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University of Brighton Brighton Business School

Brighton Business School

BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance

Course Handbook

SEPTEMBER 2015

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 Contract;

the University of Brighton Plagiarism Awareness Pack;

the Brighton Business School 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 copies of the University Student Contract 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 leader and, whilst we cannot promise to change things straight away, we will do our best to improve the handbook in future years.

IMPORTANT Please note that the provisional dates for 2015/16 resit examinations are 22 August to

2 September 2016. Any referred student unable to attend examinations between these dates will be required to resit in 2016/17 academic year and will be unable to proceed with the course meanwhile.

CONTENTS

1. COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION

2. ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL – BRIGHTON BUSINESS SCHOOL

3. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - STRUCTURE AND CONTENT 3.1 Course aims and learning outcomes 3.2 Course structure and content 3.3 Exit awards 3.4 Academic calendar 3.5 Placement year 3.6 Languages 3.7 Careers planning agreement 3.8 Exemptions from professional institutions 3.9 Academic prizes and scholarships

4. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

4.1 Course management team, course board and examination board 4.2 Communications between staff and students 4.3 Where to turn for advice and guidance 4.4 Student representation and feedback 4.5 Annual academic health process

5. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - ASSESSMENT

5.1 Nature of assessment 5.2 Coursework marking guidelines 5.3 Coursework presentation 5.4 Referencing your work 5.5 Coursework word limit and word ranges 5.6 In-class assessments 5.7 Coursework submission 5.8 Late coursework 5.9 Coursework extensions 5.10 Return of coursework 5.11 Examination timetables 5.12 Examination past papers 5.13 Examination results 5.14 Mitigating circumstances 5.15 Plagiarism, collusion and cheating in examinations 5.16 Appealing the decision of an examination board

6. YOUR COURSE-SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

6.1 Undergraduate modular programme 6.2 Minimum pass mark 6.3 What happens if I fail a Level 4 or Level 5 module 6.4 More on referrals 6.5 What happens if I then fail a referral? 6.6 Deferrals 6.7 What happens if I fail a Level 6 module? 6.8 Calculation of the final mark for the degree classification 6.9 Awarding honours 6.10 Border zone decisions

7. LIBRARY, COMPUTING AND MEDIA SERVICES

7.1 The library service 7.2 Library services for part-time students 7.3 The Online Library 7.4 Computing services for students based at Moulsecoomb 7.5 Media Centres 7.6 Studentcentral 7.7 ASK Study Guide 7.8 Useful web addresses 8. STUDENT SERVICES 9. STUDENT ENTITLEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1 Student Charter 9.2 Brighton Business School – Attendance and Engagement policy 9.3 Disability statement 9.4 Fire evacuation 9.5 Observing copyright laws

APPENDIX

Career Planning Agreement

Employability

1. COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION

This handbook covers all years of the BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance course. An essential ingredient of the approach adopted on your course is that we assume that you will take responsibility for your own learning. This does not mean that staff are indifferent or insensitive to your needs; it means that you must organise your own learning process using the resources which the institution has to offer. The consequence of this is that there will be a good deal of private study required in addition to the formal contact hours that are timetabled, and to the assessment tasks that are set. Your responsibilities therefore are to prepare for each class, to take an active part in class discussions, and to consolidate your learning on a weekly basis, in addition to reading beyond the recommended texts and to completing the assessed and non-assessed tasks that are set. Our responsibility to you is to prepare you for the assessments by providing a framework for your learning, by introducing you to the syllabus topics, directing you to important and relevant subject areas, and recommending extra work. That is the nature of our learning contract with you. Many of you will be interested in exemptions from the professional accountancy bodies' examinations. Over the past few years ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA have undergone the process of introducing new examination schemes. No exemptions can be guaranteed but we endeavour to keep abreast of developments and have, where possible, adapt the options we offer in order to gain maximum exemptions. We always welcome constructive criticism and any suggestions about the course can be made at any time, although course evaluation will be carried out during the year. Matters which affect the whole course should be taken up by the student representatives who will be elected at the start of the year. I will meet with them regularly to resolve any issues and the course board will meet at least twice a year. Should you ever have questions regarding features of the course or our expectations of you, please do not hesitate to ask any member of staff. If you have comments (positive as well as negative are appreciated!) please pass them to your student year representative, personal tutor or any lecturer on the team. We shall make the course as challenging and useful as possible and our major requirement is that you rise to this challenge, working hard and consistently over the session ahead. Sue Endean Course Leader September 2015

2. ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL – BRIGHTON BUSINESS SCHOOL

Your School is Brighton Business School. The Director and Head 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: www.brighton.ac.uk/bbs. The current Vice Chancellor of the University is Professor Julian Crampton. From 1 December 2016, the Vice Chancellor will be Professor Debra Humphris. The Business School’s contact details are: Brighton Business School University of Brighton Mithras House Lewes Road BRIGHTON BN2 4AT Tel: (01273) 600900 (Switchboard) Fax: (01273) 643597 or 642153 The Academic year dates for the School are: AUTUMN TERM 28 September 2015 – 11 December 2015 SPRING TERM 4 January 2016 – 18 March 2016 SUMMER TERM 11 April 2016 – 10 June 2016 w/c 16 May 2016 to w/c 6 June 2016 (examinations for year-through modules) SEMESTER DATES Semester One 28 September 2015 – 5 February 2015 Semester Two 8 February 2016 – 6 June 2015

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/bbs

3. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - STRUCTURE AND CONTENT 3.1 Course aims and learning outcomes 3.2 Course structure and content 3.3 Exit awards 3.4 Academic calendar 3.5 Placement year 3.6 Languages 3.7 Career planning agreement 3.8 Exemptions from professional institutions 3.9 Academic prizes and scholarships ___________________________________________________________________

3.1 Course aims and learning outcomes

To pursue a career as an accountant, financial manager or in any other area where financial information and decision-making are a central element. The objective is for a broad-based education which will provide a good starting point for the students' later professional work and studies, an academic base to which problems arising in later professional work can be referred, and a way of thinking which will help students to meet the challenges of new ideas and problems. The course aims to provide the students with the following subject-specific knowledge and skills:

1. An understanding of the contexts in which accounting and finance can be seen to be

operating, in particular, the legal environment, the business entity, the ethical and social environment and the capital markets.

2. Knowledge and understanding of the main current technical language and practices

of accounting, in particular, recognition, measurement and disclosure in financial statements, managerial accounting, taxation and in a socio-economic domain specified in 1) above.

3. Knowledge and understanding of some of the alternative technical languages and

practices of accounting, for example, alternative recognition rules and valuation bases and alternative managerial accounting approaches to control and decision-making.

4 Skills in recording and summarising transactions and other economic events;

preparation of financial statements; analysis and the operations of business, in particular, decision analysis, performance measurement and management control; financial analysis and projections, in particular, analysis of financial ratios, discounted cash flow analysis, budgeting and financial risks.

5. Knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and empirical evidence

concerning accounting and finance in the contexts of accounting and capital markets and accounting and the firm; and the ability to critically evaluate such theories and evidence.

6. Knowledge and understanding of the problems associated with investment decisions, the raising of finance and the management of financial resources and risk.

7. On completion of the degree, students will have knowledge and understanding of theories and empirical evidence concerning financial management, risk and the operation of capital markets.

In addition, it is also the aim of the course to enable students to acquire the

following abilities and skills: 1. To become critical and analytical in their thinking and to recognise where the

particular skills or ideas learned on the course may be relevant to solving a new problem.

2. To be able to analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and, to

a more limited extent, unstructured problems from a given set of data which must be acquired by the student.

3. To locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the

acknowledgement and referencing of sources.

4. To develop the capacity for independent and self-managed learning.

5. Numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data and to appreciate the statistical concepts at an appropriate level.

6. Skills in the use of communications and information technology, in particular, the use

of spreadsheets, word processing software and on-line databases.

7. Communication skills, including the ability to present quantitative and qualitative information, together with analysis and commentary

8. Normally an ability to work in groups, and other inter-personal skills, including oral as

well as written presentation skills.

The relationship between the Accounting & Finance degree and professional studies The degree is designed to meet the aims and objectives above and has been designed to gain exemption from the professional accounting bodies examinations. In other words, where the professional bodies’ aims are close to those of the degree then the opportunity has been taken to get the degree recognised by the accountancy bodies in order to enable students to gain appropriate exemptions. Year 1 studies for this course have been designed both to provide an appropriate first year of the degree course in Accounting and Finance, and to enable students to meet the requirements of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Fundamentals Level- Knowledge examinations. Students who successfully complete the first year have the opportunity, if in relatively unusual circumstances they wish to do so, of leaving the course at the end of the first year, and commencing training and studying for the ACCA professional qualifications with no loss of time or study, as they will have satisfied the foundation requirements of the ACCA. They may continue their studies at the University of Brighton by applying for the ACCA course, which, for ACCA Fundamentals Level - Skills, is internally assessed and offered on a part-time or full-time basis.

The degree course is recognised by the accountancy profession as a relevant degree and all graduates may gain exemption from the ACCA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) foundation stage examinations. All graduates also gain partial exemption from later stages of the ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA professional examinations. In designing the course, where possible, options have been included to enable students to make choices, which may lead to further exemptions. The most advanced studies the degree students undertake are also the subject of the accountancy bodies' final stage examinations, to which they do not give exemptions. Figures from the ACCA show that relevant graduates do better in these examinations compared to non-relevant graduates. The professional bodies regularly review and revise their requirements and the position regarding exemptions is constantly changing. We continue to monitor such developments and are constantly reviewing our course content in line with changes where appropriate.

3.2 Course structure and content Overview of the Course

Year 1 The first year provides the introduction to Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Economics and Financial Skills which are deemed to be fundamental and provide the basis for subsequent development as the degree progresses. In addition, all students also must pass an academic and professional skills module. The main objective of this module is to facilitate the development of core (study, research and interpersonal) skills, confidence and self-awareness required for effective performance throughout the degree programme. Whilst the first year is intended to provide an introduction to the relevant disciplines, it does not mean that they are taught in isolation from each other. The links between the disciplines will be stressed throughout the course and the first year is not an exception to this.

Year 2 By the start of the second year, students will have sufficient understanding of the fundamental disciplines to enable them to undertake a specific programme of integrating studies, based on case study analysis and discussion. The fundamental aim of the Case Study Analysis programme is to develop the student's ability to analyse a financial or other business problem, and to identify and apply the various elements relevant to its solution, from whichever subject disciplines these elements may be drawn. During year 2 students study Corporate and Business Law, Business Ethics and Corporate Governance and develop their understanding of Financial Accounting. Management Accounting together with information technology is further developed in Management Accounting Systems. Financial management is introduced in the Financial Management module.

Industrial Placement Year (optional) Students may opt to undertake training in appropriate employment approved by the University after the completion of their year 2 studies. This optional sandwich year can offer a variety of opportunities for students to enhance their personal and vocational experience, to extend their understanding of aspects of the degree studies and improve their employment prospects. Final Year By the final year students will have a sufficient grasp of the subjects underlying and supporting the primary disciplines of accounting and finance to be able to concentrate their formal studies in these primary subjects, and to make a choice, for specialist study and potential career development from the fields of accounting or finance. The integrative case study analysis programme continues in the final year and includes a major individual piece of work.

Note: Copies of all module descriptors are accessible, by module code, via the school area on Studentcentral.

BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance

Year 1 Year 2 Yr 3 Year 4

Core Core Core

(FA183) Financial

Accounting

(FA283) Financial

Accounting & Reporting

Op

tion

al place

men

t year in in

du

stry

(FA360) Financial

Reporting: Theory & Practice

30 20 20

(MA182) Management

Accounting

(MA283) Management

Accounting Systems

(MA360) Management

Control Systems

BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance

30 20 20

(EC161) Economics

(FN281) Financial

Management

(FN368) Finance & Risk Management

20 20 20

(FN142) Financial Skills

(CA272) Case Study

Analysis

(CA362) Advanced Case

Study

20 20 20

(ML150) Academic & Professional

Skills

(FA265) Business Ethics

& Corporate Governance

Elective 1

20 20 20

(LW270) Corporate & Business Law

Elective 2

20

20

120 120 120

Final Year Options Options are only available in the final year. For information purposes only, a selection of current final year options are shown below:

Code Module CATS Points

CA380

Entrepreneurship: New Business Planning (can be taken in either semester)

10

CA381 Small Business and Entrepreneurship 20

CA382 Social Enterprise: New Business Planning 20

DB317 Business Project (Sandwich placement students only)

20

DB361 Dissertation 20

EC363 Emerging Financial Markets (semester 2)

10

EC364 Game Theory in Economics, Finance and Business

20

EC366 Behavioural Economics 20

EC391 Contemporary Economic Issues 20

FA362 Taxation 20

FA363 Auditing 20

FN369 Investment Management 20

FN380 International Finance 20

HR315 Employee Selection & Development 20

HR325 Understanding Employee Relations 20

HR327 Understanding Organisational Behaviour 20

HR375 Researching Contemporary Issues in HRM 20

HR382 International Human Resource Management 10

HR388 Human Resource Management and Organisational Change

20

IT383 Innovation in E-Business and Mobile Commerce

20

LW314 Law of International Trade (semester 1)

10

LW315 Commercial Law 20

LW352 Consumer Law and Practice (semester 2)

10

LW368 Human Rights and Business 20

LW369 Employment Law (cannot be taken with LW370)

20

LW370 Essentials of Employment Law (semester 2 and cannot be taken with LW369)

10

LW371 Intellectual Property Law (semester 1)

10

LW381 Family Law 20

ST363 Corporate Strategy 20

May lead to exemptions from professional examinations (see section 3.8)

All students must do either the Placement Project or the Advanced Case Study module and may do one further research based (including Dissertation) module. Students who successfully complete the Placement Project may do the Advanced Case Study module as their second research based module. Copies of all module descriptors are accessible, by module code, via the school area on Studentcentral. Please note that the options offered within the Business programme may be subject to change. Students may choose to study any other suitable module available within the Business School with the approval of the course leader. Some modules can only be taken where students have studied and passed a prerequisite module. Students should ensure that they have complied with this requirement, where applicable, prior to making their option choices. The options offered in any year are subject to viable student numbers.

