UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

Your UCL username and password gives you access to:

• the UCL e-learning environment (Moodle)
• the database which holds your student records (PORTICO)
• your UCL email

The first thing you need to do is register your module choices, to do this you will need to read A quick guide to module registration and A quick guide to PORTICO. You will also need to read the Quick Guide to your relevant course.

The administrators will use the information that you have inputed into PORTICO to register you for the relevant Moodle courses. Please read A quick guide to Moodle to understand how the e-learning environment works.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is compulsory at all lectures and seminars for which you are timetabled. No candidate will be entered for examination/coursework assessment unless they have attended and pursued the course/programme to the satisfaction of the UCL Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science.

A record of attendance will be kept by each of the course tutors and Student Administration. If you are absent from lectures/seminars, please e-mail the programme administrator and the relevant course tutor immediately in order to explain your absence.

PERSONAL TUTORS

Students will also be allocated a personal tutor on whom they can call for advice on academic or other matters and details will be emailed to all students during the first week of October. In addition the course administrator can be called upon for help with administrative matters. Students are also able to turn to the Head of Department or the UCL Dean of Students, if the Programme Director and other MSc staff are unable to help.

COMMUNICATION

Post from the College, the Library, your tutors and the Department of Security and Crime Science will be placed in in-trays in the stationery room in the basement. It is important to check these regularly.

We use UCL e-mail extensively to communicate with students. Because of the number of students we have, we are unable to use any other email address.

It is vital that you keep your address, telephone or alternative email address up to date. This can be managed by yourself through PORTICO. This will ensure that all central UCL correspondence with regard enrolment, fees, loans, exams and graduation ceremonies is sent to the correct address. Further information about PORTICO (UCL’s Student Information Service) can be found via this link.

UCL’s virtual e-learning environment, Moodle, will be used to communicate information about core modules. Further information about Moodle can be found via this link.

COMPUTERS

It is a course requirement that all essays and dissertations should be word processed or typed; hand-written work cannot be accepted. Students registered for our courses have access to computers in UCL Library and in the Cluster Rooms using their UCL username and password. From UCL computers students are given access to a range of electronic journals. 

Further information on the UCL Cluster Rooms and connections to Halls of Residence are on the Information Systems web site [click for link].

We conducted a survey last year looking at the cluster room to give you an idea of availability. The Excel sheet with the results can be downloaded here.

In addition we have a number of computers for student use in the basement of the Department – these are available on a first-come, first–serve basis. There is also a printer provided which you can use in accordance with the UCL print quota system (click for link). 

LIBRARIES

• UCL libraries

Registered students are also allowed to borrow books from the main UCL Library.  They will need to produce their UCL photo card and current session card to any Issue Desk at the Library and complete a registration form.  Full details about UCL’s Library Services can be found via this link.

The main UCL library is located on the Gower Street site and is situated at the junction of the North and South Cloisters. Books related to crime science can be found within the School of Public Policy section situated on the second floor and the law section in Room 113 on the first floor. Books related to Statistics and Engineering sciences can be found in the Science Library, Malet Place.

Books and journals related to crime science may also be found within other collections. An induction video introducing new students to UCL Library Services is available via this link. 

• Department library

The UCL Department of Security and Crime Science maintains a small library containing books, Home Office Publications and works published by its academic and research staff, reports and a number of journals including:

Home Office Reports
British Journal of Criminology
Howard Journal
Criminology (some issues)
COPS reports

Copies held are for reference only.

• Other libraries

Besides UCL's own library, numerous libraries are concentrated in Bloomsbury.

Particularly useful are:

The British Library, Euston Road, NW1, next to St. Pancras Station

University of London Library, Senate House, Malet St., London, WC1E 7HU.

All registered students who have a valid UCL photo card and session card will normally be allowed access to any of the Library sites.   Full details can be found on the UCL Library website. UCL has arranged for access (including borrowing) at the University of London Library at Senate House for all members of UCL needing to use it.

UCL students are allowed access to several University of London libraries but should check first on the relevant web site where the college's specific policy will be explained.

Library resources

eUCLid is the UCL online library catalogue accessed through the Library website.

Electronic Journals and JSTOR

UCL Library also provides access to a number of electronic journals (see the web site for further details.  In addition, UCL provides access online to JSTOR which is a unique full text digital archive collection of core scholarly journals starting with the very first issues (many of which date from the 1800s.  UCL also has a growing list of electronic journal subscriptions found via this link.

Teaching collection

Where materials are in high demand, tutors may place a copy in the Library Teaching Collection.  The collection consists of photocopies of journal articles, book extracts and lecture notes which teaching staff wish to make available to their students. The copies are kept in envelopes at the Main Library Issue Desks, and are normally issued for three hour periods or overnight from 4pm. 

Library photocopying

Details of library photocopying facilities and charges can be found via this link.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS

Students should make sure they are familiar with UCL’s Academic Regulations for Students, accessed via this link.

DATA PROTECTION

The following guidelines are to help you and to ensure that you are aware of our requirements for helping you to complete your programme successfully.

Photographs
We may display a photograph of you in the main Department office, for ease of identification. We may also wish to display photographs of departmental activities to publicise these. The Department maintains its own web pages; we may wish to publish student names and UCL contact addresses here. The UCL Development Office may also wish to use your photograph and personal details in a UCL publication, either as a news item or for future events. 

Academic procedures
Marked written work will be returned to the student intray in the main breakout room for collection or left at a collection point within the JDI. Examination and Degree Results - You will receive your individual results in a sealed envelope. 

References
The Department will confirm your Student status to outside agencies, such as Landlords and Local Borough Councils.

If you wish your Tutor to provide references for your prospective employers at the end of your Course please inform the Tutor when giving their name.

Email
The Department will, as necessary, communicate with you via your UCL Email address, in order to ensure the security of the communication. If you wish to re-route these communications to an alternative address this must be at your risk, the Department will not accept responsibility for these going astray or the information included in them being published.

GUIDELINES FOR SENSITIVE INFORMATION

1. UCL is not responsible for the actions of students and staff involved with this course. It is the students and staff responsibility to ensure that any of their activities in relation to this course fully comply with the relevant legislation.
2. Due to the sensitive nature of this course, UCL recommends all students to make sure that all activities carried out in the context of this course are academically justified and do not facilitate the access to general public to sensitive/classified/illegal materials.
3. Although the course content is not classified, we do not encourage you to share it with others. The materials have a copyright. They should not be made public.
4. We strongly recommend you do not place any sensitive materials that you obtain during your study into the public domain: i.e. do NOT create a website or a blog with copies or links to terrorist materials– do NOT share sensitive information on Facebook.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

University College London
Gower Street,
London WC1E 6BT.
www.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Department of Security and Crime Science
35 Tavistock Square

London WC1H 9EZ
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/scs

UCL Registrar’s Division
South Wing, UCL
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Registry/

UCL Student Records Section
Room G9, Registrar’s Division
studentrecords@ucl.ac.uk
020 7679 7006

UCL Student Finance Section
Room G19, Registrar’s Division
daniel.dobson@ucl.ac.uk
020 7679 2566

UCL Careers Service
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/

UCL Union
Gordon Street
http://www.uclunion.org/

UCL Graduate School
North Cloisters
http://www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/

University of London Library
http://www.ull.ac.uk/

University of London Careers Service
http://www.gradsintocareers.co.uk/

London School of Economics Library Services
http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/

What is module registration?
Each master’s course consists of a number of modules. These will consist of:

• Taught modules (ie those you attend classes for)
• A dissertation or research project

Each student needs to register their choice of modules for the academic year (ie September to September). This enables the correct fees to be charged and automatically sets up your student record so that we can input your results against the modules you have taken.

THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS 12 OCTOBER 2012

How important is this?
Vital. We cannot stress how important it is that you get this right. If you choose too few modules then you will not have taken enough credits to complete the course, if you choose too many then you will be overcharged the fees and may not be able to get a refund.

How do I know which modules to take?
See the Quick Guide to your relevant course which has previously been given to you.

How often should I register?

• Full time students: You will register your modules just once, at the beginning of the academic year. Some courses have core modules that you will automatically be registered for at the time of enrolment. You will still need to choose your optional modules.
• Modular-flexible students: At the beginning of each academic year you need to register the modules that you are taking that academic year (ie September to September). How many you choose to take each academic year depends on you, but recommendations are made on the Quick Guide to your relevant course.

How do I check I’ve got it right?
If you want to check which modules you have chosen, log in to PORTICO and ‘view module selection status’, this will also tell you if your module has been confirmed by the department. N.B. Departmental approval is an administrative matter and does not affect your timetable - please attend ALL lectures from the start of term even if your module selection has not been approved yet.

Once the registration period is over (usually around 21 October), you will need to look at ‘view confirmed module registration’ to see which modules you have registered for.

IF AT ANY TIME WHAT YOU SEE ON YOUR RECORD IS NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED TO SEE, YOU MUST INFORM THE COURSE ADMINISTRATOR

For more detailed help
Log in to PORTICO and view the module registration userguide.

Log in to PORTICO here

What is PORTICO?
PORTICO is the student records database. All staff and students can look at this (although with varying levels of access). It is the record of your student status and which examinations or assignments you have taken.

What’s on there?
You can access the database to view:

• Your contact details
• The list of modules that you have chosen to take in the current academic year
• Modules previously taken (with the results once the exam boards have sat)

How often should I access it?
There are a number of key periods at which you should access it:

• Any time you want to change your contact details
• When you want to review and check which modules you are registered for
• When you want to see which (if any) modules you need to retake

How important is this?
Extremely. It’s not unusual for students to make mistakes when registering for modules and the department is not able to make sure that you have got everything correct.

If you don’t get it right you may not be able to complete the course, or you may be overcharged on your course fees. It is therefore sensible to periodically check PORTICO and make sure you are registered for all the modules you want to be registered, and not registered for any you didn’t think you signed up to!

Log in to Moodle here

What is Moodle?
Moodle is the e-learning environment used by UCL. Each module you take has its own Moodle page. There is also a Moodle Student Inductions course for new students which we recommend you read. This can be accessed from the first page you see when you log in to Moodle.

What’s on there?
On it you will find:

• Contact details of the person in overall charge of the module (also known as the module convenor)
• Course timetable and venue
• Lecture notes and handouts
• Course reading list (plus links to e-journals if available)
• Reading lists
• Assessment details
• Access to the Turn-it-in software used to upload your electronic assignment copies

How do I enrol on the courses?
Once you have chosen and confirmed your module selection on PORTICO you will automatically be enrolled on the relevant Moodle course. Part-time students and full-time students with optional modules will find that the Moodle course will show up once this selection process is confirmed by the department. This may take several days.

How often should I access it?
At least once a week! This is the main point of contact for your taught courses. We no longer provide paper information. If there are late changes in the timetable we will use this facility to inform you of them so we advise you to check the day before your lectures in case there has been a change of venue for example.

How interactive is it? What if I want to ask a question about the module?
There is a news forum on each Moodle module page which all students enrolled on that module have access to. We positively encourage you to interact with your fellow students. You can start a discussion group about a topic or let people know about events related to the module topic (such as seminars or television programmes) that you think they may be interested in for example. You can even use it to ask questions about aspects of the module you may not entirely understand—often other students can help explain it in a way that makes it clear to you.

We only have two rules when posting topics:

1. Be nice!
2. Make sure the topic heading is sensible. “Help needed with perceptions of crime” is better than just “Help”!

UCL offers a number of services to support, enhance and contribute to the teaching, learning and research activities of the University.

UCL learning support pages

UCL has a comprehensive and dedicated careers service which includes recruitment fairs and workshops on applying for jobs and PhDs.

• http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers

The University of London also offers career guidance services.

• http://www.gradsintocareers.co.uk/

The Engineering Faculty has recently appointed a specialist careers adviser and all students are encouraged to self-enrol on the Moodle page (the enrolment key is 'careers') for information on appointments, events, mock interviews etc.

• https://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=21108
  

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Noémie Bouhana

n.bouhana@ucl.ac.uk

The MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism consists of eight taught modules (five core modules and three optional modules) and one research project.

CORE MODULES
Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Perspectives in Organised Crime & Terrorism (PUBLGC47)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)
• Prevention and Disruption (PUBLGC48)

Research project (PUBLGC99)
OPTIONAL MODULES
Taught modules

• Intelligence Gathering and Analysis (PUBLGC46)
• Investigation and Detection (PUBLGC45)
• Risk and Contingency Planning (PUBLGC49)
• Qualitative Methods (PUBLGC58)
• Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis (PUBLGC26)
• Globalisation and Security (GEOGG089)*
• Peace and Security (PUBLG034)*
• Terrorism (PUBLG009)*

*Please note that these are modules from outside of the department and we cannot guarantee they will be available to students.

If you are interested in taking Globalisation and Security (GEOGG089) please select it on Portico as soon as possible in term one and go to the Geography department in the first week of term to register for the module. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis so it’s important that you sign up quickly if they are interested.

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. The research project runs throughout the academic year but the bulk of the work will be completed in Terms two and three. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules plus the research project.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
Three of the OPTIONAL taught modules

Modular-flexible students

You will take eight taught modules (five core modules and three optional modules) plus the research project over the course of your enrolment (maximum five years).

You will need to carefully consider how many modules you are able to take each term. Please bear in mind that each modules requires 15 hours a week of study time. Students typically take four modules in their first year, and four in their second year. The dissertation is completed in Year 3.

If your company is not giving you time off for study, or you are in a position of responsibility we recommend that you use the full five years to complete this degree. This would involve you taking only one taught module per term (a total of two each academic year) and completing your research project in your fifth and final year.

We strongly recommend that students take Foundations of Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42) and Perspectives in Organised Crime and Terrorism (PUBLGC47) as their first two modules.

