Other Key Documents That You Should Be Familiar with Are

PREFACE

The purpose of this course handbook is to provide you with key information about your course, including administrative and academic procedures, and to give you some practical advice on how to make the most of your studies and to explain what to do if you experience any difficulties. Please read the handbook very carefully and keep it at hand for future reference.

Other key documents that you should be familiar with are:

• the University of Brighton Student Handbook;

• the University of Brighton Plagiarism Awareness Pack;

• the BrightonBusinessSchool Referencing Handbook;

• the University of Brighton General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR).

Copies of all these documents are accessible in electronic format on the University’s student intranet, Studentcentral (see 7.6 below), via your Course Area. You will also be provided with paper copies of the University Student Handbook and the University Plagiarism Awareness Pack.

Because of increasing incidents of cases of plagiarism both in this university and others, you are strongly urged to carefully read the Plagiarism Awareness Pack. Penalties for plagiarism can be very harsh and ignorance is no defence! The University has access to special software which can detect plagiarism and we will be using this at random throughout the year at all levels, so you have been warned.

If you would like to see any other items included in your course handbook please contact your course administrator and we will do our best to improve the handbook in future years.

Welcome from Professor Aidan Berry, Dean of BrightonBusinessSchool

I am very pleased to have this opportunity to welcome you to the Brighton Business Schooland the Postgraduate full-time MSc Marketing course at the University of Brighton. As Dean, I am proud of our recent success in positioning the Business School as a leading regional provider of management courses within a successful university. The University of Brighton improved its ranking by 21 places in the 2008 RAE and the Brighton Business School was in the upper quartile of Business Schools in terms of the percentage of 4* (world leading) research.

Our mission statement clearly sets out the underpinning teaching and learning philosophy that will be governing your study whilst on the course.

“Brighton Business School is a professional business school that aims to be a leading provider of exciting and relevant management and professional education that makes a positive difference to current managers and potential leaders of the future, which is underpinned by appropriate research and which adds value to individuals, employers and society at large.”

The strength of the postgraduate programmes lie in its connections with business, the public service and professional bodies, a growing research base and staff capability to make significant organisational impact through teaching that is grounded in theory and practice. The BrightonBusinessSchool considers it a priority to add sustainable value to its stakeholders through well designed and high quality teaching and learning provision. I hope that you will prosper as a student on our Postgraduate Marketing course both with regards to your professional and personal development but also that you will also be able to build on the learning and networks in the future, long after the completion of the course.

Professor Aidan Berry

Dean of BrightonBusinessSchool

CONTENTS

1.COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION

2.BRIGHTONBUSINESSSCHOOL

3.COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

3.1Course management team, course board and examination board

3.2Communications between staff and students

3.3Where to turn for advice and guidance

3.4Student representation and feedback

3.5Annual academic health process

4.COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

4.1 Course aims and learning outcomes

4.2 Course structure and content

4.3 English language support programme

4.4 Careers support

5.COURSE ASSESSMENT

5.1Nature of assessment

5.2Coursework marking guidelines

5.3Coursework presentation

5.4Referencing your work

5.5Coursework word limit and word ranges

5.6Coursework submission

5.7Late coursework

5.8Coursework extensions

5.9Return of coursework

5.10Examination timetables

5.11Examination past papers

5.12Examination results

5.13Mitigating circumstances

5.14Plagiarism, collusion and cheating in examinations

5.15Appealing the decision of an examination board

6.COURSE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

6.1 Minimum pass mark, referrals and failures

6.2 Compensation

6.3 Progression regulations

6.4 Deferrals

6.5 Calculation of the final mark for the award

6.6 Awards (including exit awards)

6.7 Maximum period of study

6.8 Maximum registration period

6.9 Intercalation

7.LIBRARY, COMPUTING AND MEDIA SERVICES

7.1 The library service

7.2 The Online Library

7.3 Library services

7.4 Computing services for students based at Moulsecoomb

7.5 Studentcentral

8.STUDENT SERVICES

8.1 Student services department

8.2 Accommodation office

8.3 Students Union

9.STUDENT ENTITLEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1Student Charter

9.2Brighton Business School - Attendance & Engagement policy

9.3Disability statement

9.4Fire evacuation

9.5Observing copyright laws

9.6Alumni

APPENDIX

Submitting assignments through Studentcentral
1.COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the MSc Marketing; MSc Marketing (International Marketing); MSc Marketing (Branding and Communications) and MSc Marketing (Social Marketing) courses. We hope that you find the experience of studying with us challenging and rewarding. This student handbook has been designed and written to give you information on the people who are involved in leading, teaching and administering the course, the procedures, regulations and student representation. The handbook also gives you the details of the course structure and the syllabuses.

The marketing discipline is essentially one in which the development of knowledge and theories is grounded in marketing practice. As such the subject has a body of knowledge that has evolved through scholarly activity testing and evaluating theories based on practice. This interaction between theory and practice means that the subject can be approached from theory first (based on practical knowledge, theory building and research) or from a practice-based perspective (based on the practice of marketing at a firm specific-level). The MSc Marketing course and its associated pathways have been designed to develop your learning and knowledge of both theory and practice of marketing at an advanced level.

