decide whether or not to grant you the requested concession. All
concession applications are requests and as such should not be acted upon until
formal notification of the outcome has been received.
Please send all PEC forms through to [email protected]. Detailed guidelines on
how to complete a PEC form can be found on the Student Progress website
(http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/help/). Extension
request PEC forms must be submitted before the relevant assignment deadline,
and we would advise that concession requests are also submitted then. We will
consider late PEC forms in exceptional circumstances, but cannot accept any
submitted after 3.30 pm seven days after the deadline.
In short, a PEC form enables us to consider your case and, if possible, make an
adjustment. Possible adjustments will vary depending on the time of year, but
could include: -
An extension to the hand-in date for a piece of work.
An exemption for a minor item of coursework.
A deferral of the assessment to the next normal occasion.
A request to set aside attempts at assessments.
A request to sit an extraordinary examination – i.e. setting an examination
at an unusual time.
Permission to repeat a period of tuition, setting aside previous attempts
(e.g. re-doing a stage or semester from scratch).
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28 School of Medical Education
Recommending discretion at the Board of Examiners – e.g. potentially
allowing you to pass the stage despite having failed a core module;
allowing you to pass a module by discretion; altering your degree
classification.
Students successfully requesting an extension or concession may submit an
assignment at any time up until the end of an agreed deadline. Provisional marks
will then be awarded, to be ratified at the earliest possible Board of Examiners
meeting.
NB - personal extenuating circumstances cannot result in existing marks
being changed.
It is the student’s responsibility to report any significant personal or extenuating
circumstances that had a substantial impact on their performance in their studies
or in their assessments/examinations immediately and in advance of an
assessment deadline or by the school published deadline for consideration by a
PEC Committee or Board of Examiners.
It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence to back up their PEC
application. Evidence should outline the problems faced and the period of
impact – e.g. doctor’s notes, a statement of support from a tutor, letter from
an employer etc. It is recognised that this can be difficult, but a request is more
likely to be approved if evidence is available – particularly evidence of the
impact on the specific module/assessment and at the time of the assessment.
Requests for adjustments that relate to the following, are not normally accepted as
the basis of a PEC application:
i. Instances where an appropriate adjustment has already been made.
ii. Retrospective report of illness or other extenuating circumstances, without
good reason.
iii. Ongoing medical conditions/disabilities including learning disabilities, or
mental health conditions for which the student is already receiving
reasonable adjustments via a Student Support Recommendation (SSR).
iv. Transport problems, excepting those where it can be shown that adequate
time had been allowed.
v. Unspecified anxiety or examination stress
vi. Minor infection such as coughs, colds, headaches or hay fever, unless
supported by specific medical evidence.
vii. Distress relating to family pet.
viii. Holidays, house moves, sporting or other social commitments.
ix. Known employment or financial responsibilities.
x. Problems with personal computers, printers or other technology.
xi. Where the circumstances could have been avoided, particularly due to poor
time management.
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The PEC Procedures and Submission Guidance are available at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/help/
PEC Appeals
If a PEC Committee has not approved any adjustment for a student in response to
a PEC application, the student has the right of appeal.
If the Board of Examiners has not yet reached a final decision on the
student’s case for that academic year, the student can either: -
o Submit a new PEC application, with additional evidence, to the
academic unit, OR
o Seek a review of the original PEC application by submitting an
Academic Appeal.
If the Board of Examiners has reached a decision on the student’s case, the
student should follow the Academic Appeals procedure.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/appeals.htm.
The Student Academic Appeals Procedure is for appeals against the decisions of
the Boards of Examiners (excepting those relating to assessment irregularities),
Personal Extenuating Circumstance (PEC) Committees, and sanctions imposed
under ‘Unsatisfactory Progress’ procedures.
There are only three possible grounds for appeal: -
You were adversely affected by illness or other relevant factors, of which
you were previously unaware, or which for a good cause you were unable
to disclose to the examiners in advance.
Procedural irregularity on the part of the examiners.
Bias or prejudice on the part of an examiner or examiners.
Academic appeals must be submitted within 21 days of the decision of the Board
of Examiners.
NB. An appeal relates to the decision of the examiners and should not be used to
raise general complaints about tuition or support over the length of your degree
programme.
University Student Complaints Procedure
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/complaints.htm. This is
the University’s formal complaints procedure under the ‘Student Charter’. It is
intended to allow students to make a complaint about a service, a member of staff
or another student within the University. This complaints procedure should apply
to all formal complaints, including those related to harassment and racial equality.
