Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

School of Health Sciences
Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work

Master of Clinical Research

Master of Research Health & Social Care

MRes / PGDip / PGCert

Student Handbook 2024-2025

Version: August 2024

The contents of this handbook may be subject to change throughout the academic year. Please check Blackboard for any updates.

Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

The Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work is recognised for delivering world-class teaching and research across nursing, midwifery, social work and related disciplines. We currently provide undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 2,000 students in close partnership with the NHS and are among the top ten universities in the world at which to study nursing (QS World University Rankings 2023).

Our research excellence was recognised by the results of REF 2021 and is underpinned by the production of collaborative, high-quality and impactful research which aims to improve health and social care at local, national and international levels.

WHERE TO FIND FURTHER INFORMATION

In addition to this handbook you are required to familiarise yourself with the information contained within the University Crucial Guide and IT Services Handbook.  New students are given a copy of the appropriate handbooks at the beginning of their programme of study; alternatively the information is available on our website.

This handbook is to be read in conjunction with the SHS Student Handbook.

We will be happy to provide this handbook in large print if required.

CONTACT DETAILS

DIVISION CONTACT DETAILS

The Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
The University of Manchester
Jean McFarlane Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL

Tel 0161 306 0260

Head of Division – Professor Hilary Mairs
hilary.j.mairs@manchester.ac.uk

Head of Teaching, Learning & Student Experience – Chris Bamford
chris.bamford@manchester.ac.uk 

Student Service, Support & Development Manager – Saira Jackson
saira.jackson@manchester.ac.uk

Teaching and Learning Delivery and Development Manager – David Parry
david.parry@manchester.ac.uk

Division Website:  http://www.nursing.manchester.ac.uk/

THE PROGRAMME TEAM

Unless stated, all staff are located in the Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.

Director of Postgraduate Taught Education

Dr. Samantha Freeman
0161 306 7607
Room 5.341, Jean McFarlane Building
samantha.freeman@manchester.ac.uk

Programme Director

Dr Helen Brooks
0161 306 7784
Room 6.307
helen.brooks@manchester.ac.uk

Admissions Support

Cheryl Johnson
0161-30-60270
Room G.314
pgtaught.nursing@manchester.ac.uk

COURSE UNIT LEADERS

NURS60018                        Research Design
Dr Janice Christie / Dr Asri Maharani
0161 306 7656 (JC) 
Room 5.335 (JC) / 6.329 (AM)
janice.christie@manchester.ac.uk / asri.maharani@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60015                        Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis
Dr. Sorrel Burden
0161 306 7856
Room 5.324
sorrel.burden@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60020                       Managing Health and Social Care Research
Dr. Janice Christie
0161 306 7656
Room 5.325
janice.christie@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60019                         Statistics
Matthew Parkes
0161 275 5597
Stopford Building, Room 2.606
matthew.parkes@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60017                         Qualitative Design and Analysis
Professor Sue Kirk
0161 306 7872
Room 6.328
sue.kirk@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60017                         Quantitative Design and Analysis
Dr James Gilleen
0161 275 5597
Room 1.317
james.gilleen@manchester.ac.uk

NURS60013                         Dissertation & Extended Project
Dr. Helen Hawley-Hague
0161 306 7890
Room 5.320
helen.hawley-hague@manchester.ac.uk

 

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

This postgraduate programme is full time over one year or part time over two years and consists of a minimum of 180 credits at academic level 7. Course units are delivered via the e-learning, on-line format.

• The full-time Master of Research (MRes) degree will normally extend over a period of twelve months. The date for the end of the programme and submission of the dissertation will be published online in the unit area.
• A part-time Master of Research (MRes) student will complete the programme over a more extended period of time – normally 24 months, but not normally exceeding five academic years from the point of initial registration.

The MRes/MClinRes team are delighted to welcome you to the postgraduate programme at the University of Manchester. Please remember that we are here to support you throughout the programme.

Welcome Week 

Please note that for your Programme Welcome Week events, we would prefer students to attend in person, but sessions can be offered remotely, if requested.

Unit Exchange

This Programme offers students the opportunity to exchange up to 2 non-core units for those outside the standard NMSW MRes offering. It is the responsibility of the student to organise this.

Core Units: Research Design AND Managing Health and Social Care Research

Non-Core Units: Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis | Qualitative Design and Analysis | Quantitative Design and Analysis | Statistics

The Master of Research (MRes) degree will consist of 180 graduate credits in total, comprising a combination of advanced course units approved by the University and a programme of research.

Where there is more than one element to the assessment for any course unit, students must pass each element to pass the course unit.

Any further re-submissions are at the discretion of the examination board.

What happens is I fail my dissertation?