Modular-flexible PORTICO registration requirements:
Choose ONLY the modules you wish to take in the current academic year (ie Term one and two). 

2011-12 and earlier academic year intake

Download course content and PORTICO module choices

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Ruth Morgan

ruth.morgan@ucl.ac.uk

The MSc in Crime and Forensic Science consists of eight taught modules (five core modules and three optional modules) and one research project.

CORE MODULES
Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)
• Interpretation of Forensic Evidence (PUBLGC57)
• Judges, Courts and Judicial Decision Making (LAWSG132)
  

Research project (PUBLGC99)

OPTIONAL MODULES
Taught modules

• Crime Scene Investigation (PUBLGC55)
• Forensic Geoscience (PUBLGC56)
• Frontiers in Experimental Physical Chemistry (CHEMM301)
  
• Structural Methods in Modern Chemistry (CHEMM005)
  
• Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (BIOL2004)
  
• Judgement and Decision Making (PSYCGD03)
  
• Forensic Archaeology (ARCLG273)
  
• Forensic Osteology (ANATG026)
  
• Fraud, Ethics and Forensic Accounting (MSING305)
  
• Information Security Management (COMPGA14)
  

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. The research project runs throughout the academic year but the bulk of the work will be completed in Terms two and three. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules plus the research project.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
Three of the OPTIONAL taught modules.

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Kate Bowers

k.bowers@ucl.ac.uk

The MSc in Crime Science is composed of eight taught modules (four core modules and four optional modules) and one research project.

CORE MODULES
Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Understanding Crime and the Criminal Justice System (PUBLGC33)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)

Research project (PUBLGC99)

OPTIONAL MODULES
Taught modules

• Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis (PUBLGC26)
• Preventing Crimes (PUBLGC43)
• Investigation and Detection (PUBLGC45)
• Intelligence Gathering and Analysis (PUBLGC46)
• Qualitative Methods (PUBLGC58)

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. The research project runs throughout the academic year but the bulk of the work will be completed in Terms two and three. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
FOUR of the OPTIONAL taught modules

Modular-flexible students

You will take eight taught modules (four core modules and four optional modules) plus the research project over the course of your enrolment (maximum five years).

You will need to carefully consider how many modules you are able to take each term. Please bear in mind that each modules requires 15 hours a week of study time. Students typically take four modules in their first year, and four in their second year. The dissertation is completed in Year 3.

If your company is not giving you time off for study, or you are in a position of responsibility we recommend that you use the full five years to complete this degree. This would involve you taking only one taught module per term (a total of two each academic year) and completing your research project in your fifth and final year.

We strongly recommend that students take Foundations of Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42) and Understanding Crime and the Criminal Justice System (PUBLGC33) as their first two modules.

Modular-flexible PORTICO registration requirements:
Choose ONLY the modules you wish to take in the current academic year (ie Term one and two). 

2011-12 academic year intake

Our preference is for you to follow the new course structure, but if you cannot do this and need to follow the previous course structure please talk to the programme convenor who will talk through your options with you.

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Noémie Bouhana

n.bouhana@ucl.ac.uk

The PG Diploma in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism consists of eight taught modules (five core modules and three optional modules).

CORE MODULES
Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Perspectives in Organised Crime & Terrorism (PUBLGC47)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)
• Prevention and Disruption (PUBLGC48)

OPTIONAL MODULES
Taught modules

• Intelligence Gathering and Analysis (PUBLGC46)
• Investigation and Detection (PUBLGC45)
• Risk and Contingency Planning (PUBLGC49)
• Qualitative Methods (PUBLGC58)
• Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis (PUBLGC26)
• Globalisation and Security (GEOGG089)*
• Peace and Security (PUBLG034)*
• Terrorism (PUBLG009)*

*Please note that these are modules from outside of the department and we cannot guarantee they will be available to students.

If you are interested in taking Globalisation and Security (GEOGG089) please select it on Portico as soon as possible in term one and go to the Geography department in the first week of term to register for the module. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis so it’s important that you sign up quickly if they are interested.

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
Three of the OPTIONAL taught modules

Modular-flexible students

You will take eight taught modules (five core modules and three optional modules) over the course of your enrolment (maximum five years).

You will need to carefully consider how many modules you are able to take each term. Please bear in mind that each modules requires 15 hours a week of study time. Students typically take four modules in their first year, and four in their second year.

If your company is not giving you time off for study, or you are in a position of responsibility we recommend that you use the full five years to complete this degree. This would involve you taking only one taught module per term (a total of two each academic year).

We strongly recommend that students take Foundations of Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42) and Perspectives in Organised Crime and Terrorism (PUBLGC47) as their first two modules.

Modular-flexible PORTICO registration requirements:
Choose ONLY the modules you wish to take in the current academic year (ie Term one and two).

2011-12 and earlier academic year intake

Download course content and PORTICO module choices

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Kate Bowers

k.bowers@ucl.ac.uk

The PG Dip in Crime Science is composed of eight taught modules (four core modules and four optional modules).

CORE MODULES
Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Understanding Crime and the Criminal Justice System (PUBLGC33)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)

OPTIONAL MODULES
Taught modules

• Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis (PUBLGC26)
• Preventing Crimes (PUBLGC43)
• Investigation and Detection (PUBLGC45)
• Intelligence Gathering and Analysis (PUBLGC46)
• Qualitative Methods (PUBLGC58)

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
FOUR of the OPTIONAL taught modules

Modular-flexible students

You will take eight taught modules (four core modules and four optional modules) over the course of your enrolment (maximum five years).

You will need to carefully consider how many modules you are able to take each term. Please bear in mind that each modules requires 15 hours a week of study time. Students typically take four modules in their first year, and four in their second year.

If your company is not giving you time off for study, or you are in a position of responsibility we recommend that you use at least four years to complete this degree. This would involve you taking only one taught module per term (a total of two each academic year).

We strongly recommend that students take Foundations of Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42) and Understanding Crime and the Criminal Justice System (PUBLGC33) as their first two modules.

Modular-flexible PORTICO registration requirements:
Choose ONLY the modules you wish to take in the current academic year (ie Term one and two).

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). You will need to pay particular attention to the 'overview' and 'structure' tabs.

2012-13 academic year intake

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Kate Bowers

k.bowers@ucl.ac.uk

The PG Certificate in Security and Crime Science consists of four taught modules (one core module and three optional modules).

CORE MODULE

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42) 

OPTIONAL MODULES

NOTE: students  cannot take both PUBLGC48 and PUBLGC43

• Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis (PUBLGC26)
• Designing and Doing Research (PUBLGC31)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)
• Understanding Crime and the Criminal Justice System (PUBLGC33)
• Preventing Crimes (PUBLGC43)
• Investigation and Detection (PUBLGC45)
• Perspectives in Organised Crime & Terrorism (PUBLGC47)
• Prevention and Disruption (PUBLGC48)
• Qualitative Methods (PUBLGC58)

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. You will be automatically registered for your core module and will therefore only need to choose your optional modules.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:
Three of the OPTIONAL taught modules

Modular-flexible students

You will take four taught modules (one core modules and three optional modules) over the course of your enrolment (maximum two years).

