MSc Environmental Sustainability Programme Handbook 2009
Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Purpose of this Programme Handbook 1
1.2 Key contacts 1
1.3 Glossary 2
2 Overview of MSc Programme 3
2.1 Objectives 3
2.2 Introductory Week 3
2.3 Taught Component 3
2.4 Dissertation 4
3 Introductory Week 5
3.1 Choice of MSc Courses 8
3.2 Matriculation 8
4 Taught Courses 9
4.1 First Semester 9
4.2 Second Semester 14
4.3 MSc Course Organisers 19
5 Assessment 24
5.1 Coursework Assessment 24
5.2 Course Examination 26
5.3 Marking Guidance 27
5.4 Release of Marks and Feedback to Students 27
5.5 Board of Examiners 28
5.6 Role of External Examiner 28
5.7 Progression to MSc Dissertation 29
5.8 The Diploma 29
5.9 Dissertation 29
5.10 MSc Degree with Distinction 30
5.11 Plagiarism Policy 30
5.12 Cheating 32
5.13 Appeals 32
5.14 Graduation 32
6 Dissertation 33
6.1 Dissertation Proposal 34
6.2 Examples of Past Dissertation Titles 36
6.3 General Guidelines for MSc Dissertation 37
6.4 Dissertation Supervision 38
6.5 Layout and Presentation 39
7 Academic Guidance and Pastoral Support 43
7.1 Absences 43
7.2 Illness or Incapacity 43
7.3 Advice and Counselling 43
7.4 Disability Office 43
7.5 Student/Staff Liaison 44
7.6 Student Feedback and Evaluation 44
8 A to Z of Facilities and Services 45
8.1 Accommodation 45
8.2 Banking 45
8.3 Building Access 46
8.4 Catering 46
8.5 Chaplaincy 47
8.6 Email 47
8.7 English Language 47
8.8 Fax 48
8.9 Feedback 48
8.10 Health & Safety 48
8.11 Health Service 48
8.12 International Office 49
8.13 Insurance 49
8.14 Libraries 49
8.15 Mail 51
8.16 Photocopy Machines 51
8.17 Postal Services 51
8.18 Printing Services 51
8.19 Recycling 51
8.20 Shopping 52
8.21 Smoking 52
8.22 Sport Facilities 52
8.23 Students Union 52
8.24 Telephone 52
8.25 Travel and Transport 53
8.26 Visas for International Students 53
Appendix 1: University Marking Scheme 54
Appendix 2: Advice to Students on Examinations 55
Appendix 3: University of Edinburgh – Own Work Declaration 57
Appendix 4: Dissertation Checklist 59
Appendix 5: Fieldwork Assessment Form FA1 62
Appendix 6: Code of Practice for Fieldwork 67
Appendix 7: 1 – 7 Day Extension Form 74
MSc Environmental Sustainability Programme Handbook 2009
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose of this Programme Handbook
This handbook is a guide to what is expected of you on the MSc Environmental Sustainability programme, and the academic and pastoral support available to you. Please read it carefully. It will help you to make the most of your time on the programme. Some important general aspects covered in this handbook are amplified in the University’s Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes (http://www.acaffairs.ed.ac.uk/Regulations/CoP/PGT/Index.htm) which will be issued to you on arrival and which you are also expected to read. This handbook does not supersede the University Regulations (http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/09-10/).
Please note that every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this handbook was correct at the time of going to press.
1.2 Key contacts
MSc Programme DirectorDr Simon Allen
(until 31 December 2009)
Room 122, Crew Building
Email:
Tel: 0131 650 7215
Dr Claire Haggett
(from 1 January 2010)
Room 1.08, Geography Building
Email:
Tel: 0131 651 4311 / The Programme Director is responsible for directing students’ studies, and for the academic content and quality assurance of the programme. S/he should be your first point of contact for academic queries and pastoral support.
MSc Programme Secretary
Christine Wilson
Room 211, Crew Building
Email:
Tel: 0131 650 4866 / The Programme Secretary provides administrative support for students and academic staff involved in the MSc Programme. She can help you decide who to speak to about issues such as building access, printing, council tax, visas, etc. If the programme director is not available she can provide pastoral support to students.
Course Organisers
e.g. Dr Roger Sidaway, Dr Barbra Harvie and Dr Paul van Gardingen / Course Organisers are responsible for the content and assessment of individual courses. They should be the first point of contact for any issues arising specifically related to their course. A full list is given in Section 4.3.
Course Secretary / The Course Secretary will collect paper copies of assignments and process marks for each course. This will usually be the programme secretary; however, this is not always the case. Your MSc programme secretary can point you in the right direction.
Dissertation supervisor / Your supervisor will provide academic guidance for your dissertation. This is covered in more detail in Section 6.
1.3 Glossary
Usage varies in different institutions. Here is what various words mean in the University of Edinburgh:
Programme: The MSc (or Diploma) is a “programme of study”, or simply a “programme”.