If you fail your dissertations at the first attempt you will be given the opportunity to resubmit a revised version of the dissertation if you obtain a mark of at least 30% at 1^st attempt. You will normally be given up to six months in which to make the requested revisions or undertake additional work. You will be provided with feedback from your examiners and guidance on the revisions required to bring the work to the appropriate standard for the Masters award.

How is my degree calculated?

To be considered for a Master’s Degree you must have achieved 180 credits at the appropriate level. Don’t worry if you have had a referral or compensation as these still count towards your credit total for a Pass or Merit. If, however, you have undertaken any referred assessment or been compensated you will not be eligible for a Distinction.

The award of masters is based upon gaining the required number of credits, normally 180. Classifications for merit or distinctions will be calculated on the basis of an average mark, based on the weighted programme as a whole.

If you are completing a postgraduate diploma or certificate programme then these degrees are only awarded as a pass.

When and how are decisions made about my results and my progress?

There are normally three available assessment opportunities: January, May/June and August/September within each academic year. It is expected that all your attempts at referral assessment will take place in the same academic year in which the assessment was first taken. After each assessment period there is an ‘Examination Board’.

Members of the Examination Board normally include your unit tutors, programme directors and overseen by an external examiner from another university. It is the job of the Examination Board to review all the results anonymously and make decisions on the award of credit and who can resit exams / assessment or gain compensation. It is also the role of the Examination Board to decide who cannot continue and will leave the University with an exit award. Some students will narrowly miss the threshold for a degree classification and so we look at their pattern of marks (Mark Distribution) and may look at their examined work (Mark Review).

 

MClin Res/PgDClin Res:  Full-time
Year	Units of Learning	Credit	Exit Award
1	§ Managing Health and Social Care Research §  Research Design §  Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis §  Qualitative Design and Analysis §  Quantitative Design and Analysis §  Statistics AND §  Project (for PgD only) OR §  Dissertation (MRes)	15 15 15 15 15 15   30   90	PgD Clin Res (120 credits)    MClin Res (180 credits)

 

MClin Res/PgDClin Res/PgC Clin Res:  Part-time
Year	Units of Learning	Credit	Exit Award
1	§ Managing Health and Social Care Research §  Research Design §  Qualitative Design and Analysis §  Quantitative Design and Analysis	15 15 15 15	PgC Clin Res (60 credits)
2	§  Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis §  Statistics AND §  Project (for PgD only) OR §  Dissertation (MRes only)	15 15   30   90	PgD Clin Res (120 credits)   MClin Res (180 credits)

 

MRes/PgDRes Health & Social Care (Full-time only)
Year	Units of Learning	Credit	Exit Award
1	§  Managing Health and Social Care Research §  Research Design §  Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis §  Qualitative Design and Analysis §  Quantitative Design and Analysis §  Statistics AND §  Project (for PgD only) OR §  Dissertation (MRes)	15 15 15 15 15 15   30   90	PgD Res HSC (120 credits)   MRes HSC (180 credits)

 PROGRAMME AIMS 

The programme aims to:

01.        Enable students to further develop systematic, in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the nature, purposes, methods and application of research relevant to clinical/health and social care practice at an individual and/or organisational level.

02.        Contribute to building capacity and capability for research and evidence based practice by equipping students with in-depth knowledge and essential skills to critically appraise, apply, design and undertake high quality research in a range of clinical/ health (MClin Res) and health and social care (MRes HSC) settings.

03.        Enhance the quality and evidence base for clinical/health and social care research, practice and service development through the provision of robust research training in a stimulating, challenging and supportive learning environment that draws on outstanding resources and research and practice expertise.

04.        Promote lifelong learning in students and enhance their opportunities to pursue a variety of research careers and/or further research training which support and advance clinical / health and social care knowledge, research and practice.

05.        Equip students with key transferable skills in critical reasoning and reflection; effective communication; team and multi-disciplinary working; use of IT/ health informatics; logical and systematic approaches to problem-solving; and decision-making.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES 