Modular-flexible PORTICO registration requirements:
Choose ONLY the modules you wish to take in the current academic year (ie Term one and two).

Please read this guide in conjunction with the information on the course structure available on the departmental website (click to access link). This will provide you with a module outline for the taught modules.

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Dr Hervé Borrion

h.borrion@ucl.ac.uk

The MRes in Security Science consists of six taught modules (five core modules and one optional module) and one research project.

CORE MODULES

Taught modules

• Foundations in Security and Crime Science (PUBLGC42)
• Quantitative Methods (PUBLGC32)
• Risk and Contingency Planning (PUBLGC49)
• Global Security Challenges (PUBLGC51)
• Doing Research in Security Science (PUBLGC54)

Research project (PUBLGC96)

OPTIONAL MODULES

Taught modules

• Choose from any 15 credit postgraduate course appropriate to your discipline

Full time students

Your taught modules will run in Term one and Term two of your academic year. The research project runs throughout the academic year but the bulk of the work will be completed in Terms two and three. You will be automatically registered for your core modules and will therefore only need to choose your optional module. Please remember that you will need to contact the course convenor for your optional module to make sure that they’re happy for you to take it.

Full time PORTICO registration requirements:

One OPTIONAL taught module

As a new student you will need to register with a doctor and open a bank account and may want to buy a travel card.

UCL has a dedicated site for new students which answers all these questions and can be accessed by clicking here.

New for the 2012/13 academic year, the Online Timetable will also offer a calendar subscription service, allowing you to get a feed of your personal timetable directly to your live@UCL account, or to your smartphone or personal calendaring service (e.g. Google Calendar, Apple iCal).

Alongside personal timetables online, you will also be able to subscribe to an iCalendar feed of your timetable, compatible with live@UCL (via the web and Outlook desktop) and many other calendaring services.

Your personal timetable will also give you the option to subscribe to a calendar feed. This will import all of your teaching, as well as selected departmental events, into either your live@UCL calendar or another compatible calendar of your choice.

UCL has a dedicated site which has information for students in all the information services that the university provides. You can access it by clicking here.

Personal tutors

Each student in the department is allocated a personal tutor, you can view the details of your personal tutor in PORTICO. New students should expect their personal tutor's to be allocated by 15 October of the new academic year. You will remain with the same personal tutor for the entire course.

If you need to contact your personal tutor, please remember to copy in the relevant administrator for your course.

MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate students: k.hampson@ucl.ac.uk
MRes Security Science students: k.carter@ucl.ac.uk

Departmental Equal Opportunities Liaison Officer (DEOLO)

The role of the DEOLO is to:

• be a local resource within the department to whom staff and students can come for information and advice
• be the first point of contact for personal equal opportunities issues within the department.
• assist the Head of Department with the implementation of UCL's Equal Opportunities Policies and practice at departmental level.

The DEOLO for the Department of Security and Crime Science is:

Kati Carter: k.carter@ucl.ac.uk

The student representatives meet with the staff three times a year to discuss any issues raised about the course. It is a very pro-active forum and we take the comments made seriously. There will, of course, be issues that the department has no control over. But we do implement suggestions wherever possible.

If you have any questions or comments you would like your representative to raise, please let them know in advance of the meetings. The names of each representative in the list below click through to their email address.

Minutes from the meetings will be posted here when available.

Dates of the Staff-Student meetings

• Monday 19th November 10am-12noon

Teaching Room at 35 Tavistock Square

• Tuesday 12th March 12.30pm-13.30pm
  

Teaching Room at 35 Tavistock Square

• Tuesday 25th June 11am-12noon
  

Teaching Room at 35 Tavistock Square

Click here to download the form required to request permission to record lectures.

The UCL Department of Security and Crime Science is the first university department in the world devoted specifically to reducing crime. It does this through teaching, research, public policy analysis and by the dissemination of evidence-based information on crime reduction. Our mission is to change crime policy and practice.

The department plays a pivotal role in bringing together politicians, scientists, designers and those in the front line of fighting crime to examine patterns in crime, and to find practical methods to disrupt these patterns. As such, the issue of recording lectures has a number of implications and consequences unique to the department environment that must be considered and addressed.

Given the above description, there is a significant level of participation from criminal justice (e.g. the Police Service) and policy-oriented organisations (e.g. the Ministry of Justice) in departmental modules and sessions both in the lecturing staff and the student body. As such, the material presented and discussed may be of a nature such that, whilst private, confidential discussion in the classroom is acceptable, wider dissemination is not. 

The potential consequences of such dissemination are tangible at the organisational, policy and individual levels. For example, wider dissemination of certain crime science techniques could scupper crime prevention efforts across the country.  At the same time, individual practitioners are often legally bound not to make any statements that could be construed as critical of their organisation or face disciplinary action.

Thus, electronic recording can not only significantly undermine classroom discussion but also severely limit the content that can be presented. This is particularly so given the wide availability of outlets for publicly disseminating such recordings.  Since recording lectures is not a right or entitlement at UCL, it is within the purview of department to prohibit electronic recording altogether on the above grounds.

However, for some disabled students, permission to record lectures is a useful adjustment which enables them to gain full advantage of a course, which might otherwise be inaccessible to them. Examples of appropriate use of recording are: when it is painful or causes discomfort for a student with a chronic medical condition to sustain handwriting even for a short period of time, for some dyslexic students who may not be able to listen, follow overheads and write at the same time, or for a student with obsessive compulsive disorder who may not be confident that s/he has taken a correct record.

Therefore, the department wishes to make every effort to assist students with these legitimate needs whilst simultaneously balancing the valid concerns of other students and its lecturing staff.  To this end, students with specific (permanent or temporary) and documented disabilities or learning needs may record lectures provided they agree to comply with the conditions and procedures outlined below.

