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HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY AWARD HANDBOOK 2013-2014CONTENTS

Introduction: The History and Archaeology Certificate Team

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The History and Archaeology Programme: Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology

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Getting Started: Entry RequirementsAims and Learning Objectives

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What to expect on your course: TeachingAttendance Coursework and AssessmentSome assessment optionsJoining the libraryResources for coursework – getting the most out of Birkbeck libraryMoodleChange of Address & E-mailStudy Skills – a short guideReferencing and Plagiarism – in brief

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Submission of Coursework Quality AssuranceCoursework SubmissionIn-Course and Final Submission DeadlinesCoursework Penalties Word LengthLate work/mitigating circumstancesFailure and Re-assessment Appeals ProcedureNotification of Results, Return of Coursework, Diploma Holders’ Reception, Issuing of Certificate

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Progression 17

Appendices1. General Student Support and Resources 2. Disability Support3. Marking Criteria: Coursework 4. Assessment Criteria: Oral Presentation5. Assessment Offences6. Late work/mitigating circumstances

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FAQs 29

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Introduction

Welcome to the Certificate Programme offered by the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy, Birkbeck College, University of London. This handbook is intended for all students taking History and Archaeology modules in the Certificate of Higher Education. It should be read in conjunction with the current Student Regulations and guidelines for Certificate Students at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/rules andhttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/guides/certificate

The History Subject Team is part of the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy, based at 27/28 Russell Square:

Award Co-ordinator for History and Archaeology Studies:Dr Tim Reynolds te.reynolds@bbk.ac.ukTel: 020 7631 6067

Administrator for Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology:Jana Kakosovaj.kakosova@bbk.ac.uk

Office G10 (ground floor)27-28 Russell SquareTel: 0203 073 8093Please note Jana Kakosova is the first point of contact for all enquires about our programme

Secondary point of contact for History students Michael Berlinm.berlin@history.bbk.ac.uk

Team Leader: Alison Watsona.watson@bbk.ac.ukTel: 020 7631 6217

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The History and Archaeology Programme

The History and Archaeology Programme consists of the Certificate in Higher Education in History and Archaeology.

The award of Certificate in Higher Education in History and Archaeology form only part of the wide history provision offered by the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy at Birkbeck which includes history study skills, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. We very much hope you will enjoy and benefit from this provision as you progress with your studies.

Our current awards are part of Birkbeck’s Common Awards Scheme and are renamed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework. They will have greater currency with other institutions and local authorities as they will be readily recognised in terms of credit and level. This will benefit students when applying to local authorities for funding (if eligible) and to higher education institutions to continue their studies. To gain the Certificate of Higher Education, you must successfully complete modules worth 120 credit points. Most modules are worth 15 credits, and some are worth 30 credits. The list of modules can be found in the History, Archaeology or Egyptology listings on the following website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ce2013/

In addition to studying these modules, you may take any foreign language modules (up to 30 credits) as part of your programme of learning for the certificate.

Information on individual modules is publicised annually in our prospectus and on the web. Syllabi are produced for each module and these are available prior to the start of the class either on request or from the web at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/history/prospective-students/certificate-of-higher-education

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Getting Started

Entry Requirements: There are no specific entry requirements for the Certificate in Higher Education in History and Archaeology, nor for most of our modules, however, all modules are taught at university level and students should be able to read, write and speak English fluently in order to benefit fully from their studies.

Main aims of our courses: This programme provides students with access to a range of modules, whether focussed simply on history (from antiquity to the contemporary world), archaeological study, Egyptology, or aspects of the Ancient Near East (from 6000BCE to 0BCE). Students have a free range of choices within the available modules, and can gain an introduction to a variety of ways of understanding the past.

Elements within the Certificate programme run in parallel to the first-year of the BA History, and successful completion of the Certificate can lead seamlessly into BA study.

Our courses aim to: Enable you to develop of a clear sense of the process of change and the ways

in which historians have interpreted surviving materials from a variety of different periods.

To develop your skills in the construction and communication of historical hypotheses and arguments.

To encourage empathy thereby enhancing historical understanding. To enthuse and stimulate you in the study of history and archaeology.

The learning objectives of our courses are to enable you: To gain skills of interpretation, analysis and communication with the ability to

discuss confidently the knowledge and understanding developed. To demonstrate a critical awareness that the insights and limitations of

different source materials are a much a product of particular cultural traditions as the events they describe.

To develop the ability to present an argument, both verbally and written, with clarity and focus, supported by evidence which is relevant, reliable and well researched.

The gain the desire to deepen and extend your knowledge through the continued study of history.

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What to expect on your course

TeachingThe majority of the modules in the programme for the Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology are taught by members of our part-time sessional lecturer panel. Our part-time lecturers are a valued and committed part of the team, and they bring considerable experience and enthusiasm to their teaching. We also run a number of courses in partnership with major heritage sites and museums in London, offering alternative delivery courses with the assistance of their highly qualified and experienced education staff.

As a programme delivering courses to adult learners, we value what you as students can bring to the teaching and learning process and we therefore encourage tutors to use a wide range of approaches in their teaching. These might include: lecturer and student presentations; the analysis of texts; use of visual materials; class and group discussions and individual and group project work. Class visits may also be arranged where appropriate.