Course: The taught element of the programme is modular, and the study modules are referred to as “courses” (or sometimes as modules). For example, International Development is a course.
Core: The courses that all students on a particular programme must take are “core” courses.
Options: Courses that are elective – i.e., you choose these to tailor the programme to your interests (within the constraints of timetabling, etc).
Semester: There are two semesters. The semester before the Christmas/New Year vacation is “semester 1”, and the one after is “semester 2”. Each is 11 weeks long plus any weeks of associated examinations.
Block: A five-week period within a semester, either weeks 1 to 5 or 6 to 10 inclusive. Week 11 of semester 1 is free of taught classes to allow students to revise before exams. Blocks 1 and 2 are in semester 1; blocks 3 and 4 are in semester 2. Some courses last a full semester, others last for one block.
Credits or Points: These measure the relative weight attached to various elements of the overall programme. To complete the taught element of the programme you must undertake and pass courses with associated credits totalling 120 credits. The courses you are likely to take are all valued at 10 or 20 credits.
Marks: You will receive a mark for each course you take. These are given from 0–100 and the full marking scheme is included in Appendix 1. To pass at Master’s level you should achieve 50 or above. To pass at Diploma level you should achieve 40 or above.
2 Overview of MSc Programme
2.1 Objectives
The objectives of the programme are:
· to identify principles of environmental sustainability
· to elaborate these principles in scientific, technological and socio-economic terms
· to consider current limits to and future priorities for environmental sustainability
· to examine policy implications, in both developed and developing countries, for energy and natural resource management, environmental quality, industrial development, clean technologies, social policy, fiscal policy, the built environment, sustainable cities, etc
· to assess existing political, socio-economic, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for environmental decision making
· to explore the role of science, engineering and technology in the pursuit of environmental sustainability
· to examine through case studies the nature and effectiveness of solutions proposed for environmental problems
· to encourage creativity in devising environmental solutions
The programme consists of two main elements: the taught component and the dissertation.
2.2 Introductory Week
This is the week before the start of first semester. A range of events and activities are organised to introduce students to the University, the Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Sustainability (CECS), and the various facilities and services that are available to support students’ studies, and to give students the chance to get to know each other and their surroundings. It is also an opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with the MSc programme, and select their choice of optional courses. The full programme of activities is described in Section 3.
2.3 Taught Component
The taught component of the programme normally consists of 120 credits taken during semesters 1 and 2. In each semester, students must take the compulsory core course (20 credits each): during first semester, Principles of Environmental Sustainability; during second semester, Management of Sustainable Development. Students choose further courses each semester from a wide range of optional courses. These are organised by either the University of Edinburgh (mainly by the School of GeoSciences) or by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), and are shared with other MSc programmes organised by the School of GeoSciences or SAC. Courses will only run if a sufficient number of students register to attend them.
Coursework teaching is confined to the two semesters of the academic year. The relevant dates are:
Semester 1: from 22nd September 2009 until 4th December 2009
Semester 2: from 11th January 2010 until 26th March 2010
Examination period for the first semester will take place from 7th until 18th December, 2009. There will be no examinations for semester two courses – these are assessed by coursework only.
No teaching will occur during the Christmas Vacation (23rd December 2009 until 8th January 2010) and the University will be closed from 23rd December 2009 until 3rd January 2010 inclusive.
Timetables and outlines of course contents are included in Section 4. We reserve the right to withdraw options if there is insufficient demand to make them viable and to restrict option choice according to qualifications and experience. Because of timetabling constraints it is not possible for us to offer unrestricted option choice. We feel, however, that this timetable allows all the most logical course combinations to be taken.
2.4 Dissertation
Students who achieve at least a pass mark in the taught component are permitted to progress to the dissertation stage of the programme. The dissertation is a report of an independent research project, conducted by the student from April 2010, until the final submission date of Friday 20th August, 2010. Each student is guided in their research by supervisors with good knowledge of the field under study. The supervisors may be staff from the University of Edinburgh or the Scottish Agricultural College, or professionals working in any appropriate external organisation, both within or outside the UK.
The research topic is normally proposed by the student, in accordance with their own interests. The Programme Director assists students in identifying suitable supervisors. Some students’ research topics are proposed by University staff or external organisations: the Programme Director will ensure that students are informed of any such opportunities.
A successfully completed dissertation provides clear evidence of a student's ability to conduct independent research in a particular field of study. As such, it is of great interest to potential employers. Students are therefore recommended to select a topic that is related to their future career plans, to maximise the benefits derived from the dissertation project.
All aspects of the dissertation stage of the programme are fully explained in Section 6.