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30 School of Medical Education
Impartial advice on both the complaints and appeals procedures may be sought
from the Student Progress Service ([email protected];
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/about/index.htm). Assistance with
submitting a formal complaint or an appeal may be sought from the appropriate
officer of the Students’ Union, from the Student Advice Centre (service of Students’
Union staffed by professionals who specialize in student concerns),
http://www.nusu.co.uk/welfare/sac/, or from a personal tutor.
Support for students after a failed submission
Students can expect written feedback for any failed module.
Failed students will be able to resubmit assignments on one further occasion,
providing that the following criteria are met, and will be entitled to one further
surgery session for any resit. In exceptional circumstances, additional support may
be available. As stated in the University regulations,
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/20161710XTaughtPGExamination.pdf,
A student has the right to one reassessment for each taught module failed at the
first attempt provided that: -
a) For a student on a Masters or Postgraduate Diploma programme, no more than 40
credits of the taught element of the programme is failed at the first attempt;
b) For a student on a Postgraduate Certificate programme, no more than 20 credits of
the taught element of the programme is failed at the first attempt.
A Masters or Postgraduate Diploma student who fails more than 40 credits, or a
Postgraduate Certificate student who fails more than 20 credits, at the first attempt
of the taught element of the programme, will not normally be permitted to
continue or be reassessed without the support of the chair of the board of
examiners.
Submission dates for resits are published on MENU. For additional information,
see programme regulations (Appendix B page 58).
Request for Suspension of Registration (Leave of Absence)
Applications to suspend studies for a period require proof of good cause. This
would usually be ill health or unexpected changes in personal circumstances,
meaning that students cannot complete the normal schedule of teaching or
assessment and which cannot be dealt with by simply granting an extension.
Normally, students should discuss such applications with their tutor and/or Degree
Programme Director before submitting a formal application in writing. The Degree
Programme Director will support such applications in all reasonable cases.
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31 School of Medical Education
In order to request a leave of absence, or other programme adjustment such as a
withdrawal or programme transfer, you would need to submit a DPD Request form
which you can download from http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-
resources/change/.
Standards of Academic Conduct
The University requires all students to maintain high standards of academic
conduct and, in particular, to avoid conduct amounting to plagiarism, cheating or
the fabrication of research results.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s ideas, words or works.
The work submitted by a candidate, if not his or her own, must make clear
acknowledgement of the work of others by means, for example, of bibliographic
notes or the use of quotation marks, or in accordance with guidance provided by
the course team. Plagiarism may embrace more than a candidate copying work of
others and presenting it as their own in dissertations, projects, essays or other
submitted work. It also covers copying material obtained via the internet, from
physical documents, and auto-plagiarism.
An online tutorial, on referencing and plagiarism, will be available on MENU, in the
‘Teaching and Learning in the Classroom’ and ‘Scholarship in Medical Education’
module areas, for your information. We highly recommend that you read through
this.
Plagiarism may be accidental, through poor standards of scholarship. Students are
sometimes not clear as to what use can be made of the work of others without
raising concerns about plagiarism. Any student who is in doubt should discuss it
with his or her personal tutor or supervisor. Students must always acknowledge
sources of ideas or data which are not their own and are not truly in the public
domain (for example because they are novel or controversial) or not widely held or
recognised. Students must take care to distinguish between their own ideas or work
and those of others.
Students must not copy large sections of text from other authors. Small sections
must be credited to the original author. Direct quotes should be appropriately
identified and referenced. Guidance on referencing to help avoid such concerns is
given in Appendix C. page 59.
Auto-plagiarism (self-plagiarism) applies when work has already been submitted for
an assessment at Newcastle or elsewhere. This may be considered an attempt to
gain double credit for the same piece of work and is unfair and dishonest. If you are
unsure whether or not you are auto-plagiarising, please speak to a member of staff
for clarity before submitting your work.
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32 School of Medical Education
More information on plagiarism and university regulations can be found here:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/Assessment/.
Please note the following website that gives additional advice on correct
referencing.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/right-cite/
Each assignment, submitted electronically, will pass through plagiarism detection
software (electronic text matching software) called Turnitin
(https://www.turnitinuk.com). Your work will be checked against a database of web
pages, academic articles and books, and other students’ papers (from Newcastle
and other universities) and any matches between your work and those other
sources highlighted. Matching text does not necessarily mean that you have
plagiarised, since you may have correctly referenced text from other source.