You will be encouraged to participate fully in group work/discussion in class as this is designed to develop your skills in analysing a question or problem, and in communicating your ideas. It is perfectly legitimate to use ideas from discussions in your course work.

AttendanceIn order to be eligible for assessment for a module, you need to show a satisfactory level of attendance (at least 50% of the meetings), except where otherwise stated in the award specifications, or where you have been granted exemption. Regular attendance is strongly recommended in order for students to benefit fully from their course.

Coursework and AssessmentAssessment is an integral part of all Certificate modules and supports your learning and progression towards your final award. All modules are assessed through coursework and we encourage a variety of methods, the balance of which will depend on the objectives and learning outcomes of each module. The variety is intended to allow you to develop and display a range of skills. Forms of assessment offered to you may include: student presentations, reviews, case studies, essays, reports and learning journals. For a two-term 30 CATS point module the requirement is 4500-5500 words (or equivalent). For a one term 15 CATS point module 2500-3000 words (or equivalent) are needed.

Taking part in assessment will enhance your understanding and help you to develop your skills of historical analysis. It will also help us: Birkbeck’s Certificate Programmes, including the History and Archaeology Programme are dependent for funding on students completing the assessment for the modules they take.

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Some assessment optionsYou will often be required to complete at least one essay as part of your course but may in addition have the option to undertake a range of other assessment tasks. The following may not be appropriate for all modules; your tutor will tell you which are most relevant and may also suggest others. Please do not hesitate to ask them if you need help or advice.

Essays. Writing an essay will give you the opportunity to focus in depth on an area of interest and will consolidate your research and writing skills. You might find it helpful to discuss your title and approach with your peers or tutor before you start writing. Some tutors may use essay titles as a basis for seminar discussions and this will also help you to develop your ideas. Address the essay question carefully and try to develop an argument in relation to it.

Documentary analysis. Some seminars may include discussion of primary sources. You can extend this analysis in a written piece. You might want to consider some of the following questions (amongst others): where is the source from? Who would have seen/read it? What was its aim and effect? How does it enhance your knowledge of the subject? What are its limitations? What others kinds of sources would you want to examine alongside this material – and why? How useful is the source to historians?

Visit reports. Some modules include visits to museums and ‘heritage’ sites, and as part of your assessment you can write a critical reflection. How was the material presented? Was it contentious in any way? What was included – and omitted? Was there an implicit/explicit argument woven into the exhibit? How could the display/commentary have been improved. How did the visit enhance your understanding of the topic? If your module does not include a visit of this kind you might still want to write on a relevant museum/site you have visited – but please ensure you consult your tutor first.

Book/article review. Critically assess a text or article from your reading list. Describe what the piece covers and the argument the author makes. In addition you might consider the particular approach s/he has taken and the kinds of sources s/he has used. What contribution does the piece make? What are its limitations? A comparative review of two pieces might give you more opportunity to demonstrate your analytical skills.

You could address similar questions in a review of a film or documentary – but again check with your tutor first.

Reflective Log/Critical Review. A critical review is a recognised form of academic writing which is especially helpful for developing analytical thinking. ‘Critical’ in this sense is not negative, but requires the student to question information and opinions and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments presented.

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In a critical review you are encouraged to record, analyse and reflect upon your learning experiences. The process of reflective thinking is vital to critical thinking and assessing information, and requires time and commitment. In particular, you are invited to reflect upon your presuppositions, observations, ideas, questions, changing perceptions and understanding as a result of your learning on this course and its effect upon your appreciation of individual sessions. Through this process you can identify how and what you have learned, and evaluate the different tools and approaches to the study of the past that you have encountered, and recognise why your learning has been effective.

Seminar presentation. A 5 – 10 minute seminar presentation plus a 500 word report is equivalent to 1,000 words. As with essays, your presentation should not be purely descriptive: address a particular question/problem and try to develop an argument. The short written report should not repeat what was said in the presentation but reflect on how it went: what was communicated effectively? What could have gone better? If you were to do a longer presentation what other sources/information would you want to explore/include? You can choose to do a presentation in pairs or as a group, but if you do you must each write a separate 500 word report.

Walks and guides. Some modules relate to specific areas and places. If so you might design a guided walk, including the itinerary, the key points you would be seeking to make, and the reasons why you have included certain items in your tour and omitted others. You might also outline the argument you are trying to make by linking these places together (are you making an overall point about architectural style, about the mixing of social classes or the particular problems of transport or sanitation, for example).

If you are undertaking a walk as part of your module, you might (in consultation with your tutor) provide a commentary on one or two sites en route. This could be part of your assessment if you also submit a short (500 word) reflection on your contribution and how it related to the rest of the walk. A spoken commentary and 500 word submission is equivalent to 1,000 words.

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Joining the LibraryYour student ID card is your library card. Once you have completed your enrolment you can upload a recent image of yourself onto your My Birkbeck profile and submit your order for your ID card. Alternatively, you can visit the My Birkbeck Helpdesk where a photo can be taken for you and your card produced. Please note you may be required to queue during busy periods. For further information go to:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/you/cards

How long you have access to the Library and IT Services facilities will depend on the total number of CATS points awarded for the courses you are enrolled on:

If your course is less than 60 CATS points then your access to the Library will be to the end date of your course + 28 days.