1. Students wishing to record lectures must sign and submit the ‘Recording Request and Declaration’ form (appendix one) prior to bringing any electronic recording equipment to a departmental lecture.  This signed declaration will be kept on file and apply to all sessions and lectures the student attends whilst enrolled for courses at UCL Department of Security and Crime Science.  Any student refusing to sign this declaration will be denied any permission to record lectures and/or sessions.
2. Demonstrable medical need is a key component.  Students requesting permission to record should be prepared to submit valid documentation demonstrating their legitimate medical need.  In the case of learning or other disabilities, the student’s UCL Disability Centre (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/disability/services/disability-centre) and Dyslexia Assessment and Support Centre (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/disability/services/dyslexia-centre) needs assessment report should specify recording lectures as part of the student’s adjustment and support plan.
3. Since modules where different lecturers deliver the individual sessions are common within the department, students must also secure permission from the individual session lecturer to record prior to the start of each lecture and before making any recording.  Lecturers retain the right to withhold permission to record, although this permission shall not be withheld capriciously.
4. Recording a session is not a substitute for attendance and/or active participation in the session. Recording in lieu of attendance or active participation is unacceptable and unauthorized. Permission to record can be denied or withdrawn on this ground alone.
5. Recording the lecture should not disrupt the session. If another student expresses justifiable concerns about the fact they are being recorded or has objections to audio recording taking place this can constitute a disruption for that student, particularly where participatory discussion is a significant component of the session. In such events the needs of all students concerned must be balanced and weighed by the delivering lecturer in deciding whether or not to permit recording. Permission to record will not be withheld capriciously. However, the group and lecturer may also agree upon other reasonable adjustments (for example, allowing the student access to other people’s handwritten notes). 
6. There may be occasions where permission to record a session may be refused, such as during specific lectures.  Likewise, on occasions where confidential or sensitive issues are being discussed, lecturers may insist that recording stops for that portion of the lecture. Students may also request that recording stop if they wish to make a discussion contribution that they do not want recorded. 
7. A student authorised to record lectures must do so only for the purposes of personal study. Such students acquire no intellectual property rights in the recording or its contents whatsoever, and are absolutely prohibited from broadcasting or supplying the recording to any other person for commercial gain or otherwise except for approved transcription purposes. In other words, permission to record does not impart any intellectual property in or title to use the content other than for your own personal study. Content includes information imparted by the lecturer or session leader, as well as the views, commentary and arguments of fellow students. Feedback on lectures should be given via the normal means and it is not appropriate to use the recorded lectures as part of the feedback without the lecturer's express permission.

Any contravention of the policy will be deemed to be a disciplinary offence and the matter referred to the Dean of Students. Penalties can range from a warning or fine to, in more serious cases, suspension or even permanent exclusion from UCL.

ID cards and access

On campus, students are expected to carry their UCL ID cards at all time.

Full details and examples of the card, together with details of the regular sessions, can be found via this link.

Any queries about the card should be addressed to Access Systems

Your UCL id cards give you access to the department according to the following schedule. Please remember to carry them with you at all times:

• MSc/Diploma students: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
• DTC and research students: 5am to 11pm (all week)

Term dates 2012-13

First term: Monday 24 September 2011 - Friday 14 December 2012
Second term: Monday 7 January 2012 - Friday 22 March 2013
Third term: Monday 22 April 2012 - Friday 7 June 2013

College Reading Weeks are the weeks beginning Monday 5 November 2012, and Monday 11 February 2013. Please note that you may have lectures scheduled for this date.

1. The College is subject to the University of London's General Regulations for Internal Students and the policy detailed below has been drawn up in accordance with those Regulations.
2. Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person's thoughts or words or artefacts or software as though they were a student's own.
3. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and students should identify their sources as accurately and fully as possible.
4. A series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source. Equally, if a student summarises another person's ideas, judgements, figures, diagrams or software, a reference to that person in the text must be made and the work referred to must be included in the bibliography.
5. Recourse to the services of "ghost writing" agencies (for example in the preparation of essays or reports) or of outside word processing agencies which offer "correction/improvement of English" is strictly forbidden, and students who make use of the services of such agencies render themselves liable for an academic penalty.
6. Where part of an examination consists of "take away" papers, essays or other work written in the student's own time, or a coursework assessment, the work submitted must be the candidate's own.
7. Some departments give specific advice about non originality, plagiarism and the use of material by others, and students must make themselves aware of such departmental guidelines and abide by them. For such assessments it is also illicit to reproduce material which a student has used in other work/assessment for the course or programme concerned. Students should make themselves aware of their department's rules on this "self plagiarism". If in doubt, students should consult their Personal Tutor or an appropriate other Tutor.
8. Failure to observe any of the provisions of this policy or of approved departmental guidelines constitutes an examination offence under the University Regulations. Examination offences will normally be treated as cheating or irregularities under the regulations for Proceedings in respect of Examination Irregularities. Under these Regulations students found to have committed an offence may be excluded from all further examinations of the University and/or the College.

You also should note that UCL has now signed up to use a sophisticated detection system (Turn-It-In) to scan work for evidence of plagiarism, and the Department intends to use this for assessed coursework.  This system gives access to billions of sources worldwide, including websites and journals, as well as work previously submitted to the Department, UCL and other universities.

Self-plagiarism

If you have previously written an essay and you use part of that essay for another piece of assessment you must still cite yourself as the author of the source, and acknowledge where the text has come from.

If an assessment enables you to address your choice of topic or to write your own essay question, then it is against Departmental regulations for you to edit a previous assessment and submit that. This is because you cannot be awarded credit for a given piece more than once.

The simple answer is no.

Writing coherently to length is part of the learning process. UCL has a strict policy on overlength coursework and the Department will (and has previously) imposed penalties on students who have written over the word count or misstated the word count on their essay. We can verify the word count via the plagiarism software if necessary.

Students should therefore adhere to the prescribed word counts published by the Department for the module of study. Students are reminded that the given word count is a maximum and anything over this should be avoided.

For submitted coursework, where a maximum word count has been specified, the following procedure will apply:

1. Assessed work should not exceed the prescribed word count.
2. Assessed work with a stated word count above the prescribed word count should not be accepted for submission (i.e. it will not be date-stamped or otherwise recorded as formally submitted), but immediately returned to the student with instructions to reduce the word length. The work may then be resubmitted but the original deadline for submission still applies and penalties for late submission will be applied.
3. For work that exceeds the upper word limit by 10% or more, a mark of zero will be recorded.
4. For work that exceeds the upper word limit by less than 10% the mark will be reduced by ten percentage marks; but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work merited a pass.
   

The departmental policy is that references, captions, tables, pictures and graphs are not included in the maximum word count.

UCL has a strict policy for late assignments and one which the department takes seriously. However, we understand there may be circumstances beyond your control which prevent you from handing work in on time.

Students are expected to plan their time sensibly, and take appropriate precautions to back-up and safe-guard their work. In most cases, computer failures, virus infections or similar will therefore not be regarded as sufficient excuse for late submission.

If you cannot hand your work in on time, you must take the following steps:

• Contact the course administrator and your personal tutor before the deadline to inform them of your circumstances
• Submit an extenuating circumstances form within three working days of the deadline. Failure to submit a form in this time-frame will result in deductions being made from your final mark
• The extenuating circumstances form must include supporting documentation such as a medical certificate, doctor's note or letter from your work. Failure to include supporting documentation will result in deductions being made from your final mark.

You must also read the FAQ on extenuating circumstances (FAQ below) which includes further information and a link to the form.

Penalties for late submission of assignments, essays and dissertations

Late submission of essays or assignments (without extenuating circumstances) can result in deduction of marks according to the following schedule: 

1. The full allocated mark should be reduced by five percentage points for the first working day after the deadline for the submission of the coursework.
2. The mark will be reduced by a further ten percentage points if the coursework is submitted during the following six days.
3. Providing the coursework is submitted by a date during term 3 defined in advance by the relevant Master’s Board of Examiners, but had not been submitted within seven days of the deadline for the submission of the coursework, it will be recorded as zero but the assessment would be considered to be complete
4. In the case of dissertations and project reports submitted more than seven days late, the mark will be recorded as zero but the assessment would be considered to be complete.
5. Where there are extenuating circumstances that have been recognised by the Board of Examiners or its representative, these penalties will not apply until the agreed extension period has been exceeded.