When you submit your assignments, you will be told how you need to submit to
ensure they are checked. There are some file restrictions and file size restrictions,
and you will be given guidance on what you can and cannot submit. You should
always ask your module leader if you have any questions about a specific
assignment.
Any student suspected of using improper means to ‘get ahead’ in work submitted
for assessment will be dealt with under the University’s Assessment Irregularities
Procedure
(http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/assessment.htm) and
may be subject to disciplinary action and considered under Fitness to Practise
procedures (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/fitness.htm).
The University takes plagiarism and academic conduct very seriously, and you are
expected to know how to reference other sources correctly.
The University is committed to ensuring fairness in assessment and has established
a procedure for dealing with assessment irregularities. For the purposes of this
procedure, an assessment irregularity involves the use of improper means by a
candidate in the assessment process.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following: -
Copying from or conferring with other candidates or using un-
authorised material or equipment in an examination room.
Impersonating or allowing another to impersonate a candidate.
Introducing examination scripts into the examination process otherwise
than in the course of an examination.
Permitting another student to copy work.
The falsification (by inclusion or suppression) of research results.
Plagiarism. This is defined as the unacknowledged use of another
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33 School of Medical Education
person’s ideas, words or work either verbatim or in substance without
specific acknowledgement.
Using work submitted for another assignment.
You can expect to receive a briefing on academic conduct and the referencing
guidelines that you are expected to follow (Appendix C, ‘Guidance on Submitted
Work’, page 59). You are in turn expected to do the following: -
Maintain high standards of academic conduct.
Show a commitment to academic honesty in your work.
Be familiar with and apply the guidance provided by your school on proper
referencing and good academic practice.
Avoid plagiarism.
For Advanced Study Module (Masters) students - Fabrication of
Research Results
This includes:-
Claims, which cannot reasonably be justified, to have obtained specific or
general results.
False claims in relation to experiments, interviews, procedures or any other
research activity.
Omission of statement in relation to data, results, experiments, interviews or
procedures where such omission cannot reasonably be justified.
34 School of Medical Education
University Library, Reading Lists,
Resource Materials
The University Library
The University library is available to support your information needs for the course.
The main Robinson Library has most of the general education stock, and the Walton
Library, which is based in the Medical School, has a wide range of medical material,
including material concerning medical education. The stock of both libraries is listed
on the online catalogue which is available via the Library home page
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/.
Try to find time to register with the library early in your course. The Walton Library
is open on Mon -Thurs 8.30am -10pm, Fri 8.30am - 9pm, Sat and Sun 10am – 9
pm in term time. Vacation opening hours vary according to the time of year -
details may be found at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/about/opening/walton/,
including information on when full or limited desk services will be available.
The library also offers a 24x7 online chat service. To ask a library-related question,
go to http://libhelp.ncl.ac.uk/.
To arrange for a brief tour and introduction to the Walton library, contact Alex
Inskip at [email protected] tel. 0191 208 8108. Of course, as a postgraduate
student, you should also access the Robinson library, where most resources for
education are held.
The library has a wide range of electronic resources to support your studies at a
distance. A significant amount of the literature that you need will be available via
the programme’s Learning Support Environment, MENU. Full information about
the resources available from Newcastle University can be found on the library
home page at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/.
The two most important links from that page are Electronic Resources (databases)
and E-Journals, (which are available through the ‘e-resources’ menu at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/resources/e-resources). To access these resources you
may need to log in using your Campus ID and password. This is the same ID and
password that you use to log in to the University computers, your University email
account, and MENU. This link can also be used to access e-books.
Electronic books (e-books) are full text books which can be accessed via the
internet 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Over 100,000 e-books are
available through the library catalogue. The full catalogue of e-books that the
University possesses can be found at http://ml-
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/about/opening/walton/http://libhelp.ncl.ac.uk/mailto:[email protected]://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/resources/e-resources
35 School of Medical Education
44new.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/V/?func=find-db-1-locate&mode=locate&F-
WCL=&F-WPB=&F-WFL=&F-WRD=&F-WTY=Electronic+Book&restricted=all.
Requests for individual articles to be photocopied can be made at
http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/content.php?pid=349307&sid=2857594 (provided that
they fall within current copyright regulations).
Most of the databases and electronic journals can be accessed from any PC
connected to the Internet if you have your Campus ID and password, but some are
only accessible from the campus network because of technical or licence
restrictions. The campus network can be accessed remotely using the Remote
Application Server (RAS) (http://ras.ncl.ac.uk). Further information on how to access
this can be found at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/software/ras/helpandfaqs/. You
can find out which software you can access as students through RAS by going to
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/software/ras/. We would recommend that you use
RAS when accessing MENU.