3.3 Exit awards The following Exit Awards may be offered to students who withdraw before

completing the course:

Certificate of Higher Education in Accounting and Finance. This is available to students who withdraw after successfully completing all modules in year 1.

Diploma of Higher Education in Accounting and Finance. This is available to students who withdraw after successfully completing all

modules in years 1 and 2.

3.4 Academic calendar - 2015/16

YEAR-THROUGH MODULES

YEAR ONE (LEVEL 4)

Sem Time table week

Teaching Week No

Week Beg

Monday

Lectures & Workshops

Seminar Notes

1

28.09.15

Welcome Week

10 1 1 11 2 05.10.15 Yes Yes

1 12 3 12.10.15

Yes Yes

1 13 4 19.10.15 Yes Yes 1 14 5 26.10.15 Yes Yes 1 15 6 02.11.15 Yes Yes 1 16 7 09.11.15 No No Reading Week 1

1 17 8 16.11.15 Yes Yes 1 18 9 23.11.15 Yes Yes 1 19 10 30.11.15 Yes Yes 1 20 11 07.12.15 Yes Yes Term Ends Fri 11.12.15 21 14.12.15

22 21.12.15 23 28.12.15 1 24 12 04.01.16 Yes Yes Term Starts Mon 04.01.16 1 25 13 11.01.16 Yes Yes

1 26 14 18.01.16 Yes Yes 1 27 15 25.01.16 Yes Yes 1 28 16 01.02.16 No No Reading Week 2

2

29

17 08.02.16

Yes

Yes

Sem 2 Starts Mon 08.02.16

2 30 18 15.02.16 Yes Yes 2 31 19 22.02.16 Yes Yes 2 32 20 29.02.16 Yes Yes 2 33 21 07.03.16 Yes Yes 2 34 22 14.03.16 Yes Yes Term Ends Fri 18.03.16

35 21.03.16 36 28.03.16

37 04.04.16 2 38 23 11.04.16 Yes Yes Term Starts Mon 11.04.16 2 39 24 18.04.16 Yes Yes 2 40 25 25.04.16 Yes Yes

2 41 26 02.05.16 Revision Revision Bank Holiday May 2

2 42 27 09.05.16 Revision Revision 2 43 28 16.05.16 Examinations 2 44 29 23.05.16 Examinations

2 45 30 30.05.16 Examinations Bank Holiday May 30 2 46 31 06.06.16 Examinations Term Ends Fri 10.06.16

Academic Calendar - 2015/2016

YEAR-THROUGH MODULES

YEAR TWO (LEVEL 5)

Sem Time table week

Teaching Week No

Week Beg

Monday


Seminar Notes

1

28.09.15

Yes* No

*Lectures start from

Thursday, Oct 1st

10 1 1 11 2 05.10.15 Yes Yes

All lectures, workshops

and seminars run, unless

advised otherwise 1 12 3 12.10.15 Yes Yes





2

29

17 08.02.16

Yes

Yes


2 30 18 15.02.16 Yes Yes 2 31 19 22.02.16 Yes Yes 2 32 20 29.02.16 Yes Yes 2 33 21 07.03.16 Yes Yes 2 34 22 14.03.16 Yes Yes Term Ends Fri 18.03.16 35 21.03.16 36 28.03.16




2 45 30 30.05.16 Examinations Bank Holiday May 30

2 46 31 06.06.16 Examinations Term Ends Fri 10.06.16

Academic Calendar - 2015/2016

YEAR-THROUGH & SEMESTER-BASED MODULES

FINAL YEAR (LEVEL 6)

Sem Time table week

Teaching Week No

Week Beg

Monday


Seminar Notes

1

28.09.15 Yes* No

Business (Top-up)

Induction only begins

Monday, Sept 21st

*Lectures start from

Thursday, Oct 1st 10 1

1 11 2 05.10.15 Yes Yes

All lectures and seminars

run, unless advised

otherwise 1 12 3 12.10.15

Yes Yes





2

29

17 08.02.16

Yes

Yes


2 30 18 15.02.16 Yes Yes 2 31 19 22.02.16 Yes Yes 2 32 20 29.02.16 Yes Yes 2 33 21 07.03.16 Yes Yes 2 34 22 14.03.16 Yes Yes Term Ends Fri 18.03.16 35 21.03.16 36 28.03.16




2 45 30 30.06.16 Examinations Bank Holiday May 30 2 46 31 06.06.16 Examinations Term Ends Fri 10.06.16

3.5 Placement year The degree course is primarily designed as a 3 year full-time degree. However, in order to give the course greater flexibility, a sandwich year is offered. It is seen as desirable on educational grounds to give students reasonable opportunity within the degree structure to determine a 'course package' which is relevant to their own needs, interests, potential and aspirations. There are several reasons why students may wish to take a sandwich option. These include: (i) to increase the opportunity to discover personal aptitudes and interests and so help

the student to identify a choice of subsequent career (ii) to further develop technical and social skills which will be attractive to prospective employers upon completion of the degree (iii) to gain early work experience which may qualify as part of a required professional training programme (iv) to give opportunity to observe the application of degree concepts in a practical work environment (v) to improve foreign language skills if sandwich year taken abroad Sandwich course students undertake one practical training placement in Year 3, for a minimum period of 48 weeks. The training placement is intended to advance the students' personal and vocational experience in the general field of finance, accounting and associated disciplines. Practical training placements will normally be selected by the student with the assistance and guidance of the Industrial Placements Unit. The Industrial Placements Unit will be responsible for the organisation and supervision of the practical training placements. Training programmes will be agreed with the organisations concerned. Employers will be requested to keep a record of the student's performance and to provide a written report at the end of the training programme. The student will be required to maintain a detailed record of his/her training and at the end of the training programme provide a report describing the organisation and evaluating the placement period. Students have the option, at the beginning of their placement, to make their placement the basis for a more detailed Placement Project. These projects are assessed and the marks count towards the student's final year marks. Students who complete a Placement Project do not have to take either the Advanced Case Study module or a double option module in their final year. Training Officers will be made aware of University requirements through frequent contact with the Industrial Placements Unit. The programme may also be linked with that of a professional accountancy body in which case a log book or appropriate record will be maintained, in the manner prescribed by that body. It is important that the training programme should strike a balance between limiting the variety of tasks so that the students may acquire a real understanding of their work, and extending the students' experience over a sufficient range to develop a broad perspective of the organisation and its activities. Students will be visited by a member of academic staff during the practical training placement. Visits will be the subject of a formal report by the visiting lecturer.

Students who are seriously contemplating a sandwich year placement should give a preliminary indication to the Course Leader by the end of the first year of the degree. Students who opt to take the third year in a training placement must satisfactorily complete the year to qualify for a sandwich degree.

3.6 Languages The following language courses are available to all students: • One year beginners course in French, German, Spanish or Italian. • University Certificate course in French, German, Spanish or Italian. This has a prerequisite of GCSE grade C or beginners course or equivalent. • University Diploma course in French, German or Spanish. This has a prerequisite of GCE ‘A’ level in the language studied. The Certificate and Diploma courses each run for two years and lead to a qualification which the student receives in addition to their registered course. For international students, an English Language Support Programme and further English Language courses are available. The timetabled hours for the language courses are the same as for a single module (2 hours per week).

3.7 Career planning agreement A Career Planning Agreement (CPA) for your course has been developed. Having a CPA means that your Course Leader and careers counsellors have identified career-relevant work happening within your course and that your lecturers will make this content explicit to you during your time at Brighton. The Careers Centre is involved as part of the agreement and you can book an appointment for a careers interview. The purpose of the CPA is to help you assess your skills, think about and choose what you want to do on graduation, how to get there, and how to develop the career management skills needed for the rest of your life. The CPA covers four learning outcomes as follows: - competencies in self-management - competencies in communication - competencies in enterprise - competencies in research. Further details of your CPA are available on the School Area of studentcentral and a copy can be found in the appendices.

3.8 Exemptions from professional institutions The BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance has been designed to maximise exemptions from the main accountancy bodies; those available at present are detailed below but please note, professional examinations and exemptions are constantly under review and the following lists should be seen as indicative, not certain.

3.8.1 Exemptions from Professional Examinations of CIMA The CIMA examination scheme has been reviewed in 2015 and the following exemptions are given at present. Students are expected to obtain exemption from the foundation level (Certificate in Business Accounting) as follows: Paper C01 Fundamentals of Management Accounting All students Paper C02 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting All students Paper C03 Fundamentals of Business Mathematics All students Paper C04 Fundamentals of Business Economics All students Paper C05 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate All students Governance and Business Law For the Operational and Management Level, the exemptions expected are as follows: Paper P1 Management Accounting All students Paper P2 Advanced Management Accounting All students Paper F1 Financial Reporting and Taxation If FA362 is passed Paper F2 Advanced Financial Reporting All students Exemptions are not available for the remaining Operational and Management Level papers: Paper E1 Organisational Management Paper E2 Project and Relationship Management Students will also have to take (with CIMA) the Operational Level Case Study exam and the Management Case Study exam. Strategic (final) Level CIMA does NOT grant exemptions from this level: Paper E3 Strategic Management Paper P3 Risk Management Paper F3 Financial Strategy And final level case study. Website: www.cimaglobal.com 3.8.2 Exemptions from Professional Examinations of ACCA Students will obtain exemptions from Fundamentals Level – Knowledge (papers F1 to F3). For Fundamentals Level - Skills, the exemptions granted are as follows: Paper F4 Corporate & Business Law All students Paper F5 Performance Management All students Paper F6 Taxation Exemption if FA362 Taxation is passed Paper F7 Financial Reporting All students Paper F8 Audit & Assurance Exemption if FA363 Auditing is passed Paper F9 Financial Management All students ACCA does not grant exemptions from Part 3 (Professional): Paper P1 Governance, Risk and Ethics Paper P2 Corporate Reporting Paper P3 Business Analysis

http://www.cimaglobal.com/

Paper P4 Advanced Financial Management Paper P5 Advanced Performance Management Paper P6 Advanced Taxation Paper P7 Advanced Audit & Assurance Note: papers P1 to P3 are essential/core papers and papers P4 to P7 are option papers. Candidates must sit the three core papers and two option papers. Website: www.accaglobal.com Brighton Business School offers Professional Level courses for students wishing to continue their studies with ACCA qualifications in mind. 3.8.3 Exemptions from Professional Examinations of ICAEW The ICAEW examination scheme has been updated from 2015. For the Professional Stage papers the exemptions granted are as follows: Accounting All students Assurance Exemption if FA363 Auditing is passed Management Information All students Law All students Principles of Taxation Exemption if FA362 Taxation is passed Financial Management All students Business and Finance All students Business Strategy Exemption if ST363 Corporate Strategy is passed To apply for exemption students will need to have achieved a minimum mark of 50% in all modules needed for exemption with at least 40% in all the assessed elements. However if a student achieves at least a 2.1 degree classification then exemption for Business and Finance will be awarded on application to the ICAEW. Website: www.icaew.com 3.8.4 Exemptions from Professional Examinations of CIPFA The CIPFA examination scheme has been updated in 2013. Students will obtain exemptions from: Professional Certificate Financial Accounting All students Management Accounting All students Financial Reporting All students Audit and Assurance Exemption if FA363 passed Professional Diploma Financial Management All students Corporate Governance and Law All students Taxation Exemption if FA362 passed Business Strategy Exemption if ST363 passed Website: www.cipfa.org.uk

http://www.accaglobal.com/

http://www.icaew.com/

http://www.cipfa.org.uk/

3.9 Academic prizes and scholarships

It is hoped that sponsors will in 2015-16 continue to support existing prizes which for 2014-15 were as follows:

Prize (reference to module code where relevant) £ Sponsor

Year One

Best first year student 100 Knill James

Year Two

Best second year student 200 KPMG Best Business Ethics and Corporate Governance student (FA265)

100 Baker Tilly

Best Financial Accounting & Reporting student (FA283) 100 Knill James Best Management Accounting Systems student (MA283) 100 Knill James

Final Year

Best final year student 100 Knill James Best Taxation student (FA362) 100 Knill James Best Auditing student (FA363) 100 Baker Tilly Best Financial Reporting student (FA360) 200 Mazars Best contribution in Advanced Case Study (CA362) 200 Grant Thornton Best Finance and Risk Management student (FN368) 100 Freeman

Breckon

3.10 Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is a student-led, student-owned initiative where issues relating to course material and student life can be discussed in a friendly, informal environment with peers and trained student facilitators. PASS provides an opportunity to make new friends to study with in small group sessions with approximately 10-15 students and two student leaders. It is a safe place to ask questions and improve self confidence in your studies. In other universities regular attendees of PASS have shown better knowledge and understanding of course material and have improved their grades. Further details of PASS will be provided by your Course Leader and Personal tutors.

4. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

4.1 Course management team, course board and examination board 4.2 Communications between staff and students 4.3 Where to turn for advice and guidance 4.4 Student representation and feedback 4.5 Annual academic health process ___________________________________________________________________ 4.1 Course management team, course board and examination board 4.1.1 Course 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, the course’s personal and year tutors, and the members of staff teaching on the course. The key members of the course management team are: Responsibility

Staff Room no Tel no E-mail address

Course Leader Sue Endean M147 642587 [email protected] Course Administrator

Suzanne Carver M160 642142 [email protected]

Year 1 Personal Tutor(s)

Tracey Taylor Jela Webb

M137 M137

642923 642130

[email protected] [email protected]

Year 2 Tutor Tracey Taylor M137 642923 [email protected] Final Year Tutor Paul Grant M114 642575 [email protected] Industrial Placements Officer

Virginia Goodwill M104 642167 [email protected]

4.1.2 Course 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.

mailto:[email protected]

The membership of undergraduate course boards is as follows: Course Leader Student Representative(s) Course Administrator(s) Personal/Year Tutors Module Leaders Information Adviser (or nominee) Assistant Head (Undergraduate) 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: Brighton Business School” area. 4.1.3 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. Details of the constitution and membership of examination boards are to be found in the University of Brighton General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR). The membership of examination boards vary between courses, but will include a Chair (normally the Head of School or Assistant Head - Undergraduate Programmes), the Director (or representative), the Course Leader, external examiners and a representative cross section of module tutors.

4.2 Communications between staff and students Effective communication between staff and students is very important, and the School facilitates this in a range of ways. 4.2.1 We contact you

Through the student notice boards

Through the plasma screen in the student lounge

Through studentcentral

By e-mail – using your University e-mail address (see 4.2.6 below)

By mobile phone The notice-boards and plasma screen are all in lounge area in Mithras House, close to the Undergraduate office in M160. Through them you will be told about changes in timetables, cancellations and re-locations, the membership of groups, notes about examinations and essays etc. Changes are frequent at the start of the academic year so please check them daily. It is your own responsibility to keep up with any announced changes. For newly enrolled students please ensure that we have at least two passport size photographs of yourself which you may need for your student union card. If you change your personal details (address, name etc) you must notify the Undergraduate Office immediately in writing (by letter or e-mail) and change your personal details on-line on studentcentral.

4.2.2 You 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 Undergraduate Office (M160)

4.2.3 Undergraduate office The Undergraduate Office is located in Room M160 and is staffed by Donna Clark 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) Undergraduate Office: 08.30 – 16.00 (Monday to Friday) 4.2.4 How 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 Watts Building. 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. 4.2.5 University 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 Undergraduate Assistant Head’s extension is 2296. To reach him from outside you would need to dial 01273 642296. Alternatively dial 01273 600 900 and ask for a particular member of staff. 4.2.6 Your email address Every member of the university has a central email address usually in the form [email protected]. This is the address that we will use to contact you and it is your responsibility to ensure that the Undergraduate Office is kept fully informed of any changes. You may already have your own e-mail account, for example, on Hotmail or Yahoo. If you prefer to continue to use only your private email account, then you MUST configure your email accounts to redirect mail automatically from your Brighton Account - see section 7.4 below.


4.2.7 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, Cockcroft Building. Please note that your School staff are not permitted to produce these letters

4.3 Where 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. 4.3.1 Administrative 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 personal tutor (or year tutor), or your course leader. 4.3.2 Personal problems In the first instance, you should contact your personal tutor (or year tutor). If the problem still remains unresolved then you should contact your course leader.

4.3.3 Academic problems (unrelated to coursework and examinations) Stage 1 Discuss with lecturer concerned Not Resolved Resolved No further action needed Stage 2 Discuss with personal tutor or year tutor Not Resolved Resolved No further action needed Stage 3 Bring to attention of course leader or deputy course leader Not Resolved Resolved No further action needed Stage 4 Bring to attention of the Course Board through your year course representative Not Resolved Resolved No further action needed Stage 5 Bring to the attention of the Head of School or Assistant Head – Undergraduate. The Head of School or Assistant Head will take appropriate action directly or if necessary refer the problem on to the School Academic Board, Examination Board or other appropriate body.

4.3.4 Problems associated with completing coursework and/or sitting examinations

Problems completing coursework should follow the pattern below: Stage 1 Discuss with lecturer concerned Stage 2 If necessary complete an Assignment Extension

Form, getting the approval of your Course Leader (or Personal Tutor/Year Tutor if you are an UG Business student) and/ or Mitigating Circumstances Form and notify your personal tutor and/or year tutor in writing of the nature of the problem and its potential effect

Stage 3 Lodge copies of the document outlined in Stage 2 with the Undergraduate Office marked for the attention of the lecturer concerned and the Chair of the Examination Board. Please make sure that you obtain a receipt from the Office staff when submitting these forms For problems relating to sitting examinations the normal pattern should be as follows: Stage 1 Bring the problem to the attention of the invigilator Stage 2 Bring the problem to the attention of your personal tutor or course leader. This should be in writing with, wherever possible, an assessment of the effect the problem had on performance Stage 3 Lodge a copy of a mitigating circumstances form with the Undergraduate Office marked for the attention of the Chair of the Examination Board. Again, please make sure that you obtain a receipt from the Office staff when submitting this form For further information about obtaining coursework extensions see 5.9 (below), and for further information about submitting a mitigating circumstances form see 5.14 (below) below.

4.4 Student representation and feedback 4.4.1 Student 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 your Course Leader. In both the autumn and the spring term we also need the help of students at open day events for prospective students, providing tours of the campus and sometimes giving presentations. If you want to find out more about these roles, again talk to your Course Leader. 4.4.2 Student 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. Feedback is formally obtained from students via annual course feedback forms, the student representative system (see 4.4.1 above), and operation of the School’s policy for resolving academic problems (see 4.3. above)). Formal mechanisms for obtaining student feedback are inevitably, and often usefully, supplemented by informal channels and contacts with students. 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. The School also analyses the feedback from the annual National Student Survey (see www.thenationalsurvey.com) and all final year students are strongly urged to participate in this and give their views. 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 4.5 below). Copies of the minutes of course boards and the Student Liaison Committee meetings will normally be published on the school area on studentcentral within three weeks of each board.

http://www.thenationalsurvey.com/

4.5 Annual 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. Within Brighton Business School, all course academic health reports are considered and approved at the School’s Annual Academic Health Afternoon in October, to which student representatives are invited to attend and participate. Copies of all approved academic health reports and the School Academic Health Report will normally be published on the school area by mid-November.

5. ABOUT YOUR COURSE - ASSESSMENT

5.1 Nature of assessment 5.2 Coursework marking guidelines 5.3 Coursework presentation 5.4 Referencing your work 5.5 Coursework word limit and word ranges 5.6 In-class assessments 5.7 Coursework submission 5.8 Late coursework 5.9 Coursework extensions 5.10 Return of coursework 5.11 Examination timetables 5.12 Examination past papers 5.13 Examination results 5.14 Mitigating circumstances 5.15 Plagiarism, collusion and cheating in examinations 5.16 Appealing the decision of an examination board _________________________________________________________________ 5.1 Nature of assessment

You will be assessed in each of the modules that you study, which is designed to enable you to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes for the module. The nature of assessment will vary from module to module, and may comprise one or more components. The two principal forms of assessment are examinations and coursework. Examinations may be open book, or closed book (i.e. you may or may not be permitted to take notes and/or materials into the examination with you), seen or unseen (i.e. you may or may not be given advance notice of the examination paper). Some examinations may be multiple choice. Coursework may take many different forms e.g. an essay, a report, a dissertation, a reflective statement. Sometimes you will be assessed on your seminar contributions, or be required to give a presentation. Sometimes you will be required to produce groupwork. The learning outcomes and assessment regime for every module may be found in the relevant module descriptors. Copies of all module descriptors are accessible, by module code, via the “My School: Brighton Business School” area on studentcentral. Your coursework assessment tasks will be distributed to you by your module tutors, usually at the commencement of the academic year, along with details of the submission date(s).

5.2 Coursework grading criteria The following grading criteria, based on the University’s undergraduate marking/ grading descriptors, indicate the marks and classifications to be awarded for various standards of written work. Your work will be marked in percentages, with the exception of those few modules that just need Pass/fail As each subject has its own emphases and as assignments may vary in their approach (e.g. essays, reports, projects etc.) so descriptions offered here are inevitably generalised and will need to be interpreted and adapted to the specifics of each assignment. Sometimes you will be issued with supplementary grading criteria which are specific to the particular task you have been set.

FIRST (1) Outstanding (80-100%) An outstanding response to the task: all learning outcomes/assessment criteria have been achieved to an exceptionally high level. The work demonstrates most or all of the following characteristics beyond that expected for work at the given level of study within the discipline:

Exceptional display of understanding, exploration, insight and/or research

All specifications for the assessment task, including word limit/time limit where appropriate,

have been strictly adhered to

The organisation, structure and standard of presentation of the work, including referencing

where appropriate, are exemplary throughout

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in an original way

Inspirational, innovative and authoritative - evidence of intellectual rigour, independence of

judgement and insightful contextualisation including relevant

theory/literature/artefacts/performance

Evidence of very high quality analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Consistently displays very high levels of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making

and achievement

Excellent (70%-79%) An excellent response to the task: all learning outcomes/assessment criteria have been achieved to a high standard and many at an exceptionally high level. The work demonstrates most or all of the following characteristics in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the discipline:

In-depth understanding, exploration, insight and/or research

All specifications for the assessment task, including word limit/time limit where appropriate,

have been adhered to

The organisation, structure and standard of presentation of the work, including referencing

where appropriate, are excellent throughout.

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in an original way

Insightful contextualisation, including relevant theory/literature/artefacts/performance

Evidence of high to very high quality analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Demonstrates high levels of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and

achievement

UPPER SECOND (2.1) Good/Very good (60-69%) A good to very good response to the task: all learning outcomes/assessment criteria have been met fully at a good or very good standard. The work demonstrates most or all of the following characteristics in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the discipline:

Good to very good understanding and exploration, some insight and/or thorough research

No significant inaccuracies, misunderstandings or errors

The specifications for the assessment task, including word limit/time limit where appropriate,

have been adhered to

The work is well organised, coherent and the standard of presentation, including referencing

where appropriate, is at least good

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in a comprehensive and

appropriate way

Appropriate contextualisation, including relevant theory/literature/artefacts/performance

Evidence of high quality analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Demonstrates good levels of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and

achievement

LOWER SECOND (2.2) Sound/competent (50-59%) A sound, competent response to the task: all learning outcomes/assessment criteria have been met and some may have been achieved at a good standard. The work demonstrates most or all of the following characteristics in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the discipline:

Sound understanding and exploration, some insight and/or appropriate research

No significant inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

No significant aberrations from the specifications for the assessment task, including word

limit/time limit where appropriate

The work is suitably organised1 and the standard of presentation, including referencing where

appropriate, is at least sound

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in a standard way

Sound analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

THIRD (3) Adequate but weak (40-49%) An adequate, but weak response to the task: all learning outcomes/assessment criteria have just been met. The work demonstrates most or all of the following characteristics in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the discipline:

Adequate understanding and/or exploration of major ideas with little insight and/or minimal

research

Some minor inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

Some minor aberrations from the specifications for the assessment task, including word

limit/time limit where appropriate

The work is largely descriptive2, some parts of the work are disorganised and the standard of

presentation, including referencing where appropriate, is barely adequate

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in a basic and/or poor way

Some, but limited, evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

1 Clearly presented but with little development

2 Although generally coherent there is some lack of clarity of thought or expression. Poor quality in at least one area

FAIL Marginal fail (35-39%) An unsatisfactory response to the task. One or more of the learning outcomes/assessment criteria just fail to reach the minimum standard to pass the module. The work may display some strengths but these are marginally outweighed by several weak features in relation to the expectations for the given level of study within the discipline, such as:

Limited understanding and/or exploration of major ideas with very little insight and/or minimal

research

Some significant inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

Insufficient attention paid to some of the assessment criteria and some significant aberrations

from the specifications for the assessment task3

The work is too descriptive, parts of the work are disorganised and unclear and the standard

of presentation, including referencing where appropriate, is poor

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in a poor way

Insufficient evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Little evidence of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and achievement

NOTE: Where the assessment for a module comprises a number of tasks (e.g. a piece of coursework and an examination), and a student receives a mark between 35% and 39% for one of the tasks, they may still pass the module, providing that they pass the other task, and achieve an overall average mark of at least 40%. Weak fail (30-34%) An unsatisfactory response to the task. One or more of the learning outcomes/assessment criteria clearly fail to reach the minimum standard to pass the module. The work may display some strengths but these are outweighed by several weak features in relation to the expectations for the given level of study within the discipline, such as:

Limited understanding and/or exploration of major ideas with very little insight and/or minimal

research

Some significant inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

Insufficient attention paid to some of the assessment criteria and some significant aberrations


The work is too descriptive, parts of the work are disorganised and unclear and the standard

of presentation, including referencing where appropriate, is poor

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed in a poor way

Insufficient evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Little evidence of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and achievement

NOTE: Where the assessment for a module comprises a number of tasks (e.g. a piece of coursework and an examination), and a student receives a mark below 35% for one of the tasks, they will not pass the module, regardless of how well they perform in the other tasks.