There is an Extenuating Circumstances Board convened in July of each year which takes into consideration the late submission of coursework and any extenuating circumstances. It is that this meeting that penalties (if appropriate) will be applied. Any extenuating circumstances must be commensurate with the date the work was handed in or a penalty will apply.

We understand that there may be circumstances which make it difficult for you to complete an assignment, or which you feel have a bearing on the quality of your work. UCL terms these 'extenuating circumstances' and has a policy in place to consider these when it comes to marking your work. They can include (but are not limited to) situations such as unexpected work commitments or illness of yourself or a close relative.

• Extenuating circumstances and late assignments

If your extenuating circumstances coincide with an assignment deadline, then you must inform the course administrator and your personal tutor immediately (for the full procedure see the FAQ on coursework deadlines above).

If your extenuating circumstances mean that you have to hand your work in later than the deadline, you must complete and hand in the extenuating circumstances form no later than three working days after the deadline in order to avoid any late coursework penalties. 

You should then hand your coursework in as soon as you are able.

Please note however that completion of the form does not guarantee that you will avoid these penalties, we must be convinced that the situation was serious enough to affect your ability to hand your work in on time.

We have a Board meeting in July of each academic year to consider whether your extenuating circumstances justify ignoring the late coursework penalties. During this meeting we take into account the severity of the circumstances, the supporting evidence and the number of days after the deadline the work was handed in. Any extenuating circumstances must be commensurate with the date the work was handed in or a penalty will apply.

• Extenuating circumstances and quality of work

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that affected the quality of your work (whether assignments or exams), then you must inform the course administrator and your personal tutor immediately.

You must complete and hand in an extenuating circumstances form no later than three working days after the deadline or exam date in order for us to be able to consider your case.

Although we are unable to increase marks because of extenuating circumstances, if you are a borderline pass/fail, pass/merit or pass/distinction your circumstances will be taken into consideration at the board meeting at which your degree is awarded.

Download the extenuating circumstances form here.

When your coursework is returned to you, you will not be given a numerical mark, this is because marks can only be finalised at the Exam Board, which is usually held in July. Instead you are graded according to the scheme below.

Essay grading scheme

• Grade F (Fail)     0-49%

At the lower end of this category the answer will display no apparent relevance to, or understanding of, the question, and demonstrate that the student has failed to gain a command over basic scholarly skills.  At the higher end of this category a very limited understanding may be provided but the answer will present little evidence of relevant knowledge or reading, contain many mistakes, irrelevancies or misunderstandings, and/or be badly organised and/or unclearly expressed.

• Grade C              50-59% (C+ will be awarded if the provisional mark is 55-59%)
  

Answers will achieve lower pass marks if they show a general understanding of the question but also display one or more of the following: poor organisation; lack of clarity in expression; limited critical ability; inadequate evidence of appropriate reading; and inadequacies in presentation.  Evidence will be provided of essential scholarly skills, including some ability to construct an argument supported by adequate citation and bibliography, and the ability to meet deadlines and word-limits.

• Grade B              60-69% (B+ will be awarded if the provisional mark is 65-69%)
  

Answers that show good understanding, are well organised, clearly expressed and display evidence of appropriate reading will gain high pass marks.  Students must demonstrate a familiarity with current literature in their areas of specialisation, and must develop a critical position with reference to the relevant texts and/or scholarly literature.  Ability to construct a critical argument supported by adequate and accurate citations and bibliography will be demonstrated, and all presentational requirements will have been met.

• Grade A (Distinction) 70-100%

If, in addition to lesser criteria, an answer shows one or more of the following it will achieve a mark of distinction: exceptional thoroughness and clarity in the presentation of the answer; exceptional enterprise in reading; exceptional insight or originality in the use of primary sources and relevant evidence; outstanding critical ability or unusually clear perception in suggesting future research.

Essays and coursework

Students will receive their grades approximately four weeks after the deadline, although this will vary in instances where the deadline falls just before a university holiday (for example Christmas or Easter).

Examinations

Students will be informed if they have passed their exams after the taught module exam board has sat, usually around the middle of August in the academic year in which you sat them. You will receive the results in the form of Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction.

Numerical marks

The Department will not communicate your numerical marks but they will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you took the module. For example, if you take the module in the academic year 2011-2012, they will be available in December 2012. The exact date will depend on the speed at which UCL Examinations are able to process the marks.

Dissertations

Dissertation marks will be available on PORTICO along with taught module marks around December of the academic year after you took the module (see above).

Overall programme award

Your overall programme award will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you completed the programme (as above). You will be awarded either a Fail, Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction.

Please note that in some circumstances we will be unable to process the taught module marks in time for the August exam board. In these cases, the module will be considered during the final exam board in October and your results will be available on PORTICO around December time.

Failing a module does not mean that you have failed the course. UCL regulations allow candidates to re-enter failed modules. In some instances the relevant exam board may be able to condone the fail but this is not an automatic entitlement.

Re-entering failed modules

Candidates who have been unsuccessful at the first attempt may re-enter the examination on one occasion. Save in very exceptional circumstances, re-entry will be in the year following the first attempt. To obtain the MSc or MRes degree on re-entry, the candidate must have passed all elements.

• Re-entering candidates will not be eligible for a distinction. Re-entering candidates who have passed the dissertation at the first attempt will be exempt from the dissertation element.
• Re-entering candidates who have failed papers not exceeding two modules at the first attempt will be exempt from papers previously passed. Other re-entering candidates may be exempted from one or more examination papers previously passed at the discretion of the examiners.

We strongly recommend that part time students who need to retake module(s) in any academic year reduce the number of new modules they register for in the same academic year to reduce stress and workload.

Studying for retakes

It is at the discretion of the department to allow students to sit in on lectures for modules they are retaking. If you are allowed to sit in please note that you will be assessed on the module content you were taught the first time you took the module so we advise you to discuss this with the module convenor to avoid any confusion. You can access the teaching notes and slides for the year you took the module via the Moodle archive.

You do not need to re-register your retakes on PORTICO, this will be done automatically for you.

Condoned fail

In some instances, students who have received above 40% but below 50% in their taught modules (NOT the dissertation) will be eligible for a condoned fail. Please refer to the assessment rules for your course for further information.

There are several points to note:

• This is at the discretion of the exam board
• This is only available for taught modules and does not apply to the dissertation
• Part time students can only be granted condoned passes in their final year. Prior to that, they must retake the modules
• We will give you the choice of resitting the module or being given a condoned pass after the exam board has sat (usually in August).

If you feel that the grade that you receive on your essay is unfair, please contact the course administrator and let them know why.