A. Knowledge & Understanding Students should be able to:
A1	Critically evaluate a range of theoretical and philosophical perspectives underpinning differing research approaches as they pertain to clinical/health and social care research methodologies and designs.
A2	Demonstrate an in-depth and critical understanding of the nature, purposes and value of different research approaches, designs and methods and their application to clinical/health and social care research and practice.
A3	Systematically and critically analyse hierarchies of research evidence that inform and underpin clinical/health and social care policy and practice.
A4	Critically evaluate a range of methods for searching, appraising, interpreting and synthesising qualitative and quantitative evidence used in clinical/health and social care research.
A5	Critically articulate the principles and processes of ethics, governance and other legal and policy frameworks relevant to undertaking research in clinical/health and social care settings.
A6	Critically evaluate the importance, methods and practicalities of engaging key stakeholders (including users and carers) in the development, design and execution of clinical/health and social care research.
A7	Critically evaluate the nature, strengths and weaknesses of a range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed research designs including key concepts and strategies used to assess and enhance the rigour of research.
A8	Demonstrate an in-depth, critical knowledge and understanding of effective research project management including quality assurance of policies and procedures.
A9	Demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of statistical and qualitative approaches to research data analysis and presentation.
A10	Critically evaluate individual and organisational facilitators and barriers to research utilisation and implementation and strategies to promote and implement research in clinical, health and social care settings.
A11	Consolidate, synthesise and critically apply the in-depth knowledge and understanding of research methods, design and analysis acquired through the taught components of the programme to the formulation, design and implementation of an extended clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) research project.

  

B. Intellectual SkillsStudents should be able to:
B1	Identify, critically appraise and synthesise information from a variety of sources in order to develop a coherent critical analysis of issues relating to clinical/health and social care research.
B2	Critically examine the relationship between differing philosophical and theoretical research frameworks and debates and the range of research approaches and methods reflecting on their own professional and personal philosophies for research.
B3	Critically evaluate strategies to identify, retrieve, appraise and synthesise a range of published research studies utilising established frameworks to assess the rigour of design, methods and outcomes, identifying implications for practice and further research.
B4	Critically appraise current Research and Development policies and guidance, including ethical and governance requirements for conducting research in a range of clinical/health and social care settings and how these may affect research design, funding and management.
B5	Critically appraise, select, and justify appropriate research designs, data collection, analysis and presentation methods relevant to research questions/issues arising from literature, practice and policy.
B6	Critically evaluate a range of factors to be considered when gaining permission to access research settings, select and recruit samples and promote good relations and effective communication with research participants and other key stakeholders.
B7	Within the context of current clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) and other related policies, critically appraise strategies to enhance service user/carer involvement in research.
B8	Critically reflect on the undertaking of a clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) research study in order to present a coherent, analytic and defensible written account of the aims, process, methods and findings including strengths, weaknesses and implications for practice and further research.
C. Practical Skills Students should  be able to: C1           Utilise a range of strategies to systematically search, locate, retrieve and critically appraise literature, research and policy from a variety of sources. C2           Formulate research questions, objectives and hypotheses appropriate and relevant to clinical/health and social care practice, policy and service development. C3           In line with relevant ethical and governance frameworks and processes, construct coherent and sound research proposals and protocols to a standard required for ethical approval, funding and other organisations to investigate a range of issues relevant to clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) practice. C4           Demonstrate a range of skills in: ·  Sample selection and recruitment. ·  Negotiating access and involving relevant stakeholders including service users/carers. ·  Data collection, analysis (using appropriate software tools) and interpretation. ·  Research dissemination. (In the taught component of the course these are developed and demonstrated through undertaking exercises and activities within the core learning materials for units.  These are consolidated, applied and demonstrated in a ‘real life’ research setting during the research study undertaken for the dissertation.) C5            Under supervision, undertake and manage a research study using a designs and methods appropriate to the purpose of the study, in line with good practice principles and guidance for research, data management and quality control. C6            Demonstrate skills in research project planning and management, adjusting plans as required to ensure successful delivery of the project within agreed timescales. C7            Construct and communicate coherent, critically analytic summaries of research findings utilising a range of strategies to disseminate and present findings to a variety of audiences (verbal presentations, papers prepared to a standard for submission to journals, reports for different audiences, dissertation, etc).

                                                                                                                                                      

D. Transferable Skills and Personal Qualities Students should be able to:

D1           Critically reflect on their own academic performance and utilise a range of strategies to improve these and overcome any particular challenges.

D2           Further develop and enhance skills in effective communication to a range of audiences in a variety of settings.

D3           Demonstrate skills in working collegiately and effectively with others as a member of a team.

D4           Effectively utilise information technology / health informatics.

D5           Utilise skills in systematic and creative approaches, to problem-solving and decision-making in relation to complex issues.