3 Such as not keeping to the word limit/time limit and/or minor elements of the work missing 4 Such as not keeping to the word limit/time limit and/or minor elements of the work missing

Unsatisfactory (10-29%) An unsatisfactory response to the task. Most of the learning outcomes/assessment criteria have not been met. Any strengths of the work are heavily outweighed by many weak features in relation to the expectations for the given level of study within the discipline, such as:

Very limited understanding and/or exploration of major ideas with little or no insight and/or

minimal research

Several significant inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

Insufficient attention paid to several of the assessment criteria and some serious deviations


The work is mainly descriptive and the standard of presentation including referencing where

appropriate is very poor

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed inadequately

Little evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

Little to no evidence of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and achievement

Unsatisfactory (0-9%) An unsatisfactory response to the task. Almost none of the learning outcomes/assessment criteria have been met. The work fails to meet the requirements in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the discipline, exemplified by most or all of the following:

Almost no understanding and/or exploration of ideas

Many serious inaccuracies and/or misunderstandings

No attention paid to all or most of the assessment criteria and/or to the specifications for the

assessment task6

Very poor standard of presentation including referencing where appropriate

The work has been approached and/or executed/performed inadequately

No evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and critical appraisal

No evidence of initiative, personal responsibility, decision-making and achievement 5.3 Coursework presentation

These guidelines are based on our requirements for placement projects and dissertations, but should be valid for most written work produced during your course. Please note, however, that special conventions apply to the presentation and referencing of legal scholarship. Therefore, if you are submitting a piece of law coursework please refer to the detailed guidance in the Studying Law at Brighton Business School Handbook. An electronic copy of the Handbook is available on the School area of studentcentral. The report should be of A4 paper size with one-and-a-half spacing between the lines, single or double sided. Appendices may be single-spaced. Each page in the main report should be numbered with page numbers at the foot of the page. There should be a margin of at least 1.5 inches (4 cm) on the left side of the page, both for the text and for any diagrams. Top, right and bottom margins should be at least 1.25 inches

5 Such as not keeping to the word limit/time limit and/or major elements of the work missing 6 As footnote 5

(3 cm). The right margin should be unjustified (i.e. left 'ragged') to aid readability. The main text should be in a single 12-point font, e.g. Times New Roman or similar. An alternative font such as Arial in a smaller point size may be more appropriate in diagrams and tables. Use bolding for emphasis within the text and for section headings. Any material copied directly from another author must be enclosed in quotation marks, followed immediately by a reference to the source. Individual quotations should not normally exceed one paragraph, and quotations should not exceed 5% of the length of the report. Colour printing may be used for charts, screen-shots etc. Clarity is more important than fancy graphics. Avoid clip-art except where required for drawing diagrams. You are responsible for the accuracy of the finished work so after it has been completed you should use the spell-checker to catch any typographical and spelling errors. You should also proof read it yourself (or have it read by someone else), as the spell-checker is not likely to catch every error.

5.4 Referencing your work It is important in academic writing to reference all the important ideas and facts in your work. It is also the best way to avoid any risk of plagiarism (see 5.16 below). You should do this:

When you quote directly using others’ words in quotation marks

When you paraphrase the arguments or theories of others in your own words

When you use evidence from the work of others to support your own arguments

When you rework published data or use it as the basis of your own calculations. To ensure that you reference properly, you should carefully read and follow the guidance contained within the Brighton Business School Referencing Handbook, which is based on the Harvard referencing system. All first year undergraduate students will be provided with a paper copy of the Handbook as part of their academic skills module. An electronic copy of the handbook is also available on the School Area and all Course Areas on studentcentral. Please note, however, that special conventions apply to the presentation and referencing of legal scholarship. Therefore, if you are submitting a piece of law coursework please refer to the detailed guidance in the Studying Law at Brighton Business School Handbook. An electronic copy of the Handbook is available on the School area of studentcentral. Therefore, no student has any excuse for not referencing properly, and poor referencing may have a negative impact on the mark that you receive for your work. Non-referencing will constitute plagiarism, which is considered a very serious form of academic misconduct (see 5.15 below).

5.5 Coursework word limits and word ranges Every piece of coursework you are set will either have a word limit or a word range, which you should make sure you observe. Normally, if your coursework has a word limit e.g. 2,000 words, then the marker will stop reading the work once you have exceed the word limit by 10%. If you write less than the word limit you risk not maximising your potential mark. If your coursework has a word range e.g. 1,500-2,000 words, then the marker will stop reading the work once you have exceeded the upper figure. If you write less than the lower word limit you risk not maximising your potential mark. For the purpose of calculating the word count, footnotes are included (apart from law coursework where they are excluded), whereas contents pages, executive summaries, tables, appendices and reference lists/bibliographies are not usually included. If in doubt, check with one of your module lecturers. You are required to declare a word count for every piece of work you submit.

5.6 In-class assessments In-class assessments may be used on certain modules as the assessed coursework component (or part of the assessed coursework component). In-class assessments may take the form of pieces of work, or the grading of performance/contribution to seminars. Where students are to be graded in every seminar, and the marks averaged over the number of seminars possible, any absence will therefore be penalised. However, where the absence is due to a good reason (i.e. a reason which would be sufficient for the purpose of granting an extension or mitigating circumstances (see 5.9 and 5.14 below)), the number of possible seminars will be reduced to avoid penalties. Where in-class assessments are used on the basis of marks awarded for the best X out of Y pieces of work or best X out of Y seminar contributions (for example, the best 3 out of 4 or the best 5 out of 6), if a student fails to do the minimum i.e. X, the final mark will normally be based upon the assessments that have actually been completed.

5.7 Coursework submission Your lecturer will specify the date and time by which your assessed coursework has to be submitted. You must keep to this deadline unless you have been granted an extension by the Course Leader (or Personal Tutor/Year Tutor if you are an UG Business student) (see later sections). If you are likely to face difficulties submitting at the specified time, then submit your work in advance. All coursework must be submitted digitally via studentcentral. For word documents you are required to submit a digital copy of your assignment using Turnitin on studentcentral. For documents using Excel, submission of the digital copy is via Blackboard on studentcentral. We only accept coursework for marking on submission of the digital version and reserve the right to scan versions for plagiarised material. 5.7.1 Submission of digital copy Each module has its own area on studentcentral and, if the module involves coursework, you will find a link in the menu called “Assessment” through which you should submit your work. Details on how to submit the digital copy on studentcentral can be found on http://ask.brighton.ac.uk/portal/public/?querytext=assignments&tabid=2&searchradio=searchall&searchsubmitted=true

http://ask.brighton.ac.uk/portal/public/?querytext=assignments&tabid=2&searchradio=searchall&searchsubmitted=true

http://ask.brighton.ac.uk/portal/public/?querytext=assignments&tabid=2&searchradio=searchall&searchsubmitted=true

5.8 Late coursework Submission deadlines are sacrosanct. Students must submit all work for assessment in the manner and by the date previously notified to them unless an extension to deadline has been granted (see 5.9 below). Assessed work submitted after the published submission deadline will be considered late submission and will be subject to a standard penalty. Students submitting work within two weeks after the submission deadline (this includes a new submission deadline following an agreed extension to deadline) or the last working day immediately prior to the feedback date where this is shorter than two weeks can be provided with feedback. Beyond this date assessed work will not be accepted and a mark of zero will be awarded for non-submission. The penalty for submitting late work is that the work will be capped at the pass mark i.e. 40% or the actual mark where it is a fail. There is no entitlement to submit late for the submission of referred work. Individual members of staff cannot waive these penalties as it is University policy.

5.9 Coursework extensions In exceptional circumstances students may apply for an extension to the submission date. An extension is granted in order that an assignment can be submitted as if on time i.e. the deadline for students with extensions is effectively put back to a later date.

5.9.1 Grounds

It is not possible to give a full list of reasons for which extensions may be granted. The typical case is where you have been ill during the time when an assignment was due to be written. However, any unforeseen circumstances which disrupt your study may represent an appropriate reason. If the standard of your work has been affected by the circumstances which caused you to apply for an extension, you should also submit mitigating circumstances at the end of the semester (see 5.14 below) and explain, in your supporting documentation, both the nature of the circumstances and the reason that the extension was not sufficient for you to produce your best work. In considering whether or not an extension to a deadline should be granted, the designated signatory will be mindful of the following points:

When applying for an extension you are normally required to submit documentary evidence of the reason for the application.

The nature of coursework is such that minor illnesses during the time when you would be expected to be working on the assignment will not constitute good grounds for granting an extension, even if these occur within the final few days before the deadline. Serious illness or injury, where supported by documentary evidence, will normally be appropriate reason for an extension to be approved.

Computer failure, or the loss of data from a computer disk, will not normally be deemed a satisfactory reason for late submission.

Paid employment commitments do not constitute grounds for an extension, or mitigating circumstances, for full-time students. Part-time students who are in full-time employment are expected to prioritise University deadlines. Exceptionally, such as where work commitments change at short notice through circumstances beyond your control, an application will be appropriate. In such cases , and especially where the course is undertaken as professional development, it is anticipated that the

designated signatory will consider applications sympathetically where they are supported by evidence in the form of, for example, a letter from your line manager.

In considering an application for an extension, the designated signatory will have regard to the other students on the programme who have not requested an extension, and will ensure that these students would not be unfairly disadvantaged by the granting of the extension.

5.9.2 Procedure

Students should complete an Application for Extension to Deadline Form, obtainable from the Undergraduate Office, attaching any medical certificate or other written evidence, and return it to the Course Administrator. Students must normally apply as soon as possible but no later than two days before the submission date. All such applications will be dealt with by the Personal Tutor/Year Tutor/Course Leader who will reply in writing, setting a new submission date where appropriate.

5.10 Feedback on coursework Your module tutors will indicate when you should receive feedback on your coursework, which will normally be available within 20 working days if the work has been submitted on time. However, where work is due for submission during or after the first week of the Summer term, the marks will not be made available to students until after the relevant examination board has met to agree the results. Occasionally, due to unforeseen circumstances (such as staff illness), there can be delays in publishing provisional marks and where that happens your module tutor will let you know and provide you with a revised date. However, please note that all coursework marks provided prior to the relevant examination board are provisional, and are subject to approval of the examination board. Normally examination scripts are not returned to students.

5.11 Examination timetables 5.11.1 Main examinations

Examination timetables will be published at least three weeks in advance of the relevant examination period on the “My School: Brighton Business School” area of studentcentral. It is your responsibility to obtain the details of your examinations, and make sure that you attend at the right location, on the correct day and at the correct time. If you arrive late for an examination, you will not necessarily be given extra time, and if you arrive more than 30 minutes after the start of the examination you will not be permitted to enter the examination room. If you are unable to attend an examination you should submit a Mitigating Circumstances Form (see 5.14 below). 5.11.2 Resit examinations

Where a student is required to take a resit examination, it is the responsibility of the student to ascertain the date of the examination and make themself available on that date. Note: failure to attend a resit examination on the specified date may preclude a student from proceeding with their course the next academic year.

5.12 Examination past papers Copies of the past two years examination papers for all modules are available on the “My School: Brighton Business School” area on studentcentral. Where a new module is offered, your lecturers will advise you of the format of the exam and an indication of the type/style of question you may be asked.

5.13 Examination results A pass list will be published on studentcentral as soon as possible after the Examination Board and a letter will be sent to you detailing your results within two weeks of the Board. Due to current data protection legislation, examination pass lists identify students by their University student number rather than their name. Therefore if you attend the University to consult the pass lists it is important to bring along your student number. Administrative staff will be very busy at this time preparing results letters and will not be able to look up student numbers. Please do not ask the tutors, course leader or course administrator for your results. They are under a lot of pressure to get the results out to you as speedily and as accurately as possible and any such requests just slow them down. Under no circumstances will results be given by telephone or e-mail.

5.14 Mitigating circumstances Where you consider that your performance in an assessment has been adversely affected by circumstances beyond your control and you wish the Examination Board to take this into account you should complete a Mitigating Circumstances form. If you are unable to attend an examination you should also submit a Mitigating Circumstances form. Full details on mitigating circumstances can be found in GEAR. However, the following should be noted: 5.14.1 Grounds

In considering claims for mitigating circumstances, your Course Examination Board (or other appropriate body) will consider:

the severity of the mitigating circumstances, and the reasonableness of a claim that such circumstances might have affected performance;

the documentary evidence;

the time period affected, and the likelihood that performance may have been affected;

whether it is reasonable to suppose that the circumstances should have been foreseen by the student, or were avoidable.

The following are indicative of the kinds of circumstances which will normally be considered valid, where the evidence and timing are available to support the claim:

personal illness;

illness of a family member;

death of a family member or close friend;

personal/psychological problems.

The following are indicative of the kinds of circumstances which will NOT normally be considered valid, even when they can be supported by independent documentary evidence:

paid employment;

other University deadlines;

car breakdown;

lateness of lift to the University;

missing a bus or train;

oversleeping;

misunderstanding timetable, or not knowing about times;

computer problems (including corrupted disks or printing problems);

job interview;

any ongoing situation known to the student;

other circumstances which it is reasonable to suppose might have been foreseen. Note: Your mitigating circumstances are unlikely to be considered unless some documentary evidence is provided. Your personal tutor, year tutor or course leader may be able to advise you of the sort of evidence required, if it is not obvious (Also see 5.15.2 below). 5.14.2 Procedure If you believe that your mitigating circumstances should be considered you must complete and submit a Mitigating Circumstances form, via the Undergraduate Office, to the Chair of the Course Examination Board explaining: (i) Which assessments were affected (ii) How the circumstances affected your performance. You need to ask the Undergraduate Office staff if you do not know who the Chair of the Course Examination Board is. The form and any supporting letter must be accompanied by third party documentary evidence, e.g. medical certificates. Self Certification of Illness notes will NOT be accepted- you must produce a doctor’s certificate. The form and any supporting letter together with supporting evidence must be handed into the Course Administrator as soon as possible and certainly no later than 5 working days after the assignment/ examination to which they relate. Students should try and consult their Personal Tutor before submitting their forms and supporting evidence so that the Personal Tutor can speak on their behalf when mitigating circumstances are considered. Any Mitigating Circumstances not submitted in this way will not normally be considered by a Course Examination Board. See also the section on appealing against an Examination Board decision where it warns that late submission of mitigating circumstances is not normally allowable.

