Cambridge University Reporter


Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on the introduction of a degree of Master of Research (the M.Res.)

The COUNCIL and the GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

Introduction

1. The Council and the General Board think it appropriate to preface this Report with these general comments about the University's provision of Masters programmes. The present Report follows two Joint Reports relating to Masters provision published in 2006-07: one on the introduction of a part-time route to the degree of Master of Philosophy (Reporter, 2006-07, p. 797, approved by Grace 5 of 21 November 2007); and another on the introduction of a degree of Master of Finance (M.Fin.) (Reporter, 2006-07, p. 964, approved by Grace 1 of 14 November 2007). The central bodies are of the view that an explanation of the broader context within which these various proposals have been brought forward would be helpful.

Education at Masters level serves a wide variety of purposes. It must cater for diverse student groups seeking a Master's Degree for various reasons, including: advanced study; professional and career development; conversion from another discipline; and preparation for doctoral study. It must take into account the policies of the Research Councils and changes to their policies if the University is to attract UK public studentship funding; and it must also respond to employers' requirements and to developments within and across disciplines. In order for the University to respond appropriately to this fluid environment, a wider range of different models of Masters provision and of different degree titles is appropriate. The University's past provision comprised: the M.Sc. and M.Litt. Degrees (which have served as research degrees for - a very small number of - candidates with two years of funding and for Ph.D. candidates whose theses do not meet the standard required for that degree); the M.Phil. Degree (predominately available on a one-year basis, for advanced study or conversion or research preparation, but with provision for a two-year course including study at another institution); the M.St. Degree (a two-year part-time course in specified subjects); a number of subject-specific Masters' Degrees (the M.B.A., the LL.M., the M.Chir., and the M.Ed.); and a limited number of four year 'enhanced' undergraduate programmes leading to the M.Sci. or the M.Eng.

This portfolio of provision is no longer sufficient for a number of reasons:

It is for these reasons that the following proposes the introduction of a Master's Degree explicitly tailored towards the training of prospective Ph.D. students.

The range of Masters provision should reflect the diversity of what is appropriate for particular Faculties and Departments. Not all institutions will wish to make provision for the M.Res. Degree. But a number of institutions, particularly in the Arts and Humanities and in the Humanities and Social Sciences, will wish to make use of the avenue proposed in this Report. In general, the M.Res. title will be used instead of the M.Phil. title for many of these Masters' courses. The concern is not to proliferate the number of courses, but to ensure that the title most appropriately reflects the academic purpose of the course to students and funders.

The central bodies are aware that, in proposing this new pathway to a Master's Degree, the matter of the availability of the necessary resources is significant. Where University institutions wish to make use of the legislation proposed below, they will be required to demonstrate that their plans are viable, academically and financially, that they are supported by the School concerned, and that they are in a position to deliver the course without significant duplication of teaching and other resources.

The central bodies remain mindful of the extent to which the Colleges will collectively be able to accommodate students. They do not envisage a significant growth in overall postgraduate numbers as a consequence of the proposal.

The following table summarizes the broad characteristics of each route available to a Master's Degree.
        Degree Title         Modes of attendance        Form of assessment            Outcome
M.Phil. 1 (or 2) years full-time
2 years part-time
Course-work, examinations, and thesisAdvanced study
M.Res. 1 year full-time Course-work, examinations, and thesisPreparation for doctoral work
M.Sc./M.Litt. 2 years full-time
10 terms part-time
Thesis and oral Completion of research project
M.St. 2 years part-time Course-work, examinations, and thesis Advanced study
Subject-specific Masters' Degrees 1 year full-time Variable Advanced study/professional and career development

Degree of Master of Research (M.Res.)

2. In this Report the Council and the General Board propose the introduction of a degree of Master of Research, titled the M.Res., as an additional form of Masters provision, offering more explicit training in research. The proposals contained in this Report have the support of the Board of Graduate Studies.

3. The main purpose of the proposed M.Res. Degree would be to provide prospective Ph.D. candidates with preparatory courses closely connected to their intended Ph.D. topics, and involving a greater degree of research training and a more substantial dissertation than some of the University's M.Phil. courses currently provide. The objectives of the proposed degree would be to train Graduate Students in a variety of research methods, of both a general nature and more specifically connected with the discipline, and to enable them to demonstrate the ability to undertake a substantial research project. The new degree title would distinguish Masters' courses with these particular characteristics and purpose from courses providing other sorts of training, which would remain under the titles of existing Masters' Degrees. It would also permit a candidate to take both an M.Phil. Degree and an M.Res. Degree en route to a Ph.D. Degree, should such a combination of training be deemed appropriate in any particular case.