CURRICULUM CONTENT

The following table summarises the programme structure:

Course Unit	Assessment type, length and weighting within course unit	Credits PGT (FHEQ Level 7)
Year 1 – Semester 1
NURS60015 Critical Appraisal And Evidence Synthesis	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
NURS60018 Research Design	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
NURS60020 Managing Health and Social Care Research	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
Year 1 – Semester 2
NURS60017 Qualitative Design And Analysis	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
NURS60019 Statistics	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
NURS60016 Quantitative Design And Analysis	Equivalent To 3,500 Word Essay (100%)	15 Credits
Year 1 – Semesters 1 & 2
NURS60013 Dissertation	15,000 Words (100%)	90 Credits
NURS60025 Project (For PGDip Only Instead Of Dissertation)	5,000 Words (100%)	30 Credits

Detailed unit information can be found via CUIP (Course Unit Information Publishing)

My Manchester

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

Checking Blackboard

The Division uses Blackboard as the central location for information about all student resources. You will be given training on how to access Blackboard in your induction.

As a student you are required to check Blackboard at least weekly, as this is where the Division would post both generic and specific information relating to course units and programmes, e.g. Room changes or Assessment results.

Blackboard Student Community Area (Gateway)

The Blackboard student community area has been devised to provide information that is generic to all course units within the programme. Each section has been structured to reflect the student’s journey through the unit/programme;

• Getting Started – includes the guide to using Blackboard, programme handbook and course unit leaflets.

• On Your Course – includes Study Skills information, Authorised Absence form, Missed Session form, Health & Safety information, etc.

• Assessments & Examinations – includes Extension form, Special Circumstances form, Academic Appeals form and information about Plagiarism and Academic Malpractice.

• On-line End of Programme Evaluation – is where you give your feedback at the end of the course unit.

The HCPC Guidance on Conduct and Ethics

All students should conduct themselves in accordance with this guidance throughout the master’s programme. This is as relevant within the university setting as it in during the practice placement. An electronic copy of the guidance will be available on Blackboard for reference. The guidance will be fully discussed using structured exercises in the preparatory practice learning sessions which take place in semester 1. Students will have the opportunity to revisit the guidance during recall days to promote, monitor and provide space to reflect upon professional development.

STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE

DISSERTATION SUPERVISOR

You will be allocated a Dissertation Supervisor who will support you with designing, carrying out and writing up of your Dissertation project. You can select your own topic for your dissertation or you may be able to select a topic aligned with our research groups.

SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY

As a student at the University of Manchester, you have access to a huge range of support services and resources. This includes, but is not limited to, support relating to your studies, finances, health and wellbeing, settling in and making friends, personal safety and planning for your future beyond University.

Further information can be found in the SHS handbook here.

LEARNING RESOURCES

DIVISION COMPUTER FACILITIES

Computing facilities for the Division are available on the 2^nd floor of the Jean McFarlane Building.

The facilities provided have nursing specific applications and there are 40 computers. Access to the Internet is provided by Microsoft Internet Explorer only.  Students can access the full range of Clinical Multimedia resources available, such as those within the National Library of Medicine and on-line conferences and lectures, as well as access to the RYBASE and Library.

Access to the computers is via a standard University username which is obtained from any of the main campus computers displaying the standard blue logon screen or from the registration computers at University Place, by answering the questions when prompted students can gain access to and receive their username and password. This will enable them to use any of the computers to which any student has access.

 

STUDENT PROGRESS AND ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS

 The University of Manchester Regulations for Taught Masters Programme

The full University of Manchester Policy regarding the Regulations for Taught Masters Programme are located in the Student Community area of Blackboard and can also be found here.

CERTIFICATION OF STUDENT ILL HEALTH

You should always consult your GP (or for emergencies the Accident and Emergency Department of a hospital) if your illness is severe, if it persists or if you are in any doubt about your health. You should also consult your GP if illness keeps you absent from the University for more than 7 days including week-ends.

If you do consult a GP and they consider that you are not fit for attendance at the University, then you should obtain a note from the doctor to that effect or ask them to complete Part III of the University form ‘Certification of Student Ill Health’ copies of which are available at local GP surgeries.

You should hand this certificate to your programme secretary at the earliest opportunity but within seven days of your return to work/university.

If your condition is not sufficiently serious to cause you to seek medical help, then the University will not require you to supply a doctor’s medical certificate unless you are absent from the University due to illness for more than 7 days (in which case see b. above). You must however contact your department as soon as possible and self-certify your illness (that is complete and sign the “Student Self-Certification of Absence Form” form to state that you have been ill) as soon as you are able to attend your department. You should do this if your illness means you are absent from the University for any period up to 7 days (see d. i) or if you are able to attend the University but your illness is affecting your studies (see d. ii and iii).