5.15 Plagiarism, collusion and cheating in assessment If you attempt to gain a grade by fraudulent means you can be severely punished by the Course Examination Board – see GEAR. 5.15.1 Plagiarism Plagiarism is essentially presenting (directly or indirectly) another person's thoughts, writing, etc. as your own. Quoting directly without quotation marks and attribution is plagiarism. Copying material from a textbook, lecture material, article, digital file or another student, even if you paraphrase, may be considered plagiarism. It is your responsibility to be fully aware what constitutes plagiarism and what does not. As a starting point, you should read the University’s Plagiarism Awareness Pack – you will be provided a paper copy of this pack when you start your course, and electronic copies are available on the “MY School: Brighton Business School” area and all Course Areas on studentcentral. Also, a short Powerpoint presentation showing the sort of copying our plagiarism software can detect can be found on the School Area and all Course Areas studentcentral. By properly referencing all your work, you can avoid a plagiarism allegation, so you should also be fully conversant with the Brighton Business School Referencing Handbook. Plagiarism is an issue facing all universities across the world and strikes at the heart of academic standards. Be warned we shall be sampling this work with highly effective software designed to detect copying. 5.15.2 Collusion Collusion is defined as one or more people working together for the purposes of perpetrating a fraud. In academic terms this generally means attempting to pass of a piece of work done by a fellow student or group of students as an individual’s own work. As it is only in exceptional circumstances that this could happen inadvertently the presumption is that all parties were involved in the decision to share work and to try pass that work of as the work of an individual rather than that of a fellow student or group. Therefore it is important to make sure that if the assignment is an individual piece of work it is your own work and not that of a group. Presenting a piece of work as yours when it is, in fact, the work of a fellow student or group is collusion and is a form of fraud. The Business School treats collusion as seriously as plagiarism and, even if you are the originator of the work, in order to avoid suffering a similar penalty to fellow students who ‘copied’ your work you will have to provide a coherent explanation to the panel of why you gave them sight of your work. As the panel will be operating on the presumption that this is unlikely to happen inadvertently you should be very wary of lending your notes, computer disks or assignments to other people, as you will find it difficult to prove that you were not directly involved in an attempt to collude 5.15.3 Cheating Cheating in examinations by whatever means, including copying from unauthorised material or from another student’s script, consulting information or individuals while absent from the examination room, or attempting to gain a higher grade by fraudulent means, is also strictly forbidden. Recently a small number of students were caught bringing into the examination hall illegal material that could have been of benefit to them when answering questions. In all cases the students were heavily penalised. The default for most modules is that you are not allowed to

take any material into the examination room apart from pens, pencils and possibly non programmable calculators- and , of course, yourself!. If you are allowed to take material into the examination room please make absolutely certain that you have checked with your lecturer exactly what you are and are not allowed to take in long before the date of your examination. As each module is likely to have different forms of assessment you will need to check with the Lecturer for each module. Ignorance of the rules is not a defence that we will listen to. 5.15.4 Penalties Penalties for plagiarism and collusion include being marked as zero for the assignment, zero for the module or even harsher penalties. A similar penalty is applied for cheating in examinations. Repeat offences carry stiffer penalties.

5.16 Appealing the decision of an examination board Examination Boards are conducted under the University of Brighton’s General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR), a copy of which is available on the “My School: Brighton Business School” area on studentcentral. Following notification of results, students may wish to meet with their Course leader or Personal Tutor in order to discuss any concerns before the student decides whether or not to submit a Stage 1 Formal Appeal. Where a student wishes to request a review of an examination board decision, s/he should give notice in writing by completing in full the Stage 1 Formal Appeal form which should be sent together with supporting evidence to the Appeals and Complaints Office (ACO) via post or electronically ([email protected]) within 21 calendar days from the publication of results on studentcentral or the date of notification whichever is earlier. The form is available on studentcentral, on the University’s website, from School offices and the Students’ Union. Appeals not on the prescribed form will be rejected. Grounds for appeal A request for a review of an Examination Board decision may only be made on one or more of the following grounds:

1. That a procedural irregularity in the assessment process led to a decision detrimental to the student. Procedural irregularity refers to circumstances where the University’s procedures or regulations have not been followed or where other errors may have been made by the University in considering the assessment.

2. That the student had mitigating circumstances (as defined in GEAR) which the Examination Board could not be made aware of because the student had been unable for valid reasons to divulge them before the Examination Board reached its decision.

3. That there was an arithmetical error in the student’s marks.

These are the ONLY grounds for appeal. There is no right of appeal against decisions of an Examination Board which are matters of academic judgement. Similarly a student may not lodge an appeal on the grounds of dissatisfaction with the design, curriculum or delivery (teaching, departmental support, etc.) of a course. Note in particular that marks awarded are matters of academic judgement, i.e. you cannot ask for an examination script to be re-marked.


6. YOUR COURSE-SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

6.1 Undergraduate modular programme 6.2 Minimum pass mark 6.3 What happens if I fail a Level 4 or Level 5 module? 6.4 More on referrals 6.5 What happens if I then fail a referral? 6.6 Deferrals 6.7 What happens if I fail a Level 6 module? 6.8 Calculation of the final mark for the degree classification 6.9 Awarding honours 6.10 Border zone decisions ________________________________________________________________________

6.1 Undergraduate modular programme Your course forms part of the Brighton Business School’s Undergraduate Modular Programme. The general rules governing the assessment of the programme are to be found in the University’s General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR) (a copy of which can be found via the “My School: Brighton Business School” area on studentcentral). The regulations are necessarily detailed and complicated. For the sake of simplicity we have extracted some of the most relevant details from the regulations and attempt to explain them in an easy to understand manner.

6.2 Minimum pass mark The minimum pass mark for a module is 40%. Where there is a combination of coursework and examination assessment for a module the rule is that for:

Level 4 and Level 5: The pass mark for each category of assessment modules (coursework and examination) and the module as whole is 40%. However, a stronger performance in one category of assessment may be allowed to compensate for a weaker performance in the other category providing there is a weighted aggregate mark of 40%

for the module as a whole and a minimum of 35% in each element of assessment. Any component below 35% will normally receive a Refer. Examples of how this applies to individual students follow: Module Result with weighting Course work (CW) 20% and Examination (EX) 80% contributing to an Overall Mark(OM) CW EX OM Result Student A: 50 38 40 Pass Student B: 32 38 37 Refer CW & EX Student C: 32 50 46 Refer CW Student D: 34 33 33 Fail, Repeat Module The pass mark is 40% BUT marginal fails (35% to 39%)

in one category of assessment can be compensated IF AND ONLY IF the mark in the other category of assessment is good enough so that the weighted aggregate for the module is 40% or above.

6.3 What happens if I fail a Level 4 or Level 5 module?

If you do not achieve a minimum pass mark for a module the Examination Board will normally decide to REFER you in that module. A REFERRAL is classed as a provisional failure, which can be overturned as a result of you providing additional satisfactory evidence of achievement of the objectives of the module. To present evidence you will be re-assessed and asked to undertake additional assessment(s). The type of assessment will be specified by the Examination Board and must normally be completed before the start of the next academic year. As a general rule any referred coursework has to be received by the end of August whilst referred examinations almost always take place during the late August and early September. You should always check dates with the undergraduate office and on studentcentral before arranging other commitments because if you do not submit outstanding referred coursework or attend a referred exam at the required time you will automatically fail the module and may not be able to progress to the next year of the course. A referral is only awarded to students who at the first attempt have demonstrated that they could achieve a pass by undertaking additional assessment. A referral is not an automatic right and the Examination Board will not normally sanction referrals in more than the equivalent of three double modules (60 CATS points) in any one academic year. Students with more than three referrals or failures will normally be required to leave the course. The pass mark for any referred module is normally set at 40%. In the case of referred modules which have separate coursework and examination assessment components, referred work will usually be set for the component(s) with any mark below 40%. Both elements of the referred assessment must be passed in order to be credited with the module. Should you pass the referral a maximum mark of 40% for the module will be credited to you. If you do not pass the referral, you fail the module and may be allowed to repeat the module, normally with attendance in the following year. Normally, repeating a module means attending all the classes/seminars/ workshops and undertaking the referred assessment component(s), as determined by the Examination Board, for that module the following year (see 6.5 below). Note: where a student is required to repeat a module or modules with attendance, this may preclude them from progressing to the next year of their course.

6.4 More on Referrals

The University of Brighton’s General Examination & Assessment Regulations state that permission to undertake a referral is at the discretion of the Examination Board, except in the following circumstances when a referral is not permitted:

1. A student initially failing a module as a result of not attempting any or some of the assessment tasks (unless there are mitigating circumstances when the student would

be deferred and then be required to make good the assessment tasks at a later date)

2. A student failing to satisfy the learning contract associated with a module. So if you do not submit a coursework assessment task or fail to attend an examination and do not have acceptable mitigating circumstances which would allow an extension to a set deadline, or to a deferment to some future occasion, then you will fail the module, not be allowed an opportunity to be referred, and may be required to repeat the module again with attendance the following year.

6.5 What happens if I then fail a Referral? A student who fails a referral may be given the opportunity to repeat their failed modules in full once only with attendance i.e. attending all the classes/seminars/workshops. The opportunity to repeat a module is not a right and will be at the discretion of the Examination Board. Where a module is repeated, the Examination Board may permit a student to carry forward any passed marks for assessment components within the module. The carrying forward of passed marks is at the discretion of the Examination Board and is normally only permissible where there is no change in the assessment method. Decisions in relation to the repeat performance will not be as if the module were being assessed for the first time. Any module that is passed after having been repeated will only be credited with a mark of 40%. The normal expectation is that students have to pass all modules at a particular level before being allowed to progress to the next level.

A maximum of up to three attempts may be allowed on a piece of assessment.

6.6 Deferrals

It unfortunately happens sometimes that a student has serious mitigating circumstances whilst undertaking assessment in one or more modules that prevents them from passing those modules. In such circumstances, where there is verifiable evidence that this is so and the student has submitted a properly completed Mitigating Circumstances form in advance of the meeting of the Course Examination Board meeting, the Course Examination Board may allow a student to be DEFERRED in the affected modules. This is not an automatic right and it is up to the discretion of the Course Examination Board to allow this. Where the Course Examination Board has agreed a deferral the student must assume that they will be asked to submit themselves for assessment at the next available opportunity offered by the Course Examination Board. It is hoped that such a student will then pass all of their outstanding modules. Where this does not happen and a referral or deferral (if mitigating circumstances are ongoing) has to be satisfied, the Course Examination Board may allow a student to take the assessment at the next available sitting. For examinations, that would mean at the end of the first semester if an examination paper would normally be sat at that time, or at the end of the year if that is the first opportunity that the examination may be sat. If the nature of the outstanding referral is coursework, then it would again depend on when this was being set.

Students normally have to pass all modules at levels 4 and 5 before being allowed to progress to the next level.

6.7 What happens if I fail a Level 6 module? There are normally no referrals at Level 6. If a module mark is less than 40% it will be recorded as a failure. The effect of failure may, at the discretion of the Course Examination Board, be as follows: -

One failure (up to 20 credits) may be compensated and allowed;

Two or more failures may result in the award of an ordinary degree. The Course Examination Board will consider each individual case and may take into account the type of module and the severity of failure in the module in exercising its discretion. Students are normally recommended to undertake no more than two research based final year options, including the dissertation and/or project. Those students opting to do a compulsory research-based module instead of the compulsory dissertation or research module, in the event that they decide to undertake two research based modules, must decide at the very beginning of their final year studies which of the modules is to be substituted for the dissertation. Failure by a student to inform the Undergraduate Office of their selection at the due time will result in the office staff informing the student which of the modules will be treated as the substitute compulsory module.

6.8 Calculation of the final mark for the degree classification

The final mark to determine your degree classification will normally be calculated from the weighted average of the Level 6 and Level 5 modules with 75% weighting given to the Level 6 modules and 25% to the Level 5 modules. Thus, if A = The weighted average of the marks for ALL Level 6 modules B = The weighted average of the marks for ALL Level 5 modules Final Mark = (0.75 x A) + (0.25 x B) Each module will be weighted according to its CATS points for the purposes of the above calculations.

6.9 Awarding honours

Once the final mark has been calculated according to the formula shown above the Course Examination Board will use the following as guidelines when determining individual degree classifications: Classification of Award Final Mark First Class Honours 70 to 100 Second Class Honours (Division I) 60 to 69

Second Class Honours (Division II) 50 to 59 Third Class Honours 40 to 49 If the Course Examination Board is unable to recommend the award of a classified degree, it may decide to recommend the award of an Ordinary degree (i.e. non-honours degree) providing the University’s General Examination & Assessment Regulations (GEAR) are satisfied for such an award.