If the courses you are studying total is equal or greater than 60 CATS then access to the Library will be to the end of the academic year.

For further information on the library facilities go to:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/userinfo/fcestudents/FCEStudguide

You can also sign up to the UK Libraries Plus scheme, which gives you borrowing privileges at three other libraries and reference use of all the participating libraries. See: www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/userinfo/fcestudents/Useotherlibs

Resources for coursework: getting the most out of Birkbeck LibraryYou should use your course outline and further bibliography supplied by your tutor as a guide to material you will need to complete your assessment tasks. Most of what you require should be found in Birkbeck Library. It is very much in your interest to attend library training sessions offered in your subject area and in using electronic resources generally. Most books are available for borrowing, although some may be available for reference in the library only.

Details of library provision, tours and guides, including an online tutorial on how to use the library can be found at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/userinfo/fcestudents

For information on the resources available for history and archaeology students through Birkbeck College Library, including on-line books, reference works, journals, catalogues, and search tools go to: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/socialscience/history

For specific guidance for historians and history students on getting the best out the internet go to: http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/he/tutorial/history

If a book or journal you require is not available in the library do check with the interlibrary loan service, for a small fee of £1 per item, the library is able very quickly to supply books not currently held in its collection. See the following links: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/how/illhttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/how/ill/interlibform

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MoodleMoodle is an online resource centre complied by tutors, including essential reading and other reference material. Moodle is designed to enhance your learning by allowing you to view course materials and learning resources online. You can also use it to talk online with your lecturer or other students about the course using discussions, chat or email. Your tutor will let you know if your course is currently participating. You will need to activate your Birkbeck IT username and password in order to access the Moodle. Most students are given a ITS (IT Services) username and password at the start of their course. If you have not received a letter from IT Services containing these details you can get them from ITS helpdesk: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/its/help/support/username/mycomputeraccount

To get started on Moodle go to:http://moodle.bbk.ac.uk/

Change of AddressBirkbeck students are required to maintain their personal details via their My Studies at Birkbeck Portal. Failure to maintain this information via your student portal will mean that you may miss important information concerning the course and examinations.

E-mailIt is a requirement that all Birkbeck students maintain their own contact details for the entirety of their programme. All documentation, reading lists, class notices etc. will be sent via the Birkbeck e-mail system. You may nominate an email via your My Studies at Birkbeck Student Portal. If you encounter any difficulty with this process please visit the My Birkbeck Helpdesk in the main Malet Street building. Email is the Department’s normal means of communication.

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Study Skills – a short guideThe following short guides to study skills and referencing your work are intended as an introduction to those of you who have not studied for some time. Please remember your tutor is there to give you advice and guidance.

Getting StartedTo study effectively students need to be able to take responsibility for their own learning and organise their own study effectively. It is useful to consider some basic steps:

1) Effective Time Management is needed. This involves finding time to study by planning the week and using time effectively to complete tasks.

2) Defining the tasks i.e. what work needs to be done? Then allocating time to these tasks and monitoring progress in completing them.

3) Setting up a place to study may seem obvious, but being able to study in peace and comfort with minimum distractions is extremely important to the learning process.

4) A good supply of essential equipment is important, i.e. pens, paper, files, a good dictionary, memory sticks or disks.

5) Organising the material so items can easily be found is essential. Students very quickly start accumulating large amounts of notes, handouts, old assignments etc. and an organised storage system is required from the outset.

6) Exploring bookshops and libraries is worthwhile to find out what material is available in the subject. Library staff in the Birkbeck Library on Malet Street can explain the range of books and journals that may be useful.

7) Other people may not realise the time and effort needed to concentrate on studying and students will have to come to arrangements with friends or family to ensure that they do not interrupt or create distractions during time required to study.

8) There is a range of skills and strategies that will help students in all aspects of studying. Students need to be aware of the ways they can study most effectively and seek advice if they are having difficulties.

Adapted from Northedge: The Good Study Guide

For additional guidance on study skills, including essay and report writing, research and referencing, go to:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/studyskills/studybookshttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support

The Student Union also runs skills for study sessions, details can be obtained by contacting r.park@bcsu.bbk.ac.uk or calling the office on 020 7631 6335

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Referencing and Plagiarism – in briefIt is essential that the information contained in all work for assessment is securely referenced. This need not mean the provision of an elaborate apparatus in which every statement is linked to a source, but it does mean that all material which can not be assumed to be either common knowledge in the area under discussion or a strand of argument made by the writer should be clearly located. This would apply to: statistics; specific information about people or events, which can only be supplied by somebody else’s research; original material from contemporary sources; and any quotation.

It is a standard convention that a written piece of work should be followed by a bibliography of all works and sources used. However, although the bibliography is an important referencing tool, you need more specific detail to show exactly where your information and arguments have come from.