4. Whilst many of the University's M.Phil. courses serve as a preparatory year for prospective Ph.D. candidates, a number of institutions and Degree Committees now find the M.Phil. a less than fully effective means of providing research training for Ph.D. candidature. As a number of M.Phil. courses have as their primary object a year of advanced study, with many students not wishing to continue to doctoral study, their content usually comprises a significant taught course load with a less substantial dissertation and limited training explicitly for doctoral study. The amount of research training may be constrained so that, for those permitted to continue after an M.Phil. programme, further research training is necessary prior to Ph.D. registration. The M.Res. Degree, if introduced, would provide a clearer route to Ph.D. candidature and a more reliable indication of a student's ability successfully to complete a Ph.D. course. It would also assist in distinguishing between Graduate Students likely to spend just one year in Cambridge and those with aspirations to become candidates for the Ph.D. Degree. At present, attempting to distinguish between these two groups of students within M.Phil. courses can be difficult for both University institutions and the Colleges. In the event that the proposals contained in this Report are approved, the central bodies expect there to be a reduction in the number of M.Phil. courses (or of options within those courses). A given course would be identified as leading to the award of one of the degrees - M.Phil. or M.Res. - and would only lead to that degree not to both.

5. The M.Phil. is also not well attuned to enable suitable responses to the changing policies of certain Research Councils which continue to give increasing emphasis to the importance of research training in Masters provision. The Arts and Humanities Research Council now distinguishes, in its studentships competitions, between 'Research Preparation' and 'Professional Preparation' Masters schemes. The M.Res. Degree would be expected to meet the requirements for the first of these. Eligibility for the majority of the Economic and Social Research Council's postgraduate studentships requires an explicit linkage between a Master's course and a Ph.D. programme, a linkage which would be more clearly defined in the M.Res. provision.

6. M.Res. courses would be of up to eleven months' duration and would be offered full-time only in the first instance. Each course would be expected to have the following components: a substantial dissertation element, comprising at least 50% of the course, both representing a contribution to knowledge in the field and directly linked to the student's prospective Ph.D. subject; training courses in both general and discipline-specific research methods; and any necessary taught courses. The M.Res. would fully meet descriptors for Masters' level provision in national HE frameworks.

7. Faculty Boards (and comparable bodies) wishing to propose M.Res. courses would be required to seek the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies and the General Board. In considering proposals, these bodies would, inter alia, expect to be satisfied that: the learning outcomes of the course were consistent with descriptors in national HE frameworks; the necessary resources were available; the proposal was consistent with the strategic plans of the relevant Council of the School; and, in particular, did not imply an increase in Graduate Student numbers beyond any for which the School was planning. It is not anticipated that the introduction of the M.Res. would distort planned postgraduate numbers, in that M.Res. numbers would, in general, be counterbalanced by a reduction in M.Phil. numbers in the institution concerned. The General Board's annual planning enquiry would enable any anticipated overall increases to be identified, so that the necessary consultation with the Colleges could take place.

8. Admissions standards and procedures for prospective M.Res. applicants would be the same as for other Graduate Student applicants, save that applicants would be expected to provide a fuller indication of their proposed M.Res. and Ph.D. topics.

9. The Board of Graduate Studies and the central bodies would expect those proposing M.Res. courses to make clear the criteria for continuation to Ph.D. registration. A candidate for the M.Res. who continued to the Ph.D. might be permitted to seek exemption of up to three of the terms towards the nine terms of research required for the Ph.D. (or five of the fifteen terms required for the part-time Ph.D.), should he or she provide satisfactory evidence of being ready to submit a dissertation for the Ph.D. before the end of the minimum number of Ph.D. terms.

10. General regulations proposed for the M.Res. Degree are appended as the Annex to this Report. Special Regulations for each course leading to the Degree, together with categories of University Composition Fee, would be proposed in due course. Consequent amendments to Statute B and to certain other regulations are also necessary and are set out in the recommendations. The General Regulations for Admission as a Graduate Student (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 411) will require amendment in the event that the proposals in this Report are approved.

11. The Council and the General Board accordingly recommend:

I. That, subject to the approval of Her Majesty in Council, the Statutes of the University be amended as set out below and that these amendments be submitted under the Common Seal of the University to Her Majesty in Council for approval:

Statute B

Chapter III

DEGREES

Section 1(b).

By inserting before the word 'Studies' the word 'Research,'.

Section 3.

By inserting in line 3 before the word 'Studies' the word 'Research,'.

Section 5(c).

By amending the section so as to read:
(c)no one shall be admitted to the degree of Master of Finance, of Philosophy, or of Research unless he or she has complied with such conditions of residence as shall have been approved by Ordinance;

II. That, if Recommendation I is approved, general regulations for the degree of Master of Research, as set out in the Annex to this Report, be approved with effect from 1 October following the date on which the amendments of Statutes contained in Recommendation I take effect.