The course administrator will then inform the module convenor of your reasons. The module convenor will either contact you to explain the decision, or recommend that the assignment is passed on to the external examiner.

The external examiner will then consider your assignment and the suitability of the mark(s) at the exam board in July.

On each Moodle course page there is a link on the right-hand side to the repository of past exam papers.

Please note that as some of the modules are quite new and so there are only limited papers available.

The examination timetable is published at the end of March. The examination period is any time from the end of April to the middle of June. We do not advise students to organise holidays during this time. The department is unable to choose when the exams take place as they are organised centrally by UCL Examinations. UCL Examinations will inform students of the timings and locations of their exams.

We realise this uncertainty can cause problems for part time students but unfortunately are unable to do anything about this.

The most important thing you need to know is that timing is critical. The more notice you give us of your circumstances the more we can do for you. If you fail to give us sufficient notice and consequently do not attend an exam you will be marked as absent and receive a mark of 0 (zero) for that module.

This does not mean you will automatically fail the course, assuming this is your first attempt at the module you will be able to resit the assessment the next academic year.

If you know when the exam dates are published that you are unable to take an exam you must contact the administrator and your personal tutor immediately. If you do not contact them and do not attend the exam you will be marked as absent and receive a mark of 0 (zero).

If a situation arises after the exam dates are published which means you will not be able to attend an exam, you must contact the administrator and your personal tutor immediately. If you do not contact them and do not attend the exam you will be marked as absent and receive a mark of 0 (zero).

If a situation arises on the day of the exam then you must contact the administrator and your personal tutor within five days of the exam date. If you do not contact them in this time-frame you will be marked as absent and receive a mark of 0 (zero).

We understand that there may be circumstances which you feel have a bearing on the quality of your work. UCL terms these 'extenuating circumstances' and has a policy in place to consider these when it comes to marking your work. They can include (but are not limited to) situations such as unexpected work commitments or illness of yourself or a close relative.

• Extenuating circumstances and quality of work

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that affected the quality of your work in an exam, then you must inform the course administrator and your personal tutor immediately.

You must complete and hand in an extenuating circumstances form no later than three working days after the exam date in order for us to be able to consider your case.

Although we are unable to increase marks because of extenuating circumstances, if you are a borderline pass/fail, pass/merit or pass/distinction your circumstances will be taken into consideration at the board meeting at which your degree is awarded.

Download the extenuating circumstances form here.

Essays and coursework

Students will receive their grades approximately four weeks after the deadline, although this will vary in instances where the deadline falls just before a university holiday (for example Christmas or Easter).

Examinations

Students will be informed if they have passed their exams after the taught module exam board has sat, usually around the middle of August in the academic year in which you sat them. You will receive the results in the form of Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction.

Numerical marks

The Department will not communicate your numerical marks but they will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you took the module. For example, if you take the module in the academic year 2011-2012, they will be available in December 2012. The exact date will depend on the speed at which UCL Examinations are able to process the marks.

Dissertations

Dissertation marks will be available on PORTICO along with taught module marks around December of the academic year after you took the module (see above).

Overall programme award

Your overall programme award will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you completed the programme (as above). You will be awarded either a Fail, Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction.

Please note that in some circumstances we will be unable to process the taught module marks in time for the August exam board. In these cases, the module will be considered during the final exam board in October and your results will be available on PORTICO around December time.

Failing a module does not mean that you have failed the course. UCL regulations allow candidates to re-enter failed modules. In some instances the relevant exam board may be able to condone the fail but this is not an automatic entitlement.

Re-entering failed modules

Candidates who have been unsuccessful at the first attempt may re-enter the examination on one occasion. Save in very exceptional circumstances, re-entry will be in the year following the first attempt. To obtain the MSc or MRes degree on re-entry, the candidate must have passed all elements.

• Re-entering candidates will not be eligible for a distinction. Re-entering candidates who have passed the dissertation at the first attempt will be exempt from the dissertation element.
• Re-entering candidates who have failed papers not exceeding two modules at the first attempt will be exempt from papers previously passed. Other re-entering candidates may be exempted from one or more examination papers previously passed at the discretion of the examiners.

We strongly recommend that part time students who need to retake module(s) in any academic year reduce the number of new modules they register for in the same academic year to reduce stress and workload.

Studying for retakes

It is at the discretion of the department to allow students to sit in on lectures for modules they are retaking. If you are allowed to sit in please note that you will be assessed on the module content you were taught the first time you took the module so we advise you to discuss this with the module convenor to avoid any confusion. You can access the teaching notes and slides for the year you took the module via the Moodle archive.

You do not need to re-register your retakes on PORTICO, this will be done automatically for you.

Condoned pass

In some instances, students who have received above 40% but below 50% in their taught modules (NOT the dissertation) will be eligible for a condoned pass. Please refer to the assessment rules for your course for further information.

There are several points to note:

• This is only available for taught modules and does not apply to the dissertation
• Part time students can only be granted condoned passes in their final year. Prior to that, they must retake the modules
• We may give you the choice of resitting the module or being given a condoned pass after the exam board has sat (usually in August), depending on the rest of your results and whether you have completed the suite of taught modules.

Towards the end of the first term in the year following your examinations, UCL Examinations will write to you and ask if you wish to be re-entered for the exams which you have failed. If you do not wish to re-enter an examination, and that examination counts for 100% of the assessment and you are eligible for a condoned pass, UCL Examinations will note that you have been given a condoned pass for that module. Please be aware that if you opt for this it cannot be reversed. If you wish not to enter an examination you are advised to discuss this with your personal tutor before responding to UCL examinations. If you choose not to enter one module, then you can only receive one further condoned pass. If you choose not to enter two modules, then you must pass all remaining modules.

If you elect to enter all failed examinations and then subsequently elect not to sit that examination (because, for example, you have calculated that you could receive a condoned pass) you must formally withdraw from the examination by contacting UCL Examinations at least two weeks before your first exam. Failure to do so will mean that you are marked as absent and will fail that module with a mark of 0. We will not then be able to grant you a condoned pass.

1. The College is subject to the University of London's General Regulations for Internal Students and the policy detailed below has been drawn up in accordance with those Regulations.
2. Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person's thoughts or words or artefacts or software as though they were a student's own.
3. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and students should identify their sources as accurately and fully as possible.
4. A series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source. Equally, if a student summarises another person's ideas, judgements, figures, diagrams or software, a reference to that person in the text must be made and the work referred to must be included in the bibliography.
5. Recourse to the services of "ghost writing" agencies (for example in the preparation of essays or reports) or of outside word processing agencies which offer "correction/improvement of English" is strictly forbidden, and students who make use of the services of such agencies render themselves liable for an academic penalty.
6. Where part of an examination consists of "take away" papers, essays or other work written in the student's own time, or a coursework assessment, the work submitted must be the candidate's own.
7. Some departments give specific advice about non originality, plagiarism and the use of material by others, and students must make themselves aware of such departmental guidelines and abide by them. For such assessments it is also illicit to reproduce material which a student has used in other work/assessment for the course or programme concerned. Students should make themselves aware of their department's rules on this "self plagiarism". If in doubt, students should consult their Personal Tutor or an appropriate other Tutor.
8. Failure to observe any of the provisions of this policy or of approved departmental guidelines constitutes an examination offence under the University Regulations. Examination offences will normally be treated as cheating or irregularities under the regulations for Proceedings in respect of Examination Irregularities. Under these Regulations students found to have committed an offence may be excluded from all further examinations of the University and/or the College.