The main reasons for clear and accurate references are –

Assessment: The reader/marker needs to be fully informed about the range and origin of the material contained in a piece of work in order to be able to provide effective feedback and comment on the quality of the work and on ways in which it might be improved or developed. The writer will be encouraged to construct a clearer line of argument and to grasp more easily the relationship between material assembled from different places.

Plagiarism: what is it and how to avoid it? Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s academic work, which can include text, data or images, as your own. This can include:

- copying and submitting the work of another student;

- purchasing and submitting an essay from the internet;

- compiling an essay or other form of assessment by cutting and pasting sections of text found either in a book or on the internet without providing references for the sources.

Plagiarism can be accidental or intentional. To avoid plagiarism, it is essential that students should not deliberately or by mistake present someone else’s work as their own. A full system of referencing will enable both the writer to avoid the pitfalls of relying too heavily on the work of any other writer and produce a piece of work in which the elements of several works are brought together in an original form. The use of quotation marks can form part of this process of identification. Work copied direct from the internet or from another source can easily be detected and will lead to exclusion. The College takes the view that plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Please see Appendix 5 below for Birkbeck’s policy for dealing with assessment offences.

You can not gain the highest grade if you have not referenced your work. There are a number of ways of referencing your work. The most important thing is that you

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are consistent and provide enough information for the reader/marker to track down the quote or information you use if s/he needs to. There most common systems are:

BibliographyThe purpose of the bibliography is to identify the sources of information used for your essay. It should list everything that you have read which you have used in your essay, including background material, but not books that have been only briefly perused. The entries in your bibliography are not numbered, but put in alphabetical order. For every book listed, the following details are needed:

author’s name, title in italics (or underlined), the place of publication, publisher’s name, year of publication.

Electronic sources are extremely varied and too wide to give a comprehensive guide to listing the methods of citation here. The basic principle is same as that used with print references – i.e. give full information about authorship, publication date and publisher, plus, in these cases, the reference to the URL (web address) and the date the information was accessed. In the case of journal articles accessed electronically, the name of the database through which they were accessed should be given. For further guidance on citing electronic sources, see the section on electronic publications in: Citing references, a guide for users (7th ed.), on the website of Nottingham Trent University:http://www.ntu.ac.uk/llr/document_uploads/66061.pdf

Notes, footnotes and endnotesThe Harvard system. This involves a simple statement in brackets in the text of the author’s surname, the year of publication and the page number. This might appear after a statement based on a published work as, (Rose 1993: 25). In the list of sources at the end of the essay the full reference to the book will appear as in, Mark Rose, Authors and Owners (Cambridge Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1993).

Foot notes and end notes. This system is based on a number placed at the appropriate place in the text which corresponds to a note at bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the essay (endnotes). This note gives the source of the information, quote or argument, or might provide a small amount of additional material on the subject.

The conventional format for foot/end notes is as follows: Author, Title (City of publication: publisher, date of publication), page.

e.g. Mark Rose, Authors and Owners (Cambridge Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1993), p.25.

If you use the same source again you do not have to repeat all this information; instead just use a short reference, the author’s surname and the first word of the title: Rose, Authors, p.72.

Please do not hesitate to ask your tutor for guidance. Useful guidance can also be found in the MHRA Style Guide (London: Modern Humanities Research Association, 2002), available in the library, or from good bookshops, also available for download for personal use at: http://www.mhra.org.uk/Publications/Books/StyleGuide/download.shtml

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Submission of Coursework

Quality Assurance In order to ensure fairness and objectivity samples of course work are moderated by Internal Moderators and an External Moderator. Your marks are provisional until they have been confirmed by the Certificate of Higher Education Sub Board of Examiners at the end of the academic year. You can ask your tutor for your provisional mark as soon as they have marked your work. Please pay particular attention to the comments the tutor writes: this advice and feedback will let you see the strengths and weaknesses of your work, and often gives you tips for how you might improve future work.

Your final marks will be posted on your My Birkbeck page following the confirmation of marks by the Sub Board. This meeting is usually held in the last week of July, and it can take up to six weeks for all the marks to be processed and uploaded to the site. If you need to have your results quickly, because, for example, of applying for further study, please get in touch with the History and Archaeology Certificate administrator who should be able to arrange for early release of marks.

Please remember to:

(1) keep copies of all work submitted;

(2) submit your work according to the deadlines indicated by your tutor;

(3) complete and retain your cover sheets: you should submit a cover sheet for each individual piece of written

work to be marked. your cover sheet lists your individual pieces of work and your

provisional overall mark. your cover sheets must be signed by you and your lecturer;

(4) if your module has been selected for moderation please submit all your coursework with a cover sheet to your tutor at the end of your course.

Coursework SubmissionThe Department of History requires that all work be submitted in duplicate, one copy online via the Moodle and one printed hard copy turned in to the department office. You will be required to submit one copy via Moodle for archiving purposes which will be time stamped and processed through plagiarism software. We must stress that the electronic copy will be time stamped and will determine if the work was on time. A printed hardcopy with completed coversheet must be submitted to the department office. Failure to submit a hardcopy will delay marking and results. You should always retain a third copy.

