BSc (Honours) Computing Systems Part-time Course Code: 6921 Don McFall – Course Director Room 16J08

BSc (Hons) Computing Systems The Part-time Choice  Or is it?  Rationale for the course

Four Year Course and a bit!

One day each Week ….See timetable on course website

Why study part-time?  You have a job already, and you want to get a degree while you continue to work  You have family or other commitments that prevent you from coming to the University as a full-time undergraduate.  You are smarter than the average bear!  Don't forget: it can be hard work, juggling study with other commitments…

Doing a degree - NQF  Level 6 qualifications recognise a specialist high level knowledge of an area of work or study to enable the use of an individual’s own ideas and research in response to complex problems and situations. Learning at this level involves the achievement of a high level of professional knowledge and is appropriate for people working as knowledge-based professionals or in professional management positions. Level 6 qualifications are at a level equivalent to Bachelor's degrees with honours, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas.

Things you need to know...  Locality  Programme structure  Module assessment  Preparation and submission of coursework  Regulations and progression  Attendance / illness  Programme management  Programme related resources  Other matters …

Locality 1 - Jordanstown Campus

Locality 2 -Block 16 D McFall

Programme structure 1 Year 1

Programme structure 2

Programme structure 3

Programme structure 4

Programme structure 5

Teaching & Examination Schedule Semester 1 TeachingExams Vacation 24 Sep14 Dec 9 Janto 21 Jan Semester 2 TeachingExams Teaching Vacation 2 wks Revision Summer period September Exams Teaching

Examinations Timetable Semester 1 Examination: January 2013 Semester 1 07/01/13-19/01/13 Provisional timetable available from Tuesday 27 November 2012 Final timetable available from Wednesday 5 December 2012 Semester 2 13/05/13-28/05/13 Provisional timetable available from Tuesday 26 March 2013 Final timetable available from Friday 12 April 2013 Semester 3 02/09/13-06/09/13 Final timetable available from Monday 5 August 2013 NB Always check the portal closer to the time for confirmation of these dates

Module assessment  50% examination, 50% Coursework or 25% examination, 75% Coursework or 100% Coursework ---check the module specification  Exam: 2 hours (year 1 examinations) 3 hours (year 2 & 3 examinations) Past papers available in the library  Coursework: number and form of assignments vary per module provides you and course committee with feedback about your progress  Effort: 10 hours per credit point (200 hours per 20 point module, 300 hours for 30 point project)

Preparation and submission of coursework  Read carefully, clarify uncertainties, note hand-in date, plan your work, allow for slippage.  Individual assignments must be your own work - plagiarism is an academic offence. You must make yourself familiar with the university policy on Plagiarism. Please refer to the course website.  Keep a copy of all your marked assignment work – may be required for inspection by the External Examiner.  Complete the assignment coversheet - Receipt

EC1 form – Extenuating Circumstances  If you cannot submit coursework by deadline, or if you miss an examination, extenuating circumstances must be provided on EC1 form. (see course website for a copy).  Valid reasons, i.e. “extenuating circumstances” must be given. The EC1 form must be submitted to the school office or your course director within 5 working days of the circumstance occurring).  You will be given a receipt. No Receipt = No EC1 submission. Keep a copy of your own submissions  School office 16G24.  Will be considered by School panel and feedback given.

Regulations and progression Failure in modules with an overall value up to and including 40 credit points Repeat specified examinations and/or coursework in the failed modules in the following academic year. Progress to next year of study permitted. Failure in modules with an overall value of more than 40 and up to and including 80 credit points Repeat specified examinations and/or coursework in the failed module(s) with or without attendance. Progress to next year of study not permitted. Failure in modules with an overall value of more than 80 credit points Withdraw from the programme. Failure in Years 1, 2 and 3 In each of years 1, 2 and 3. the consequences of failure shall normally be as follows (credits include all modules studied within the year, including modules being carried from previous years):

Failure in modules with an overall value up to and including 60 (maximum 40 at level 6) credit points Repeat specified examination(s) and/or coursework in the failed module(s) in the next academic year. Progress to next year of study permitted if appropriate. Failure in modules with an overall value of more than 60 (or more than 40 at level 6) credit points Withdraw from the programme. Failure in Years 4 and 5 In years 4 and 5 the consequences of failure shall normally be as follows (credits include all modules studied within the year, including modules being carried from previous years): Regulations and progression

The following regulations take precedence : Candidates who fail any level 4 or 5 module at the third attempt will be required to withdraw from the programme. Candidates who fail any level 6 module at the second attempt will be required to withdraw from the programme. Candidates who have not successfully completed all modules in a particular year of the course structure may not progress beyond the subsequent year. For example, a student who has not yet passed a year 1 module for whatever reason, cannot progress beyond year 2. Regulations and progression

Attendance and illness  Attendance is monitored.  Please inform your Course Director if you are absent.  If through illness or other extenuating circumstance you cannot sit an exam or submit coursework, reasons should be submitted to Course Director – using EC1 form as above.

Deregistration  Students who withdraw must complete an on-line de-registration form (Portal)  This records the date of withdrawal and avoids financial problems with fees or overpayment of bursaries.

Studies Advice  problems with a particular subject area talk to lecturer concerned  general course related problems speak to course director or raise through student/staff committee  Who is your Studies Advisor?: Year 1 Advisors are Dr Mark McCartney and Mr Roy Sterritt. List will be posted on website.  Student Support Services also available (counselling and guidance)  Library induction talk will take place during Study Skills module and is usually delivered by the librarian Mick Carragher

Course Management Student/Staff consultative committee meets once each semester (normally week 5 or 6) a forum for exchange of views and ideas between students and their lecturers, support staff, etc. attended by student representatives (1 student from each year) Course Committee chaired by the Course Director, responsible for the running of the course Board of Examiners chaired by Dean of Faculty, takes decisions on student progress External Examiner senior academic from another UK/Ireland institution, responsible for moderation and quality assurance of examinations and assessment

Examination Board and Enrolment  Your course is run as a 3-semester model  The examination board is held in Septemebr each year.  Students who are returning to years 2,3,4 and 5 can enrol on-line but only 24 hours after the examination board has met.

Programme related resources ICT Acceptable Use Policy ositedoc.html ositedoc.html htm PDS Use of PACE tool will add considerably to your ability to reflect.