6.10 Border zone decisions In cases where the final mark is within 2% of a classification borderline students may be considered for the higher class of award. In such cases, using the criteria laid down in GEAR, the Course Examination Board will consider the student’s overall profile. Normally students will have to have at least half their marks from levels 5 and 6 in the higher class and performance in compulsory modules may also be taken into account. When we use the 2% rule, we will therefore count how many marks are in the next class at Level 5 and at Level 6 and expect to see a majority in each if somebody is to be upgraded to the next classification. A number of people in the past have put in stronger performances in their final year but have been let down by a much weaker performance in their second year. For example, for a final classification mark of 58.9% with: Level 5 marks: Number of modules at 2:1 or above (1 out of 6) Level 6: Number of modules at 2:1 or above (4 out of 6) Level 5 + Level 6: Number of modules at 2:1 or above (5 out of 12) - not a MAJORITY In this example, the student’s classification would be likely to remain as a 2:2 as a majority of marks in the 2:1 category has not been achieved.

The message is clear - that second year counts so don’t wait until the final year to perform strongly! It should therefore not be assumed that borderline cases are automatically upgraded and usually only a small number of students gain the upgrade. The decision rests with the Course Examination Board who will, when considering results, exercise its academic judgement in determining the degree classification. Mitigating circumstances deemed to have had a major impact on performance may also be taken into account when considering results around the borderline zones as may the proximity of the final mark to the border and significant improvement in performance in the final year.

7. LIBRARY, COMPUTING AND MEDIA SERVICES 7.1 The library service 7.2 Library services to part-time students 7.3 The Online Library 7.4 Computing services for students based at Moulsecoomb 7.5 Media Centres 7.6 Studentcentral 7.7 ASK Study Guide 7.8 Useful web addresses _________________________________________________________________ The Information Services department provides library, computing and media services in support of learning, teaching, research and administration at the University of Brighton.

7.1 The library service 7.1.1 The University of Brighton libraries

There are five libraries at the University of Brighton; the Aldrich, Falmer and St Peter’s House libraries in Brighton, the Queenwood Library in Eastbourne and the Hastings Campus Library.

You will be issued with a student identity / library card (Unicard) when you enrol, which will enable you to borrow material from all University of Brighton libraries. Your Unicard will also allow you reference access to the University of Sussex library.

The Aldrich Library is located in the Cockcroft Building on the Moulsecoomb site. It stocks a broad range of books and other materials relevant to your studies, covering all aspects of business studies, management and law.

7.1.2 Opening hours Up to date information the about opening hours for all site libraries can be found at www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students under Libraries > Locations and opening times, or here Current opening hours for the Aldrich Library Help Desk (on the Moulsecoomb site): Term time: Monday – Thursday 08.30 – 21.00 Friday 08.30 – 19.00 Saturday & Sunday 11.00 – 15.00 Vacations: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.30 Saturday Closed Sunday 11.00 – 15.00 (except August) The Aldrich Library is open for study only until 02.00 every night during term time. After the library Help Desk closes, entrance to the Ground Floor is via the entrance in Queensdown School Road and you will need your Unicard to gain entrance. In addition the Aldrich Library has extended opening hours during exam revision periods. For more information about this look out for posters displayed in the library or visit www.brighton.ac.uk/is/aldrich.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/libraries/Pages/Home.aspx

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/aldrich

7.1.3 Borrowing entitlements You may borrow up to 20 items at any one time. The standard loan period is three weeks but items in heavy demand are seven day loan or for use in the library only (Desk Loan Collection). Desk Loan items can be booked in advance for use in the library or overnight loan. You will normally be charged a fine if you return a short loan item late or retain an item which has been reserved by another user and recalled by the library. 7.1.4 Renewing items It is not always necessary to bring items which you have on loan into the library to renew them. Provided that it has not been requested by another user, any item may be renewed:

in the library at the Help Desk or on the self-service machines using your Unicard.

by telephoning the library (the Aldrich Library number is 01273 642770). Outside of library opening hours there is an answerphone where you can leave a message requesting a renewal.

online using the My Account tab in the library catalogue (via the Online Library at http://library.brighton.ac.uk). You will need to log in using your Unicard number.

7.1.5 Returning items

If the library is open, return your items to the library using the self-service machines so that they can be discharged from your record.

When the library is closed, you can use the secure book-drop bins situated at the site libraries. At Aldrich there is one on the ground floor adjacent to the computer pool room and a second one in the Cockcroft building reception area..

Items can be returned by post; however, they remain your responsibility until received by the library.

7.1.6 The library catalogue The library catalogue is available on dedicated terminals in each library and is also accessible online via the Online Library (http://library.brighton.ac.uk). The catalogue has information about all the material held in all of our site libraries. You can use the catalogue to search for books, electronic books, print journals, electronic journals and audio-visual items and to access your own borrower record for renewing books and to see your current loans. You can also use the catalogue to reserve items when all copies are on loan. 7.1.7 Requesting items from other libraries Undergraduate and postgraduate students are entitled to inter-library loans. This means that you can obtain books or articles from other libraries (usually the British Library) when we do not hold them in stock. For more information please refer to the Inter Library Loan section of the Information Services website here under Libraries > Borrowing or ask at your library Help Desk or contact the Aldrich Library Business Team. 7.1.8 Photocopying All the libraries offer self-service photocopying and scanning facilities - you should read the notices about copyright to ensure you stay within the legal limits of copying from printed materials.

http://library.brighton.ac.uk/


https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/Pages/home.aspx

7.1.9 Audio-visual material All the libraries have relevant collections of DVDs which you can use in the library or borrow for home use. You can use the library catalogue to search for audio-visual items. There is also a service called BOB: Box of Broadcasts, for watching and making clips from TV and radio programmes, available from the Online Library http://library.brighton.ac.uk 7.1.10 Communications The library uses your university Email address for all correspondence (e.g. recalled, loans or notification of reserved items awaiting collection). It is possible to set your Email to be forwarded to a personal email account of your choice. This can be done within studentCentral by clicking on Email or from the Information Services website www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students under Computing > Student email. 7.1.11 Library Rules and Acceptable Behaviour Policy All students are advised to read these documents which supplement the university regulations. They are available on the Information Services website www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students under Libraries > Borrowing > Rules and regulations 7.1.12 EndNote EndNote is a software programme installed on all University computers that allows you to store and organise your references and create bibliographies or insert correctly formatted references into assignments in whichever style you require eg. Harvard, Chicago, APA etc. The online version is available free to all staff and students registered at the University Brighton. You must register to use EndNote online using a University of Brighton computer and renew your registration after one year. Further information can be found on the Online Library website under Subject Guides here 7.1.13 Enquiries and further help

A Help Desk can be found in each of our libraries. You can also contact the Aldrich Library: By phone: Aldrich Library Help Desk: 01273 642760/642770 By email: General enquiries: [email protected] Subject support team for Business and Law: [email protected]. If you have special needs, ask about the services that can be provided to enable you to use the libraries effectively.




http://libguides.brighton.ac.uk/endnote



7.2 Library services for part-time students If you are studying part time and living away from the university, please ask at your University of Brighton home library about using another university library under the SCONUL Access scheme. Ask at your home library Help Desk for more information and you can also visit http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/ to check whether the library you want to use is part of the scheme. Part time students may also be eligible to join the University of Brighton’s Postal Loan Service whereby items can be posted to you. For more information go to the Information Services website www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students and see Libraries > Part time students or link from here.

7.3 The Online Library The Online Library (available via the Online Library link in StudentCentral, or here) contains:

OneSearch: for searching across a number of our resources at once.

Links to our library catalogue, the catalogues of other local libraries and the British Library’s catalogue.

Subject Guides: Providing research assistance, subject guides, and useful resources compiled by Information Services. These guides include databases, Internet gateways, government websites and professional organisations

Resources A-Z includes the databases used to search for articles and papers relevant to your subject. Most of these databases contain the full text of documents. The non-full text databases provide bibliographic detail and often an abstract.

A selection of the databases you may find useful are:

Business Source Premier Emerald FAME (Financial Analysis Made Easy) Passport (global market information) Key Note (market research reports and company data) Lawtel Lexis Library UK Newsstand (Financial Times, Guardian, Times etc) Westlaw

The majority of these resources are available both on and off campus using your university username and password. If you would like more information or assistance with using the Online Library please ask at your library Help Desk or email [email protected].

http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/


https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/libraries/Pages/part_time_students.aspx

http://libguides.brighton.ac.uk/home


7.4 Computing services for students based at Moulsecoomb

7.4.1 Locations and opening hours for computer access Aldrich library computer poolroom: Term-time Monday - Friday 08.30 – 02.00 Saturday – Sunday 11.00 – 02.00 Vacation Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.30 Sunday 11.00 – 15.00 (closed during August) When the main library Help Desk is closed you will need your Unicard to gain entrance. The computer poolroom has extended opening hours during exam revision periods as part of the Aldrich Library. For more information about this look out for posters displayed in the library or visit www.brighton.ac.uk/is/aldrich . Mithras Annexe computer poolroom: Term-time Monday – Friday 08.30 – 02.00 Weekends: Closed Vacation Monday – Friday 08.30 – 19.00 The Aldrich Library has a number of computers on each floor and the majority of study spaces have connection points for laptops. The Aldrich Library is wireless enabled. For the opening hours of Aldrich Library see section 7.1 above or go here NB. LIBRARIES AND COMPUTER POOL ROOMS ARE CLOSED ON MOST PUBLIC HOLIDAYS The information above was correct at time of going to press., However as opening hours can be subject to change, for latest information please check the Information Services website here 7.4.2 Usernames and passwords When you have completed your online enrolment / activation, your university username and password will be generated. This can be used to access all the open access computers in libraries and poolrooms, studentcentral and the majority of resources available via the Online Library. If you wish to change your password to something easier to remember, you can do this in studentcentral by clicking on Personal Settings. 7.4.3 Student email You will be provided with your university email address when you activate your computer account. You can read your email at http://outlook.com/uni.brighton.ac.uk. Email is used as the primary means of communication throughout your course of study. Your lecturers and other staff and students will send email to your Brighton University address. You may wish to look at the Information Services website www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students under Computing > Student email where you can also find instructions on how to set your email to be forwarded to a personal email account and to set up Email on your mobile device.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/aldrich



http://outlook.com/uni.brighton.ac.uk


NOTE: If forwarding email to your personal address you will need to clear down your university email account from time to time; if you exceed your disc space you will stop receiving emails. 7.4.4 Connecting your own computer You can connect your own computer via the network sockets in libraries and most halls of residence using an Ethernet cable or via the Eduroam wireless network on each site. Once connected, your computer is part of the university network and is therefore subject to our conditions of use. Please see the Information Services website under Computing or link here for information such as how to download anti-virus software, which is one of the conditions, how to connect your laptop to the University network in the libraries and in halls of residence, and computer clinics offered. 7.4.5 The Computer Store The Computer Store in the Watts Building at Moulsecoomb sells a range of consumables such as blank CDs, USB sticks, cables, software, computers etc. Many items are available at special educational discount rates. The computer store is open 9am – 4.30pm Mon – Thursday and 9am - 4pm Friday during term-time. See here for details. 7.4.6 Printing Information Services provides a variety of high quality networked laser printers throughout the university. You can use them from computer pool rooms, from libraries and from your laptop on all main sites of the university. A printing account is automatically set up for you once you activate your computer account and you can add credit to your Unicard account online and via the blue Printer Credit Stations which you will find located in the open access computer pool rooms. For more information on printing see the Information Services website here 7.4.7 Scanners Scanners are located in all open access computer pool rooms. 7.4.8 Software available in the open access computer poolrooms

Adobe Reader

EndNote (bibliographic software)

InfoZip

Internet Explorer

MS Office 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Access)

MindGenius (mind-mapping software)

Minitab

PhotoShop Elements (on machines connected to scanners only)

Sophos (anti-virus software)

SPSS

TextHelp Read & Write Gold (screen reading and reading/writing tool)

In addition there is specialist software available as relevant in the different poolrooms / libraries. For a full, up to date list go to the Accessibility Support section of the Information Services website, or link from here

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/computing/Pages/Home.aspx

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/computing/Pages/Computer%20store/Computer_store.aspx

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/printing/Pages/Home.aspx

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/Pages/Accessibility-support.aspx

7.4.9 Computing help

Online help is available in studentcentral (see below) and the Information Services website here. Technician help is also available in the libraries at advertised times. For help with username and password problems you can contact your local library help desk.

7.5 Media Services The Central Media Services Team can help with the recording and editing of media production to assist students as part of their assignments. See here for further information.

7.6 Studentcentral

Studentcentral is the student website for the University of Brighton; it is how you access most online information whilst studying here. You can access your study information and materials, email, and the online library as well as keep your personal information up-to-date. If you need technical support with any aspect of using studentcentral please contact the [email protected]. Once logged in you are taken to the home tab where you can see News and Events as well as ‘What’s New’ on your modules. The Studies ‘Tab’ is where you will see your school, course and modules. The school area contains information about the school and includes timetables and exam schedules. The course area contains information about the course and the module areas are where the online teaching takes place and is also where you will be submitting any coursework (speak to your tutors for more information). You will also find a link to your Reading List providing access to information about recommended reading including books, ebooks, journal articles, websites and videos. Studentcentral on your mobile or tablet – an app is available which gives you access to studentcentral on your mobile or tablet. Particularly useful for the push notifications so that you are alerted to any new content posted on your modules. The app is called Blackboard Mobile Learn and is available from your app store. For details see: http://student.brighton.ac.uk/mobile

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/Pages/home.aspx

https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/media/Pages/Home.aspx

http://student.brighton.ac.uk/mobile

7.7 Academic Study Kit (ASK) Website

In addition to course-specific guidance, online resources to help you study effectively are available through the ASK Study Guide see: http://about.brighton.ac.uk/ask/ . The ASK website offers advice on how to develop the study skills required for academic success at University. There are a range of resources and study tips on how to make the most of seminars and lectures, reading and notemaking, preparing for exams, tackling stress, essay writing, oral presentations, group work and many other topics. You will also find information about the weekly Study Support workshops held at all university sites, how to book tutorials or groups and specialist services such as the Maths & Stats Support Unit and English Language Support Programme.