We wish you the best of luck in your studies.

Lyvia Royd-Taylor

MSc Marketing Course Leader

2.BRIGHTONBUSINESSSCHOOL

Your schoolis BrightonBusinessSchool. The acting Dean of Brighton Business School is Professor Aidan Berry. More information about the work of the School may be found on the school web site at:

The BusinessSchool’s contact details are:

BrightonBusinessSchool

University of Brighton

Mithras House

Lewes Road

BRIGHTON

BN2 4AT

Tel: (01273) 600900 (Switchboard)

Fax:(01273) 643597

The Academic year dates for the School are:

2013-2014
Term / Begins / Ends
Autumn / 30 September 2013 / 13 December 2013
Spring / 06 January 2014 / 04 April 2014
Summer / 28April 2014 / 13 June 2014

3.COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

3.1Course management team, course board and examination board

3.1.1Course management team

Responsibility for the day-to-day running of your course lies with the course management team, comprising your course leader, your course administrator, and the members of staff teaching on the course. Their contact details are as follows:

Responsibility / Staff / Room no / Tel no / E-mail address
Course Leader / Lyvia Royd-Taylor / 147a / 642176 /
Course Administrator / Andy Davies / 159 / 642981 /
Module tutor / Keith Perks / 149 / 642179 /
Module tutor / Matthew Wood / 149 / 642144 /
Module tutor / Veronique Boulocher / 131 / 641763 /
Module tutor / Wybe Popma / 135 / 642131 /
Module tutor / Jeff Readman / N/a / N/a /
Module Tutor / Francisca Farache / 143 / N/a /
Module Tutor / Stephen Young / N/a / N/a /
Module Tutor / Asher Rospigliosi / 145 / 642340 /

Profiles of academic staff may be found on the School website at:

3.1.2Course board

Each course within the School has a course board. The responsibilities of course boards include:

•ensuring the smooth operation of the course;

•reviewing syllabus content, teaching methods, assessment and resources and generally monitoring the course in operation;

•supervising the administration of the assessment procedures in accordance with the assessment regulations and the aims of the course;

•liaising with the Examination Board and advising when necessary;

•maintaining effective feedback arrangements between the lecturers and the course members;

•planning and recommending policy with regard to the operation of the course;

•exercising such other functions as may be requested by the School Board.

The membership of course boards is as follows:

Course Leader

Student Representative(s)

Course Administrator(s)

Module Leaders

Information Adviser (or nominee)

Programme Leader

Assistant Head (Postgraduate)

School Quality Director

Each course board will normally meet two or three times a year to hear reports on the progress of each year of the relevant course. The board will discuss both students' and tutors’ reports and take action where appropriate. If an issue arises which is clearly beyond the scope of the course board and requires further consideration, then it will be referred to the School Board.Copies of the minutes of course boards will normally be published on the school area on studentcentral within three weeks of each board on the “My School:BrightonBusinessSchool” area.

3.1.3 Examination boards

Each course within the School is allocated to an examination board, which considers each student’s overall performance and makes decisions on awards and progression (see section 6 of this course handbook).

3.2Communications between staff and students

Effective communication between staff and students is very important, and the School facilitates this in a range of ways.

3.2.1We contact you

• Through the student notice boards
• Through the plasma screen in the student lounge
• Through the postgraduate student mailboxes
• Through Studentcentral
• By e-mail – using your university e-mail address (see 3.2.6 below)
• By mobile phone

The notice-boards, plasma screen and student mailboxes are all in Mithras House, close to the postgraduate office in M159. Through them you will be told about changes in timetables, cancellations and re-locations, the membership of groups, notes about examinations and essays, internal and external mail. Changes are frequent at the start of the academic year so please check them daily. It is your responsibility to keep up with any announced changes.

You must complete the personal information form sent out with your induction material and return it to the Postgraduate Office.If you change your personal details (address, name etc) you must notify the Postgraduate Office immediately in writing (by letter or e-mail) and change your personal details on-line on Studentcentral.

3.2.2You contact us

• By knocking on the doors of academic and administrative staff
• By slipping messages under our doors when we are not there
• By calling us by phone
• By e-mail. E-mail addresses of all staff are readily available.
• Important messages and official documents can be handed in to the Postgraduate Office (M159)

3.2.3Postgraduate office

The Postgraduate Office is located in Room M159 and is staffed by Julie Watson and her team of course administrators. They have responsibility for all initial enquiries: for most queries you should see them first (what to do, where to go, requests for freely available handouts, information sheets, etc).

Opening times during term time

Mithras House:

07.00 – 21.00 (Monday- Thursday)

07.00 – 19.00 (Friday)

Postgraduate Office:

08.30 – 17.00 (Monday toThursday)

08.30 –16.30 (Friday)

3.2.4How to locate an office or lecture room

Most University room numbers are in two parts each of which convey information. For example, to find room M160, you need to go to Mithras House, then the first floor (the first digit is a “1”) and then look for room M160. Similarly the computer pools will have numbers such as MA201, signifying Mithras Annexe, on the second floor and W321, somewhere on the third floor of the WattsBuilding. Outside the School Office (M140) you will find on the wall a list of all the staff with their telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and office numbers. Next to the list is a display of all the staff photographs.