The following sub-paragraphs explain what you should do if your illness affects your attendance at compulsory classes or if you consider that your performance in your studies/examinations has been impaired.

i) If you are unwell and feel unable to attend the University to take a compulsory class, assessment or examination then you must seek advice by contacting your department immediately, in person, through a friend or family member, by telephone or by email. This is to ensure that you understand the implications of being absent and the consequences for your academic progress, which might be quite serious. You must do this as soon as possible so that all options can be considered and certainly no later than the day of your compulsory class, assessment or examination.  If you do not do this then you will normally be considered have been absent from the class without good reason, or to have taken the assessment or examination in which case you will be given a mark of zero. You must also complete and hand in a “Certification of Student Ill Health” form on your return.

ii) You may be unwell but are able to proceed with an assessment or examination and yet you feel that your performance will have been impaired. If you wish this to be taken into account as an extenuating circumstance, you must inform your department about this on the day of the assessment or examination and hand in to your department a completed “Certification of Student Ill Health” form. If you leave this until later it will not normally be possible to take your illness into account when assessing your performance.

iii)     If, as a consequence of your illness, you wish to seek an extension to a deadline for submitting assessed coursework, you must complete a “Certification of Student Ill Health” form and discuss it with the appropriate person in your department. The application for extension must be made BEFORE the deadline and not retrospectively.

iv) You may be under occasional and ongoing medical attention which affects your studies. If so, you should obtain a letter from your physician which should be given to your department before the end of the January, May/June or August/September examination period, as appropriate, if you wish your condition to be taken into account as an extenuating circumstance.

Further guidance on the effects of absence or under-performance can be found under the section titled: Progress Committee.

 Notes:

1. Certification of Student Ill Health forms are available in all departments and halls of residence, and a copy of this form can be found in the Student Gateway area on Blackboard.
2. Your department will give you guidance on the effect of any absence from your studies or if you consider your illness has affected your studies. If you have repeated episodes of ill health which is affecting your studies, your department may refer you to the Student Health Centre.
3. If you are found to have been deceitful or dishonest in completing the ‘Certification of Student Ill Health’ form you could be liable to disciplinary action under the University’s General Regulation XX: Conduct and Discipline of Students.
4. The use of the ‘Certification of Student Ill Health’ forms by GPs as described above has been agreed by the Manchester Local Medical Committee. A GP may make a charge for completing the form.

Frequently asked Questions

What to do if you are sick for more than seven consecutive days?

University self-certification forms only cover up to seven days of continuous illness. If you are ill for longer, you should consult with your GP or other appropriate health professional. In any case, you should consult your GP if your illness is severe, if it persists or if you are in any doubt about your health.

Repeated bouts of self-certificated short-term illness

The Division and the University has the right to investigate repeated bouts of self-certificated short-term illness. The outcome of such an investigation might include, for example, referral to Occupational Health or to a Progress Committee.

What to do if you are absent through illness?

If you are ill/absent during theory (Division) weeks, on the first day of absence you should inform the programme/cohort secretary of the reason.  You can telephone or e-mail to report this illness or you can ask someone else to report it on your behalf.

What to do if you are ill when an examination or assessment is due?

See the examination guidelines covered in this handbook

What to do after a period of absence through illness?

Within seven days following the end of a period of absence through illness, you must submit to your programme/cohort secretary a yellow University self-certification form (Certification of Student Ill Health) explaining your absence through illness. Part 1 of this form needs to be completed and signed.

If returning from being absent for other reasons you must complete the absence form and hand this in to the programme/cohort secretary. This will ensure that students are recorded as having returned from sickness/absence.

INTERRUPTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS

Further information can be found within the SHS handbook here.

PREGNANT STUDENTS PROTOCOL

If pregnant, at pre registration medical, the Fitness Form should specify that time off and restricted duties may be necessary.  A certificate from your GP or Midwife certifying that you are pregnant will need to be given to your programme director.

Current students ideally you should see your Programme Director early in your pregnancy so that you can be referred to Occupational Health. You will need to access the general advice leaflet from the HSE, ‘A guide to new and expectant Mothers who work’

If on placement as well as being in the university, you will need to inform the placement manager and practice education manager that you are pregnant so that the manager can undertake a risk assessment using the HSE leaflet as a guide (see page 3 of the HSE Leaflet for more information see link above or below).

If you wish to preserve your bursary payments, you should not interrupt before you have submitted your MATB1 form.

Two weeks leave following birth is compulsory by HSE law.

On return the Programme Director should discuss the following areas with you

• Shifts
• Infectious diseases; blood-born viruses
• Rest area
• If you are a non-responder to Hepatitis B are unlikely to be fit to practice.

You will also be asked to self-refer to the Occupational Health Department if you have any problem with either your pregnancy or your placement.

Review prior to return, taking into account mode of delivery and pre/post partum medical/mental health problems. 6-week postnatal check with your GP should be conducted.

NB: You are entitled to maternity pay for 45 weeks commencing from 11^th week prior to confinement.

UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS

A candidate who fails to satisfy the Examiners in any assessment of taught units may be permitted a reassessment on one further occasion (As permitted in accordance with the regulations). The candidate must take the opportunity for reassessment in the next available University examination period.

Candidates for the degree of Masters will not be permitted to present a dissertation until they have satisfied the examiners in the assessment of the taught part of the programme.

Candidates who do not achieve the required pass mark in the taught element for a Masters award, but who do achieve the required pass mark for a Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate, may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate, as appropriate, provided they have completed the requisite number of credits.

CHARGES FOR EXTENSIONS TO LENGTH OF PROGRAMME

If you go beyond the standard programme length and we stop getting funding for your study, you may be charged extension tuition fees.

Additional fees will be charged based on the proportion of the Bench Mark Price, effective at the date when the extension is required. The full policy and details of fees will be posted on the Student Community Area on Blackboard during Semester one.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Although you are free to publish your own work, you are strongly advised to seek tutorial guidance first, since any work submitted for examination/assessment purposes remains the copyright of the Division.

The Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work operates within codes of conduct regulated by Professional, Regulatory and Statutory Bodies (PSRB). These  include the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), Social Work England (SWE) and General Medical Council (GMC). Students studying within the Division are required to adhere to their respective  PSRB code. All codes require students to maintain confidentiality, this includes within academic  assessment.  When undertaking any formative or summative assessment protection of confidentially in relation to the patient, care environment, staff or organisation is to be maintained at all times. If you are unsure whether your work may contravene your PSRB code you should discuss this with your course unit lead at the earliest opportunity. Serious breaches of confidentiality may result in referral to the Schools Health and Conduct Committee.

ASSESSMENT

INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT

This section reflects the assessment regulations of the University of Manchester.  The standard of the University’s awards and the students’ confidence in the equity and parity of the assessment of their work depends crucially on the scrupulous conduct of all matters relating to the assessment process.

All programmes of study need to be assessed and in this programme you may be assessed in both theory and practice elements.

The purpose of assessment is to form a judgement on the quality of students’ work, to ascertain and certify levels of achievement, and to enable examiners’ to report on the standard of performance reached by students.

Assessments are either formative or summative.  Formative work is designed to help you meet the requirements of summative assessments.  Summative assessments must be passed in order for an award to be conferred.  Failure to pass all summative assessments will affect your progression through the course and may result in discontinuation of your studies.

REFERENCING

HARVARD REFERENCING SYSTEM

Accurate referencing of all written work is essential as it enables readers to (i) assess the accuracy of the writer’s interpretation of source material; (ii) check the writer’s integrity; and (iii) easily seek out material that may be of interest to their own studies.  All assignments completed for this programme of study are required to have a reference list.

Though there are many referencing/bibliographical systems around, the Harvard system is the system adopted by many of the prestigious nursing journals.  More importantly, it is the system, which the Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work has adopted.  This means that it is the only system, which is acceptable for any work submitted by students within the Division.

The Harvard system is a standardised system.  This means that certain conventions must be adhered to (though there is some room for flexibility).  The Harvard system works on the principle that every text/article/book mentioned (“cited”) in an assignment must have a matching full reference in the final reference list.  Likewise, every full reference in the reference list must have been mentioned in the main body of the assignment.  An additional “bibliography” (which in this context means a list of texts/articles/books used, but not mentioned in the main body of an assignment) is not required.

http://subjects.library.manchester.ac.uk/referencing-harvard

PENALTY FOR FAILING TO INCLUDE REFERENCE LIST/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For any student who has cited throughout their summative assessment submission but failed to provide a reference list, the assessment will be marked, following which and a 10% reduction will be applied by the marker. A comment will be provided by the marker, in the feedback, noting the lack of a reference list.

EXTENSIONS

Please think carefully about whether one-week is enough time to submit and how this will impact the rest of your workload before requesting an extension.

MARKING PROCESSES

Further to the SHS handbook, this programme’s unit assessments are not double marked.

RE-ASSESSMENTS

A student who fails to satisfy the Examiners in any assessment of taught units may be permitted to resubmit the assessment or retake the examination on one further occasion if within the University regulations during the next available University examination period or within a period as published following the respective examination board.

RESIT FEE CHARGES

As of September 2011 all students needing to undertake a resit Assessment at second attempt may be charged a fee. The full policy and details of fees will be posted on Blackboard prior to the first submission period.

COMPENSATION MARKS

Students may be awarded a compensated pass for a Master’s degree if within the specified university regulations.