7.8 Useful web addresses Information Services web site http://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/ Online Library http://library.brighton.ac.uk student mail http://outlook.com/uni.brighton.ac.uk studentcentral http://studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk/ studentcentral help Login to studentcentral and use the Help and Advice tab HelpDocuments http://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/Pages/Documents.aspx

http://about.brighton.ac.uk/ask/

http://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/


http://outlook.com/uni.brighton.ac.uk

http://studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk/

http://staff.brighton.ac.uk/is/Pages/Documents.aspx

8. STUDENT SERVICES Opportunities and support to help you get the most out of your time at university. Student Services is a central department that provide a range of services to support you through university and to help you get the most from the student experience. Our experienced and supportive staff offer advice on a range of issues, including:

- Advice about money worries and how to live on a budget.

- Support in finding jobs and volunteering opportunities.

- Help accessing academic support if you have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical condition.

- One to one support for students with worries or concerns in a safe, confidential space.

Here for you, whatever the issue

Below is an outline of some of the ways in which we can help you during your time here.

Career development

Build your employability skills and boost your graduate potential, with careers guidance, enterprise skills, and employment and volunteering opportunities.

Chaplaincy

There’s more to the Chaplaincy than you think with social events, retreats, worship, discussion, support and listening.

Childcare

With two Ofsted rated nurseries open to children of staff, students and the local community, the University of Brighton is an excellent choice for high quality, affordable and flexible childcare.

Counselling

Whatever the reason, if you are finding academic life is causing you concern, or for personal reasons you need someone to talk things over with, you don't need to feel that you are all alone with your worries. Talk to one of our trained counsellors in a safe and confidential space. Disability and dyslexia support

If you’ve got a disability, specific learning difficulty or long term-health condition and choose to disclose it in confidence to the

Disability and Dyslexia team, you’ll discover the wide range of academic and personal support available. Health and wellbeing

Looking after yourself whist at university helps you to get the most of your experience. Our links to local surgeries give you access to a doctor, while our health and wellbeing workshops and information help you to keep everything in balance – so look after your mind and body whilst you are here.

Student Advice Service

When it comes to your finances at university it pays to be money wise; so for expert advice on financial issues, including fees, grants, bursaries, loans, and money management, contact the Student Advice Service. They can also help if you are an international student needing immigration advice, or support if you’re experiencing culture shock and home sickness.

Get in touch You can find further information about our services and answers to your student life queries at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/current-students/index.aspx, see also the ‘help and advice’ tab on student central for access to FAQs, ask a question or book appointments. We can help answer your questions in confidence via email, at [email protected] or you can access our services at each campus by visiting our student centres, or call us to find out more or book an appointment. Eastbourne - Trevin Towers, Gaudick Road T: 01273 643845 Falmer – E354, Checkland Building T: 01273 643584 Grand Parade – Student Centre, Ground Floor, Main Building T: 01273 643187 Moulsecoomb - Manor House, Moulsecoomb Place T: 01273 642895 Hastings – The Student Centre, Level 1, Priory Square T: 01273 644643

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/current-students/index.aspx


9. STUDENT ENTITLEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 9.1 Student Charter 9.2 Brighton Business School – Attendance and Engagement policy 9.3 Disability statement 9.4 Fire evacuation 9.5 Observing copyright laws ___________________________________________________________________________

9.1 Student Charter The relationship between the University, its students and the Students’ Union is based on the principle of partnership: a relationship through which mutuality and interdependence in the learning process are emphasised and celebrated. This has as its principal goal the development of confident, independent researchers and professionals, fully capable of succeeding in their chosen vocations and as well-informed citizens. The Charter (which is due to be reviewed in the forthcoming academic year) seeks to emphasise this partnership and to sustain it through a set of shared commitments and expectations, set out in the table below and embodied in the detailed policies, procedures and regulations of the University of Brighton accessible at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/studentlife/studentadvice/regulations

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/studentlife/studentadvice/regulations

The University aims to: Students are expected to: The Students’ Union aims to:

Provide a stimulating

learning environment.

Give all students the right to

be represented in University

Governance through the

Students’ Union.

Provide access to personal

tutors and appropriate study

support.

Continuously seek to

improve the quality of

teaching, research and

support services.

Ensure appropriate and

timely feedback on all

coursework.

Assess and mark work fairly,

consistent with clearly stated

learning objectives.

Provide clear regulations,

procedures, policies and

information.

Enhance personal

development and

employability skills and

provide access to careers

counsellors.

Facilitate access to

appropriate welfare, support

and services.

Foster an inclusive

environment treating all with

fairness, dignity and respect.

Operate fair, accessible and

timely processes for handling

appeals, complaints and

disciplinary matters.

Encourage students to

provide feedback on their

university experience, and,

where appropriate, act upon

this.

Share responsibility for the

learning process, recognising

the role of independence and

self- motivation in your studies.

Engage fully with all learning

activities, whether face to face

or through e-learning.

Attend and contribute to

lectures, seminars or tutorials.

Adhere to the standards of

academic practice of your

course.

Reflect critically on feedback to

improve your work.

Comply with University

regulations and procedures.

Make arrangements for prompt

payment of all fees and

charges.

Be pro-active in seeking

appropriate advice and support

in the event of difficulty whether

academic or personal.

Use opportunities to enhance

personal development including

extracurricular choices and

volunteering.

Treat university staff, other

students and our neighbours

with dignity and respect.

Respect the University and local

physical environment.

Support student representatives

and participate in the processes

to select them.

Provide information requested

by the University and ensure

that your records are current.

Provide feedback on the

University experience.

Promote a sense of

enjoyment in all aspects of

university life.

Work in partnership with

students and the University

in maintaining a culture that

promotes a critical and

independent learning

environment.

Work with students and the

University to ensure the

financial support packages

available are suitable and

continue to meet the needs

of students.

Offer information, advice or

representation to students

through the SU Advocacy

Service.

Provide opportunities for all

students to get involved in

any part of the Students’

Union.

Foster a caring inclusive

environment for all students.

Ensure the elected

representatives, policies and

actions of the Students’

Union reflect students’

needs.

Provide support, training and

resources to students and

their representatives so that

they may contribute

effectively to the evaluation

and enhancement of the

university experience.

Seek to ensure that

Students’ Union and the

University learn from the

experiences of students.

9.2 Brighton Business School – Attendance and Engagement policy Engagement with your studies You are expected to engage with all the learning activities which form part of your programme and attend all scheduled course workshops, lectures and seminars. Attendance registers will be maintained by your course team and should your individual attendance fall below an average of 75%, this may be taken into consideration by Examination Boards when deliberating on the granting of referrals.

You may however be unable to attend scheduled workshops, lectures and seminars from time to time due to exceptional circumstances (for example personal illness, family bereavement, hospitalisation etc.). In such cases, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the course management team are informed at the time and that such absence is discussed with and recorded by the course team. Where possible, students are expected to provide evidence supporting their absence and a lack of evidence may limit the decision making options of the course leader and/or examination board.

Should your record of attendance be consistently poor (i.e. fall below the 75% minimum requirement), you may be required to attend a meeting with your Course Leader to discuss your absences. In the event you fail to attend the meeting without due notice, you will receive a further letter inviting you to a re-arranged meeting. If you do not attend this meeting, you will then be considered to have withdrawn from the course.

Your responsibilities as a student

We encourage you to make use of all the facilities and resources available to you, including libraries and ICT facilities, to enable you to pursue your studies diligently and take responsibility for your own learning. You should familiarise yourself with University and Brighton Business School Rules and Regulations including any relating to your course and should be aware of the requirements of your course. Your course programme team, including the course administrators are available to clarify any questions you may have. Contact details of all the course team are available in your course handbook.

9.3 Disability Statement

The University of Brighton is fully committed to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Act 2001 (SENDA), which extended to educational institutions the provisions of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. The booklet entitled Access and Support for Disabled Students summarises the University’s approach to and provision for students with all types of disability, including long-term conditions, mental health difficulties, sensory impairments and specific learning difficulties. A copy of the booklet is available from Student Services, and a reference copy is held in the School Office. Fuller information about relevant services can be found at: http://www.brighton.ac.uk/disability/ Staff who co-ordinate support for students with disabilities or specific learning needs are based in the Disability & Dyslexia Team in Student Services located in the Manor House. For contact details see section 8. If you have disability or specific learning needs please also raise this with Donna Clark in the Undergraduate Office (M160) who can make you aware of student support available.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/disability/

9.4 Fire evacuation On hearing the fire alarm Leave the building by nearest route Close all doors behind you. Report to assembly point as shown on nearest fire action notice. At all times: Use the nearest available exit. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Do not run or try to pass the person in front. Do not use the lift. Do not re-enter the building. Do not congregate outside the main entrance. NB These are generic procedures; please refer to any additional specific procedures associated to individual buildings. Students with a disability or mobility problems should notify their personal tutor, course leader or course administrator so that evacuation arrangements can be set up for them. For further information on health and safety procedures at the University go to: http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/safety/

9.5 Observing copyright laws Under UK copyright law, you must not copy someone else’s copyright material unless (a) you have their permission or (b) it falls within the limits of what is known as ‘fair dealing’. Most works remain in copyright for 70 years after the death of the author/creator.

‘Fair dealing’ for ‘private study or research for a non-commercial purpose’ permits you to make a single copy of a ‘reasonable proportion’ of a copyright work. ‘Reasonable’ is not legally defined but it is recommended that you keep within the following limits:

• one complete chapter or up to 5% of a book;

• one article from any one issue of a periodical or set of conference

proceedings;

• up to 10% (up to a maximum of 20 pages) per short book (without chapters), report, standard or pamphlet;

• one poem or short story (maximum 10 pages) from an anthology;

• one separate illustration or map up to A4 size;

• short excerpts only from musical works (not whole works or movements) and no copying for performance purposes.

In all cases, you should acknowledge the source of the work.

9.5.1 Multiple photocopies Should you need to make multiple copies of copyright material for classroom use, please first read the notice ‘Copyright – multiple copies’ which should be on display near each university photocopier. Further information is available online at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/copyright. 9.5.2 Copyright and the internet Do not assume that just because something appears on the internet, it must be in the public domain. All material on the internet is protected by copyright. Look for a copyright statement (often on the website’s home page under ‘copyright’, ‘terms and conditions’, ‘disclaimer’ or similar) and unless copyright has been explicitly waived, seek permission before re-using it in any publicly-accessible

http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/safety/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/copyright

document (web page, poster, etc). Taking a single paper copy of a ‘reasonable proportion’ for ‘private study or research for a non-commercial purpose’ (using the fair dealing limits outlined under ‘single photocopies’ above) is OK but cutting and pasting from someone’s web page to add to your own website or to send to a group is not. For more guidelines on electronic fair dealing, see http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/pa/licence/fairnote If you are looking for an image to use in your coursework, remember that images retrieved from Google, Yahoo, etc are often subject to copyright. Start by checking the sources listed on the Online Library’s ‘film, image and sound sources’ page on the Reference Shelf http://library.brighton.ac.uk/pages/Film__Image_and_Sound_Sources/index.php Many of these collections are available for non-commercial use without payment. 9.5.3 Scanning You may scan a ‘reasonable proportion’ of a printed document for ‘private study or research for a non-commercial purpose’ (using the fair dealing limits outlined under ‘single photocopies’ above) but it must remain for your personal use only. Do not put scanned copyright material on a computer network and do not distribute it by email. If you use any scanned copyright material in your course work, do not alter it, always put text between quotation marks, and always acknowledge your source. Remember, unacknowledged use of scanned material in your course work could make you liable to accusations of copyright theft and plagiarism. 9.5.4 For further information on copyright The UK Intellectual Property Office website (http://www.ipo.gov.uk/) is a useful starting point for copyright information but much of the university’s use of copyright material is determined by individual licence agreements covering material such as print materials, digitised texts, OS maps, newspapers, T.V. and radio programmes, e-journals etc. If you need any further information on this subject, please check out the documents on copyright at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/copyright .

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/pa/licence/fairnote

http://library.brighton.ac.uk/pages/Film__Image_and_Sound_Sources/index.php

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/copyright

APPENDIX

Career Planning Agreement Employability

Work experience of any kind can enable you to broaden your experience, develop confidence, gain skills, maximise your potential, acquire business experience and learn to sell yourself. It is also an opportunity to find out what a job or occupation is really like before you commit to working in it.

It has always been crucial in helping you get ahead in competitive industries, but in the current climate work experience is crucial in giving you the advantage over other applicants – your qualification is only part of the package employers are looking for.

There are many opportunities to get involved in different paid and unpaid activities, both across the university and beyond.

Volunteering

Volunteering can equip you with invaluable work-related skills such as team work, communication and being able to demonstrate initiative and commitment.