You also should note that UCL has now signed up to use a sophisticated detection system (Turn-It-In) to scan work for evidence of plagiarism, and the Department intends to use this for assessed coursework.  This system gives access to billions of sources worldwide, including websites and journals, as well as work previously submitted to the Department, UCL and other universities.

Self-plagiarism

If you have previously written an essay and you use part of that essay for another piece of assessment you must still cite yourself as the author of the source, and acknowledge where the text has come from.

If an assessment enables you to address your choice of topic or to write your own essay question, then it is against Departmental regulations for you to edit a previous assessment and submit that. This is because you cannot be awarded credit for a given piece more than once.

The simple answer is no.

Writing coherently to length is part of the learning process. UCL has a strict policy on overlength coursework and the Department will (and has previously) imposed penalties on students who have written over the word count or misstated the word count on their essay. We can verify the word count via the plagiarism software if necessary.

Students should therefore adhere to the prescribed word counts published by the Department for the module of study. Students are reminded that the given word count is a maximum and anything over this should be avoided.

For submitted coursework, where a maximum word count has been specified, the following procedure will apply:

1. Assessed work should not exceed the prescribed word count.
2. Assessed work with a stated word count above the prescribed word count should not be accepted for submission (i.e. it will not be date-stamped or otherwise recorded as formally submitted), but immediately returned to the student with instructions to reduce the word length. The work may then be resubmitted but the original deadline for submission still applies and penalties for late submission will be applied.
3. For work that exceeds the upper word limit by 10% or more, a mark of zero will be recorded.
4. For work that exceeds the upper word limit by less than 10% the mark will be reduced by ten percentage marks; but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work merited a pass.
   

The departmental policy is that references, captions, tables, pictures and graphs are not included in the maximum word count.

UCL has a strict policy for late assignments and one which the department takes seriously. However, we understand there may be circumstances beyond your control which prevent you from handing work in on time.

If you cannot hand your work in on time, you must take the following steps:

• Contact the course administrator and your personal tutor before the deadline to inform them of your circumstances
• Submit an extenuating circumstances form within three working days of the deadline. Failure to submit a form in this time-frame will result in deductions being made from your final mark
• The extenuating circumstances form must include supporting documentation such as a medical certificate, doctor's note or letter from your work. Failure to include supporting documentation will result in deductions being made from your final mark.

You must also read the FAQ on extenuating circumstances (FAQ below) which includes further information and a link to the form.

Penalties for late submission of assignments, essays and dissertations

Late submission of essays or assignments (without extenuating circumstances) can result in deduction of marks according to the following schedule: 

1. The full allocated mark should be reduced by five percentage points for the first working day after the deadline for the submission of the coursework.
2. The mark will be reduced by a further ten percentage points if the coursework is submitted during the following six days.
3. Providing the coursework is submitted by a date during term 3 defined in advance by the relevant Master’s Board of Examiners, but had not been submitted within seven days of the deadline for the submission of the coursework, it will be recorded as zero but the assessment would be considered to be complete
4. In the case of dissertations and project reports submitted more than seven days late, the mark will be recorded as zero but the assessment would be considered to be complete.
5. Where there are extenuating circumstances that have been recognised by the Board of Examiners or its representative, these penalties will not apply until the agreed extension period has been exceeded.

There is an Extenuating Circumstances Board convened in July of each year which takes into consideration the late submission of coursework and any extenuating circumstances. It is that this meeting that penalties (if appropriate) will be applied. Any extenuating circumstances must be commensurate with the date the work was handed in or a penalty will apply.

We understand that there may be circumstances which make it difficult for you to complete an assignment, or which you feel have a bearing on the quality of your work. UCL terms these 'extenuating circumstances' and has a policy in place to consider these when it comes to marking your work. They can include (but are not limited to) situations such as unexpected work commitments or illness of yourself or a close relative.

• Extenuating circumstances and late assignments

If your extenuating circumstances coincide with an assignment deadline, then you must inform the course administrator and your personal tutor immediately (for the full procedure see the FAQ on coursework deadlines above).

If your extenuating circumstances mean that you have to hand your work in later than the deadline, you must complete and hand in the extenuating circumstances form no later than three working days after the deadline in order to avoid any late coursework penalties. 

You should then hand your coursework in as soon as you are able.

Please note however that completion of the form does not guarantee that you will avoid these penalties, we must be convinced that the situation was serious enough to affect your ability to hand your work in on time.

We have a Board meeting in July of each academic year to consider whether your extenuating circumstances justify ignoring the late coursework penalties. During this meeting we take into account the severity of the circumstances, the supporting evidence and the number of days after the deadline the work was handed in. Any extenuating circumstances must be commensurate with the date the work was handed in or a penalty will apply.

• Extenuating circumstances and quality of work

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that affected the quality of your work (whether assignments or exams), then you must inform the course administrator and your personal tutor immediately.

You must complete and hand in an extenuating circumstances form no later than three working days after the deadline or exam date in order for us to be able to consider your case.

Although we are unable to increase marks because of extenuating circumstances, if you are a borderline pass/fail, pass/merit or pass/distinction your circumstances will be taken into consideration at the board meeting at which your degree is awarded.

Download the extenuating circumstances form here.

The Department retains a couple of example dissertations and research projects for students to look at, but for reasons of confidentiality and intellectual property we are not able to offer open access to all previous dissertations.

The research projects that we do have are stored in the Departmental library.

PLEASE NOTE that these must not be taken away and are for reference only.

Essays and coursework

Students will receive their grades approximately four weeks after the deadline, although this will vary in instances where the deadline falls just before a university holiday (for example Christmas or Easter).

Examinations

Students will be informed if they have passed their exams after the taught module exam board has sat, usually around the middle of August in the academic year in which you sat them. You will receive the results in the form of Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction.

Numerical marks

The Department will not communicate your numerical marks but they will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you took the module. For example, if you take the module in the academic year 2011-2012, they will be available in December 2012. The exact date will depend on the speed at which UCL Examinations are able to process the marks.

Dissertations

Dissertation marks will be available on PORTICO along with taught module marks around December of the academic year after you took the module (see above).

Overall programme award

Your overall programme award will be available on PORTICO around December of the academic year after you completed the programme (as above). You will be awarded either a Fail, Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction.

Please note that in some circumstances we will be unable to process the taught module marks in time for the August exam board. In these cases, the module will be considered during the final exam board in October and your results will be available on PORTICO around December time.