An assessment coversheet must be submitted along with each piece of coursework. These will be supplied by your course lecturer. Alternatively they are also available on the website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/history/current-students/certresources/certassresources

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Please ensure that when handing in your coursework that you complete all the relevant sections, for example, name, the module title and code, sign and indicate word count on each coversheet for each piece of work submitted.

In-Course Submission DeadlinesStudents must adhere to the in-course submission deadlines when the tutor sets alternative assessments or requires more than one piece of work.

Final Submission DeadlinesStudents must submit their complete folder of coursework via turnitin by the final deadline set for the term. No work will be accepted after this date.

Please note the following are School FINAL deadlines for submission of your work for modules on the Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology, your lecturer may set dates prior to these:

Term 1 modules:All work submitted electronically no later than Friday 3rd January 2014, 5pm

Term 2 modules:All work submitted electronically no later Friday 4th April 2014, 5pm

Term 3 modules:All work submitted electronically no later than Friday 1st August 2014, 5pm

Coursework PenaltiesStudents are strongly advised to read this information carefully as failure to adhere to instructions regarding coursework length and submission deadlines may significantly affect final marks.

Word LengthAll work submitted for assessment must adhere to the agreed word limit. Should the word length of any piece of coursework be either 10% over or under the agreed word limit, the overall mark for the individual piece of work will be automatically reduced by 5 marks.

Late work/ Mitigating CircumstancesYou must submit your coursework by the deadline set by your tutor. If you wish to request an extension to a deadline due to valid mitigating circumstances, you should inform your tutor and complete the appropriate form available from the subject administrative team. The penalties for late submission where there is no serious medical or personal reason are as follows:

Any piece of assessment that is submitted after the published dates and for which no application for consideration of mitigating circs has been accepted will be awarded a mark of no more than 40% (pass). Where an assessment has not been submitted or attended and no application for consideration of mitigating circumstances has been accepted a mark of zero will be awarded.

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Students who cannot meet deadlines because of serious medical or personal problems are required to submit supporting documentation. For further guidance see Appendix 6 Mitigating Circumstances.

Failure and Re-assessment of a ModuleFull details of the Regulations for Taught Programmes of Study are available at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/rules/ andhttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs/cas

Re-takeFor any module on an undergraduate programme, if your module result is less than 30% any subsequent attempt to pass the module will normally be a “re-take” – a re-take requires attendance at the module’s lectures and seminars as well as another attempt at the assessment.

Re-assessment If you obtain a module result of between 30% and 39% for any module on an

undergraduate programme then the Board of Examiners may offer “re-assessment” as an alternative to a “retake”.

Re-assessment is where a student will re-attempt a failed element of a failed module; it does not require attendance at lectures and seminars. You will not normally be reassessed in elements that you have already passed.

You may be offered an alternative form of assessment for failed elements as part of your re-assessment.

The timing of any re-assessment will normally be either at the next normal assessment opportunity.

Attempts and Re-takesYou will normally be offered three attempts at passing a module (the original attempt plus two further attempts, each of which will either be a re-assessment or a re-take). After this, if the module has not been passed it will be classed as a fail.

Appeals ProcedureFor information on appeals, please consult section 39 of the Common Awards Scheme Regulations for Taught Programmes of Study:www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs/cas/assessment/representations

Notification of Results, Return of Coursework, Diploma Holders’ Reception, Issuing of CertificateYour final results will be sent out to you after the meeting of the Certificate of Higher Education Board of Examiners. Your work, if submitted for formal assessment, will be returned approximately one month after the results have been issued.

Students who have successfully completed the Certificate of Higher Education will be invited to attend the Diploma Holders’ Reception which usually takes place in February.

Certificates are usually issued in April.

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Progression

Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology

Congratulations! Successful completion of your Certificate of Higher Education in History and Archaeology with a mark of 60% or above will exempt you, subject to interview, from the first year of Birkbeck’ s BA History, BA History and Archaeology and BA Archaeology: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ug/history/UBAHISTO.htmlhttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ug/history/UBAHIARC.htmlhttp://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ug/history/UBAARCH.html

Credit gained from the Certificate of Higher Education may also entitle you to entry and/or exemptions from other degrees of the University of London and other institutions of higher education. You must approach the admissions officers of the institutions concerned for further information and advice.

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Appendix 1 General Student Support and Resources

General information for all students participating in Certificate Programmes can be found at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/guides/certificate

Details of computing facilities and support can be found at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/its/index_html

Details of support provided for students with a disability can be found at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disability

The College runs an extensive programme of English language, Academic Writing and Study skills provision. Further details of this can be found at:http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ce/englishlanguage/index.html

All students are entitled to join Birkbeck Students Union which provides an extensive range of welfare advice and support and other facilities for students. Please call 020 7631 6335, email info@bcsu.bbk.ac.uk or visit the Union offices at the Fourth Floor Extension, Birkbeck Malet Street building, London WC1E 7HX.http://www.bbk.ac.uk/su/

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Appendix 2 Disability Support

Disability StatementAt Birkbeck there are students with a wide range of disabilities including dyslexia, visual or hearing impairments, mobility difficulties, mental health needs, medical conditions, respiratory conditions. Many of them have benefited from the advice and support provided by the College’s Disability Office.