Active Student provide a supported volunteering programme for students, which aims to match

the placement to your current skills as well as looking at what you would like to gain from

participation. More information about the benefits of volunteering and the opportunities

available on the www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/volunteer/why-volunteer/

Within the University you can also volunteer with Sport Brighton -

www.brighton.ac.uk/sportbrighton/about-us/job-and-volunteer-opportunities, and the Student

union www.brightonsu.com/volunteering/.

Some courses also have the opportunity to undertake volunteering as part of your university

course - www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/volunteer/community-engagement-module/

Doing internships and placements

Many of our courses are designed to include compulsory professional placements (www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/placements-and-internships/) as part of the curriculum, while others offer placements and volunteering opportunities as optional parts of specific module choices. Employer and graduate feedback consistently suggests that these choices offer a real chance to improve your employability, your confidence and to start linking up your academic skills within the professional environment. If you want to know more about what opportunities may be available within your course structure, talk to your Course Leader, Personal tutor or Year Tutor and they will be able to provide you with further details.

Working part-time

Many students now work part-time to fund their studies. Even the most basic jobs will help you to gain additional skills to put on your CV. The Careers Service runs a vacancy and events service which students can register for and get alerts when vacancies become available - www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/finding-part-time-jobs/.

In addition there are a number of ways to work part time for the University – Student Ambassadors, Student Helpers (Library shelving and Computer helpers), Student Union STARRS – see www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/finding-part-time-jobs/working-for-your-university/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/sportbrighton/about-us/job-and-volunteer-opportunities

http://www.brightonsu.com/volunteering/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/volunteer/community-engagement-module/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/placements-and-internships/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/finding-part-time-jobs/finding-part-time-work/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/finding-part-time-jobs/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/finding-part-time-jobs/working-for-your-university/

Careers fairs, recruitment events and workshops

The Careers Service run different events that provide the opportunity to network with employers and find out about the skills they are looking for in employees. There are also a host of employability workshops to help you identify and learn new employability skills. Find out what’s events are coming up on our events page www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/events/

Beepurple

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship network, made up of students, graduates and staff who are interested in developing their enterprise and creativity skills and/or their business ideas. They run a variety of activities, workshops and talks throughout the year as well as providing the opportunity to network with current and former students. For further details, please see www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/enterprise/

Get involved in the Students’ Union

The student union offer a range of activities and opportunities that can help you to develop different skills such as team-working, confidence and self-management. This includes opportunities for part-time work and volunteering, the chance to stand for election as a student-representative or sabbatical officer, and through getting involved in the hundreds of student union societies, clubs and activities. For more information please see website www.brightonsu.com/

Mentoring

Mentoring can provide an excellent forum for personal development, not just for the mentee but for the person mentoring too. This can include improved confidence, listening skills, cooperation and strategic thinking. The Careers Service runs 2 mentoring schemes – these pair students with business mentors www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/momentum-mentoring-scheme/ www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/lgbt-uni-amex-mentoring-scheme/

Leadership development

There are several student roles within the institution that may particularly suit students who are looking to develop their leadership skills. These include opportunities to work as Student Ambassadors at open days or within local schools, working as a sabbatical officer or a course rep for the students union, being captain of a sports team or chair of a student society, or by working as a leader for the Peer Assisted Student Support (PASS) programme www.brighton.ac.uk/ask/pass/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/events/

http://www.brightonsu.com/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/momentum-mentoring-scheme/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/develop-your-skills/lgbt-uni-amex-mentoring-scheme/

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/ask/pass/

Career Planning Agreement

Course (s): BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance

Academic Year: 2015/16

Course representative: Sue Endean

Career Development Adviser: Christina Keiller

Course: BSc(Hons) Accounting & Finance

Self-Management Objective Means of Achieving

Outcome Resources Staff Involved Level

Assessment Method

Evaluation

1 – Self

Assessment

Self-assessment of strengths and areas for development, likes and dislikes, form the basis of a

sound career decision and helps individuals understand where their skills and achievements like

when applying for work.

Academic and Professional Skills (ML150) introduces students to

some of the options that are available for them. Starting at

Level 4 students are also encouraged to consider taking

up a Placement in year 3. Students are encouraged to use the Graduate Toolkit resource on Studentfolio to reflect on

and evaluate own skills development

The engagement with the Placement requires the

activities of the Placement Office, bi-annual

Accounting & Finance careers’ forum and the outside speakers across Level 5 and 6 modules.

Graduate Toolkit resource on

Studentfolio

Personal Tutors, Placement Office

and ML150 module team

Course tutors

Career Development

Adviser

4,5, 6

ML150 coursework.

Course review and student

feedback.

2 – Career

Planning

Career planning encourages students to consider their skills and interests and how these may be applied in

current labour markets. It requires students to acquire knowledge of opportunities and what may be

achievable in the short and long term, as well as using the skills of decision making and personal goal setting.

In addition to the Academic and Professional Skills module (ML150), Financial Skills

(FN142), offers students the chance to reflect on their skill

level and, along with other accounting and finance

modules, to consider their interest in an

accounting/finance based career.

Careers forum and other outside speakers give a

flavour of current practice and to help students

identify employment areas that are expanding and

skills that are required in that area.

Placement and Placement support

Active Student input Careers guidance

appointments (on-going) Use of Careers Service

information, website and facilities,

Course Tutors Placement supervisors

Careers Service

4,5,6 Skill tests from Financial Skills

(FN142)

Course Review and student

feedback Feedback

from external speakers

3 – Application Techniques

Application techniques cover all the skills required by students to complete CVs, application forms, covering letters and prepare for job interviews. This applies to any opportunity including full and part time work and

further study

Academic Skills (ML150) provides the starting point for the basic employability skills and these are expected to be

put into practice with the requirement to apply for some

placement positions.

Studentcentral.

Careers guidance appointments (ongoing)

Weekly Drop-in mornings at Mithras House during

term time

ML150 module team.

Placement Supervisors

Careers Service Career

Development Adviser

4,5,6

ML150 assessments.

Placement achieved Placement report


feedback. Employer feedback

4 – Health and Well-Being

It is vital that employees and entrepreneurs are able to monitor and manage their health sensibly and

recognise signs of stress. Many students will become managers of others for whom they will also have a

duty of care

Case Study Analysis (CA272) and other modules require

team activity and monitoring of actions of other members of the group. PASS scheme can

also provide experience of working under pressure. Student services generic

programme of talks and access to advice and individual

support.

Academic and Professional Skills (ML50).

Personal tutors Student Services

4,5,6 Report from Case

Study Analysis (CA272)

Course Review and student

feedback

Communication Objective Means of Achieving

Outcome Resources Staff Involved Level Assessment Method Evaluation

1 – Oral

Communication and

Presentation Skills

This is probably the skill employers prioritise most highly: graduates must be able to communicate

effectively to a variety of audiences.

Initial thoughts about presentation skills come from EC161 Economics and ML150

Academic and Professional Skills. These are developed in

the Case Study (CA272)

ML150, PASS and opportunities to make Placement applications

Careers Service online

resources

Course Leaders Module tutors

Careers Service

4,5,6 Presentations are assessed

in CA272


feedback

Careers Service

evaluation

2 – Written

Communication

Writing clearly and intelligibly in a variety of formats including presentation slides, reports, summaries, briefing documents etc will be a requirement in most graduate employment.

Writing skills are necessary across the course and will be

tested in virtually every module.

Formative feedback

All module tutors 4,5,6

There are a number of areas where particular writing

skills are assessed. The Case Study Analysis module

(CA272) will provide formative and summative

feedback on an initial literature review. The

Dissertation (DB361) and Placement Project (DB319)

will require and assess a different sort of writing skill.


feedback

3 – Emotional

Intelligence

This skill highlights the importance of managing and understanding the emotions of oneself and of

others. Employers ask for good “interpersonal skills” but that often includes a requirement for a

sophisticated level of emotional intelligence.

The group work that is required [in the Case Study (CA272), Business Ethics &

Corporate Governance (FA265) and in third year

options] will require managing group conflicts and

group dynamics.

Group work and placement options

Personal tutors Student Services Module tutors

4.5.6

The overall quality of group work and the specifics of the

modules containing group work elements.


feedback

4 – Networking

This skill supports business and organisational life, facilitating job-search as well as enabling the

monitoring of opportunities to acquire and share updated knowledge and ideas for the organisation,

and for future professional opportunities. Digital social media literacies include network awareness online, as well as participation – how and when to

participate in online social media.

Placement Fair/events the bi-annual Finance &

Accounting Careers Forum and the annual Careers Fair would provide opportunities

for networking. Generic employability skills

programmes

Business Conferences Placement opportunity

Bi-annual Accounting and Finance Careers Forum

Course tutors Careers Service

Placement tutors 4,5,6

Student engagement in networking events including

bi-annual Careers Forum


feedback Employer feedback Careers Service

evaluation

Enterprise Objective Means of Achieving

Outcome Resources Staff Involved Level Assessment Method Evaluation

1 – Entrepreneurship

These skills relate not only to business start-up but also entrepreneurial behaviour within

organisations which contributes to business quality and development. It requires a broad understanding of how to spot new ideas and opportunities, and to identify the resources needed to organise their implementation

Case Study (CA272) looks at business developments and brings together aspects of

other modules to understand running and developing

businesses.

Accounting & Finance careers’ forum. Outside

speakers. Access to Beepurple

Course tutors, Personal tutors. Careers Service

4,5,6 Module assessment

Course Review and

student feedback Employer feedback

2 – Commercial Awareness

Vital for graduates to be able to identify and analyse costs and benefits of a product/service,

project or business, ensuring cash flow and profitability for economic sustainability. An

awareness of market pressures and forces is useful for private, public and voluntary sector

employment.

Economics (EC161), Financial Accounting (FA183), Business

Ethics & Corporate Governance (FA265) and

Corporate Strategy (ST363) provide an overview of the

commercial pressure on organisations.

Placement Process, Careers Service

information room and online resources.

Course tutors, Careers Service

4,5,6

Assignments across the year will test commercial

awareness, particularly on EC161, FA183, FA265 and

ST363.

Course review and


3 – Innovation and

Creativity

Idea generation is essential in any business activity, for problem solutions and new

developments and improvements. The ability to generate a range of options means a better

alternative solution can be found than the first solution offered.

The Case Study (CA272) and Corporate Strategy (ST363)

offer the opportunity to integrate and use existing ideas in a creative fashion

especially in relation to problem solving.

Studentcentral, social media and outside

speakers Course tutors, 4,5,6

Case Study (CA272) and Corporate Strategy (ST363).

Course review and


4 – Initiative

This is not an aspect of personality but a skill

which can be developed. It requires the development of self-confidence and the

application of good communication skills to put forward an individual idea or point of view and is

desirable for both employment and self-employment. Digital social media literacies

include active collaboration online.

The Case Study (CA272)

requires students to manage their team and to organise

their own work. The Dissertation (DB361) and the Placement Project (DB319) also require independent

work.

Studentcentral, Course Tutors 4,5,6 The management of the Case Study (CA272) and

Dissertation (DB361)

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student feedback

Research Objectives Means of Achieving

Outcomes Resources Staff Involved Level Assessment Method Evaluation

1 – Research,

Analysis and Evaluation of Information

Graduates are expected to be able to find and analyse information at work. Just being able to

search the web is a long way from being able to track down relevant, good quality information fast, test its

credibility and apply it to work situations. Digital social media literacies include purposeful attention,

network awareness and critical consumption of media.

These skills are taught through the whole of the course but are

built in particular by the Investment Case Study (CA272)

and the range of final year modules. The Dissertation

(DB361) requires research and independent learning.

Studentcentral Online library

Dissertation Advisors

Information Services All module tutors

4,5,6 All module assessments

Course review and

student feedback

2 – Project

Management

Graduate-level work will often involve contributing to or leading projects, self-employment and

subsequent career search will also need these skills, which involve time and resource organisation and

reporting.

The Case Study (CA272) , the Dissertation (DB361), the

Placement Project (DB319) and the whole of level six assessment

require project management skills

Timetable for final year assessment.

Course tutors Placement supervisors

Dissertation and Placement Project

supervisors

4,5,6

Case Study report Dissertation

Placement report Overall Level 6 assessment.

Course review and

student feedback

3 – Problem Solving

Evidence of problem solving skills is often required by employers and will be available through much of

undergraduate study. Students need to be able to point to effective problem solutions and the

processes which drive these solutions.

All modules require problem solving. This is a key element of

the course. Studentcentral

Course Leaders course tutors

Personal tutors 4,5,6

All assignments require problem solving

Course review and

student feedback

4 – Numerical Reasoning

Graduates should be able to evidence their ability to analyse numerical data and formulate strategies on the basis of this analysis. This will be required in any graduate level work and certainly in managerial or

entrepreneurial roles.

Financial Skills (FN142) deals with basic numeracy skills for new

students but most modules on this degree require some

numerical reasoning.

Maple, Studentcentral Module tutors, personal tutors

4,5,6

Formative tests and summative assessments on

Financial Skills (FN142). Additionally there are

numerical elements of most assessments.

Course review and

student feedback

5 – Environmental

Impact and Sustainability

Good ideas which provide profit or quality improvement will still not convince an employer or

customer unless there is also evidence of the impact of such ideas beyond the short term. This means a

grasp of environmental impact and sustainability will be required of graduates.

Business Ethics & Corporate Governance (FA265) and Case

Study (CA272) provide opportunities to consider

sustainability and environmental awareness.

Studentcentral Online library

Employer contact (speakers etc)

Module tutors Project supervisors

4,5,6

Most assignments have the opportunity for students to

show their awareness of sustainability issues.

Course Review and

student feedback