The Council has considered the remarks made at the Discussion of this Report on 10 July 2007 (Reporter, 2006-07, p. 892) and has referred them to the General Board whose comments are incorporated in this response.
The Council and the General Board are gratified that their Joint Report has been welcomed on behalf of an institution (the Institute of Criminology) with considerable experience of part-time postgraduate provision. In connection with the first of the points raised by Professor Bottoms, they wish to clarify that the part-time route to the M.Phil. Degree would extend over two academical years and that the attendance requirement for each approved course could, at need, be satisfied through attendance during vacations for the reasons given by Professor Bottoms. In order to make this clear they have proposed amendments to certain of the regulations published with their Report, as shown in the Annex to this Notice.
So far as admissions criteria are concerned, the Council and the Board confirm that, as stated in paragraph 6 of the Joint Report, the admission standards and requirements for the part-time route to the M.Phil. Degree would be identical to those for full-time provision, but they note that, in exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies may admit as a Graduate Student a person who is not a graduate of a university if he or she submits evidence of satisfactory general educational qualification (Regulation 3 of the General Regulations for admission as a Graduate Student, Statutes and Ordinances, p. 411). The central bodies will also consider the possibility of an interim qualification, available at the end of the first year, for those candidates who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the full degree. The central bodies accept Professor Bottoms's point about the present difference between the M.St. and the M.Phil. so far as fee levels and funding arrangements are concerned. When individual course proposals come through, they will consider the funding arrangements proposed and ensure that the institution concerned has the support of the relevant Council of the School and that both parties are in agreement about those funding arrangements.
In response to Professor Evans's comments, the Council and the General Board point out that there is already provision for part-time postgraduate study. The present proposals therefore do not represent a radical change of policy, nor are they likely to lead to a significant rebalancing of full- and part-time student numbers. They confirm that no institution will be required to offer an M.Phil. course through this particular route. They also confirm that residential postgraduate degrees remain at the core of the University's provision but they continue to believe it appropriate to offer alternatives. In considering proposals as they come forward, the central bodies will pay particular attention to ensuring an adequate level of attendance in Cambridge but they see no reason to determine that level at this stage. Similarly, whilst they will look carefully at proposals which include course delivery through electronic means, it would not be appropriate to determine at this stage what the proportion of a programme to be delivered in this way should be.
The Council, with the concurrence of the General Board, is submitting a Grace to the Regent House (Grace 5, p. 275) for the approval of the recommendations in this Report.
| 19 November 2007 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | M. CLARK | DAVID SIMON |
| ROSS ANDERSON | S. J. COWLEY | VERONICA SUTHERLAND | |
| TONY BADGER | M. FLETCHER | LIBA TAUB | |
| NICK BAMPOS | DEBBIE LOWTHER | JOAN M. WHITEHEAD | |
| Z. BARANSKI | D. W. B. MACDONALD | RICHARD WILSON | |
| NIGEL BROWN | G. A. REID | S. J. YOUNG | |
| WILLIAM BROWN |
| 7 November 2007 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | WILLIAM BROWN | KATHERINE LINDER |
| NICK BAMPOS | P. COULTHARD | D. W. B. MACDONALD | |
| GRAEME BARKER | PHILIP FORD | MELVEENA MCKENDRICK | |
| JOHN BELL | RICHARD FRIEND | PATRICK SISSONS | |
| TOM BLUNDELL | RICHARD HUNTER | I. H. WHITE |
AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE ANNEXES TO THE JOINT REPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL BOARD ON THE INTRODUCTION OF A PART-TIME ROUTE TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (Reporter, 2006-07, p. 797)
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 468)
Revised Regulations 4 and 5.
4. A candidate for the M.Phil. Degree shall be a registered Graduate Student who, subject to the provisions of Regulation 5, shall pursue in the University or similar institution approved by the Degree Committee concerned and by the Board of Graduate Studies, the specified course under the direction of a Supervisor appointed by the Degree Committee concerned, and shall comply with any special conditions that the Degree Committee or the Board may lay down in a particular case. The course under Route A shall extend over one academical year; candidates under this Route are required to reside in Cambridge for all three terms of the year, beginning from the date announced by the Degree Committee for the start of lectures, classes, or other formal instruction.1 The courses under Routes B and C shall extend over two academical years. Students under Route B shall spend a minimum of three terms in residence in Cambridge. Students under Route C are required to attend classes or other formal instruction as specified by the Degree Committee concerned, beginning from the date announced by the Degree Committee.
5. The Board of Graduate Studies, after considering a recommendation by the Degree Committee concerned, may allow a candidate for the M.Phil. Degree, on account of illness or other sufficient cause, to intermit his or her course of study. This period of intermission shall not count for any purpose of these regulations except as provided in Regulation 7 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student.
1 Exceptionally, and subject to the special permission of the Board of Graduate Studies, a candidate under Route A may be admitted from the beginning of either the Lent Term or the Easter Term if the Board are satisfied that the approved course of study for the subject concerned can be provided from that date.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 411)
Revised Regulations 7, 8, and 11(b).
Regulation 7.
By deleting in line 7 the words 'or under Regulation 4 of the regulations for the M.Phil. Degree (two-year) course';
and by replacing in the final sentence the words 'or Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the M.Phil. Degree (two-year course), or Regulation 5 of the regulations for the M.Phil. Degree (one-year course)' by the words 'or any period of intermission allowed under Regulation 5 of the regulations for the M.Phil. Degree'.
Regulation 8.
By replacing in lines 1-3 of sub-paragraph (c) the words 'or a course of further study and training in research, as prescribed in the appropriate special regulations for the M.Phil. Degree (two-year course) and the M.Phil. Degree (one-year course)' by the words 'as prescribed in the appropriate special regulations for the M.Phil. Degree';
and by deleting in line two of sub-paragraph (ii) the words '(two-year or one-year course)'.
Regulation 11(b).
By inserting at the end of the footnote attached to sub-paragraph (b) the words:
For a Graduate Student who completes the course leading to the M.Phil. Degree through Route C, the fee will be determined at the date of admission and will be payable in two annual instalments.