The Disability OfficeThe College has a Disability Office located in room G12 on the ground floor of the Malet Street building. We have a Disability Service Manager, Mark Pimm, a Disability Administrator, John Muya and a Mental Health Advisor, Elizabeth Hughes. We will shortly be appointing an SpLD Advisor.All enquiries should come to the Disability office, who will determine the appropriate referral to specialist staff. They can provide advice and support on travel and parking, physical access, the Disabled Students Allowance, special equipment, personal support, examination arrangements etc. If you have a disability or dyslexia, we recommend you come to our drop in session where we can discuss support and make follow up appointments as necessary. The drop-in sessions are between 4pm and 6pm Monday to Thursday.The Disability Office can also complete an Individual Student Support Agreement form with you, confirming your support requirements and send this to your School and relevant Departments at the College so they are informed of your needs.

Access at BirkbeckBirkbeck's main buildings have wheelchair access, accessible lifts and toilets, our reception desks have induction loops for people with hearing impairments and we have large print and tactile signage. Disabled parking, lockers, specialist seating in lectures and seminars and portable induction loops can all be arranged by the Disability Office.

The Disabled Students AllowanceUK and most EU students with disabilities on undergraduate and postgraduate courses are eligible to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). The DSA usually provides thousands of pounds worth of support and all the evidence shows that students who receive it are more likely to complete their courses successfully. The Disability Office can provide further information on the DSA and can assist you in applying to Student Finance England for this support.

The Personal Assistance SchemeSome students need a personal assistant to provide support on their course, for example a note-taker, sign language interpreter, reader, personal assistant, disability mentor or dyslexia support tutor. Birkbeck uses a specialist agency to recruit Personal Assistants and they can assist you with recruiting, training and paying your personal assistant. Please contact the Disability Office for information on this scheme.

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Support in your SchoolThe provision which can be made for students with disabilities by Schools is set out in the Procedures for Students with Disabilities. This is available from the Disability Office and on the disability website (see below).

As mentioned above your School will receive a copy of your Individual Student Support Agreement from the Disability Office. This will make specific recommendations about the support you should receive from the School.Whilst we anticipate that this support will be provided by the Programme Director, tutors and School Administrator in the School of Arts also has a Student Disability Liaison Officer. If you experience any difficulties or require additional support from the School then they may also be able to assist you. They may be contacted through the School Office or the Disability Office.

Support in IT Services and Library ServicesThere is a comprehensive range of specialist equipment for students with disabilities in IT Services. This includes software packages for dyslexic students (e.g. Claroread and Inspiration), screen reading and character enhancing software for students with visual impairments, specialist scanning software, large monitors, ergonomic mice and keyboards, specialist orthopaedic chairs etc. For advice and assistance please contact Disability IT Support. There is also a range of specialist equipment in the Library including a CCTV reading machine for visually impaired students as well as specialist orthopaedic chairs and writing slopes. The Disability Office refers all students with disabilities to the Library Access Support service who provides a comprehensive range of services for students with disabilities.

Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)Mature students who experienced problems at school are often unaware that these problems may result from their being dyslexic. Whilst dyslexia cannot be cured, you can learn strategies, which make studying significantly easier. If you think you may be dyslexic you should contact the Disability Office who can screen you and where appropriate refer you to an Educational Psychologist for a dyslexia assessment. These assessments cost £225. Some students can receive assistance in meeting this cost from their employer. In exceptional cases students may receive assistance from the Access to Learning Fund.

ExaminationsStudents with disabilities and dyslexia may be eligible for special arrangements for examinations e.g. extra time, use of a word processor, amanuensis, enlarged examination papers etc. In order to receive special arrangements a student must provide medical evidence of their disability (or an Educational Psychologists report if you are dyslexic) to the Disability Office. For School examinations you should contact your Programme Director to request special arrangements at least 2 weeks before the examination. For main College summer examinations you are given the opportunity to declare that you require special provision on your assessment entry form. Students who require provision should then attend an appointment with the Disability Office to discuss and formalise the appropriate arrangements. The closing date for making special examination arrangements in College examinations is the 15th

March and beyond this date consideration will only be given to emergency cases.

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Further informationFull information on disability support can be found at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disabilityFor further information or to make an appointment to see the Disability office, please call the Student Centre on 020 7631 6316 or email disability@bbk.ac.uk. Alternatively you can go to the Disability Office in room G12 between 4pm and 6pm Monday – Thursday for during their drop-in hours.

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Appendix 3 Marking Criteria

Points to note under the Common Awards Scheme:

* the pass mark is now 40%* all modules will be given a percentage mark and will be graded as P for Pass,

FR for fail/reassessment and F for Fail.

The following table represents the generic marking criteria under the Common Awards Scheme.

Mark Awarded

Marking Criteria

70% +

Excellent to Outstanding

NB: A mark above 80% indicates an exceptional piece of work that excels in respect of each of these criteria.