When you log in to RAS, click on the ‘+’ symbol on the left hand side of the page,
then on ‘Communications and Browsers’ and choose a browser. An icon will
appear for that browser. Click on it to open the browser and in the new window
that opens you will be impersonating your on-campus web access. Accessing
applications through RAS makes your computer think that you are logged on to a
University computer. Use this new browser window to search for and access
MENU.
All library computer cluster rooms have black and white A4 printers; larger rooms
also have colour and A3 printers. Photocopying is available in the University
Libraries. All students are given a print and photocopying credit allocation of £37
at the start of each academic year. You can buy more credits online at
http://printing.ncl.ac.uk/ or buy a cash voucher from the Robinson Library main
counter. You will be provided with a printer credit account for copying and
printing. This facility is available to you by using your smartcard identification. For
further details regarding this service please see
www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/clusters/photocopying.
If you have any queries about any aspects of the library service, please contact the
Library, either by email to [email protected] or by telephone on 0191 208
7550.
Computing Facilities
You have access to computers on campus in the libraries and in computer clusters
based in teaching buildings (there are a number in the main Medical School
Building). The computer clusters are maintained by IT Services and any IT
http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/content.php?pid=349307&sid=2857594http://ras.ncl.ac.uk/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/software/ras/helpandfaqs/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/software/ras/http://printing.ncl.ac.uk/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/clusters/photocopyingmailto:[email protected]
36 School of Medical Education
problems should be reported to them as soon as possible (0191 208 5999,
IT Services provide face-to-face support in certain cluster rooms to assist users
with common problems or queries. Please contact the IT Service Desk Reception,
on the contact details given above, should you need any IT help. Further
information can be found at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/studentitservices/.
Students have free access to all cluster rooms, subject to building opening hours,
apart from at the times when classes are scheduled in them. You are encouraged
to use the machines to carry out your assessed work or for other personal study.
There are manuals available electronically via the University website and printed
versions are available via the IT Service Desk Reception in Claremont Tower.
In order to keep the networks available without unnecessary restriction, all
computers are installed with antivirus software. This software continually monitors
all files and programs. The University strictly enforces the rule that no games or
other private software of any kind are to be used on cluster machines. It is also
important to note that no food or drink is allowed in cluster rooms (apart from
sealed drinks).
E-Portfolio
You are able to make use of the e-Portfolio tool to record, reflect and evidence the
skills, knowledge and abilities which you develop during your time at Newcastle
University. By using e-Portfolio you will give yourself a definite advantage when it
comes to applying for jobs or further study. This electronic tool enables you to
collate your thoughts, plans and achievements and build on them for the future.
You can also use it to record your personal tutorial meetings.
This facility is secure and private; only you have access to the information
contained here, unless you make it available to others. The only exception to this
is the information that you provide to your Personal Tutor which is available to you
both and no one else. You can log in to e-Portfolio via https://portfolio.ncl.ac.uk/.
Writing Development Centre
Location: Level 2, Robinson Library
Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 0191 208 7659 or 0191 208 5650
mailto:[email protected]://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/support/itservicedesk/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/studentitservices/https://portfolio.ncl.ac.uk/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/mailto:[email protected]
37 School of Medical Education
The Writing Development Centre offers tuition, guidance and support for students
wishing to improve their writing skills for study purposes. Help is available with the
following: -
Understanding assignment and examination questions.
Planning, structuring and revising assignments.
Using reading sources without plagiarism.
Developing an argument.
Writing critically and analytically.
Using an appropriate authorial voice.
Writing different types of assignment (e.g. essays, reports, reviews,
reflective pieces).
Writing theses and dissertations.
Answering examination questions.
Using grammar and punctuation accurately and effectively.
Using appropriate vocabulary and style.
Learning from feedback on previous assignments.
They run a series of lectures, seminars and workshops throughout the academic
year. Some are open to all students, and others have been developed for specific
programmes or modules. More information about these sessions is available on
the ‘Group Teaching’ pages of their website:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/group/generic/book-generic.htm.
They also offer a one-to-one support service. You can have an individual
consultation with an academic writing tutor to discuss any difficulties that you may
have with writing, seek feedback on your written work, or gain a better
understanding of academic writing conventions and the standards expected at
University. They recommend that you book a session in advance via their online
booking system: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/support/. For more
information, see opening hours below.
They have a blog to help you keep track of study tips and ideas about writi