EXTERNAL EXAMINERS

The External Examiners for this programme are:

Name: Dr Josh Cameron
Name of Institution: University of Brighton
Position at current Institution:  Principal Lecturer 

Name: Dr Eddie Chaplin
Name of Institution: London South Bank University
Position at current Institution:

RETAKING A WHOLE PROGRAMME

Students may, in exceptional circumstances, and with prior permission of the Faculty, be allowed to re-take the entire programme. In such circumstances, students may re-register only if all outstanding fees have been paid. Fees are payable for the new period of registration.

DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS

MRes students complete a 90-credit dissertation the guidelines for which are outlined below. The dissertation will be assessed according to University requirements by two internal examiners and by the external examiner to the programme.

Introduction

The Dissertation is an extended piece of written work carried out by individual students following successful completion of required course work.  Its purpose is to:

• Allow students to pursue theoretical aspects of a topic of personal and professional interest.
• Provide students with an opportunity to consolidate and demonstrate research skills and knowledge developed in both course work and the research project.

Aims

The aims of the dissertation are to:

• Encourage systematic exploration of an area of practice.
• Develop students’ understandings of the relationship between theory and practice.
• Consolidate students’ ability to critically analyse literature.
• Consolidate an understanding of research processes

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the dissertation period of study students will be able to:

• Demonstrate at a sophisticated level a research-based understanding of an area of study relevant to their interests and practice.
• Have the option to undertake a small research project and present it for examination in Dissertation form.
• Engage in a systematic exploration of the literature related to a specific area of clinical practice so as to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the relationship between theory and practice.
• Formulate a dissertation that is either based on empirical research, an Organisational Change/Practice Development, secondary data analysis, or a Substantive Investigation and Analysis of a Topic in order to analyse, synthesis and evaluate the available evidence and reconstruct current theory and practice so as to become innovative original thinkers and research active clinical specialists/advanced practitioners/educationalists.

Guidelines

Please read the Regulations for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.  You will need to submit your dissertation to the Exams and Assessments Office, Jean McFarlane Building and online via Blackboard.

Guidance for the presentation of Taught Masters dissertations

This guidance explains the required presentation of the dissertation, and failure to follow the instructions in the guidance may result in the dissertation being rejected by the examiners.

Dissertation Marking

Candidates for the degree of Masters must present a dissertation. The form and/or length of the dissertations are outlined below. A copy of the full examiners report form is located in the Exams & Assessments section of the Student Gateway area on Blackboard.  Full guidance regarding the regulation and submission of the dissertation is located in the Exams & Assessments section of the Student Community area on Blackboard.

The dissertation must be submitted in September at the end of one full calendar year for full time students and for part time students at the end of the second calendar year plus up to a further three months if needed.  No writing up period will be permitted for full time students excluding exceptional circumstances

Candidates for Postgraduate Certificates will not be required to present a project report.

Material which has already been included in a dissertation or report submitted in support of an application for a degree or qualification of any University or professional or learned body may only be embodied in the dissertation submitted for the degree of Masters on the condition that the fact of the previous submission of such material is made clear at all relevant points in the dissertation.

A candidate who fails to satisfy the Examiners by reason of inadequacy of the dissertation or project report or of the work therein reported may, at the discretion of the examiners, be permitted to present a revised dissertation or project report on one further occasion or, at the discretion of the examiners, be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma provided 120 credits have already been achieved.

RESEARCH GOVERNANCE

Guidance on obtaining research ethics approval is provided in the Research Ethics Handbook for Students:

https://www.training.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/uom/ERM/research_ethics_handbook_students/#/

You will need to discuss with your supervisor whether your study needs approval from the HRA (Health Research Agency) or UREC (University Research Ethics Committee).  Further information is provided at:

For students planning to conduct research in the NHS and needing HRA approval

https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/bmh/research/ethics-and-regulatory-support/

For students planning to conduct research in the NHS and needing UREC approval

https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/rbe/ethics-integrity/

As guidance changes frequently please ensure you are referring to the latest versions of documents and information packs.

RESEARCH GOVERNANCE SPONSOR

The term sponsor is used to describe the organisation taking formal responsibility for the conduct of your research.  If you are a registered student of this University and your proposed research forms part of the programme of study then please list the University of Manchester as your sponsor.

ADVERSE EVENTS

It is essential that all adverse events (including reactions to substances administered) are reported to the stakeholders in the research:  Host NHS Trust, University of Manchester and the Research Ethics Committee that gave you the favourable opinion.  There are very clear guidelines in the EU clinical Trials Directive about the reporting of: adverse events, serious adverse events; unexpected adverse and serious unexpected adverse events.

PROGRESSION TO A MASTERS DISSERTATION

Students will be given permission to submit a dissertation (to achieve an MRes) by the examination board when they have accumulated 90 credits for course work.