Presentation Clearly and legibly written Within agreed word limit

Skills Well-structured, coherent, argument(s) Very good use of relevant evidence (primary and secondary

sources and materials) to support and illustrate the argument(s) made

Where appropriate, evidence of independent research Comprehensive examination of the subject of the assignment Exclusion of irrelevant material Correct and comprehensive citation of all sources in a

recognised formatKnowledge

Clear and strong evidence of current knowledge and debates relevant to the assignment

Clear and strong evidence of knowledge of core / central concepts relevant to the assignment

Clear and strong evidence of critical appreciation of sources used

Understanding Demonstrates ability to think independently, originally and

critically

60-69%

Very Good

Presentation Clearly and legibly written Within agreed word limit

Skills Well-structured, clear argument(s) Good use of relevant material to support the argument(s) made Comprehensive examination of the subject of the assignment Correct and comprehensive citation of all sources in a

recognised formatKnowledge

Clear evidence of knowledge of concepts / ideas relevant to the assignment

Understanding Evidence of ability to reflect critically on the subject of the

assignmentPresentation

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50-59%

Satisfactory to Good

Clearly and legibly written Within agreed word limit

Skills Evidence of attempt to construct argument(s), which may have

gaps or lack clarity Evidence of reading and awareness of relevant issues /

debates Appropriate sources adequately cited

Knowledge Evidence of knowledge relevant to the assignment

Understanding Some evidence of engagement with, and analysis of, material

covered in the module

40-49%

Bare Pass to Adequate

Presentation Legibly written Within agreed word limit Generally weak and / or careless

Skills Some evidence of attempt to address the question Evidence of some reading relevant to the topic Barely adequate use / referencing of sources

Knowledge Limited knowledge of subject area Over-reliance on material covered in class

Understanding Limited understanding of concepts and ideas relevant to the

assignment

30-39%

FAIL

Presentation Poorly presented and / or illegible Beyond or substantially below agreed word limit

Skills Little or no evidence of attempt to address the question Overly repetitious and / or descriptive Inclusion of irrelevant material Little or no evidence of reading relevant to the topic Sources inadequately cited or not cited

Knowledge Very little or no evidence of knowledge of, or reading in,

subject area Opinions expressed without any supporting evidence

Understanding Little or no evidence of understanding of the concepts / ideas

relevant to the assignment and / or misunderstanding of these0-29%

FAIL

Presentation Very poorly presented and/or illegible Beyond or substantially below agreed word limit

Skills No evidence of attempt to answer question No evidence of planning answer Overly repetitious and / or descriptive Substantial inclusion of irrelevant material No attempt to cite material adequately or to provide references

Knowledge No evidence of knowledge of, or reading in, subject area

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Opinions expressed without any supporting evidenceUnderstanding

No evidence of understanding of the concepts / ideas relevant to the assignment and / or complete misunderstanding of these

NB: All marks are provisional until agreed by the Examination Board. The Examination Board may change marks.

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Appendix 4 Oral Presentation Assessment Criteria

STUDENT NAME:

TITLE / THEME OF PRESENTATION:

DATE:

COMPONENT COMPONENT DESCRIPTION MARK

STRUCTURE • Extent of planning / preparedness• Organisation and sequencing of ideas

Comment:

Mark out of : COMMUNICATION • Quality of delivery

• Interaction with audience• Response to questions

Comment:

Mark out of :RESOURCES • Use of presentation aids (OHP slides,

PowerPoint, handouts, pictures etc.)• Use of sources and accurate citation

Comment:

Mark out of :CONTENT • Evidence of knowledge / concepts/ ideas /

debates relevant to the assignment• Evidence of reading relevant to theassignment

Comment:

Mark out of :

UNDERSTANDING • Evidence of reflection and engagement with the material• Evidence of critical analysis

Comment:Mark out of :

PRESENTATION MARKMARK FOR WRITTEN ELEMENT

Lecturer signature:TOTAL:

Overall Comment:

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Appendix 5 Assessment Offences

What is an assessment offence?

An assessment offence is academic dishonesty; that is, the act of taking somebody else's work and presenting it as your own or helping others to present work as their own (whether in an essay or examination). If you knowingly assist another student to plagiarise (for example, by willingly giving them your own work to copy from), you are committing an assessment offence.

The College treats all assessment offences seriously. It makes strenuous efforts to detect plagiarism, including using web-based software that can provide clear evidence. If you are in any doubt as to what constitutes acceptable conduct you should consult your tutor or another member of academic staff. The College has a wide range of sanctions that it may apply in cases of plagiarism, including the termination of a student’s registration in the most serious cases.

Examples of plagiarism include (but are not restricted to): copying the whole or substantial parts of a paper from a source text (e.g. a web

site, journal article, book or encyclopaedia), without proper acknowledgement paraphrasing another's piece of work closely, with minor changes but with the

essential meaning, form and/or progression of ideas maintained piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole procuring a paper from a company or essay bank  (including Internet sites) submitting another student's work, with or without that student's knowledge submitting a paper written by someone else (e.g. a peer or relative) and

passing it off as one's own representing a piece of joint or group work as one's own.