III. That, if Recommendation II is approved, certain regulations be amended, with effect from the same date, as follows:

A. Regulations for the Forms of Presentation for Degrees (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 184).

By amending the heading of the paragraph relating to Masters' Degrees so as to read:

For the degree of Master of Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Finance, Law, Letters, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Research, Science, Studies, or Surgery

B. The Schedule appended to the regulations for Forms of Presentation for and Admission to Degrees (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 186)

By inserting at the end of the second group of degrees:

For the M.Res. DegreeMagistri in arte vestigandi

C. Regulations for the order of Seniority of Graduates (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 187)

By inserting above 'Masters of Philosophy' the entry 'Masters of Research'.

D. Academical Dress (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 187)

BLACK GOWNS

By inserting above the M.Phil. entry the entry 'M.Res.: the M.Phil. gown but with the buttons joined by two vertical cords;'

HOODS

By inserting above the M.Phil. entry the entry 'M.Res.: of black cloth lined with dark plum red silk;'

E. Regulations for Payments to Examiners and Assessors (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 230)

Regulation 3.

By inserting in the table of rates, after the entry for the M.Phil. Degree, the entry

(g) Examinations for the M.Res. Degree
For acting as an Examiner or Assessor £110
For acting as an External Examiner (additional payment) £600
For marking answers to a complete written paper or other written work
prescribed by the regulations for a particular subject £10
For assessing a dissertation or thesis £70

F. Schedule to the regulations for the Review of the results of examinations for postgraduate qualifications (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 415)

By inserting in the Schedule, above the entry for the M.Phil. Degree, the entry:

M.Res. Degree

17 March 2008 ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor WILLIAM BROWN D. W. B. MACDONALD
 TONY BADGER S. J. COWLEY VERONICA SUTHERLAND
 NICK BAMPOS BOB DOWLING JOAN M. WHITEHEAD
 W. BORTRICK S. ENSOR-ROSE RICHARD WILSON
 NIGEL BROWN M. FLETCHER S. J. YOUNG
    
5 March 2008 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 I. H. WHITE
 TOM BLUNDELL RICHARD HUNTER 


ANNEX

Master of Research

GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. The M.Res. Degree shall be awarded for training in research. A subject of such study, together with the programme aims, learning outcomes, and syllabus for the course, and the special regulations for the examination and any subsequent amendments thereof, shall be approved by the General Board on the recommendation of the Faculty Board or other body concerned, after consultation with the appropriate Degree Committee, and after submission to, and approval by, the Board of Graduate Studies.

2. The scheme of examination for the M.Res. Degree shall consist of written work or other exercises and the submission of a thesis, as prescribed in the appropriate special regulations for the subject as appended to these regulations. Any such prescribed scheme may require candidates also to take written papers in accordance with arrangements made by the Board of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the appropriate Degree Committee. The examination for the Degree shall be held before the end of the course, except as provided under Regulation 7, and at such time or times as may be determined by the Board of Graduate Studies on a recommendation by the Degree Committee concerned, subject in the case of written papers to the approval of the Board of Examinations. Each written paper shall be of three hours' duration unless prescribed otherwise in the regulations that apply to the examination concerned.

3. No student shall be a candidate for the M.Res. Degree on more than one occasion or for the M.Res. Degree and for another University examination in the same term.

4. A candidate for the M.Res. Degree shall be a registered Graduate Student who, subject to the provisions of Regulation 5, shall pursue a course of training in research 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 shall extend over one academical year. Students are required to attend in 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.

5. The Board of Graduate Studies, after considering a recommendation by the Degree Committee concerned,
(a)may allow a candidate for the M.Res. Degree to spend up to one term working under supervision outside the University under conditions approved by the Degree Committee;
(b) may allow a candidate for the M.Res. Degree on account of illness or other sufficient cause to intermit his or her course of study for one or more terms, which terms 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.

Every application for dispensation under sub-paragraphs (a)-(b) shall be made to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies and shall be accompanied by an opinion from the applicant's Supervisor.

6. Details of each candidate's examination entry (including the candidate's choice of written papers or other exercises, as appropriate, and the proposed subject of the thesis and subsequent corrections thereof), shall be submitted by the candidate to the Secretary of the Degree Committee concerned, and by the latter to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies, who shall transmit them to the Registrary in accordance with the following timetable:
Entries to be submitted Details of written papers etc. Corrections Title of thesis etc.
By candidates to Secretaries of Degree CommitteesBy end of Full Michaelmas Term By division of Lent Term
By Secretaries of Degree Committees to Board of Graduate StudiesBy end of Michaelmas TermBy end of third week of Full Lent Term By end of Lent Term
By Board of Graduate Studies to Registrary By end of first week of Full Lent Term By division of Lent Term

Lists of candidates for each examination shall be circulated by the Registrary to Colleges as follows:
List of entries: By the end of the second week of Full Lent Term.
Final list of entries: Not less than four weeks before the beginning of the examination concerned.