SUBMISSION OF A DISSERTATION

Please refer to the presentation guidelines for Master’s Dissertations in preparing your document. Here are some general guidelines:

• As well as chapters, have you given lists of tables and list of figures in your contents page?
• Are the chapters all numbered consecutively? Numberings from earlier versions may persist and you may have two Chapter 4s, or no Chapter 6, for example.
• Are all the cross-references to other sections of your dissertation correct?
• Do all the references in the text have a corresponding entry in the reference list?

Please note that you will be submitting your dissertation online, via Blackboard.

DISSERTATION CHECKLIST

You need to check your draft for continuity errors. Roughly speaking, this means checking that the whole text is consistent with itself from beginning to end. If you have changed some sections, there might be section headings to re-number, for example. To help you eliminate such errors, here is a checklist:

• are the headings and sub-headings in the contents list the same as those in the text?
• Do your in-text citations include the same date as the reference item in the reference list?
• where you refer to an article within an edited collection, have you included the full book reference, with editors, as well as the chapter reference?
• are all the references complete, in other words have you included the publication date and place, as well as the publisher’s name?
• tables: check that their numbers and titles are correct, and that references to them in the text are correct; Are all data presented relevant and are the totals correct?
• figures: as for tables, have you checked all the calculations in your figures and checked for spelling and grammar. Are they referred to in the text?
• is there enough labelling information in your tables and graphs? (For example if you refer to percentages, is it clear exactly what they are percentages of? Do you make it clear whether raw scores or percentages are being referred to?)
• have you calculated all the figures to the same number of decimal places?
• are you consistent about abbreviations?

None of these proof-checking tasks are the responsibility of your academic supervisor. For further guidance, please see the Dissertation Unit handbook and Dissertation writing guide, available on Blackboard.

DISSERTATION MARKING CRITERIA

Please see following page.

BAND	DESCRIPTOR
90-100%	Exceptional (allows award of distinction): Exceptional work, nearly or wholly faultless for that expected at Masters level. Perfect presentation.
80-89%	Outstanding (allows award of distinction): Work of outstanding quality throughout. Excellent presentation.
70-79%	Excellent (allows award of distinction): Work of very high to excellent quality showing originality, high accuracy, thorough understanding, critical appraisal.  Shows a wide and thorough understanding of the material studied and the relevant literature and the ability to apply the theory and methods learned to solve unfamiliar problems. Very good presentation.
60-69%	Good Pass (allows award of merit): Work of good to high quality showing evidence of understanding of the research topic, good accuracy, good structure and relevant conclusions.  Shows a good knowledge of the material studied and the relevant literature and some ability to tackle unfamiliar problems. Good presentation.
50-59%	Pass: Work shows a clear grasp of relevant facts and issues and reveals an attempt to create a coherent whole. It comprises reasonably clear and attainable objectives, adequate literature review and some originality. Presentation is acceptable, minor errors allowed.
40-49%	Referral for Masters or allow Diploma Pass for 90 credit dissertations:  Work shows a satisfactory understanding of the research topic and basic knowledge of the relevant literature but with little or no originality and limited accuracy.  Shows clear but limited objectives, and does not always reach a conclusion. Presentation adequate but could be improved.
30-39%	Masters fail or allow Referral for Diploma pass for 90 credit dissertations: Work shows some understanding of the main elements of the research topic and some knowledge of the relevant literature. Shows a limited level of accuracy with little analysis of data or attempt to discuss its significance. Presentation poor.
20-29%	Fail: Limited relevant material presented.  Little understanding of research topic. Unclear or unsubstantiated arguments with very poor accuracy and understanding. Presentation unacceptable.
10-19%	Fail: Limited understanding of the research process.  The topic is largely without evidence to support its exploration for research and the arguments are supported by poor sources of evidence.  The thesis is disjointed and does not demonstrate logical coherent thinking with unacceptable presentation.
0-9%	Fail: The text demonstrates no understanding of the research process. The topic is totally inappropriate and there is no evidence to support its exploration as an area of interest for research.  Presentation is extremely poor and is not in an appropriate format for submission as a Masters thesis.  The topic would need to be reconstructed and totally rewritten if it were to be presented for resubmission.

RE-SUBMISSION OF A DISSERTATION

At the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, students will normally be allowed one resubmission of a failed dissertation/project if a mark of at least 30% was obtained at 1^st attempt and this will normally be within three months of ratification. The programme examination board must ensure that suitable advice and supervision is available during the resubmission period. The board of examiners, in agreement with the external examiner may decide not to allow resubmission of a dissertation/project. The Examination Board must agree that the grounds are justified. In cases of resubmission, students will be advised of the required resubmission fee.