3.2.5University telephone numbers

The standard University telephone exchange number is 01273 600 900. To directly reach a member of staff, once you know their internal extension number you need to add 64 before the internal extension number. For example, the Quality Director’s extension is 2132. To reach him from outside you would need to dial 01273 642132. Alternatively dial 01273 600 900 and ask for a particular member of staff.

3.2.6Your email address

Every member of the university has a central email address usually in the form . This is the address that we will use to contact you.

3.2.7 Proof of enrolment

If you need a letter confirming your enrolment on a University course (e.g. for the purposes of a career development loan from your bank) you must request this from the University Student Office (Registry), Mezzanine Floor, CockcroftBuilding. Please note that your School staff are not permitted to produce these letters.

3.3Where to turn for advice and guidance

Although every effort is made by staff to ensure that your course runs without problems we recognise that these do occasionally arise. The following notes provide guidance on the procedures to be followed in the event of problems arising during the course or with assessment. At each stage it is expected that the staff involved will try to find a solution to the difficulty. However, you should bear in mind that in some cases it is not within their power to solve them and, as such, it may need to be referred on to another body. It is permissible to miss out a stage in these procedures when a problem is urgent and the appropriate lecturer/tutor is unavailable, or where for other reasons it may be appropriate.

3.3.1Administrative problems

In the first instance, you should contact your course administrator about problems of an administrative nature. If the problem still remains unresolved then you should contact your course leader.

3.3.2Personal problems

In the first instance, you should contact your course leader.

3.3.3Academic problems (unrelated to coursework and examinations)

Stage 1Discuss with lecturer

concerned

Not ResolvedResolved, no further action needed

Stage 2Bring to attention of

course leader or deputy

course leader

Not ResolvedResolved, no further action needed

Stage 3Bring to attention of

the Course Board

through your year

course representative

Not ResolvedResolved, no further action needed

Stage 4Bring to the attention of the Head of School

The Head of School will take appropriate action directly or if necessary refer the problem on to the School Board, Examination Board or other appropriate body.

3.3.4Problems associated with completing coursework and/or sitting examinations

Problems completing coursework should follow the pattern below:

Stage 1Discuss with lecturer concerned

Stage 2If necessary complete an Assignment Extension

Form, getting the approval of your Course Leader,

and/ or Mitigating Circumstances Form and notify

yourcourse leader in writing of the nature of the

problem and its potential effect.

Stage 3Lodge copies of the document outlined in Stage 2 with the Postgraduate Office marked for the attention of thelecturer concerned and the Chair of the Examination Board.

Please make sure that you obtain a copy from the Office staff when submitting these forms.

For problems relating to sitting examinations the normal pattern should be as follows:

Stage 1Bring the problem to the attention

of the invigilator

Stage 2Bring the problem to the attention of your course leader. This should be in writing with, wherever possible, an assessment of the effect the problem had on performance

Stage 3Lodge a copy of a mitigating circumstances form

with the Postgraduate Office marked for the attentionof the Chair of the Examination Board. Again, please makesure that you obtain a copy from the office staff when submitting this form.

For further information about obtaining coursework extensions seesection5.8, and for further information about submitting a mitigating circumstances form seesection5.13below.

3.4Student representation and feedback

3.4.1Student representation

Each year student representatives are elected for each course, and they are an important formal channel of communication between students and staff. The names and contact details of student representatives are published on studentcentral from early November each year.

All students are urged to consider standing for election as a student representative. It can be a very rewarding role, is an excellent personal development opportunity, and looks great on your CV. All newly elected student representatives are offered training for the role by the School, in conjunction with the University of Brighton Students Union, and support is available during the year as required. For further information about standing as a student representative, please contact the course administrator.

3.4.2Student feedback

The School recognises the importance of formally obtaining and responding to the views of students in a systematic, consistent and transparent manner, taking action where necessary, and “closing the loop” by giving students feedback on resultant action, and the outcomes of student participation in decision making. For example, the Student Liaison Committee comprising student representatives and chaired by the School Quality Director meets two/three times a year in order to provide a forum for students to comment on issues that may arise at both course and school level.

Feedback is formally obtained from students via annual course feedback forms, the student representative system (see 3.4.1 above), and operation of the school’s policy for resolving academic problems (see 3.3. above). Formal mechanisms for obtaining student feedback are inevitably, and often usefully, supplemented by informal channels and contacts with students.

Feedback from students is formally considered and responded to, at course boards and at the School Board, and as part of the annual academic health process (see 3.5 below).Copies of the minutes of course boards will normally be published on the school area on Studentcentral within three weeks of each board.

3.5Annual academic health process

The basic building block of the university’s quality assurance system is the Annual Academic Health process, which ensures that all courses and their constituent modules are reviewed annually, drawing upon a range of data as appropriate. Reports are produced from module through to course level, and are synthesized into school reports which consider the range of courses within their portfolio. Schools’ reports are considered at faculty and university level. External examiner reports and student feedback are a vital part of this process.