3 Introductory Week
Monday 14th September09:30–11:00 / Introduction to the MSc Environmental Sustainability programme
Simon Allen and Claire Haggett, Room 4, Crew Building Annexe
11:00–11:20 / Coffee
11:30–12:20 / Welcome and Introduction to GeoSciences Graduate School
Hutton Lecture Theatre, Grant Institute
11:30 – Martin Siegert, Head of School
11:35 – Prof Mike Summerfield, Head of Teaching
11:50 – Dodie James, School Health & Safety Adviser
12:00 – Library & Data Library Introduction, David Carroll and Robin Rice
12:30–14:00 / Lunch for new MSc students, Room 4, Crew Building Annexe
13:00–16:30 / Recommended Matriculation time for postgraduate students
Adam House, 5 Chambers Street
Matriculation is the formal act of registration at the university. The recommended
matriculation times for postgraduates in the College of Science and Engineering are Monday 14 September, 13:00−16:30, and Wednesday 16 September, 09:15−12:00.
For further information see:
http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Matriculation/StudentInformation/How_to_Matriculate.htm
14:00 or 14:45 / Test of English at Matriculation (TEAM) (for non-native English speakers)
David Hume Tower, Lecture Theatre B
TEAM diagnoses whether you may benefit from English language courses or
materials, which are offered free of charge to non-native speakers on postgraduate
programmes at Edinburgh.
If the English-test score you presented when you applied was either:
• below 7.0 IELTS
• below 100 iBT-TOEFL
• below 600 TOEFL
• or below 250 CBT-TOEFL
you must take the 40-minute TEAM. For further information and a full programme of
the test times available at various venues throughout induction week see:
http://www.ials.ed.ac.uk/EL/English-Academic/Testing%28TEAM%29.html
Tuesday 15th September
At times to be
arranged on
Monday 16
September / Individual interviews with Simon Allen, MSc Programme Director
At some time during induction week, each new MSc student meets with their
Programme Director to discuss their goals for the year and to consider their choice of optional courses. A schedule of 20-minute interview times will be arranged for this purpose. Please sign up for a time at the initial meeting on Monday, or subsequently on the list displayed outside Simon’s office (Room 122, Crew Building). Some of the interviews will be held on the coach during the field trip (Wednesday to Friday).
Wednesday 16th September
10:30–12:00 / Introduction to University computing facilities
Simon Allen, Level 3 PC Lab, KB Centre, King’s Buildings
This short session will explain how to access and use the university’s student computer systems. It will cover email, access to lecture-course-specific online learning resources and sources of further training in applications software.
[Please be sure to bring your university username and initial password, which you should already have received with your registration package.]
12:00–12:30 / Individual photographs
Yvonne Cooper, Photographic Studio, John Murray Labs, King’s Buildings
12:30–14:00 / Reception for new students on ecology and environment MSc programmes
Room 4, Crew Building Annexe
An opportunity to talk to the organisers of courses that you may wish to take as options and to meet with staff and students involved in related MSc programmes
(Environmental Sustainability, Environment and Development, Ecological Economics, Environmental Protection and Management), while enjoying some food and drinks! Posters describing the optional courses will be on display (these can also be viewed in Room 4 at any time during induction week).
14:45 / Depart from Crew Building – Please board the coach promptly
18:30 / Arrive at Aviemore, Scottish Youth Hostels Association
http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/highlands/aviemore.aspx
Thursday 17th September
08:30 / Leave accommodation
09:00–18:00 / Sustaining rural communities in Scotland
Visit to Glenlivet Estate, Tomintoul, see http://www.glenlivetestate.co.uk/
18:30 / Arrive at Aviemore, Scottish Youth Hostels Association
Friday 18th September
08:30 / Leave Aviemore Youth Hostel
09:30–14:00 / Scotland’s longest established ecovillage
Visit to the Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage, Findhorn, see:
http://www.ecovillagefindhorn.org/
15:00–16:00 / Voith Hydro Wavegen Limited, Inverness (to be confirmed)
Visit to testing tank of company developing wave energy machines, see:
http://www.wavegen.co.uk/ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7535307.stm
19:00 / Arrival in Edinburgh
19.30–00.00 / Graduate School Ceilidh (Scottish music and dancing)
South Hall Complex, Pollock Halls
(Tickets each on a first-come, first-served basis available from postgraduate secretaries)
Monday 21st September
09.00 – 12:30
or
13.30 – 17:00 / Study Orientation Day
This is a half day study skills event for all new international students who are starting a Taught Masters programme. David Hume Tower Lecture Theatre A, George Square
Tuesday 22nd September
Start at 09:00 / Opening of MSc Classes – check timetable for schedule of optional courses
3.1 Choice of MSc Courses
Poster displays of the courses being offered in the first semester will be set up in the Crew Building Annexe for the whole of the Introductory Week (14th–18th September, 2009). These will give information about the contents of each course, its programme of lectures, the Course Organiser and their contact details. In the afternoon of Wed. 16th September, 2009, 12:30–14:00, there will be a Welcome Reception for all students from a selection of related MSc programmes (including Environmental Sustainability) offered by the School of GeoSciences. This will allow students to meet Course Organisers and discuss their courses with them.