7. Each candidate shall submit two copies of the thesis in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive by a date which shall be determined by the Board, on the recommendation of the Degree Committee, and which shall not be later than the last day of August in the academical year of the course, provided that the Board may, on the recommendation of the Degree Committee concerned, allow a candidate to submit his or her thesis at such later date as may be determined by the Board. In special circumstances the Board, after consultation with the Degree Committee concerned, may allow a candidate to submit only one copy of the thesis. The Examiners and the Degree Committee may take into consideration any work published by the candidate which is submitted with the thesis.

8. In submitting a thesis a candidate shall state, generally in a preface and specifically in notes or in a bibliography, the sources from which information has been derived, the extent to which use has been made of the work of others, and the portions of the thesis which are claimed as original. A thesis shall not be accepted if it is substantially the same as one that the candidate has submitted, or is concurrently submitting, for any other degree, diploma, or similar qualification at any university or similar institution, but a thesis which the candidate has submitted or is concurrently submitting for some other purpose may be accepted. In submitting a thesis the candidate shall declare for what purpose, if any, other than for the M.Res. Degree, the whole or part of it has already been or is concurrently being submitted. The thesis, apart from quotations, shall be written in English.

9. Every Supervisor shall send to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies reports on the work of each candidate under his or her charge, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 8 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student.

10. The Degree Committee concerned shall appoint such number of Examiners and Assessors as they shall deem sufficient to conduct the examination for the M.Res. Degree and to report on the performance of a candidate. The Examiners and Assessors shall undertake such duties as the Degree Committee may decide.

(a) The Degree Committee shall appoint an External Examiner and a Senior Examiner; not later than the end of the Michaelmas Term the Secretary of the Degree Committee shall communicate to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies the name of these Examiners and the names of the other Examiners and Assessors.

(b) Each candidate's thesis shall be referred to two Examiners each of whom shall make an independent report thereon. The special regulations for the examination may provide for an oral examination on the thesis and, if so specified, on the other parts of the examination. When the oral examination relates to the thesis both Examiners of the thesis shall be among the Examiners present at the oral examination. The Board of Graduate Studies in exceptional circumstances may permit the Examiners to conduct the oral examination by video-conference or other remote means. The Examiners participating in the oral examination shall sign a joint certificate of the result, including any marks assigned thereto, of that examination. If the Examiners do not agree in their recommendation, or if for any other reason the Degree Committee or the Board need a further opinion or opinions on the merit of the thesis submitted, the Degree Committee may appoint additional Examiners, provided that not more than one additional Examiner may be appointed without the leave of the Board. Each additional Examiner so appointed shall make an independent report on the thesis to the Degree Committee.

11. If the Degree Committee, after consideration of the reports of the Examiners, approve the candidate's marks in the written papers or other exercises, the thesis submitted, and her or his performance in the oral examination (where held) as of the requisite standard for the M.Res. Degree, their recommendation to that effect, with the names of those present and voting, together with the reports of the Examiners and details of the marks obtained by the candidate shall be communicated to the Board. If the Board, after receiving such communication, at a meeting at which not less than three members are present, are of the opinion that the degree should be conferred, the Secretary of the Board shall publish a notice of the candidate's approval for the award of the degree of Master of Research.

12. The Board shall be the deciding authority on all recommendations communicated to them by Degree Committees that a candidate be approved for the M.Res. Degree. The Board shall not approve a candidate for the award of the degree under these regulations unless the Degree Committee have recommended such an award, and before refusing an award so recommended they shall give a representative appointed by the Degree Committee an opportunity of explaining the Committee's reasons for their recommendation.

13. If the Degree Committee, after consideration of the reports of the Examiners, are of the opinion that the candidate's work is not of the requisite standard for the degree, their resolution to that effect with the numbers of those present and of those voting, together with the reports of the Examiners and details of the marks obtained by the candidate in the prescribed examination, shall be communicated to the Board. The Secretary of the Board shall communicate this decision to the candidate. After such a resolution has been made the student concerned shall not be eligible to take the examination for the degree again.

14. Payment of travelling expenses and a subsistence allowance may be claimed by Examiners in accordance with Regulation 11 of the regulations for the Ph.D., M.Sc., and M.Litt. Degrees.

15. A Graduate Student whose course of study for the M.Res. Degree has included any term needed for the B.A. Degree and who elects to proceed to the B.A. Degree shall not be entitled to proceed to the M.Res. Degree.