The assessment offences policy (see http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs/assmtoff) describes three stages in the process for dealing with assessment offences:

Stage 1: The subject team will resolve first or minor and uncontested offences. Stage 2: This allows for a formal school investigation, where a student wishes to contest the allegation or penalty, where there is an allegation of a repeat offence or for more serious cases. Stage 3: This involves a centrally convened panel for third and serious offences, dealt with under the Code of Student Discipline – http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs/discipline_pdf

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Appendix 6 Late Submission of Work for Assessment

Any work that is submitted for formal assessment after the published final deadline will be subject to a penalty mark, unless mitigating circumstances are accepted by the Mitigation Sub-committee of the Exam Board.

Late work is given two marks: a penalty mark (maximum 40% for undergraduate students or 50% for postgraduate students) and the ‘real’ mark that would have been awarded if the work had not been late. Both marks are given to the student on the cover sheet. Late work should be submitted to the Subject Executive Officer.

Please note that coursework submitted after the final submission date for the module will not be accepted and will be returned to the student, unless otherwise agreed with the subject administrative team.

ProcedureIf you submit late work and wish mitigating circumstances to be taken into consideration:

You should complete the standard Mitigating Circumstances form (available from the Subject Executive Officer) and submit it, with documentary evidence as appropriate, to the subject administrative team.

The case will then be considered by the Mitigation Sub-committee of the Exam Board. This is in confidence and you may request that only the Chair of the panel has sight of your form.

If no case is made, or the mitigating circumstances are not accepted, then the penalty mark will stand. If a case is made and accepted then the examination board may allow the “real” mark to stand.

A student who fails to attend or submit one or all elements of assessment for reasons judged to be valid by the Mitigating Sub-committee of the Exam Board may be allowed to be assessed as if for the first time. This shall be known as a ‘deferral’. Any request for deferral should be made on the Mitigating Circumstances form.

Mitigating CircumstancesThe College Policy on Mitigating Circumstances determines how the Exam Board will treat assessment that has been affected by adverse circumstances.

Mitigating Circumstances are defined as unforeseen, unpreventable circumstances that significantly disrupt your performance in assessment. This should not be confused with long term issues such as medical conditions, for which the College can make adjustments before assessment. Contact your subject administrative team for details.

Guidance on what may constitute acceptable mitigating circumstances is available from the Executive Officer. You should note that this does not provide an exhaustive list, and that each case will be treated on its merits by the relevant Mitigation Sub-Committee.

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A Mitigating Circumstances claim should be submitted if valid detrimental circumstances result in:

a) the late or non-submission of assessment;b) non-attendance at examination(s);c) poor performance in assessment.

Discussing your claim with a member of staff does not constitute a submission of a claim of mitigating circumstances. For a claim to be accepted you must produce independent documentary evidence to show that the circumstances:

a) have detrimentally affected your performance or will do so;b) were unforeseen;c) were out of your control and could not have been prevented;d) relate directly to the timing of the assessment affected.

Please send in the Mitigating Circumstances form to the subject administrative team with supporting documentation. Any supporting documents should be:

a) on the official headed paper of the issuing body;b) include the dates of the period in which the circumstances applied;c) the original document (photocopies of documentary evidence will not

normally be accepted. If you need an original document for another purpose, you should arrange to bring in the original so that a copy can be made by the Subject Executive Officer or other member of the subject team, who must then indicate on the copy that they have seen the original.

d) submitted at the earliest opportunity and in advance of the Mitigating Sub-Committee.

OutcomesIf you submitted work late and your mitigating circumstances are accepted, then the higher mark (the “real” mark) will be considered by the Exam Board.

If you feel that your mark was lower than it might have been because of mitigating circumstances, you should be aware that individual marks will almost never be changed in the light of mitigating circumstances. Assessment is designed to test your achievement rather than your potential; it is not normally possible to gauge what you would have achieved had mitigating circumstances not arisen. Where mitigating circumstances are accepted, and it is judged by an examination board that these circumstances were sufficiently severe to have affected your performance in assessment the usual response will be to offer you another opportunity for assessment without penalty, at the next available opportunity.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I get more information on the History and Archaeology Certificate Programme?

Please visit our website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/history/prospective-students/certificate-of-higher-education. We are constantly updating our site and will be providing outlines for all of our courses, the minutes of Staff Student Exchange Meetings, and other useful information and links.

Can I continue taking courses if I have already completed an award? Yes, you are welcome to enrol on any course you have not previously taken. You will still be required to complete the coursework for assessment – tutors do not make any distinction between students who are working towards an award and those who are not.

What are the implications if I do not complete the coursework for a course I am enrolled in? While there are no implications for individual students, there are important implications for the History and Archaeology Programme. If students enroll in courses and do not do the coursework, this not only undermines the academic integrity of these university courses, but also makes it much less likely that we will be able to offer a diverse and high-quality programme in the future.

When do I receive formal notification of my results?Following the Final Meeting of the Exam Board by the September following completion of your course.

How will changes in Government policy affect me?You will probably be aware that there has been a change in Government funding for higher education whereby institutions will no longer receive funding for those students embarking on a course of study which results in an award which is equivalent or lower than a qualification previously gained. See the Birkbeck website for more information: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/birkbeck-briefings/elq-briefing

Any other questions?If you cannot find the answers to your questions in this handbook or the School handbook, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the History and Archaeology Team.

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